National Dentex Enters into Merger Agreement with GeoDigm
National Dentex Enters into Merger Agreement with GeoDigm
National Dentex Corporation, one of the largest owner/operators of dental laboratories in North America, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger to be acquired by GDC Holdings, Inc., which is a holding company of GeoDigm Corporation (GeoDigm), a technology based manufacturing and laboratory company and a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe XI, L.P. (Welsh Carson).
Under the terms of the merger agreement, National Dentex's shareholders will receive $17.00 in cash for each share of National Dentex common stock they hold, representing a premium of approximately 70% over National Dentex's most recent closing share price of $10.02 on April 1, 2010.
The board of directors of National Dentex has unanimously approved and adopted the merger agreement and resolved to recommend that National Dentex's shareholders approve the merger agreement.
"This agreement provides an attractive all-cash valuation to our shareholders," said David L. Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Dentex. "We continually monitor emerging dental technologies, and we view GeoDigm's ICON(R) platform as having the most transformative effect on lab operations, product quality, and consistency. Additionally we see GeoDigm's high quality lab network as a natural complement to ours. So in addition to delivering value to National Dentex's shareholders, the combination of National Dentex and GeoDigm creates clear value for National Dentex's dental clients," said Mr. Brown.
"GeoDigm's technology and lab operations have a proven track record of increasing prosthetic quality and consistency for dentists in the upper Midwest," added Andrew Hofmeister Chief Executive Officer of GeoDigm. "National Dentex's strong management team and broad laboratory network are vital to extending ICON(R) technology's benefits to dental clients everywhere. Welsh Carson's financial sponsorship greatly increases the National Dentex - GeoDigm combination's acquisition capacity. This capacity offers unaffiliated laboratory owners an opportunity to acquire fundamentally transformative technology through joining an industry leader," said Mr. Hofmeister.
The transaction is subject to customary conditions to closing, including the approval of National Dentex's shareholders and requisite regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. National Dentex expects the transaction to close at the end of the quarter ending June 30, 2010.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, National Dentex may solicit acquisition proposals from third parties until the end of the day on May 12, 2010. There can be no assurance that an alternative transaction proposal will emerge. For further information regarding all items and conditions contained in the definitive merger agreement, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed in connection with this transaction.
BB&T Capital Markets serves as financial advisor to National Dentex and Signal Hill Capital Group LLC provided a fairness opinion to the Company's Board of Directors. Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP is serving as legal counsel to National Dentex. GDC and Welsh Carson's legal counsel is Ropes & Gray LLP.
