Privacy Policy

The Merz Group of affiliated companies, headquarted at Eckenheimer Landstraße 100, 60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, operates this website (the "website") with our business partner, Cocomore AG, headquarted at Gutleutstraße 30, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, (collectively "Merz", "we", "us"). We respect your privacy and want you to understand how we use your personal data. This Privacy Policy describes when, why and how we collect and use your information when you are visiting our website. Click on any topic below to link directly to topics that interest you.

If you have any questions or comments about how Merz processes your data, please contact our Data Protection Officer by mail or e-mail at:

Contents

• General Information
• Use of Cookies
• Using Google Analytics
• Accessing Embedded Videos
• Social Media Plug-Ins
• Social Media Privacy Policy
• Using the Newsletter
• Links to Other Websites or Apps to Download
• Contact Form
• Your Rights
• Right to Object to Processing of Personal Data

General Information

Personal data is information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, such as your name, email address, training information, national identification number, physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural, social identifiers and, in some cases, IP address or mobile device identifier.

Merz collects personal data about you so that we can (1) provide you access to this website; (2) provide you information and or promotions regarding Merz products and (3) to improve your experience of our website. For example, we may ask if you would like to receive information about our products or promotions, in which case we may ask you for personal data such as your name, mailing address or email address. Merz also collects personal data about you when you register for the site ("Registration Data") that allows you to continue to access its restricted content. Registration Data includes your name, email address, training you have taken on the site and the geographic area where you practice. Merz may use this data for marketing purposes, where legally permissible. In this case, we may edit it in relation to the purpose of the processing and forward it to the appropriate contact person in your country so that we can contact you in accordance with your specific interest.

Merz also automatically collects technical information when you visit our websites such as your Internet Protocol ("IP") address, internet browser type, browser language, and the date and time of your visit. Gathering this information helps protect the security of our websites and helps us understand aggregate statistical information regarding how our website is used. It also allows us to register you and provide you credentials to use the site. Merz also uses your IP address to help identify geographic-specific content to make sure you see information applicable to you as a user from your country of residence.

Cookies

One way that we collect information is through session cookies. A "cookie" is a unique numeric code that we transfer to your computer so that we can remember your preferences, operate the website with limited interruption and recognize you as a return visitor. In addition we may use cookies to collect anonymous, aggregate information regarding website use generally so that we can improve our website design and your experience. Most browsers automatically accept cookies. However, you may set your browser to alert you when a cookie is being sent so that you can block them if you wish. If you choose to limit cookies, some of our website functionality may be limited.

Using Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. ("Google"). Merz uses Google Analytics to analyze how visitors use our site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website (including your IP address) will be transferred to and stored on a Google server in the USA. We use an anonymized Google Analytics application that truncates your IP address. If you reside within the European Union or the European Economic Areas, Google shortens your IP address prior to transferring it to the USA. In rare instances, the full IP address is transferred to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. Google uses this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity and provide other services relating to website activity and Internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process this information on Google’s behalf. The IP address transmitted from your browser through Google Analytics will not be associated with other data held by Google.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser software. However, please note that if you do this you may not be able to make full use of all the functions of this website.

You may opt out of the collection and storage of data by Google at any time with future effect by downloading and installing a deactivation add-on for your browser. This will prevent Google Analytics from collecting and processing data about your website visits. For more information and instructions on download and installation, go to http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout, where you can also download the deactivation add-on. You can also deactivate Google Analytics cookies by clicking here.

Accessing Embedded Videos

The website uses embedded videos, which are hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). You can read AWS’s privacy policy here: https://aws.amazon.com/privacy. If you do not consent to have AWS process your data, you will be unable to use the MIAA site. By browsing or using our website, you are consenting to this use and transfer of your personal data.

