<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001628280-25-033252.txt : 20250627
<SEC-HEADER>0001628280-25-033252.hdr.sgml : 20250627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250627140851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001628280-25-033252
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	11-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		3
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20241231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250627
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250627

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Merck & Co., Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310158
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	03 Life Sciences
		EIN:				221918501
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		11-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06571
		FILM NUMBER:		251084976

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 2000
		CITY:			RAHWAY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07065
		BUSINESS PHONE:		908-740-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		126 EAST LINCOLN AVENUE
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 2000
		CITY:			RAHWAY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07065

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Merck & Co. Inc.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20091103

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SCHERING PLOUGH CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>11-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a11-k_msdemployeestockpurc.htm
<DESCRIPTION>11-K MSD EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND SAVINGS PLAN
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_1"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">FORM 11-K </font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Pursuant to Section&#160;15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Mark One) </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">x</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For the fiscal year ended December&#160;31, 2024 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">OR </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#168;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For the transition period from </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> to </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Commission File Number&#58; 1-06571 </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Employer Identification Number&#58; 22-1918501 </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Plan Number&#58; 004 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MSD EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND SAVINGS PLAN </font><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Full title of the plan) </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MERCK&#160;&#38; CO., INC. </font><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan) </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">126 East Lincoln Avenue </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Rahway, New Jersey  07065 </font><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Address of principal executive office) </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:1pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:45pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_4"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:67.5pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Index </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;margin-top:3pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:8pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:89.273%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:8.527%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page(s)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:89.273%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:8.527%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_7" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_7" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">1</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Financial Statements&#58;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:24.75pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_13" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 202</a><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_13" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">4</a><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_13" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"> and 202</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_13" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">2</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:24.75pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_16" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December&#160;31, 202</a>4</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_16" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">3</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_19" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Notes to Financial Statements</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 4.37pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4-11</font></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Supplemental Schedule*&#58;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:13.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Schedule <a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_25" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">H,  Line 4i &#8211; Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_25" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">12</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_28" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Signature</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_28" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">13</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_31" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Exhibit Index</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:3.37pt;padding-right:3.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><a href="#i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_31" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none">14</a></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:11.25pt;text-indent:-9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ye2024msdemplstckpurandsav.htm" style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Exhibit 23 - Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 4.37pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:1pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Other schedules required by Section&#160;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. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:45pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_7"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><img alt="imagea.jpg" src="imagea.jpg" style="height:71px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:110px"></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">To</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">the Administrator and Plan Participants of</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Opinion on the Financial Statements</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">(the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) as of December 31, 2024</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">and 2023 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31,</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the &#8220;financial statements&#8221;). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">December 31, 2024</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">and 2023, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31,</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">  </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Basis for Opinion</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan&#8217;s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan&#8217;s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">Supplemental Information</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">The supplemental Schedule H, Line 4i &#8211; Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2024 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan&#8217;s financial statements. The supplemental schedule is</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">the responsibility of the Plan&#8217;s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles 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 schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">its</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">form and content, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">is</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">presented in conformity with the Department of Labor&#8217;s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">In our opinion, the supplemental schedule is</font><font style="color:#ff0000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">&#47;s&#47; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">New York, New York</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">June 27, 2025</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">We have served as the Plan&#8217;s auditor since </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">2002</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers Center, 300 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">T&#58; (646) 471 3000, www.pwc.com&#47;us   </font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-1-</font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_10"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_13"></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:78.194%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:56.448%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.630%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:14.530%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.630%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.630%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:14.532%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="15" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">December 31,</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="15" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2024</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2023</font></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="18" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Assets</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Investments</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Investment in Master Trust, at fair value</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">534,194&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">487,657&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Receivables</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Employer contributions</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">295&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">244&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Participant contributions</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">959&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">816&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Notes receivable from participants</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10,019&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">9,902&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="18" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total receivables</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,273&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10,962&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="18" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Net assets available for benefits</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">545,467&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">498,619&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #969696;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.