Here's an article from a magazine that us individuals receive working in the veternarian field about the possible merger between Merial and Schering-Plough. It appears to NOT be a complete merger but only within stocks and cash. However, whose to say they wouldn't keep the Galaxy-D. Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. announced today that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a merger plan in which Merck would acquire Schering-Plough in a cash and stock transaction valued at $41.1 billion. The deal would involve some sort of relationship between Intervet/ Schering-Plough Animal Health, the largest animal health company in the world, and Merial, the second-largest animal health company. Merck owns 50% of Merial, a joint venture that was established in 1997 in the merger of the animal health companies of Merck and Rhone Merieux, a predecessor to what is now sanofi-aventis. It was unclear this morning if Intervet/Schering-Plough would be combined with Merial, which operates as an independent, stand-alone company. However, a full merger of Intervet/Schering-Plough and Merial would create an animal health powerhouse with nearly $6 billion in sales. Merck said it would pay Schering-Plough shareholders $10.50 in cash and 0.5767 share in Merck per share in Schering-Plough, or $21.61 per share, a 34% premium to Schering-Plough's closing price last Friday. The deal remains subject to approval by the two companies' shareholders and customary regulatory review, but the companies said they hope to complete the merger in the fourth quarter of this year. The companies would merge under Merck's name, and Merck chair, chief executive officer and president Richard T. Clark will lead the merged organization, according to the announcement. Merck would have sales exceeding $40 billion. Sincerely, Kris Church LVT [Posted in FML 6391]