Merck announced that shareholders representing 56.48% of the share capital of AZ Electronic Materials (AZ) had accepted Merck’s recommended cash offer for the company. 

 

On Dec. 5, 2013, Merck announced that it was offering GBpence 403.5 per share of AZ in cash, with the successful completion of the transaction being conditional, among others, upon antitrust clearances as well as a minimum acceptance level of 95% of the share capital. Merck also extended the offer period to Feb. 18. 

 

Merck also announced that in addition to the U.S. antitrust clearance announced on Jan. 23, in the meantime the German Federal Cartel Office has granted early clearance with effect from Feb. 5 and the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission has granted early clearance with effect from Jan. 24.

 

All other antitrust filings have been initiated and are proceeding in the normal course, including in China where Phase 1 of the review by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China was initiated on Jan. 29 and will end on Feb. 28. 

 

Date: February 6, 2014

Source: Merck KGaA