</font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-2-</font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_16"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:81.527%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:78.457%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.477%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:15.766%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Year Ended</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">December 31,</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2024</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Additions to net assets attributed to</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Investment gain</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Plan interest in Master Trust investment gain</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">59,909&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="9" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Interest income on notes receivable from participants</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">712&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Contributions to the Plan</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;By participants</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">22,814&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;By employer</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,556&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total contributions</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">29,370&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" 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style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(5,192)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total deductions</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(43,336)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Net increase</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">46,848&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:11pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net assets available for benefits</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Beginning of year</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">498,619&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;End of year</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">545,467&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. </font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-3-</font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_19"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Description of Plan </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following description of the MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan&#8217;s provisions. </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">General</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Plan is designed to provide a systematic means of saving and investing for the future as well as an easy and economical way for employees to become shareholders of Merck &#38; Co., Inc. (&#8220;Merck&#8221; or the &#8220;Company&#8221;).  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 &#8220;Sponsor&#8221;).</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Participants direct the investment of their contributions into any fund investment option available under the Plan, including Merck common stock. The Plan offers a three-tiered approach to investing&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:26.5pt">Retirement Portfolios - a custom set of target date retirement funds&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:26.5pt">Core Funds - a selection of investment options (active and passive) that span a range of asset classes&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:26.5pt">Fidelity Brokerage Link&#174; - a self-directed brokerage account that provides access to more than 9,000&#160;mutual funds. </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt;text-indent:-13.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">The Plan is administered by management committees appointed by the Company&#8217;s Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors of Merck or their delegates. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (&#8220;ERISA&#8221;). </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Master Trust </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The assets of the Plan are maintained, for investment purposes only, on a commingled basis with a portion of the MSD Puerto Rico Savings &#38; Security Plan (the &#8220;Puerto Rico Plan&#8221;) and all of the assets of the Merck US Savings Plan in the Merck &#38; Co., Inc. Qualified Plans Master Trust (the &#8220;Master Trust&#8221;). The plans own specific interests in the Master Trust assets. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The portion of Master Trust assets allocable to each plan is based upon the participants&#8217; account balances within each plan. Investment income for the Master Trust is allocated to each plan based on the specific investments held in the Master Trust. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Contributions </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Participants may contribute between 2% and 25% of their base pay on a before-tax basis and up to 25% 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 ($23,000 in 2024).  Upon reaching the 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.  </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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).  The combination of before-tax contributions, after-tax contributions and Company matching contributions may not exceed the statutory limit ($69,000 in 2024).  Participant and Company matching contributions are invested according to a participant&#8217;s elections.  </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition, the Plan permits unmatched before-tax &#8220;catch-up contributions&#8221; of up to the statutory limit ($7,500 in 2024) by participants who are at least age 50 by year-end. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Participant Accounts </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Each participant&#8217;s account is credited with the participant&#8217;s contributions, the Company&#8217;s contributions and an allocation of Plan earnings. The allocation is based on participants&#8217; account balances, as defined in the Plan document. </font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-4-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Vesting </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, all Company matching contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes Receivable from Participants </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Participants may borrow from their account balances with interest charged at the prime rate in effect on the last business  day of the prior month plus 1%.  Once set, the interest rate is in effect for the duration of the loan.  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 10.00%. Th</font><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">e 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% </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">of the participant&#8217;s account balance less any current outstanding loan balance(s) and defaulted loan amounts. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.  Loan terms are grandfathered into the Plan in accordance with the legacy plan guidelines, including loan terms for participants that transferred into the Plan from a legacy plan.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Payment of Benefits </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Participants are entitled to receive automatic, voluntary, in-service (which include hardship withdrawals), or mandatory distributions as provided in the applicable Plan provisions. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Transfers</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Transfers in and out during 2024 relate primarily to transfers between the Plan and the Merck US Savings Plan for employees who changed their status during the year.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Summary of Accounting Policies </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Basis of Accounting </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Use of Estimates </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Investment Valuation and Income Recognition </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">All investments are recorded at fair value in the accompanying financial statements. Valuation of investments of the Plan represents the Plan&#8217;s specific interest in the Master Trust. The Plan&#8217;s investment in the Master Trust is stated at fair value and is based on the beginning of year value of the Plan&#8217;s interest in the Master Trust plus actual Plan contributions and specific investment income less Plan distributions, specific investment losses and allocated expenses. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes Receivable from Participants </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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&#160;31, 2024 and 2023.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Contributions </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Employee and Company matching contributions are recorded in the year in which participant compensation is earned. </font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-5-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Payment of Benefits </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Benefits are recorded when paid. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Administrative Expenses </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Administrative expenses primarily include certain recordkeeping and loan fees along with other fees. Other administrative expenses are paid by the Company.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Risks and Uncertainties </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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&#8217; account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">3.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Related-Party Transactions </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Contributions are held and managed by Fidelity Management Trust Company (&#8220;Fidelity&#8221; or the &#8220;Trustee&#8221;), which invests cash received, interest and dividend income and makes distributions to the participants. The Trustee also administers the participants&#8217; payment of interest and principal on the notes receivable from participants. These transactions qualify as permitted party-in-interest transactions. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Certain Plan investments are shares of registered investment companies (mutual funds) and common&#47;collective trusts managed by the Trustee or its affiliates. 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 portion of the investments managed by the Trustee was $27.5&#160;million and $31.1 million at December&#160;31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During 2024, the Plan&#8217;s portion of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains from investments managed by the Trustee was $0.6 million, $2.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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&#8217;s portion of the investment in Merck common stock was $70.4 million and $82.3 million at December&#160;31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During 2024, the Plan&#8217;s portion of dividends, realized gains and unrealized losses from Merck common stock was $2.3 million, $5.3 million  $11.5 million, respectively. The Plan&#8217;s portion of purchases and sales of Merck common stock during 2024 was $2.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">4.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Plan Termination </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">5.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Tax Status</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Plan obtained a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (&#8220;IRS&#8221;) dated March 4, 2015, indicating that the Plan had been designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (&#8220;IRC&#8221;).  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.  However, 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.