TOKYO and MADISON, Wis., March 30, 2015 — FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) (“Fujifilm”) and Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CEO: Robert Palay) (“CDI”), a leading developer and manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities, announced that the two companies have entered into a agreement whereby Fujifilm will acquire CDI via an all-cash tender offer to be followed by a second step merger.
Fujifilm aims to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of CDI’s common stock for $16.5 per share or approximately $ 307 million (on a fully diluted basis). The offer represents a premium of 108% to CDI’s closing price on March 27. Upon completion of the transaction, CDI will continue to run its operations in Madison, Wisconsin and Novato, California as a consolidated subsidiary of Fujifilm.
CDI was founded in 2004 and listed on NASDAQ in July 2013. The company had global revenues of $16.7 million in 2014 and currently has 155 employees. CDI’s technology platform enables the production of high-quality fully functioning human cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), on an industrial scale. CDI’s proprietary iCell product catalogue also includes 12 iPSC based cell types, including: iCell Cardomyocytes, iCell Hepatocytes, and iCell Neurons.
Fujifilm Acquires CDI to Expand Its Regenerative Medicine Portfolio
Stemming from knowledge about photographic films, Fujifilm has developed highly-biocompatible recombinant peptides that can be shaped into a variety of forms for use as a cellular scaffold in regenerative medicine when used in conjunction with CDI’s products. Fujifilm has been strengthening its presence in the regenerative medicine field over several years, including by acquiring a majority of shares of Japan Tissue Engineering Co. in December 2014.
Fujifilm aquisition of CDI will position it to gain dominance in the area of iPS cell-based drug discovery support services. Fujifilm will also benefit from strategically combining CDI’s iPS cell technology with Fujifilm’s expertise in material science, engineering, and quality management systems.
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