Social Media Plug-Ins

Merz websites use plug-ins of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Instagram so that you may share your experience with Merz on social media. These are operated by Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA (Facebook), Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (Google) or Twitter Inc., 1355 Market St, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA (Twitter). We use this information to improve our business and to provide you with content more relevant to your life and interests as expressed online. Social media plug-ins are identifiable by the logo of the respective plug-in provider that they feature and, in the case of Facebook, also by the additional "Like" and "Share" buttons.

Generally, if you are signed into social medial when you click on a social media plug-in, your IP address and other activities may be stored by the social media providers. To prevent this, you should log off of your social media accounts before navigating to websites that use social media plug-ins. Merz also provides additional protection by using "Shariff" technology to limit the amount of data shared with social networks via plug-ins. The Shariff technology ensures that your data is not transferred to a social network’s servers unless you click (actively) on the social plug-in – e.g. click on the "Share-Button" or "Tweet-Button". (For more information about "Shariff": http://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datenschutz-2467514.html).The plug-in providers explain the information obtained by plug-ins and how you can limit it on their websites, which you can access here:

• https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy
• https://twitter.com/en/privacy
• https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
• https://privacy.xing.com/en/privacy-policy
• https://www.whatsapp.com/legal?eea=1#privacy-policy
• https://help.instagram.com/402411646841720

You can limit or prevent transmitting your data to social media plug-in providers by using the tools and methods provided on the plug-in providers respective websites (links above).

Social Media Privacy Policy

• Social Media Privacy Policy

Using the Newsletter

If you have asked to receive our newsletter, we will use your e-mail address to send you information about our products, services and news. You can cancel the subscription to the newsletter at any time on your personal profile page. You can access your profile page by clicking on "EDIT PROFILE DATA" inside the "PROFILE" menu item on the top menu. Once inside, uncheck the checkbox where you agree that Merz may contact you regarding Merz products and click on the "Update profile" button.

The Merz newsletter is dispatched by "MailChimp", a newsletter distribution platform of the US provider Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.

If you have expressly consented to receive our newsletter then your email address and their further details described in this information are stored on the MailChimp servers in the USA. MailChimp uses this information to send and evaluate the newsletters on our behalf. MailChimp can use this data to enhance or improve its own services, e.g. to technically enhance the dispatch procedure and display of the newsletter or for commercial purposes to be able to determine which countries the recipients are from. However, MailChimp will not use the data of our newsletter recipients to contact you itself or forward your personal data to third parties. MailChimp is certified under the US-EU data privacy agreement "Privacy Shield" and agrees to comply with EU data privacy guidelines. You can view the MailChimp privacy policy here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/.

Links to Other Websites or Apps to Download

Where our website contains links to other Merz Group websites (e.g. expert group website) or websites belonging to third-party companies, or provides apps to download, this privacy policy does not apply. Please see those websites or apps for information about how they manage your personal data.

Contact Form

If you use the contact form to send us a message or contact us by other means (such as by e-mail), we may store this message in order to process your request. We will use your personal information for the purpose specified by you in the contact form. If it is necessary to send information or documents to third parties outside of Merz, we will first remove all personal data not required for fulfil your request. Merz uses reasonable measures, such as the European Commissions’ standard contractual clauses to protect any personal data transferred outside of the European Union, regardless whether such data is processed by affiliated Merz companies or by other third parties.

Your Rights

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), you have the right to request a copy of your personal data stored at Merz or at Merz’s contractors (Article 15 GDPR). We kindly ask you to send such requests in written form stating your name, address and phone number, so that we can confirm your identity. You also have the right to request corrections (Article 16 GDPR) or deletion (Article 17 GDPR) of your personal data stored at Merz. You may contact the Data Protection Officer of Merz under:

Right to Object to Processing of Personal Data

We want to know if you are dissatisfied with the handling of your personal data so that we can address the issue to your satisfaction. If you wish to object to processing of your personal data at any time (Article 21 GDPR) you are invited to send your concern about the processing of your personal data to the Data Protection Officer of Merz under the address or e-mail address given above. We kindly ask you to send such concerns (or objection) in written form stating your name, address and phone number, so that we can confirm your identity.

Privacy Policy