28th Sep 2007 13:00
Laidlaw International, Inc. (NYSE: LI) today announced that theAntitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has granted earlytermination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Actwaiting period, thereby permitting the proposed acquisition of Laidlawby FirstGroup plc to close. No further regulatory review is necessaryfor the parties to complete the transaction. Laidlaw and FirstGroupexpect to complete their merger on October 1, 2007. £ On February 9, 2007 Laidlaw announced that the Company had enteredinto a merger agreement with FirstGroup plc to acquire all outstandingshares of Laidlaw for $35.25 per share. £ Certain statements contained in this press release, includingstatements that are not historical facts, are forward-lookingstatements made under the safe-harbor provisions of the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-lookingstatements can be identified by the use of terminology such as:believe, hope, may, anticipate, should, intend, plan, will, expect,estimate, continue, project, positioned, strategy and similarexpressions. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties andassumptions that include, but are not limited to: £ -- Risks and uncertainties related to the proposed merger with FirstGroup, including the satisfaction of customary closing conditions; £ -- Economic and other market factors, including competitive pressures and changes in pricing policies; £ -- The ability to implement initiatives designed to increase operating efficiencies or improve results; £ -- Costs and risks associated with litigation and indemnification obligations; £ -- Changes in interpretations of existing, or the adoption of new, legislation, regulations or other laws; £ -- The potential for rising labor costs and actions taken by organized labor unions; £ -- Continued increases in prices of fuel and potential shortages; £ -- Control of costs related to accident and other risk management claims; £ -- Terrorism and other acts of violence; £ -- The ability to produce sufficient future taxable income to allow us to recover our deferred tax assets; £ -- The ability to pay dividends; £ -- Potential changes in the mix of businesses we operate; £ -- The inability to earn sufficient returns on pension plan assets thus requiring increased funding; and £ -- Other risks and uncertainties described in Laidlaw's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). £ Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, orshould underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes mayvary materially from those indicated. In light of these risks anduncertainties you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on theseforward-looking statements. Laidlaw undertakes no obligation topublicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of newinformation, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, toconsult any further disclosures Laidlaw makes on related subjects asmay be detailed in Laidlaw's other filings made from time to time withthe SEC. £ About Laidlaw International, Inc. £ Laidlaw International, Inc. is a holding company for NorthAmerica's largest providers of school and inter-city bus transportservices and a leading supplier of public transit services. Thecompany's businesses operate under the brands: Laidlaw EducationServices, Greyhound Lines, Greyhound Canada and Laidlaw Transit. Thecompany's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LI). Formore information on Laidlaw, visit the website: www.laidlaw.com. £ About FirstGroup PLC £ FirstGroup plc is the UK's largest surface transportation company.FirstGroup operates passenger and freight rail services in the UK. Itspassenger operations include regional, intercity and commuterservices. FirstGroup is also the UK's largest bus operator runningmore than one in five of all local bus services. In North America,FirstGroup has three operating divisions: yellow school buses (FirstStudent), transit contracting and management services (First Transit)and vehicle maintenance and ancillary services (First Services).FirstGroup's shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: FGP). Formore information on FirstGroup, visit the website: www.firstgroup.com. Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
Firstgroup