LONDON, March 17, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Recommended share exchange acquisition of Amersham plc ("Amersham") by General Electric Company and GE Investments, Inc. (together "GE") by means of a scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme") under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 (the "Acquisition")
Amersham and GE are pleased to announce that, at a Court Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Amersham shareholders held earlier today in connection with the Acquisition, all the resolutions proposed received the overwhelming support of shareholders.
At the Court Meeting a majority in number of Amersham shareholders who voted (either in person or by proxy), representing 99.9 per cent. by value, voted in favour of the resolution to approve the Scheme. The resolution was accordingly passed.
At the Extraordinary General Meeting the resolution proposed to approve the Scheme and provide for its implementation was also passed by the requisite majority.
Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted, waiver of the conditions to the Acquisition as set out in the Scheme document, including, inter alia, the sanction of the Scheme by the High Court. It is expected that completion will occur on 8 April 2004 and on that basis the ten day trading period upon which the Exchange Ratio will be calculated will commence on 23 March 2004 and end on 5 April 2004.
Terms used in this announcement shall have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme document dated 17 February 2004.
Enquiries:
Amersham Alexandra Morris (Investor Relations) +44 1494 542 051 Dr Lynne Gailey (Media Relations) +44 1494 542 050 Dr Graeme Holland (Media Relations) +44 1494 542 115 Lucy Morrison (US Investor Relations) +1 732 457 8092 J.P. Morgan plc Edward Banks +44 20 7742 4000 Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited Johannes Groeller +44 20 7425 5000 GE Bill Cary (GE Investor Relations) +1 203 373 2468 Pam Wickham (GE Healthcare) +1 262 544 3530 Louise Binns (GE Corporate Europe) +32 2 235 6912 Peter Stack (GE Corporate Financial) +1 203 373 2283 Goldman Sachs International Richard Butland +44 20 7774 1000
Goldman Sachs International is acting exclusively for GE and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than GE for providing the protections afforded to customers of Goldman Sachs International nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, or any matter referred to herein.
J.P. Morgan plc is acting exclusively for Amersham as joint financial adviser and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Amersham for providing the protections afforded to customers of J.P. Morgan plc nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, or any matter referred to herein.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited is acting exclusively for Amersham as joint financial adviser and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Amersham for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley & Co Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, or any matter referred to herein.