Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Separation and Distribution
On June 2, 2021, Organon & Co. (“Organon”) and Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Merck agreed to spin-off its women’s health, biosimilars and established brands into Organon, a new, publicly traded company (the “Separation”).
In connection with the Separation, Merck distributed (the “Distribution”) on June 2, 2021, on a pro rata basis, to holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of Merck, par value $0.50 per share (the “Merck Common Stock”) on May 17, 2021 (the “Record Date”), all of the outstanding shares of Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Organon (the “Common Stock”). Each Merck shareholder was entitled to receive one-tenth of a share of the Common Stock for each share of Merck Common Stock held on the Record Date.
The Separation and Distribution Agreement contains provisions that, among other things, relate to (i) assets, liabilities and contracts to be transferred, assumed and assigned to each of Organon and Merck as part of the Separation, (ii) cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Organon business with Organon and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Merck’s remaining business with Merck, (iii) procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters, (iv) the allocation among Organon and Merck of rights and obligations under existing insurance policies with respect to occurrences prior to completion of the Distribution, as well as the right to proceeds and the obligation to incur certain deductibles under certain insurance policies, and (v) procedures governing Organon’s and Merck’s obligations and allocations of liabilities with respect to ongoing litigation matters that may implicate each of Merck’s business and Organon’s business.
Tax Matters Agreement
In connection with the Separation and the Distribution, on June 2, 2021, Organon and Merck entered into a tax matters agreement (the “Tax Matters Agreement”), which allocates responsibility for all U.S. federal income, state and foreign income, franchise, capital gain, withholding and similar taxes, as well as all non-income taxes. The Tax Matters Agreement also provides for cooperation between Merck and Organon with respect to tax matters, the exchange of information and the retention of records that may affect the tax liabilities of the parties to the Tax Matters Agreement. Merck generally is responsible for any income taxes reportable on an originally filed consolidated, combined or unitary return that includes Merck or any of its subsidiaries (and Organon and/or any of our subsidiaries) for any periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Distribution. Organon generally is responsible for any income taxes that are reportable on originally filed returns that include only Organon and/or any of its subsidiaries, for all tax periods. Additionally, as a general matter, Merck is responsible for certain income and non-income taxes imposed as the direct result of the Separation or of an internal separation transaction. Organon is responsible for certain taxes that exclusively relate to Organon’s business and for taxes resulting from any breach of certain representations or covenants that Organon made in the Tax Matters Agreement.
The Tax Matters Agreement imposes restrictions on Organon and its subsidiaries during the two-year period following the distribution. The restrictions are intended to prevent the distribution and certain related transactions from failing to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. During such period, Organon and its subsidiaries generally are prohibited from, among other things, entering into transactions in which all or a portion of the shares of Organon common stock would be acquired or all or a portion of certain assets of Organon and its subsidiaries would be acquired. Organon and its subsidiaries also are prohibited, during such period, from merging or consolidating with any other person, issuing equity securities beyond certain thresholds, and repurchasing Organon stock other than in certain open-market transactions.
Employee Matters Agreement
On June 2, 2021, Organon and Merck have also entered into an employee matters agreement that allocates assets, liabilities and responsibilities relating to employee compensation and benefit plans and programs and other related matters in connection with the Separation (the “Employee Matters Agreement”). A summary of the Employee Matters Agreement can be found in the Information Statement forming a part of Organon’s registration statement on Form 10 attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Information Statement”), in the section entitled “Agreements with Merck- Employee Matters Agreement”. Such description is incorporated herein by reference.
Transition Services Agreements
On June 2, 2021, Merck and Organon entered into transition services agreements pursuant to which (i) Merck and certain of its affiliates will provide Organon and certain of its affiliates, on an interim, transitional basis, various services and (ii) Organon and certain of its affiliates will provide Merck and certain of its affiliates, on an interim, transitional basis, various services. The services to be provided by Merck will include, among others, information technology, human resources, finance, quality, regulatory, supply chain management, promotional services, distribution services and certain other services, and will generally be provided on a cost or, where applicable, a cost-plus basis. The services generally will commence on the date of the Separation (the “Separation Date”) and generally will terminate within 25 months following the Separation Date. Organon will have the right to request the early termination of any or all