UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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Affymetrix, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than The Registrant)
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Memorandum
DATE: | March 18, 2016
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Affymetrix, Inc. 3420 Central Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95051 www.affymetrix.com | ||
TO: | All Affymetrix Employees
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FROM: | Frank Witney
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SUBJECT: | News of March 18th |
Dear Global Affymetrix team,
As you may have seen in the news, we received an unsolicited proposal from Origin Technologies this morning. While the Board is reviewing the proposal, as of now the Affymetrix board continues to recommend to its stockholders the adoption of the merger agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Board is focused on complying with its fiduciary duties and the terms of the merger agreement with Thermo Fisher. We have no further comment at this time. Please do not respond to any inquiries on this, and all such inquiries should be directed to Siang Chin or Doug Farrell. In the meantime, please stay focused on your goals and, as required, any integration planning you may be involved in.
Thanks, as always, for all your contributions to Affymetrix.
Sincerely,
Frank Witney
President & Chief Executive Officer
Important Information for Affymetrix Stockholders
In connection with the proposed merger, Affymetrix has filed a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). STOCKHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED WITH THE SEC ON FEBRUARY 24, 2016 BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, stockholders will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other relevant documents at Affymetrix website at investor.Affymetrix.com or by contacting Affymetrix investor relations department via e-mail at investor@affymetrix.com.
Affymetrix and its directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees as well as Thermo Fisher and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Affymetrix stockholders with respect to the merger. Information about Affymetrix directors and executive officers and their ownership of Affymetrix common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Affymetrix 2016 Special Meeting of Stockholders, Affymetrix Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and proxy statement for Affymetrix 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information about Thermo Fishers directors and executive officers is set forth in the proxy statement for Thermo Fishers 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the merger, including the interests of Affymetrix directors and executive officers in the merger, which may be different than those of Affymetrix stockholders generally, by reading the proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the merger, which have been filed with the SEC.