Serono: Publication of Interests (Art. 21 LBVM [Swiss Stock Market Law])
September 25 2006 - 5:01PM
PR Newswire (US)
GENEVA, Switzerland, September 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On 22nd
September 2006, Mr Ernesto Bertarelli, of Gland, notified Serono
S.A. (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA) that on 21st September 2006 he and
Mrs Maria-Iris Bertarelli, of Gingins, and Mrs Donata Bertarelli
Spath, of Cheserex, with whom he is linked through a shareholder
syndicate, entered into an agreement to sell the Serono S.A. shares
they hold directly and indirectly through the company, Bertarelli
Biotech S.A., Cheserex, thereby reducing their holding in Serono
S.A. to less than five per cent of the voting rights in this
company. The share sale contract is accompanied by the standard
suspensive terms and conditions of this type of transaction
including, in particular, obtaining authorisation from the
authorities regarding competition. It will be executed on 3rd
January 2007 at the earliest. Background material For free B-roll,
video and other content for Serono and its products, please visit
the Serono Media Center http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Serono. You
can download print-quality images and receive broadcast-standard
video digitally or by tape from this site. Registration and video
is free to the media. Forward-looking statements Some of the
statements in this press release are forward looking. Such
statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results,
performance or achievements of Serono S.A. and affiliates to be
materially different from those expected or anticipated in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on
Serono's current expectations and assumptions, which may be
affected by a number of factors, including those discussed in this
press release and more fully described in Serono's Annual Report on
Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 28, 2006. These factors include any failure or delay in
Serono's ability to develop new products, any failure to receive
anticipated regulatory approvals, any problems in commercializing
current products as a result of competition or other factors, our
ability to obtain reimbursement coverage for our products, the
outcome of any government investigations and litigation. Serono is
providing this information as of the date of this press release,
and has no responsibility to update the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances
occurring after the date of this press release. About Serono Serono
is a global biotechnology leader. The Company has eight
biotechnology products, Rebif(R), Gonal-f(R), Luveris(R),
Ovidrel(R) /Ovitrelle(R), Serostim(R), Saizen(R), Zorbtive(TM) and
Raptiva(R). In addition to being the world leader in reproductive
health, Serono has strong market positions in neurology, metabolism
and growth and has recently entered the psoriasis area. The
Company's research programs are focused on growing these businesses
and on establishing new therapeutic areas, including oncology and
autoimmune diseases. In 2005, Serono, whose products are sold in
over 90 countries, achieved worldwide revenues of US$2,586.4
million. Reported net loss in 2005 was US$106.1 million, reflecting
a charge of US$725 million taken relating to the settlement of the
US Attorney's Office investigation of Serostim. Excluding this
charge as well as other non-recurring items, adjusted net income
grew 28.4% to US$565.3 million in 2005. Bearer shares of Serono
S.A., the holding company, are traded on the virt-x (SEO) and its
American Depositary Shares are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange (SRA). Reuters: SEO.VX / SRA.N Bloomberg: SEO VX / SRA US
http://www.serono.com/ http://www.seronousa.com/ DATASOURCE: Serono
International S A CONTACT: For more information, please contact:
Corporate Media Relations: Tel: +41-22-739-36-00, Fax:
+41-22-739-30-85. Corporate Investor Relations: Tel:
+41-22-739-36-01, Fax: +41-22-739-30-22. Media Relations, USA: Tel:
+1-781-681-2340, Fax: +1-781-681-2935. Investor Relations, USA:
Tel: +1-781-681-2552, Fax: +1-781-681-2912
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