FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen
Bio-systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: WGBS), a publicly held genomics
technology company ("WaferGen"), today announced that its
stockholders have approved the adoption of the previously announced
merger agreement by and among WaferGen, Takara Bio USA Holdings, Inc. ("Takara Bio") and certain
other parties thereto.
"We are very pleased with the outcome of today's vote and thank
all of our stockholders for their support," said Rollie Carlson, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of WaferGen. "We are confident that our merger
with Takara Bio is the best outcome for WaferGen and our
stockholders and look forward to closing the transaction in the
first quarter of 2017."
Pursuant to the merger agreement, upon completion of the
contemplated merger, WaferGen will become a wholly owned subsidiary
of Takara Bio and WaferGen's outstanding equity securities will be
automatically converted into the right to receive a cash payment,
as more fully described in the proxy statement filed by WaferGen
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 2016.
The merger remains subject to customary closing conditions set
forth in the merger agreement and is expected to close in the first
quarter of 2017.
About WaferGen
WaferGen is a biotechnology company that offers innovative
genomic technology solutions for single-cell analysis and clinical
research. The ICELL8™ Single-Cell System is a first of its kind
system that can isolate thousands of single cells and processes
specific cells for analysis, including Next Generation Sequencing.
The system has demonstrated unbiased isolation of single cells from
solid tumors, brain cells, pulmonary airway cells, and multiple
cell lines. The SmartChip™ platform can be used for profiling and
validating molecular biomarkers, and can perform massively-parallel
singleplex PCR for one-step target enrichment and library
preparation for clinical NGS. The Apollo 324™ system can be used to
process DNA and RNA from clinical samples to next generation
sequencing ready libraries. These technologies offer a powerful set
of tools for biological analysis at the molecular and single-cell
level in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and clinical laboratory
industries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor"
created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which
are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans,
strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use
of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may,"
"will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate,"
"anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking
statements in this press release may address the following subjects
among others: statements regarding the anticipated closing of the
Takara Bio merger agreement, sufficiency of our capital resources,
expected operating losses, expected revenues, expected expenses,
expected cash usage, our expectations regarding our development of
future products including single cell analysis technologies and our
expectations concerning our competitive position and business
strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a
result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties
described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections
of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and any
subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge
you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our
forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place
undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required
by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or
undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to
reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc.
Rollie Carlson
510-277-3417
Rollie.Carlson@wafergen.com
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SOURCE WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc.