Document



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS
Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Mark One)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 1-06571
Employer Identification Number: 22-1918501
Plan Number: 004
MSD EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND SAVINGS PLAN

(Full title of the plan)
MERCK & CO., INC.

 (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan)
2000 Galloping Hill Road
Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033

 (Address of principal executive office)
 



MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Index
 


 
Page(s)
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4-11
 
 
Supplemental Schedules*:
 
 
 
12
 
 
 
 
 
 
16
 *    Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 are omitted because they are not applicable.





Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Administrator of
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The supplemental schedules of nonexempt transactions for the year ended December 31, 2016 and assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2016 have been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements.  The supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedules reconcile to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedules. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedules, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedules, including their form and content, are presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  In our opinion, the schedule of nonexempt transactions and schedule of assets (held at end of year) are fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole. 




/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
June 19, 2017
 


-1-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 





 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
2016
  
2015
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Investment in Master Trust, at fair value
$
420,259

 
$
386,898

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Employer contributions
 
90

 
 
65

 
        Participant contributions
 
300

 
 
207

 
        Notes receivable from participants
 
11,732

 
 
11,625

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
            Total receivables
 
12,122

 
 
11,897

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Net assets available for benefits
$
432,381

 
$
398,795

 
 
 
 
 





















The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

-2-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 



 
Year Ended
December 31,
(in thousands)
2016
 
 
 
Additions to net assets attributed to
 
 
    Investment income
 
 
        Plan interest in Master Trust investment income
$
33,595

 
 
 
    Interest income on notes receivable from participants
 
577

 
    Contributions to the Plan
 
 
        By participants
 
19,236

        By employer
 
5,900

 
 
 
            Total contributions
 
25,136

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Transfers in
 
171

 
 
 
            Total additions
 
59,479

 
 
 
 
 
Deductions from net assets attributed to
 
 
    Benefits paid to participants
 
(25,179
)
    Transfers out
 
(714
)
 
 
 
 
 
            Total deductions
 
(25,893
)
 
 
 
 
 
            Net increase
 
33,586

 
 
Net assets available for benefits
 

    Beginning of year
 
398,795

 
 
 
 
 
    End of year
$
432,381

 
 
 




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

-3-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

1.
Description of Plan
The following description of the MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General
 
The Plan is designed to provide a systematic means of saving and investing for the future as well as an easy, economical way for employees to become shareholders of Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck” or the “Company”). Generally, any regular full‑time, part-time, or temporary employee, who is a U.S. resident covered by a collective bargaining agreement providing for participation in this Plan as defined by the Plan document, is eligible to participate in the Plan on or after their date of hire or as otherwise provided pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining unit agreement. Merck is the Plan sponsor (the “Sponsor”).

Participants direct the investment of their contributions into any fund investment option available under the Plan, including Merck common stock. At December 31, 2016, the Plan offered a three-tiered approach to investing:

*
Retirement Portfolios - custom set of target date retirement funds;
*
Core Funds - a selection of investment options (active and passive) that span a range of asset classes;
*
Fidelity Brokerage Link® - a self-directed brokerage account that provides access to more than 12,000 mutual funds.
The Plan is administered by management committees appointed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors of Merck or their delegates.
The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
Master Trust
The assets of the Plan are maintained, for investment purposes only, on a commingled basis with a portion of the MSD Puerto Rico Savings & Security Plan (the “Puerto Rico Plan”) and all of the assets of the Merck US Savings Plan and the Telerx Marketing, Inc. 401(k) Plan in a single master trust (the “Master Trust”). The plans do not own specific Master Trust assets but rather maintain individual beneficial interests in such assets.
The portion of Master Trust assets allocable to each plan is based upon the participants’ account balances within each plan. Investment income for the Master Trust is allocated to each plan based on the relationship of each plan’s beneficial interest in the Master Trust to the total beneficial interest of all plans in the Master Trust.
Contributions
Participants may contribute up to 25% of their base pay on a before-tax basis and up to 10% of base pay on an after-tax basis to the Plan, but the total of the before-tax and after-tax contributions cannot exceed a total of 25% of base pay. However, before-tax contributions cannot exceed the statutory limit ($18,000 in 2016). Upon reaching the before-tax statutory elective deferral limit, the participant may elect to suspend contributions for the remainder of the year or elect to continue on an after-tax basis. The combination of before-tax and after-tax contributions may not exceed the statutory limit ($53,000 in 2016).
In addition, the Company makes matching contributions of $0.65 for every $1.00 of an employee's contributions, up to 6% of such employee's base pay (maximum match is 3.90% of base pay) per pay period (to the statutory limit). Participant and Company matching contributions are invested according to a participant’s elections.
Age 50 and above — In addition, the Plan permits unmatched before-tax “catch-up contributions” of up to the statutory limit ($6,000 in 2016) by participants who are at least age 50 by year-end.
Participant Accounts
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, the Company’s contributions and an allocation of Plan earnings. The allocation is based on participants’ account balances, as defined in the Plan document.

