Fairness opinionsMedical Devices and Supplies2024

Atrion acquired by Nordson: fairness opinion by Truist Securities

Announced May 28, 2024 · One-step merger · All cash · DEFM14A filed July 15, 2024
Medical Devices and Supplies Medical Devices
Enterprise value
$800M
equity $815M
EV / LTM EBITDA
19.1x
EBITDA $41.8M · 23% margin
EV / LTM revenue
4.36x
revenue $183M
DCF discount rate
11.0%–12.0%
Perpetuity growth

Deal terms

ConsiderationAll cash
Price per share$460.00
Premium7.0%
Premium basis30-day average daily volume-weighted average price (per Truist informational metrics)
StructureOne-step merger
Termination fee$20.0M (2.5% of equity)
Reverse termination fee$40.7M
Go-shopNone
Outside dateAugust 28, 2025

Implied value per share by method vs. $460.00 offer

Selected companies — EV / CY2024E EBITDA $402.60 – $449.90
Precedent transactions — TV / LTM EBITDA $377.30 – $423.00
Discounted cash flow $321.40 – $433.90

Ranges as disclosed in the banker’s summary of analyses; the red line marks the per-share consideration.

Opinion of Truist Securities to the target board

Delivered May 27, 2024 · Fee $14.3M ($12.3M contingent on closing)

Discounted cash flow assumptions

Discount rate11.0%–12.0%
Basisselected range of discount rates
Terminal valuePerpetuity growth
Perpetuity growth5.0%–6.0%
Exit multiple
Projection period2024E-2028E
Projections usedAtrion management Financial Projections (as modified); unlevered free cash flow calculated by Truist Securities and approved by management
Implied value per share$321.40–$433.90

Cash flows discounted to present value as of May 24, 2024.

Selected public companies (5)

Enpro Inc. · Integer Holdings Corporation · Merit Medical Systems, Inc. · Nordson Corporation · UFP Technologies, Inc.

MultiplePeer lowPeer medianPeer highRange appliedImplied per share
EV / CY2024E EBITDA13.9x17.8x23.9x 16.5x–18.5x $402.60–$449.90

Selected precedent transactions (7)

DateTargetAcquirerMultiple
2023-10Paragon Medical Corp.Ametek, Inc.
2023-05Spectrum Plastics GroupDuPont de Nemours, Inc.
2022-02Intricon CorporationAltaris Capital Partners, LLC
2021-07Flexan LLCILC Dover LP
2021-06Paramit CorporationTecan Group AG
2018-04Paragon Medical Corp.NN, Inc.
2017-02Vention Medical Advanced Technologies DivisionNordson Corporation
MultipleLowMedianHighRange appliedImplied per share
TV / LTM EBITDA14.7x15.6x24.0x 16.0x–18.0x $377.30–$423.00

Other analyses

AnalysisSummaryImplied per share
Certain Additional Information - implied transaction metricsAt the $460.00 merger consideration: implied LTM (as of 3/31/2024) EBITDA multiple of 19.6x, implied 2024E EBITDA multiple of 18.9x, and implied premia over the 30-day, 60-day and 90-day VWAPs of approximately 7.0%, 8.2% and 15.3%, respectively. For informational purposes only.
Historical trading performanceReviewed share trading from January 1, 2024 through May 24, 2024, indicating a median closing price of $399.35 per share. For informational purposes only.

Aggregate fee estimated at approximately $14.3 million, a portion payable upon delivery of the opinion and approximately $12.3 million contingent on consummation. Truist and affiliates received approximately $600,000 in fees from Nordson and/or its affiliates over the prior two years (lender/corporate banking services).

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Management projections

Projection yearYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4CAGR
Revenue$206M$233M$261M$295M12.6%
Revenue growth12.5%13.0%11.9%13.0%
EBITDA$62.5M$74.4M$86.7M$103M17.9%
EBITDA growth49.5%19.0%16.5%18.2%
EBITDA margin30%32%33%35%
Implied EV / EBITDA12.8x10.8x9.2x7.8x

Year-1 growth is against LTM at announcement ($183M revenue, $41.8M EBITDA); later years are year over year.

Atrion management prepared standalone, non-public Financial Projections for fiscal years 2024E-2028E, approved by the Board on April 1, 2024 and subsequently modified for changes in the expected business pipeline. Total Revenue grows from $183.3 million in 2024E to $294.7 million in 2028E ($294.1 million as modified), with EBITDA of $41.8 million in 2024E ($41.9 million as modified) rising to $102.5 million in 2028E ($102.3 million as modified). Unlevered free cash flow, calculated by Truist Securities from the modified projections and approved by management, ranged from $28 million in 2024E to $48 million in 2028E; UFCF calculations and the 2026E revenue modification were not provided to Nordson.

Process notes

Single fairness opinion from Truist Securities to the Atrion Board of Directors. Truist was not asked to and did not conduct a market check/solicitation of third-party indications of interest. Truist disclosed an ongoing lending and corporate banking relationship with acquirer Nordson (~$600,000 in fees over prior two years). Atrion termination fee of $20 million equals approximately 2.46% of the ~$815 million implied equity value; Nordson reverse termination fee of $40.725 million (5% of equity value) payable in certain regulatory failure circumstances. Outside date could extend to as late as August 28, 2025 if regulatory approvals are not obtained within nine months. Special meeting scheduled for August 19, 2024; record date July 10, 2024 with 1,759,954 shares outstanding.

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