BOI Bank Irel13.375

RNS Number:6508M
3M UK Holdings PLC
24 November 2006

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS IN THAT JURISDICTION

24 November 2006

                             RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER

                                      FOR

                           BIOTRACE INTERNATIONAL PLC

                                       BY

                               3M UK HOLDINGS PLC

                         ADVISED BY UBS INVESTMENT BANK



                     Offer Unconditional as to Acceptances



1.         Offer Unconditional as to Acceptances

3M UK Holdings PLC ("3M") announces that as at 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 23
November 2006, valid acceptances had been received in respect of, in aggregate,
33,352,602 Biotrace Shares, representing approximately 84.83 per cent. of
Biotrace's issued share capital.  None of these acceptances were received from
persons acting in concert with 3M.  These Biotrace Shares represent in excess of
90 per cent. of the Biotrace Shares to which the Offer relates and, accordingly,
the Offer has become unconditional as to acceptances.

As disclosed in the offer document dated 13 October 2006 (the "Offer Document"),
at the time of the Offer, 3M had received irrevocable undertakings in respect
of, in aggregate, 12,552,196 Biotrace Shares, representing approximately 31.93
per cent. of Biotrace's issued share capital.  Valid acceptances have been
received in respect of all of these Biotrace Shares.

In addition, also as disclosed in the Offer Document, at the time of the Offer,
3M had acquired 3,906,489 Biotrace Shares representing 9.94 per cent. of
Biotrace's issued share capital.

Accordingly, as at 1.00 p.m. on 23 November 2006, 3M owned or had received valid
acceptances in respect of, in aggregate, 37,259,091 Biotrace Shares,
representing approximately 94.77 per cent. of Biotrace's issued share capital.

2.         Extension of the Offer

The Offer remains open for acceptance until further notice.  The Offer remains
subject to the conditions (other than the acceptance condition) and further
terms set out in Part A and Part B of Appendix I to the Offer Document.

Biotrace Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer and who hold Biotrace
Shares in certificated form are urged to complete, sign and return the Form of
Acceptance as soon as possible.

If you hold Biotrace Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST), you are
urged to accept the Offer by TTE instructions as soon as possible.  If you hold
Biotrace Shares as a CREST sponsored member, you should refer to your CREST
sponsor as only your CREST sponsor will be able to send the necessary TTE
instruction to CREST.

Copies of the Offer Document are available from Capita Registrars, The Registry,
34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU.

Terms defined in the Offer Document shall have the same meanings in this
announcement.

3.         Enquiries

Capita Registrars

Tel: 0870 162 3121 (if calling from within the United Kingdom)

Tel: +44 20 8639 2157 (if calling from outside the United Kingdom)

UBS Investment Bank

Tel: +44 20 7567 8100

Contacts: Aidan Clegg, Nik Morandi



UBS, which is authorised and regulated by the FSA, is acting exclusively for 3M
and no one else in connection with this announcement and will not be responsible
to anyone other than 3M for providing the protections afforded to clients of UBS
or for providing advice in connection with this announcement or any other
matters referred to herein.



Numis, which is authorised and regulated by the FSA, is acting exclusively for
Biotrace and no one else in connection with this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Biotrace for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Numis or for providing advice in connection with this announcement
or any other matters referred to herein.



This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer for, or any
solicitation of any offer for, securities. Any acceptance or other response to
the Offer should be made only on the basis of information referred to in the
Offer Document.



The availability of the Offer to persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of their relevant jurisdiction.  Such
persons should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction.  Further details in relation to
Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Offer Document.



Unless otherwise determined by 3M, the Offer is not being, and will not be,
made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by the use of the mails of, or by
any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or
electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or through any facilities
of a national securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction if to do so
would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction, and the
Offer should not be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facilities or from or within the a Restricted Jurisdiction.  Accordingly, copies
of this announcement are not being, and must not be mailed or otherwise
forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction and
all persons receiving this announcement (including nominees, trustees and
custodians) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in, into
or from a Restricted Jurisdiction.  Doing so may render invalid any purported
acceptance of the Offer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 3M will retain the right
to permit the Offer to be accepted and any sale of securities pursuant to the
Offer to be completed if, in its sole discretion, it is satisfied that the
transaction in question can be undertaken in compliance with applicable law and
regulation.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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