Merck KGaA   Company: Merck KGaA Based: Darmstadt, Germany
Themes: R&D, German operations  Merck Serono's 1,250 staffers in
Geneva were hit hard by the parent company's decision to shutter
the high-tech campus. But while the pharma company refused to
back off of the restructuring, it did go to considerable pains
to ensure that the workers wouldn't be left in the lurch.  Of
the total, 750 were tapped for transfers inside the company. And
a few weeks ago the company detailed how the reengineering was
progressing. Merck KGaA said that 260 accepted a transfer, with
35 more still pondering what to do. About 80 took an early
retirement offer while 16 joined the three startups that have
been spun off so far--with Merck KGaA's help. Quintiles,
meanwhile, has recruited 40 Geneva staffers for its CRO
operations, which have been expanding around the world.  Last
month Merck KGaA said it would follow up by eliminating 10% of
its 10,900 positions in Germany, part of a new program aimed at
making the company a lean, mean m