Application Submitted for Scheme of Arrangement Meetings to Approve Ventana's Acquisition of Vision Systems

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: VMSI) today
announced that Vision Systems Limited (ASX: VSL) has submitted an
application to the Supreme Court of Victoria in Australia seeking
orders to convene on November 2, 2006, the Scheme of Arrangement
meetings for Ventana's acquisition of Vision. In separate meetings to
be held on that proposed date, Vision will seek approval from its
shareholders and noteholders for the acquisition by Ventana. The
application is scheduled to be heard by the Court on September 22,
2006.
   On August 14, 2006, Ventana and Vision entered into a Merger
Implementation Agreement pursuant to which Ventana will pay
approximately US$346 million in cash (A$2.13 per share) for all the
outstanding shares of Vision Systems and retirement of Vision Systems'
convertible debt. The merger agreement has been unanimously approved
by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

   About Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

   Ventana Medical Systems develops, manufactures, and markets
instrument/reagent systems that automate slide preparation and
staining in anatomical pathology and drug discovery laboratories
worldwide. Ventana's clinical systems are important tools used in the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Ventana's
drug discovery systems are used to accelerate the discovery of new
drug targets and evaluate the safety of new drug compounds. Visit the
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., website at http://www.ventanamed.com.