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Exhibit (a)(9)
For more information contact:
Welch Allyn, Inc. For Immediate Release
4341 State Street Road
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153
Jean Vincent, (315) 685-3696
[email protected]
Protocol Systems, Inc.
8500 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, OR 97008-7107
Grant Gibson, (503) 526-8500
[email protected]
Welch Allyn, Inc. and Protocol Systems, Inc. Announce Expiration of
Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period Relating to the Pending Tender Offer.
Skaneateles Falls, NY and Portland, OR, USA-June 22, 2000-Welch Allyn,
Inc., a privately-held company, and Protocol Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCOL) today
jointly announced the expiration of the waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 relating to the pending
cash tender offer by Welch Allyn Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Welch Allyn, Inc., for all of the outstanding shares of common
stock of Protocol Systems, Inc. The expiration or early termination of that
waiting period was one of the conditions to the completion of the tender offer.
The tender offer is currently scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York
City time, on Wednesday, July 5, 2000, unless the offer is extended.
This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase or a
solicitation of an offer to sell securities, nor a recommendation with respect
to any such offer. The complete terms and conditions of the tender offer are set
forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated June 7, 2000, and the related Letter of
Transmittal, and the solicitation/recommendation of Protocol Systems, Inc. is
set forth in its Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9. Each
of the foregoing documents was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), and mailed to the shareholders of Protocol Systems, Inc., on June 7,
2000. These documents may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov. You may also obtain a copy of these documents free of charge from
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ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, Inc., the information agent for the tender
offer, by calling toll-free (888) 509-7936.
Protocol Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets
mission-critical flexible monitoring solutions that improve patient care and
lower healthcare operating costs. Protocol uses innovative computer and software
technologies to provide vital patient data and connect clinicians with mobile
patients via workstations, wireless devices and the Internet. Protocol is based
in Beaverton, Ore. and its products are available in more than 90 countries
around the world.
Welch Allyn, Inc. was founded in 1915 and is today a leading
manufacturer and marketer of innovative medical and dental diagnostic equipment
and miniature precision lamps. Headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, New York,
USA, Welch Allyn, Inc. has more than 1,800 employees and numerous manufacturing,
sales, and distribution facilities located throughout the world.
