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Filed by Arch Wireless, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425
Subject Company: Arch Wireless, Inc.
Registration Statement File No.: 333-93321
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bob Lougee
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Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 508-870-6771
ARCH SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER WITH PAGENET
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COURT DENIES MOTION TO TERMINATE EXCLUSIVITY AND REQUEST TO FILE COMPETING PLAN
Westborough, MA (October 6, 2000) - Arch Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCH) today
announced that shareholders approved the company's pending merger with Paging
Network, Inc. at a special meeting of shareholders. The vote of Arch
shareholders was one of the remaining approvals necessary to complete the
transaction.
The transaction still requires the approval of PageNet stakeholders. PageNet is
currently soliciting stakeholder votes for its plan of reorganization, filed in
its Chapter 11 proceeding, which implements the Arch merger. A hearing on the
confirmation of the PageNet plan is scheduled for October 26, 2000. If
confirmed, Arch and PageNet expect to consummate the plan of reorganization and
merger shortly thereafter.
In addition, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware yesterday
denied a motion by Metrocall, Inc. to terminate exclusivity in connection with
PageNet's plan of reorganization. The court also denied Metrocall's request to
file a competing plan. At the hearing, representatives of PageNet's banks and
noteholders again expressed their support for PageNet's plan of reorganization
and the Arch merger.
Arch and PageNet announced their merger agreement last November. The merger,
which will include an exchange of Arch common stock for PageNet's senior
subordinated notes as well as a spin-off to PageNet's noteholders of 80.5% of
the stock of PageNet's wireless solutions subsidiary, Vast Solutions, remains
subject to approval by PageNet's secured and unsecured creditors and the
bankruptcy court.
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PageNet is a leading provider of wireless messaging and information services in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
and Canada. The company offers a full range of messaging services, including
two-way wireless e-mail. PageNet's wholly-owned subsidiary, Vast Solutions,
develops integrated wireless solutions to increase productivity and improve
performance for major corporations. Additional information about PageNet and
Vast is available on the Internet at www.pagenet.com and www.vast.com.
Arch Wireless, Inc., Westborough, MA, is a leading U.S. Internet messaging and
wireless information company providing local, regional and nationwide wireless
communications services to customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia
and in the Caribbean. Arch operates through sales offices and company-owned
stores across the country. Additional information about Arch is available on the
Internet at www.arch.com.
Arch Wireless, Inc. has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement on Form S-4 in connection with the debt exchange being
undertaken in connection with the merger (File No. 333-93321) and has filed
definitive proxy materials containing information about the merger. Investors
and security holders are urged to read the registration statement and the
definitive proxy materials carefully. The registration statement and the proxy
materials contain important information about Arch Wireless, Inc., Paging
Network, Inc., the merger and related matters. Investors and security holders
are able to obtain free copies of these documents through the web site
maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http//www.sec.gov.
In addition to the registration statement and the proxy materials, Arch
Wireless, Inc. and Paging Network, Inc. file annual, quarterly and special
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information
filed by them at the SEC public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 or at the Commission's other public reference rooms in
New York, NY and Chicago, IL. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on public reference rooms. These filings with the Commission
also are available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and
at the web site maintained by the Commission at http//www.sec.gov. You may also
obtain for free each of these documents, when available, from Arch Wireless,
Inc. at (508) 870-6700 or write to: Investor Relations Department, Arch
Wireless, Inc., 1800 West Park Drive, Suite 250, Westborough, MA 01581.
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