A leading supply company moved a step closer to merging withan international conglomerate with final regulatory approval ofthe proposed merger of Applied Biosystems Inc.(NASDAQ:ABIO) of Foster City, Calif., and Perkin-Elmer Corp.(NYSE:PKN) of Norwalk, Conn.

The companies announced Thursday that their registrationstatement became effective with the Securities and ExchangeCommission on Wednesday.

Perkin-Elmer and Applied Biosystems' boards of directorsapproved Perkin-Elmer exchanging 0.678 shares of its stock foreach share of Applied Biosystems. The merger is subject to theapproval of shareholders at meetings scheduled for Feb. 18.

Applied Biosystems produces automated systems used topurify, analyze, interpret and synthesize biological molecules.Annual sales in fiscal 1992 were more than $180 million.

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