Global, broad-based health care company Abbott has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Rainforest Acquisition has successfully completed the tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Advanced Medical Optics. The tender offer expired at midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, Febraury 24, 2009, and was not extended.

The depositary for the tender offer has advised Abbott that a total of approximately 56,395,914 shares of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) common stock were validly tendered and not withdrawn, including approximately 6,657,258 shares subject to guaranteed delivery procedures. These shares, together with the shares beneficially owned by Abbott and its wholly owned subsidiaries, represent approximately 93.5 percent of AMO's outstanding shares of common stock, or approximately 83.1 percent on a fully diluted basis. All AMO shares that were validly tendered in the offer and not properly withdrawn have been accepted for payment.

As the final step of the acquisition process, Abbott intends to effect a short-form merger as promptly as practicable, without the need for a meeting of AMO stockholders. As a result of the merger, the remaining AMO stockholders, other than those who properly exercise dissenters' rights, will receive the same $22 per share price, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, that was paid in the tender offer.

Advanced Medical Optics is focused on providing full range of advanced refractive technologies and support to help eye care professionals deliver optimal vision and lifestyle experiences to patients of all ages.

After the merger, AMO will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott and AMO shares will cease to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.