Editing Merck Group (section)

===2000 to 2009===
On 13 March 2006, Merck announced a takeover bid for [[Schering AG]], the world's largest producer of oral contraceptives. On 23 March 2006, [[Bayer]] AG made a supported offer for Schering and Merck decided to drop out of the bidding for the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Übernahme: Schering rät zur Annahme der Bayer-Offerte|url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/finanzen/artikel/a-411895.html|language=de|website=Manager Magazin|date=19 April 2006|access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref> Schering is not to be confused with [[Schering-Plough]] which was once part of Schering AG but was acquired by Merck & Co. in 2009. In September 2006 the company announced a takeover bid of $13.2 billion for [[Serono]] SA, Switzerland's largest biotech firm. The deal included a buy-out of the [[Ernesto Bertarelli|Bertarelli]] family's 64.5% stake in Serono to be followed by a public tender offer for the remaining shares starting in November 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Serono-Übernahme: Mercks Milliardendeal|url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/a-438324.html|language=de|website=Manager Magazin|date=21 September 2006|access-date=6 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Merck KGaA to acquire Serono|url=http://www.firstwordpharma.com/node/135767|date=21 September 2006|access-date=10 February 2023|website=FirstWord Pharma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822215354/http://www.firstwordpharma.com/node/135767|archive-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> The combined company has an R&D budget of approximately $1.1 billion and sales of approximately $4.6 billion. Its approximately $2 billion in sales of [[biologic medical product|biologics]] would make it seventh among pharmaceutical/biotech companies. The new entity, [[Merck Serono]], began operations in 2007.

Merck KGaA established its philanthropic foundation in 2008 called Merck Foundation. [[Rasha Kelej]] currently serves as its CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Merck Foundation appoints Rasha Kelej |url=http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_appointments/the_merck_foundation_appoints_rasha_kelej_1197271 |work=PMLive |date=28 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rasha Kelej Becomes Merck Foundation CEO |url=https://businesspost.ng/jobs/rasha-kelej-becomes-merck-foundation-ceo/ |work=Business Post Nigeria |date=26 June 2017}}</ref>