Bausch & Lomb Responds to Wesley Jessen; Preliminary Proxy Materials To Be Filed Today.Business EditorsROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2000 Bausch & Lomb (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : BOL BOL Bolivia (ISO Country code) BOL Books Online BOL Bole (SIL code, Nigeria) BOL Bill Of Lading BOL Beginning Of Line BOL Best Of Luck BOL Buzz Out Loud BOL Bruin Online BOL Beginning Of Life ) gave the following statement in connection with Wesley Jessen's Board of Directors' recommendation that Wesley Jessen shareholders not tender their shares into Bausch & Lomb's $35.55 per share cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Wesley Jessen VisionCare, Inc. (Nasdaq: WJCO). "We are disappointed by Wesley Jessen's position regarding our premium offer. We had hoped that the past month would have provided sufficient time for W-J to conclude its third party discussions and recommend our offer to its shareholders," said William M. Carpenter, chairman and chief executive officer of Bausch & Lomb. "Nonetheless, we remain committed to our offer to acquire Wesley Jessen and ask W-J to provide its shareholders with a sufficient amount of information, prior to the expiration EXPIRATION. Cessation; end. As, the expiration of, a lease, of a contract, or statute. 2. In general, the expiration of a contract puts an end to all the engagements of the parties, except to those which arise from the non- fulfillment of obligations created of our tender offer, to evaluate our offer in the context of any competing alternatives." "We will continue to make the case to Wesley Jessen shareholders that our offer represents the highest value available for the company. In that regard, we strongly encourage all Wesley Jessen shareholders to tender their shares in support of our offer and as a message to the Board of Directors that they expect our offer to be embraced by the Wesley Jessen Board in the absence of a superior offer to acquire the company. As a further indication of our commitment to this transaction, we will file today our preliminary proxy materials Proxy Materials Documents regulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission in which a public company outlines its methods and procedures. These documents are used to inform shareholders and solicit votes for corporate decisions, such as the election of directors and other to elect three members to Wesley Jessen's Board of Directors at its annual meeting, which is scheduled for June 23, 2000," Carpenter concluded. Bausch & Lomb reiterated that if by May 31, 2000 Wesley Jessen does not enter into negotiations with Bausch & Lomb, or if less than a majority of Wesley Jessen shares have been tendered, Bausch & Lomb intends to let its offer expire expire /ex·pire/ (ek-spi´er) 1. to exhale. 2. to die. ex·pire v. 1. To breathe one's last breath; die. 2. To exhale. on that date, without purchasing any Wesley Jessen shares. This news release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or the solicitation solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual of an offer to sell any shares of Wesley Jessen common stock. The solicitation of offers to buy Wesley Jessen common stock is only made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related materials that Bausch & Lomb has made available to Wesley Jessen stockholders and have filed with the SEC as part of the tender offer statement. Wesley Jessen stockholders are able to obtain the tender offer statement, including the Offer to Purchase and related materials, for free at the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. Wesley Jessen stockholders are urged to carefully read those materials prior to making any decisions with respect to the offer. This release contains some forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. . We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K reports to the SEC. Bausch & Lomb Incorporated is the preeminent pre·em·i·nent or pre-em·i·nent adj. Superior to or notable above all others; outstanding. See Synonyms at dominant, noted. [Middle English, from Latin prae global technology-based healthcare company for the eye, dedicated to helping consumers see, look and feel better through innovative technology and design. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable gas permeable gas adj (lenses) → luftdurchlässig contact lenses contact lenses contact npl → verres mpl de contact contact lenses contact npl → Kontaktlinsen pl contact lenses npl , contact lens-care products, products for ophthalmic ophthalmic /oph·thal·mic/ (of-thal´mik) ocular (1). oph·thal·mic adj. Of or relating to the eye; ocular. Ophthalmic Pertaining to the eye. surgery and pharmaceutical products. The company is advantaged with some of the most respected brands in the world starting with its name, Bausch & Lomb(R), and including SofLens66(TM), PureVision(TM) Boston(R), ReNu(R), and Storz(R). Founded in 1853 in Rochester, N.Y., where it continues to have its headquarters, the company has pro-forma annual revenues of approximately $1.8 billion and employs approximately 12,000 people in 35 countries. Bausch & Lomb products are available in more than 100 countries around the world. Additional information about the company can be found on Bausch & Lomb's Worldwide Web site at http://www.bausch.com. CF28-0500 |
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