27th Jun 2005 15:45
Re: Shareholder Circular and Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting Basingstoke, UK and Philadelphia, US - June 27, 2005 - Shire PharmaceuticalsGroup plc ("Shire") (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) today announced thedate of an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") of its shareholders to approvethe proposed acquisition of Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. ("TKT"). The EGM willbe held on Wednesday July 27, 2005 at 2:00 pm BST at the offices of GoldmanSachs International in London, located at River Court, 7th Floor, 120 FleetStreet, London EC4A 2BB. Shire today posted a circular to its shareholders (the "Circular") relating toits proposed acquisition of TKT. A copy of the Circular, which contains thenotice of the EGM, has been submitted to the UK Listing Authority and isavailable for inspection at the Document Viewing Facility, which is situated atThe Financial Services Authority, 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, LondonE14 5HS, tel. +44 20 7066 1000. A copy of this Circular will also be madeavailable on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at www.shire.com in the InvestorRelations section. As previously announced on April 21, 2005, Shire and TKT signed a definitiveagreement by which Shire has agreed to acquire TKT for $37.00 per common sharein cash, or approximately $1.6 billion. The transaction is subject toshareholders' approval of both companies and other customary closingconditions. Subject to satisfaction of these conditions, Shire expects tocomplete on Thursday July 28, 2005. -ends- For further information please contact: Investor Relations Clĩa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World) +44 1256 894 160 Brian Piper (North America) +1 484 595 8252 Media Jessica Mann (Rest of the World) +44 1256 894 280 Matthew Cabrey (North America) +1 484 595 8248 Notes to editors Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (Shire) is a global specialty pharmaceuticalcompany with a strategic focus on meeting the needs of the specialist physicianand currently focuses on developing projects and marketing products in theareas of central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal (GI), and renaldiseases. Shire has operations in the world's key pharmaceutical markets (US,Canada, UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) as well as a specialist drugdelivery unit in the US. For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: www.shire.com. "SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF1995 Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forward-lookingstatements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks anduncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks oruncertainties materialize, Shire's results could be materially affected. Therisks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated withthe inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development,manufacturing and commercialization, the impact of competitive products,including, but not limited to, the impact of those on Shire's ADHD franchise,patents, including but not limited to, legal challenges relating to Shire'sADHD franchise, government regulation and approval, including but not limitedto Health Canada's suspension of ADDERALL XR⨠sales in Canada and the expectedproduct approval dates of MTS (METHYPATCH) (ADHD), SPD503 (ADHD), SPD465(ADHD), SPD476 (ulcerative colitis), SPD480 (ulcerative colitis) and NRP104(ADHD), including its scheduling classification by the Drug Enforcement Agencyin the United States, Shire's ability to consummate and benefit from itsproposed acquisition of TKT, Shire's ability to secure new products forcommercialization and/or development and other risks and uncertainties detailedfrom time to time in Shire's filings with the Securities and ExchangeCommission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year to December31, 2004.ENDSHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLCRelated Shares:
Shire