Increased Offer Doc Posted

Microgen PLC 20 June 2007 For immediate release - 20 June 2007 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION Recommended Increased Cash Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Trace Group plc ('Trace') by Microgen plc ('Microgen') Increased Offer Document Posted Further to the announcement on 15 June 2007 by Microgen regarding the recommended Increased Cash Offer at a price of 180 pence per Trace Share, the Board of Microgen announces that the Increased Offer Document is today published and is being posted to Trace Shareholders. Microgen is pleased to announce that it currently owns 3,680,000 Trace Shares, representing approximately 25.83 per cent. of the Trace Shares. The Trace Independent Directors have recommended the Increased Cash Offer and Daniel Chapchal, Chairman of Trace and a Trace Independent Director, has undertaken to procure the acceptance of the Increased Cash Offer in respect of the 10,000 Trace Shares (representing 0.07 per cent. of the Trace Shares) held in his SIPP. In addition, Colin Clarke, a Trace Independent Director, has undertaken to accept the Increased Cash Offer in respect of the 1,426,453 Trace Shares (representing 10.01 per cent. of the Trace Shares) owned by him and his connected parties upon the lapsing of his existing irrevocable commitment to the Tulip Revised Offer. Such lapsing will occur in the event that the Tulip Revised Offer lapses or is withdrawn. Microgen has also received an irrevocable undertaking in respect of 1,127,880 Trace Shares, representing approximately 7.92 per cent. of the Trace Shares to accept the Increased Cash Offer which will fall away in the event of an offer from a third party of not less than 200 pence per Trace Share or if the Increased Cash Offer lapses or is withdrawn. As a result, as at the date of this announcement, Microgen owns, has received an expression of intention to accept the Increased Cash Offer and has an irrevocable commitment to accept the Increased Cash Offer in respect of, in aggregate, 4,817,880 Trace Shares, representing approximately 33.81 per cent. of the Trace Shares. In the event that the Tulip Revised Offer lapses or is withdrawn, Microgen will own and will have received expressions of intention to accept the Increased Cash Offer and has an irrevocable commitment to accept the Increased Cash Offer in respect of, in aggregate, 6,244,333 Trace Shares, representing approximately 43.82 per cent. of the Trace Shares. To accept the Increased Cash Offer in respect of Trace Shares held in certificated form (that is, not through CREST), Trace Shareholders should complete, sign and return the New Form of Acceptance (which is to be posted to Trace Shareholders along with the Increased Offer Document) in accordance with the instructions thereon and the instructions in the Increased Offer Document as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received by Capita Registrars by no later than 1.00 p.m. London time on 6 July 2007. Trace Shareholders should note that accordingly the procedure for acceptance has changed, the full details of which will be set out in the Increased Cash Offer Document. To accept the Increased Cash Offer in respect of Trace Shares held in uncertificated form (that is, through CREST), Trace Shareholders should submit a TTE instruction in accordance with the instructions in the Increased Offer Document for settlement as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 1.00 p.m. London time on 6 July 2007. The Increased Offer Document will be available for inspection on Microgen's website - www.microgen.co.uk and copies of the Increased Offer Document and the New Form of Acceptance (for use by holders of Trace Shares in certificated form only) will be available for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) at the registered office of Clyde & Co LLP at 51 Eastcheap, London EC3M 1JP until the end of the Offer Period. Capitalised terms used, but not defined in this announcement have the same meaning as given to them in the Increased Offer Document. Enquiries: Microgen plc Tel: +44 (0) 1252 772 300 Martyn Ratcliffe Philip Wood Arbuthnot Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7012 2000 (Financial adviser & broker to Microgen in relation to the Increased Cash Offer) Ian Williams Richard Tulloch Financial Dynamics Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113 (Public relations adviser to Microgen) Giles Sanderson Arbuthnot Securities, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Microgen and no one else in connection with the Increased Cash Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Microgen for providing the protections afforded to clients of Arbuthnot Securities nor for providing advice in relation to the Increased Cash Offer, or the contents of this announcement or any matter referred to herein. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer or an invitation to purchase or sell any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Increased Cash Offer or otherwise. The Increased Cash Offer will be made solely through the Offer Document as amended by the Increased Offer Document, and, in relation to certificated Trace Shares, the New Form of Acceptance. The Increased Offer Document and the New Form of Acceptance will together contain the full terms and conditions of the Increased Cash Offer, including details of how to accept the Increased Cash Offer. Any acceptance or other response to the Increased Cash Offer should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Increased Offer Document and the New Form of Acceptance. The Increased Cash Offer will be subject to English Law. The laws of relevant jurisdictions may affect the availability of the Increased Cash Offer to overseas persons. Overseas persons, or persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Increased Offer Document will be available for public inspection in the United Kingdom. Unless otherwise determined by Microgen, the Increased Cash Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, internet, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of inter-state or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, the United States, nor will it be made directly or indirectly in or into Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Increased Cash Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, will not be and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, transmitted, distributed or sent in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail, forward, distribute or send it in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any purported acceptance of the Increased Cash Offer. Any persons (including custodians, nominees and trustees) who are overseas persons or who would, or otherwise intend to, mail or otherwise forward, transmit, distribute or send this Announcement, the Increased Offer Document, the New Form of Acceptance or any related document outside the United Kingdom or to any overseas person should seek appropriate advice before doing so. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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