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WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Merck & Co., Inc. priced today a $2.5 billion public offering of senior unsecured notes. The notes include:

Proceeds from the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including without limitation making contributions to our pension plans and repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings and upcoming debt maturities. The offering is expected to close on Sept. 13, 2012, subject to customary closing conditions. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-877-858-5407, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533 or at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll-free at 1-800-294-1322.

About Merck

Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, Merck's ability to complete the offering and Merck's expectations for the use of proceeds from the offering. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merckas management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; the risk of new and changing regulation and health policies in the U.S. and internationally and the exposure to litigation and/or regulatory actions.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merckas 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the companyas other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SECas Internet site ([ www.sec.gov ]).