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Meridian Bioscience Announces Filing of Shelf Registration Statement to Replace Expiring Registration Statement

^{Published on 2008-12-02 09:47:20 - Market Wire}
 

CINCINNATI--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ:VIVO) today announced it has filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. This registration statement replaces the Company's existing shelf registration statement originally filed in September 2003 which was scheduled to expire on December 1, 2008. This unlimited shelf registration includes common stock, preferred stock, debt and other types of securities and automatically became effective upon filing.

Meridian may publicly offer these securities from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The specific terms of a future offering, if any, will be provided in a supplemental prospectus relating to any such offering. The Company will use the proceeds from any offerings under the registration statement for a variety of purposes including repayment or refinancing of indebtedness, working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or other business opportunities and general corporate purposes.

The shelf registration will provide flexibility for the possible sale of securities when market conditions are attractive. Meridian has no immediate plans to draw upon the registration.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

A copy of the prospectus included in the registration statement may be obtained at the SEC's website at [ www.sec.gov ], and on the Company's website at [ www.meridianbioscience.com ]. In addition, Meridian will file a prospectus supplement with the SEC in connection with any future offering under the shelf registration statement.

Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, purified reagents and related products and offers biopharmaceutical enabling technologies. Utilizing a variety of methods, these products and diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal, viral and respiratory infections. Meridian's diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company's products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of healthcare. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, serology, parasitology and fungal disease diagnosis. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and related technologies used by biopharmaceutical companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers and biotech companies in more than 60 countries around the world. The Company's shares are traded through NASDAQ's Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website address is [ www.meridianbioscience.com ].