 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
 |
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
|||||
|
||||||
 |
|
|||||
 
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 
|
|
Press Releases ---------------------------------------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRIS INTERNATIONAL AMENDS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO UPDATE ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS CHATSWORTH, Calif., Sep. 25, 2006 — IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS) a manufacturer and marketer of automated IVD urinalysis systems and medical devices used in hospitals and clinical reference laboratories worldwide, announced today that its Board of Directors has amended its stockholders' Rights Agreement to refresh and strengthen the Company's anti-takeover measures as part of the Company's defense strategy against the possibility of an unsolicited, hostile takeover. "The Board of Directors unanimously approved this amendment after determining it was in the best interests of the Company's shareholders to maintain strong, up to date, effective defenses against a potential unwanted takeover,' stated IRIS President and Chief Executive Officer César García. "It is prudent to take this step now in order to prevent any potential outside influences or distractions, as the Company continues its focus on revenue growth and forging ahead with its comprehensive product line expansions." The Rights Agreement originally was entered into in January 2000 with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, and expires on December 22, 2009 unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. The Rights Agreement continues to provide that the stockholder rights become exercisable when an individual or group purchases or attempts to purchase 20% or more of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock without Board approval, or in the event of a tender offer. IRIS has reported the Amendment on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. ABOUT IRIS IRIS International, Inc. (http://www.proiris.com), based in Chatsworth, Calif., is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with systems in major medical institutions throughout the world. The Company's Sample Processing business unit (formerly the StatSpin® subsidiary) (www.statspin.com), based in Westwood, Mass., manufactures innovative centrifuges and blood analysis products. Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC (ADIR) (www.adires.com), based near Houston, Texas, is the Company's imaging research and development subsidiary. The IRIS Molecular Diagnostics (IMD) Subsidiary develops innovative ultra-sensitive diagnostics and sample processing products with applications in the urinalysis, oncology and infectious disease markets. |