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-6-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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&#160;31, 2024 and 2023, 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.  The Plan administrator believes the Plan is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior</font><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> t</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">o 2021. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">6.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Master Trust</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The net assets of the Master Trust and the Plan's interest are as follows&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:85.612%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:45.655%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:3.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:19.365%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.628%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.893%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:20.700%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="15" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2024</font></td></tr><tr style="height:20pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan Interest</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="18" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Registered investment companies (mutual funds)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">500,106&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">17,600&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Common&#47;collective trusts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,107,463&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">336,118&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Equity securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,244,340&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">81,379&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fixed income securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">386,182&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,707&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Self-directed brokerage accounts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">368,784&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15,937&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Merck common stock</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,026,831&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">70,418&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accrued interest and dividends</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">17,180&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">858&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other net assets</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,994&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">177&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15,655,880</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">534,194&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:85.612%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:45.655%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:3.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:19.365%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.628%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.893%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:20.700%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="15" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2023</font></td></tr><tr style="height:20pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan Interest</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="18" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Registered investment companies (mutual funds)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">859,826&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">30,204&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Common&#47;collective trusts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">9,392,184&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">279,361&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Equity securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,966,941&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">71,899&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fixed income securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">333,751&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">9,521&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Self-directed brokerage accounts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">283,743&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">13,332&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Merck common stock</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,206,482&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">82,286&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accrued interest and dividends</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">16,893&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">857&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other net assets</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5,483&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">197&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">14,065,303</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">487,657</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-7-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Total investment income (loss) of the Master Trust for the year ended December&#160;31, 2024, is as follows&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:63.817%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:43.542%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:4.480%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.355%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:21.223%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2024</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investment income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #828282;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Net appreciation</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,744,264&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Interest and dividends</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">180,486&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total investment income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,924,750&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">7.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Fair Value Measurements</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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&#58; </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Level 1</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#8211; 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. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Level 2</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#8211; 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.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Level 3</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#8211; 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&#160;3 investments at December&#160;31, 2024 and 2023. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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 methodologies used at December&#160;31, 2024 and 2023. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Within the Master Trust, investments are recorded at fair value as follows&#58; </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Registered Investment Companies (Mutual Funds) </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Common&#47;Collective Trusts </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The common&#47;collective trusts are valued at their respective net asset values, as a practical expedient for fair value. The fair value of investments in the common&#47;collective trusts are determined by their trustee. The Master Trust's investments in common&#47;collective trusts generally may be redeemed daily. </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-8-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Fixed Income Securities</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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.  </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Self-directed brokerage accounts are comprised of mutual funds, which are valued at the net asset value reported by the managers of the funds, typically determined at the close of regular trading.</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Equity Securities &#47; Common Stocks </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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, these 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. </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-9-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Master Trust Investments Measured at Fair Value</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Master Trust investments measured at fair value as of December&#160;31, 2024 are summarized below&#58;</font><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.726%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:18.691%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:12.292%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.251%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.627%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.251%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.251%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.627%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.850%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="33" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="33" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">December 31, 2024</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="33" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #808080;border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fair Value Measurements Using</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" rowspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Quoted Prices</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In Active</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Significant</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Markets for</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Significant</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Identical </font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Observable</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Unobservable</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Assets</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inputs</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inputs</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 1)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 2)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 3)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investments in the Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Registered investment companies</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">500,106&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">500,106&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Equity securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,244,340&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,244,340&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fixed income securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">386,182&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">386,182&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Self-directed brokerage accounts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">368,784&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">368,784&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Merck common stock</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,026,831&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,026,831&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investments measured within the fair value hierarchy</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,140,061&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">386,182&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,526,243&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Common&#47;collective trusts measured at NAV practical expedient</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline"> (1) </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,107,463&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Master trust investments at fair value</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15,633,706&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="33" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5.85pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;position:relative;top:-3.15pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> 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 assets.