BOI Bank Irel13.375

RNS Number:0747K
3M UK Holdings PLC
06 October 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



PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6 October 2006

130 PENCE CASH OFFER (THE "OFFER")

FOR BIOTRACE INTERNATIONAL PLC ("BIOTRACE")

BY 3M UK HOLDINGS PLC ("3M") (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF 3M COMPANY)

SHARE PURCHASES


On Wednesday 4 October 2006, 3M announced the terms of an Offer to acquire the
entire issued and to be issued share capital of Biotrace. Under the terms of the
Offer, Biotrace Shareholders will receive, for each Biotrace Share held, 130
pence in cash.



3M is pleased to announce that yesterday it purchased, from a number of Biotrace
Shareholders, in aggregate 3,906,489 Biotrace Shares, representing approximately
9.9 per cent. of Biotrace's issue share capital.



As a result of these purchases, 3M owns or has received irrevocable underakings
in respect of, in aggregate, 16,458,685 Biotrace Shares, representing
approximately 41.9 per cent. of Biotrace's issued share capital.



Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless defined in this
announcement, have the meaning given to them in the offer announcement dated 4
October 2006.



Enquiries:



3M


Bruce Jermeland (Manager of Investor Relations)     Tel: +1 651 733 1807

Matt Ginter (Vice President Investor Relations 
& Financial Planning)                               Tel: +1 651 733 8206



UBS Investment Bank (Financial adviser to 3M)
Aidan Clegg                                         Tel: +44 (0)20 7568 0000
Nik Morandi




Financial Dynamics (PR adviser to 3M)
Andrew Dowler                                       Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
Anna Keeble




The directors of 3M accept responsibility for the information contained in this
announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of 3M,
who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case, the
information contained in this announcement for which they are responsible is in
accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import
of such information.



UBS, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting exclusively for 3M and no one else in connection
with the Cash Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than 3M for
providing the protections afforded to its customers or for providing advice in
relation to the Cash Offer, the contents of this announcement or any transaction
or arrangement referred to herein.



This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part
of, any offer to sell or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe
for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any
jurisdiction.  Any acceptance or other response to the Cash Offer should be made
only on the basis of the information contained or referred to in the Offer
Document and the Form of Acceptance.  The laws of relevant jurisdictions may
affect the availability of the Cash Offer to persons not resident in the United
Kingdom.  Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, or who are subject
to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should inform
themselves about and observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of
their jurisdiction.  The Offer Document will be available for public inspection
and will also be posted on 3M's website.



Unless otherwise determined by 3M, the Cash Offer will not be made, directly or
indirectly, in, into or from or by the use of mails of, or by any means of
instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or
electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or through any facilities
of a national securities exchange of any jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction and the Cash
Offer, when made, should not be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality
or facilities or from or within any such jurisdiction.  Accordingly, copies of
this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from any jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction and persons
receiving this announcement (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees
and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in, into
or from any such jurisdiction.  Doing so may render invalid any purported
acceptance of the Cash Offer.



In accordance with normal UK market practice, 3M or its nominees or brokers
(acting as agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of, or
arrangements to purchase, Biotrace Shares, other than pursuant to the Cash
Offer, before or during the period in which the Cash Offer remains open for
acceptance.  These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing
prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices.  Any information about
such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK.





END





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