-4-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, all Company matching contributions, plus actual earnings thereon.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Participants may borrow from their account balances with interest charged at the prime rate plus 1%. Loan terms range from one to five years for a short-term loan or up to thirty years for the purchase of a primary residence and bear interest at rates that range from 4.25% to 10.50%. The minimum loan is $500 and the maximum loan is the lesser of (i) $50,000 less the highest outstanding loan balance(s) during the one year period prior to the new loan application date, or (ii) 50% of the participant’s account balance less any current outstanding loan balance(s) and defaulted loan amounts. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions.
Payment of Benefits
Participants are entitled to receive automatic, voluntary, in-service (which include hardship withdrawals), or mandatory distributions as provided in the applicable Plan provisions.
Other Matters
Transfers in and out during 2016 primarily relate to transfers between the Plan and the Merck US Savings Plan for employees who changed their status during the year.
2.
Summary of Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Management believes that these estimates are adequate. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
All investments are recorded at fair value in the accompanying financial statements. Valuation of investments of the Plan represents the Plan’s allocable portion of the Master Trust. The Plan’s investment in the Master Trust is stated at fair value and is based on the beginning of year value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust plus actual Plan contributions and allocated investment income less Plan distributions, allocated investment losses and allocated expenses.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded as earned. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are reported on the average cost method.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant loans are reclassified as benefit payments based upon the terms of the Plan document. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
Contributions
Employee and Company matching contributions are recorded in the period in which the Company makes the payroll deductions from the participants’ earnings.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid.

-5-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

Expenses
The Plan’s administrative expenses are generally paid by the Company. Inactive participants pay an annual recordkeeping fee from their account balance.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent), which amends disclosure requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement ("Topic 820"), for reporting entities that measure the fair value of an investment using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The amendments remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient, and also remove the requirements to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. ASU No. 2015-07 is effective for the Plan’s fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. The amendments have been applied retrospectively to all periods presented.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-12, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): (Part I) Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts, (Part II) Plan Investment Disclosures, (Part III) Measurement Date Practical Expedient (Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU No. 2015-12 designates contract value as the only required measure for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts; eliminates the requirement to disclose (1) individual investments that represent five percent or more of net assets available for benefits and (2) the net appreciation or depreciation for investments by general type for both participant-directed investments and nonparticipant-directed investments; requires investments (both participant-directed and nonparticipant-directed investments) of employee benefit plans be grouped only by general type, eliminating the need to disaggregate the investments in multiple ways; removes the requirement to disclose an investment's strategy for investments measured using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient in Topic 820 and that are in a fund that files a U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500; and permits plans to measure investments and investment-related accounts as of a month-end date that is closest to the plan's fiscal year-end, when the fiscal period does not coincide with a month-end. ASU No. 2015-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. The applicable amendments have been applied retrospectively to all periods presented.
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-06, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust Reporting. ASU No. 2017-06 requires the plan’s interest in the master trust and the change in that interest to be presented in separate line items in the statement of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits, respectively; it also requires disclosure of: the total master trust investment amounts by general type and the dollar amount of the plan’s interest in each general type of investment, the master trust’s other assets and liabilities and the dollar amount of the plan’s interest in each balance, and the net appreciation/(depreciation) in the fair value of the investments of the master trust and investment income exclusive of such net appreciation/(depreciation); additionally, it requires a description of the basis used to allocate net assets and total investment income to the plan, including the plan's percentage interest in the master trust as of the date of each statement of net assets available for benefits presented; lastly, it removes investment disclosures about 401(h) account assets to be provided in health and welfare benefit plan financial statements. ASU No. 2017-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early application permitted. The Plan Sponsor is currently evaluating the impact on the Plan of adopting ASU No. 2017-06.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for various investment options in investment securities. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks and may decline in value for a number of reasons, including changes in prevailing interest rates and credit availability, increases in defaults, increases in voluntary prepayments for investments that are subject to prepayment risk under normal market conditions, widening of credit spreads and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