</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Plan's interests within the Master Trust as specifically identified in Note 6 are leveled in the same manner as the Master Trust investment categories presented above.</font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-10-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:4pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:32.234%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Master Trust Investments Measured at Fair Value</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Master Trust investments measured at fair value as of December&#160;31, 2023 are summarized below&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;margin-top:9pt;padding-left:15.75pt;padding-right:15.75pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:94.586%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:7.032%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:23.598%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.661%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.400%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.661%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.400%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.209%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.400%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.059%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.403%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="33" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="33" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">December 31, 2023</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="33" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #808080;border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fair Value Measurements Using</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="display:none"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" rowspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Quoted Prices</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" rowspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In Active</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Significant</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Markets for</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Significant</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Identical </font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Observable</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Unobservable</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Assets</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inputs</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inputs</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 1)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 2)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Level 3)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investments in the Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:8pt"><td colspan="39" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Registered investment companies</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">859,826&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">859,826&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Equity securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,966,941&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,966,941&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fixed income securities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">333,751&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">333,751&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Self-directed brokerage accounts</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">283,743&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">283,743&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Merck common stock</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,206,482&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,206,482&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investments measured within the fair value hierarchy</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,316,992</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">333,751</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,650,743</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Common&#47;collective trusts measured at NAV practical expedient</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline"> (1) </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">9,392,184</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Master trust investments at fair value</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">14,042,927&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5.85pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;position:relative;top:-3.15pt;vertical-align:baseline">(1)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> 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 assets.</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Plan's interests within the Master Trust as specifically identified in Note 6 are leveled in the same manner as the Master Trust investment categories presented above.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">8.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:28.5pt">Subsequent Events</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and no events were noted which warrant adjustments to, or disclosure in the financial statements. </font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-11-</font></div></div></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_22"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font><br></font></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_25"></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:98.888%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.501%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.468%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:19.546%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.468%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:36.400%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.468%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:7.748%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.468%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.468%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.965%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="21" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Schedule H</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="21" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="24" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">December 31, 2024</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(a)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(b)</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(c)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(d)</font></td><td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(e)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:35pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor or Similar Party</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Description of Investment Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Cost</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Current Value</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="30" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">**</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Investment in Master Trust</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">***</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">534,193,562&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="30" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Notes receivable from participants</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.00% and with maturities through 2054</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">10,018,628&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="30" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">544,212,190&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #808080;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*&#160; &#160; &#160;</font></td><td colspan="27" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Denotes a party-in-interest to the Plan.</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">**&#160; &#160; &#160;</font></td><td colspan="27" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">There are certain investments within the Master Trust that are party-in-interest.</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">***&#160; &#160; &#160;</font></td><td colspan="27" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cost information not required to be presented for participant directed investments.</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">-12-</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div id="i5622c5cc91134da69ee6a6af0c591973_28"></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SIGNATURE </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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. </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:48.333%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:10.394%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:87.406%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan</font></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By&#58;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Melissa 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style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.608%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.438%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit <br>Number</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 5.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Document</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page</font></td></tr><tr style="height:12pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7.75pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 5.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 4.37pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15</font></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:1pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</font></div><div style="height:36pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">-14-</font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ye2024msdemplstckpurandsav.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
<TEXT>
<html><head>
<!-- Document created using Wdesk -->
<!-- Copyright 2025 Workiva -->
<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i02f3d997e240418e8f2e62d63c0db188_1"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Exhibit 23 </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM </font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-173025 and No. 333-162885) of Merck&#160;&#38; Co., Inc. of our report dated June&#160;27, 2025, relating to the financial statements and supplemental schedule of the MSD Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan, which appears in this Form 11-K. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Georgia',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#47;s&#47; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="margin-top:9pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">New York, New York</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">June&#160;27, 2025 </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">- 15 -</font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>imagea.jpg
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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
