WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alere Inc.
(NYSE: ALR), a global leader in rapid diagnostics announced that it
has received notification from the Ministry of Commerce of
the People's Republic of China
(PRC) that after completing its review of the proposed acquisition
the PRC has decided not to prohibit the acquisition of Alere Inc.
by Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT).
Namal Nawana, CEO and President of Alere, said, "We are very
pleased by this decision and remain confident that the merger will
proceed according to the terms of the agreement."
As previously announced on February 1,
2016, Alere has entered into a definitive agreement under
which Abbott will acquire Alere for $56 per common share in cash.
About Alere
Alere believes that when diagnosing and
monitoring health conditions, Knowing now matters™.
Alere delivers reliable and actionable information by providing
rapid diagnostic tests, enhancing clinical and economic healthcare
outcomes globally. Headquartered in Waltham, Mass., Alere focuses on rapid
diagnostics for cardiometabolic disease, infectious disease and
toxicology. For more information on Alere, please visit
www.alere.com.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This
communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect
of the proposed acquisition of Alere by Abbott. In connection with
the proposed acquisition, Alere has filed relevant materials with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
including Alere's definitive proxy statement. Stockholders of
Alere are urged to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC,
including Alere's definitive proxy statement and any supplements
thereto, because they contain important information about the
proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed transaction.
Investors and security holders are able to obtain the proxy
statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and
other documents (once available) free of charge at the SEC's
website at www.sec.gov, or free of charge from Alere at
http://www.alere.com/en/home/investor-relations/sec-filings-and-financials.html.
Participants in the Solicitation
Alere and its
directors, executive officers and other members of management and
employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be "participants" in
the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Alere in favor of
the proposed transaction. Information about Alere's directors
and executive officers is set forth in Alere's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016, and the definitive proxy
statement which was filed with the SEC on September 26, 2016. Information concerning the
interests of Alere's participants in the solicitation, which may,
in some cases, be different than those of Alere's stockholders
generally, is set forth in the materials filed by Alere with the
SEC, including the definitive proxy statement relating to the
proposed transaction.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This communication contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the
proposed merger, the expected timetable for completing, and the
Company's confidence with respect to the completion of, the
proposed merger and any other statements about the future
expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects of the board or
management of the Company. Readers can identify these statements by
forward-looking words such as "may," "could," "should," "would,"
"intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"continue" or similar words. A number of important factors could
cause actual results of Alere and its subsidiaries to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that
the proposed merger with Abbott may not be completed in a timely
manner or at all; (ii) the failure to receive, on a timely basis or
otherwise, the required approval of the proposed merger with Abbott
by Alere's stockholders; (iii) the possibility that competing
offers or acquisition proposals for Alere will be made; (iv) the
possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the
consummation of the merger may not be satisfied or waived,
including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals
from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions,
limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals); (v) the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could
give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, including in
circumstances which would require Alere to pay a termination fee or
other expenses; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement on Alere's
ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain
relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it
does business, or its operating results and business generally;
(vii) risks related to diverting management's attention from
Alere's ongoing business operations; (viii) the risk that
stockholder litigation in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement may result in significant
costs of defense, indemnification and liability; and (ix) the risk
factors detailed in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 8,
2016) and other risk factors identified herein or from time
to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. Readers should
carefully review these risk factors, and should not place undue
reliance on our forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on information, plans and
estimates at the date of this communication. We undertake no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect
changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information,
future events or other changes.
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SOURCE Alere Inc.