-6-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

3.
Related-Party Transactions
Contributions are held and managed by Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Fidelity” or the “Trustee”), which invests cash received, interest and dividend income and makes distributions to the participants. The Trustee also administers the participants’ payment of interest and principal on the notes receivable from participants. These transactions qualify as permitted party-in-interest transactions.
Certain Plan investments are shares of registered investment companies (mutual funds) and common/collective trusts managed by the Trustee. Fidelity is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The total market value of the Plan’s allocated portion of the investments managed by the Trustee was $30.4 million and $34.0 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. During 2016, the Plan’s allocated portion of interest and dividends, realized losses and unrealized gains from investments managed by the Trustee was $48,557, ($228,998) and $13,197, respectively.
Merck also is a party-in-interest to the Plan under the definition provided in Section 3(14) of ERISA. Therefore, Plan transactions of Merck common stock qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The market value of the Plan’s allocated portion of the investments in Merck common stock was $91.7 million and $102.4 million at December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively. During 2016, the Plan’s allocated portion of dividends, realized gains and unrealized gains from Merck common stock was $3.3 million, $2.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively. The Plan’s allocated portion of purchases and sales of Merck common stock during 2016 was $2.5 million and $8.7 million, respectively.
4.
Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. Upon termination of the Plan, each participant thereby affected would receive the entire value of his or her account as though he or she had retired as of the date of such termination.
5.
Tax Status
The Plan obtained a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) dated March 4, 2015, indicating that the Plan had been designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Sponsor believes that the Plan is designed and currently operates in compliance with the IRC. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been made.
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2013.

-7-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

6.
Master Trust
The Plan had a 4.8% and 4.7% interest in the Master Trust at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The net assets of the Master Trust are as follows:
 
 
December 31,
 
(in thousands)
2016
  
2015
 
 
Registered investment companies (mutual funds)
$
1,250,571

 
$
1,238,958

 
Common/collective trusts
 
4,717,867

 
 
4,257,789

 
Fixed income securities
 
203,933

 
 
180,713

 
Self-directed brokerage accounts
 
43,922

 
 
-

 
Merck common stock
 
927,528

 
 
888,558

 
Other common stocks
 
1,600,136

 
 
1,675,838

 
Accrued interest and dividends
 
10,196

 
 
9,862

 
Other net assets/(liabilities)
 
(29,057
)
 
 
(16,875
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
8,725,096

 
$
8,234,843

 
 
 
 
 
Total investment income of the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2016, is as follows:
 
 
 
Year-Ended December 31, 2016
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Investment income, net
 
 
 
   Interest and dividends
$
47,256

 
   Net appreciation
 
587,922

 
 
 
 
 
     Total investment income
$
635,178


7.
Fair Value Measurements – Master Trust
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Entities are required to use a fair value hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Master Trust's Level 1 investments primarily include registered investment companies (mutual funds), self-directed brokerage accounts and common stocks.
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Master Trust's Level 2 investments primarily include investments in certain fixed income investments such as government and agency obligations, corporate obligations and mortgage and asset-backed securities.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation. The Master Trust did not hold any Level 3 investments at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

-8-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

If the inputs used to measure the financial assets and liabilities fall within more than one level described above, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument. There have been no changes in the valuation methodology used at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The policy of the Master Trust and the Plan is to recognize transfers between levels at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2.
Within the Master Trust, investments are recorded at fair value as follows:
Registered Investment Companies (Mutual Funds)
Registered investment companies (mutual funds) are valued at their respective net asset values. The net asset values are typically determined by the fund at the close of regular trading. Investments in registered investment companies (mutual funds) generally may be redeemed daily.
Common/Collective Trusts
The common/collective trusts are valued at their respective net asset values, as a practical expedient. The fair value of investments in the common/collective trusts are determined by their trustee. The Master Trust's investments in common/collective trusts generally may be redeemed daily.
Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities, including U.S. government and agency obligations, corporate obligations and mortgage and asset-backed securities, are generally valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service approved by the Trustee or at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee has the discretionary authority to hire a pricing service to determine valuations using methods based on current market transactions, prices for comparable securities and various relationships between securities which are generally recognized by institutional traders.
Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts
Self-directed brokerage accounts are comprised of mutual funds which are valued at the closing price reported in the active
market in which the securities are traded.
Common Stocks
Common stocks, for which market quotations are readily available, are generally valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange on the valuation date, or official close price for certain markets. If no sales are reported for that day, investments are valued at the more recent of (i) the last published sale price or (ii) the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices for long positions, or at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustee and the Company.

