Laser and laser-based technology company Coherent (Santa Clara, CA) and industrial laser sources and laser-based solutions and components company ROFIN-SINAR (Plymouth, MI and Hamburg, Germany) announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which Coherent will acquire Rofin for $32.50 per share in cash--a transaction valued at approximately $942 million dollars.
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ROFIN develops and manufactures lasers for laser-based industrial material processing applications and says it possesses a broad portfolio of innovative technologies with a product offering that includes solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, diode lasers, as well as an extensive range of pulsed laser products and carbon-dioxide (CO2) lasers for a global customer base.
"This transaction is aligned with our strategy of increasing our scale and pursuing accretive growth opportunities," said John Ambroseo, Coherent's president and CEO. "The combination of Coherent and ROFIN represents a unique opportunity to strengthen Coherent's position in materials processing. The addition of ROFIN's complementary portfolio will build on Coherent's capabilities as a world leader in laser and photonics-based technology and solutions and create meaningful value for our stockholders."
Ambroseo added, "Both Coherent's and ROFIN's customers participate in today's most demanding markets and together we will be well-positioned to better meet their evolving needs. This combination will create meaningful opportunities for our customers across the globe as we advance the development of technologies while offering them access to the industry’s broadest portfolio of differentiated solutions as well as outstanding application support and customer service."
"We are delighted to announce this combination, which will deliver significant and immediate value for ROFIN stockholders," said Peter Wirth, chairman of ROFIN's board of directors. "It grows out of the successful technological and strategic transformation that ROFIN has been undergoing under the leadership of the Board and management team and the hard work of ROFIN's many talented professionals to execute our strategic plan."
Thomas Merk, ROFIN's president and CEO said, "Coherent and ROFIN are highly complementary both technologically and geographically. Together, we will significantly increase the value we can bring to our customers by creating a better-positioned, highly diversified company with a greater breadth of product offerings and innovation and a comprehensive technology portfolio. Our two companies share similar cultures and we are excited for our customers and employees to benefit from the greater resources and growth prospects that come from being part of a larger organization."
Ambroseo concluded, "ROFIN has an outstanding employee base and we look forward to welcoming them into the Coherent family. Together, we can accelerate the growth of the ROFIN portfolio based on our proven track record of successfully investing in, integrating and working alongside the businesses we have acquired. Given our shared cultures and focus on customers and innovation, we expect a smooth transition."
The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings per share in the first full year following the close. Coherent expects to realize approximately $30 million in annualized run rate synergies within 18 to 24 months post-closing, achieved through increased efficiencies, leveraging the scale of the combined businesses and optimizing the combined R&D portfolio. Additional synergies are expected through accelerated growth from combining the best capabilities from both companies with a presence in over 60 global markets.
Coherent intends to finance the transaction through a combination of cash on hand and fully committed debt financing from Barclays.
The transaction is expected to close within six to nine months, subject to approval by ROFIN stockholders, regulatory approvals in the U.S. and other countries as well as other customary closing conditions.
SOURCE: Coherent;http://www.coherent.com/investors/index.cfm?fuseaction=Popups.ViewRelease_v3&ID=1070
