Merck Posts Offer to Acquire AZ Electronic Materials to AZ Shareholders

Merck, a global pharmaceutical, chemical and life science company, following its intention to acquire AZ Electronic Materials (AZ) announced Dec. 5, 2013, has announced that the offer document containing the full terms and conditions of the offer together with the related form of acceptance, is being posted to AZ Shareholders today. It is also being posted, for information only, to persons with information rights and to participants in AZ share plans.

On December 5, 2013, the boards of Merck and AZ announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of AZ.

The offer, which is subject to the conditions and further terms set out in the offer document and the form of acceptance, is being made on the basis of 403.5 GBpence in cash for each AZ share. The offer values the entire issued and to be issued share capital of AZ on a fully diluted basis at approximately GBP 1.6 billion (around € 1.9 billion).

The directors of AZ unanimously recommend that AZ shareholders accept the offer.