Merck Realigns Distribution In New Zealand

17 September, 2004

Media statement

Merck Realigns Distribution In New Zealand

Statement made by Selwyn Love, Managing Director, Merck Limited,
New Zealand

Merck Limited, the New Zealand operation of Merck KGaA, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, laboratory consumables and specialized chemical multinational manufacturers and suppliers, has terminated its agency agreement with Biolab Limited in New Zealand, and has newly appointed Bio-Strategy Distribution Limited as one of its two distributors in New Zealand in addition to Global Science & Technology Limited.

The decision to realign our distributorship in New Zealand with Bio-Strategy is based on its ability to give greater focus to our product range, and its more marketing inclined approach to the principal/distributorship arrangement. Bio-Strategy combines leadership in the biotech consulting field with an all round appreciation of marketing, making it an ideal distributor of our more than 120,000 specialist laboratory products, consumables and apparatus.

Also, we have found Global Science to be a competent and comprehensive supplier, with a committed approach to marketing based on deep understanding of their customers’ and suppliers’ requirements, with a strong focus to relationships and quality.

Merck, with a turnover in excess of $8 million in New Zealand, already has a significant share of the life science market, and we anticipate being able to consolidate this in association with Bio-Strategy and Global Science. We also market direct to key clients.

Merck has a major commitment to the New Zealand market, with own operations here since 1949. We hold the country’s largest depository of laboratory reagents, laboratory consumables/equipment and specialty chemicals, offering next day delivery on more than 2000 items.

In addition we weekly air freight into New Zealand the reagents, test kits, microbiology materials, chromatography supplies and life science products so necessary for New Zealand’s research and science sectors.

Distributorships are an important link in the distribution chain. They provide focused,
one-on-one attention, are a source of information and advice, and offer a range of other services and products.

Notes
1 The distributorship with Bio-Strategy starts on 1 October, 2004.

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