DeLuca Richard R. 4

What Happened

• Richard R. DeLuca, EVP & President, Merck Animal Health, was issued 12,264 shares of Merck common stock on 2026-01-26 as an award (transaction code A) valued at $107.40 per share, totaling $1,317,154. This was a distribution of performance share units granted 3/31/2023 and paid out at 94% of target.

Key Details

• Transaction date: January 26, 2026; price used for reporting: $107.40/share; total value: $1,317,154.
• Transaction type: Award/Grant (A) — distribution of net after-tax shares (tax withholding applied).
• Shares owned after the transaction: not specified in the provided excerpt.
• Filing: Form 4 filed 2026-01-28 (timely filing; not indicated as late).
• Footnotes: F1—performance shares paid at 94% of target and include dividends accrued over the three-year performance period ending 12/31/2025; F2—holdings may include shares from dividend reinvestment; F3—includes shares and dividends in the Merck U.S. Savings Plan (401(k)) through 1/8/2026.

Context

• This was a compensation-related distribution of performance shares, not an open-market purchase or sale. Such awards reflect long-term incentive pay and do not by themselves indicate an insider buying or selling stock for investment reasons. The award was distributed net of taxes and includes dividend accruals from the performance period.