UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
SCHEDULE 14A
 
 
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
 
 
 

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Preliminary Proxy Statement
 
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
 
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Definitive Proxy Statement
 
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Definitive Additional Materials
 
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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
 
 
ALERE INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
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On October 20, 2016, Alere Inc. issued the following press release.
 
 
People’s Republic of China Clears Abbott Acquisition of Alere

WALTHAM, Mass., October 20, 2016 – Alere Inc. (NYSE: ALR), a global leader in rapid diagnostics announced that it has received notification from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that after completing its review of the proposed acquisition the PRC has decided not to prohibit the acquisition of Alere Inc. by Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT).

Namal Nawana, CEO and President of Alere, said, “We are very pleased by this decision and remain confident that the merger will proceed according to the terms of the agreement.”

As previously announced on February 1, 2016, Alere has entered into a definitive agreement under which Abbott will acquire Alere for $56 per common share in cash.

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.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Alere by Abbott. In connection with the proposed acquisition, Alere has filed relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Alere’s definitive proxy statement.  Stockholders of Alere are urged to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC, including Alere’s definitive proxy statement and any supplements thereto, because they contain important information about the proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders are able to obtain the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents (once available) free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or free of charge from Alere at http://www.alere.com/en/home/investor-relations/sec-filings-and-financials.html or by directing a request to Juliet Cunningham, Vice President, Alere Investor Relations at 858-805-2232 or ir@alere.com.
 
 


 
Participants in the Solicitation

Alere and its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Alere in favor of the proposed transaction.  Information about Alere’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Alere’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on August 8, 2016, and the definitive proxy statement which was filed with the SEC on September 26, 2016. Information concerning the interests of Alere’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Alere’s stockholders generally, is set forth in the materials filed by Alere with the SEC, including the definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction.

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 failure to receive, on a timely basis or otherwise, the required approval of the proposed merger with Abbott by Alere’s stockholders; (iii) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals for Alere will be made; (iv) 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); (v) 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; (vi) 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; (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from Alere’s ongoing business operations; (viii) 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 (ix) 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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Media Contacts
Jackie Lustig
pr@alere.com
781.314.4009

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Dan Katcher / Kelly Sullivan
212-355-4449

Investor Relations
Juliet Cunningham
ir@alere.com
858.805.2232