Offer Document Posted

RNS Number:4859K
3M UK Holdings PLC
16 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

EMBARGOED UNTIL 7.00 AM ON 16 OCTOBER 2006

16 October 2006

3M UK HOLDINGS PLC ("3M") RECOMMENDED OFFER FOR BIOTRACE INTERNATIONAL PLC ("
BIOTRACE")

OFFER DOCUMENT POSTED

Further to the announcement made on 4 October 2006, 3M announces that the offer
document (the "Offer Document") containing the full terms and conditions of the
recommended cash Offer by 3M for Biotrace has been posted to Biotrace
shareholders, together with the Form of Acceptance.

If you hold Biotrace Shares in certificated form, to accept the Offer, you
should complete, sign and return the Form of Acceptance, which accompanies your
Offer Document, in accordance with the instructions thereon and set out in the
Offer Document as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received by
Capita Registrars by no later than 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 3 November 2006.

If you hold Biotrace Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST), to
accept the Offer you should accept the Offer electronically through CREST in
accordance with the instructions set out in the Offer Document so that the TTE
Instruction settles by no later than 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 3 November 2006.
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 CRESTCo.

Copies of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance are available for
inspection (during normal business hours only on any weekday) at the offices of
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, City Place House, 35 Basinghall Street,
London EC2V 5EH (Ref Myoung Rhee) throughout the period during which the Offer
remains open for acceptance.

Terms defined in the Offer Document have the same meaning in this announcement.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Offer,
before or during the period in which the 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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