-9-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

Investments Measured at Fair Value
Investments measured at fair value are summarized below:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
(in thousands)
Quoted Prices
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
In Active
Significant
 
 
Markets for
Other
Significant
 
Identical
Observable
Unobservable
 
Assets
Inputs
Inputs
 
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in the Master Trust
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
$
1,250,571

$
 
-

$
 
-
  
$
1,250,571

 
Fixed Income Securities
 
-

 
 
203,933

 
 
-
 
 
203,933

 
Self-directed Brokerage Accounts
 
43,922

 
 
-

 
 
-
 
 
43,922

 
Merck Common Stock
 
927,528

 
 
-

 
 
-
 
 
927,528

 
Other Common Stocks
 
1,600,136

 
 
-

 
 
-
 
 
1,600,136

 
 
 
Investments measured within the fair value hierarchy
$
3,822,157

 
$
203,933

$
 
-
 
$
4,026,090

 
 
 
Common/Collective Trusts measured at NAV practical expedient (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,717,867

 
 
 
Investments at fair value
 


 
 


 
 
 
 
$
8,743,957


(1) Certain investments that were measured at net asset value (NAV) per share or its equivalent have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table also do not include the Master Trust's accrued interest and dividends or other net liabilities.


-10-

 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
 

Investments Measured at Fair Value
Investments measured at fair value are summarized below:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
(in thousands)
Quoted Prices
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
In Active
Significant
 
 
Markets for
Other
Significant
 
Identical
Observable
Unobservable
 
Assets
Inputs
Inputs
 
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
 
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in the Master Trust
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
$
1,238,958

 
$
-

$
 
-
  
$
1,238,958

 
Fixed Income Securities
 
-

 
 
180,713

 
 
-
 
 
180,713

 
Merck Common Stock
 
888,558

 
 
-

 
 
-
 
 
888,558

 
Other Common Stocks
 
1,675,838

 
 
-

 
 
-
 
 
1,675,838

 
 
 
Investments measured within the fair value hierarchy
$
3,803,354

 
$
180,713

$
 
-
 
$
3,984,067

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common/Collective Trusts measured at NAV practical expedient (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,257,789

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
8,241,856

 
 
(1) Certain investments that were measured at net asset value (NAV) per share or its equivalent have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table also do not include the Master Trust's accrued interest and dividends or other net liabilities.

8.
Subsequent Events

The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. On January 1, 2017, $43,940,774 was transferred from the Plan into the Merck US Savings Plan.



-11-




MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule G
Schedule G, Part III - Nonexempt Transactions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
 
 
 
 
Description of transactions,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identity of
 
Relationship to plan,
 
including maturity date,
 
 
 
 
Expenses incurred
 
Current
Net gain or
party
 
employer, or party
 
rate of interest, collateral,
 
Purchase
Selling
Lease
in connection with
Cost of
Value
(loss) on each
involved
 
-in-interest
 
par or maturity value
 
Price
Price
Rental
transaction
Asset
of Asset
transaction
Wells Capital Management, Inc.
 
Investment manager
 
Potential violation of ERISA Section 406(b)(1) involving an extension of credit as a result of bond purchase
 
$44,698(1)
$45,444(1)
N/A
N/A
$44,698(1)
N/A
$746(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) This amount represents the aggregate amount of transactions in 2016.


-12-




 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
 
 
Schedule H
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
 
(b)
(c)
(d)
   
(e)
 
Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor or Similar Party
Description of Investment Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value
 
Cost
Current Value
 
**
  
Master Trust
  
Investment in Master Trust
 
***
 
$
420,259,428

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   *
  
Notes receivable from participants
 
Interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.5% and with maturities through 2046
 
 
 
$
11,731,535

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
$
431,990,963

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*     
Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan.
**     
There are certain investments within the Master Trust that are party-in-interest.
***     
Cost information not required to be presented for participant directed investments.


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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan
 
 
By:
/s/ Mark E. McDonough
 
Mark E. McDonough
 
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
June 19, 2017


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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Document
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
23
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
16
 

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