WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alere Inc. (NYSE:
ALR) (the "Company"), a global leader in rapid diagnostic tests,
today announced that its shareholders have voted to approve the
previously announced merger with Abbott. In a final count of the
voting results, over 98% of votes cast at a special meeting voted
in favor of the merger, representing 77% of all outstanding
Alere shares as of the August 26,
2016 record date. The final vote results will be filed on a
Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"The overwhelming support we received from our shareholders
today is recognition of the significant value that the combination
of Alere and Abbott unlocks for our global customers, employees and
shareholders," said Namal Nawana, President and CEO of Alere.
Upon closing of the merger, Alere shareholders will receive
$56 per common share in cash, and
Alere will become a subsidiary of Abbott. The transaction remains
subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions,
including applicable regulatory approvals.
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.
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 possibility that competing offers or
acquisition proposals for Alere will be made; (iii) 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); (iv) 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; (v) 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;
(vi) risks related to diverting management's attention from Alere's
ongoing business operations; (vii) 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 (viii) 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.