Fairness opinionsDiagnostics / Life Sciences2015

Clarient acquired by NeoGenomics: fairness opinion by Houlihan Lokey

Announced October 20, 2015 · Merger · Cash and stock · DEFM14A filed November 13, 2015
Diagnostics / Life Sciences Laboratories: Genetics
Enterprise value
$248M
equity $301M
EV / LTM EBITDA
14.4x
EBITDA $17.2M · 13% margin
EV / LTM revenue
1.83x
revenue $136M
DCF discount rate
8.0%–10.0%
Exit multiple

Deal terms

ConsiderationCash and stock
Price per share
Premium
Premium basis
StructureMerger
Termination fee$15.0M
Reverse termination fee
Go-shopNone
Outside date

Aggregate purchase price of approximately $301.4 million (based on NeoGenomics' closing stock price on November 10, 2015) for all outstanding shares of Clarient, Inc. held by GE Medical Holdings AB, consisting of $80.0 million cash, 15,000,000 NeoGenomics common shares and 14,666,667 shares of NeoGenomics Series A convertible preferred stock (conversion price $7.50/share). NeoGenomics may elect to increase the cash portion by up to $110.0 million with a corresponding reduction in preferred shares.

Opinion of Houlihan Lokey to the acquirer board

Delivered October 19, 2015 · Fee $0.3M ($0.0M contingent on closing)

Discounted cash flow assumptions

Discount rate8.0%–10.0%
BasisWACC
Terminal valueExit multiple
Perpetuity growth
Exit multiple8.0x–12.0x FY2025E EBITDA
Projection period2015E-2025E
Projections usedAdjusted Clarient Projections (prepared by management of GE Medical and Clarient, as adjusted and extrapolated by NeoGenomics management); synergies per NeoGenomics management
Implied value per share

Implied equity value reference range of approximately $163 million to $253 million for Clarient without Synergies and approximately $326 million to $470 million with Synergies, compared to Transaction consideration of ~$282 million (one-month average NEO closing price) and ~$278 million (October 16, 2015 closing price).

Selected public companies (11)

Cancer Genetics, Inc. · Enzo Biochem Inc. · Foundation Medicine, Inc. · Genomic Health Inc. · Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings · Myriad Genetics, Inc. · NeoGenomics, Inc. · Quest Diagnostics Inc. · Sequenom, Inc. · Sonic Healthcare Limited · Veracyte, Inc.

MultiplePeer lowPeer medianPeer highRange appliedImplied per share
EV / LTM Revenue1.7x2.6x6.3x 1.5x–2.5x
EV / NFY Revenue1.7x2.3x5.3x 1.5x–2.5x
EV / NFY+1 Revenue1.5x2.1x3.5x 1.3x–2.3x

Selected precedent transactions (13)

DateTargetAcquirerMultiple
2015-06-04Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc.Opko Health, Inc.
2014-11-03Covance Inc.Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings
2014-07-08Path Logic, Inc.NeoGenomics, Inc.
2014-02-04Crescendo Bioscience, Inc.Myriad Genetics, Inc.
2013-10-22PLUS Diagnostics, Inc.Miraca Life Sciences, Inc.
2013-06-25CML Healthcare Inc.LifeLabs, Inc.
2013-03-06Althea Technologies, Inc.Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
2013-01-30BioClinica, Inc.JLL Partners
2012-06-04MEDTOX Scientific Inc.Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings
2011-09-08Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.PerkinElmer Inc.
2011-01-24Genoptix, Inc.Novartis Finance Corporation
2010-09-13Esoterix Genetic Laboratories, LLCLaboratory Corp. of America Holdings
2010-02-04Medhold NVSonic Healthcare Limited
MultipleLowMedianHighRange appliedImplied per share
Transaction Value / LTM Revenue0.6x2.2x4.3x 1.6x–2.3x

Other analyses

AnalysisSummaryImplied per share
Selected Companies Analysis — implied equity value reference rangesApproximately $191 million to $318 million (LTM revenue multiples), approximately $186 million to $310 million (NFY revenue multiples) and approximately $170 million to $306 million (NFY+1 revenue multiples) for Clarient, versus Transaction consideration of ~$282 million / ~$278 million.
Selected Transactions Analysis — implied equity value reference rangeApproximately $204 million to $286 million for Clarient based on 1.60x–2.25x LTM revenue, versus Transaction consideration of ~$282 million / ~$278 million.
Historical trading / contribution reviewHoulihan Lokey reviewed current and historical market prices and trading volume for NeoGenomics' publicly traded securities and those of other relevant companies, and compared the relative contributions of NeoGenomics and Clarient to certain financial statistics of the combined company on a pro forma basis. No implied value range disclosed.

Aggregate fee of $350,000; a portion payable upon execution of the engagement letter and the balance payable upon delivery of the opinion. No portion contingent upon successful completion of the Transaction. Expense reimbursement and indemnity also provided.

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Management projections

Projection yearYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5CAGR
Revenue$145M$155M$168M$184M$199M8.3%
Revenue growth6.5%6.8%8.6%9.4%8.3%
EBITDA$20.0M$25.0M$25.8M$28.7M$30.3M10.9%
EBITDA growth16.3%25.0%3.2%11.2%5.6%
EBITDA margin14%16%15%16%15%
Implied EV / EBITDA12.4x9.9x9.6x8.6x8.2x

Year-1 growth is against LTM at announcement ($136M revenue, $17.2M EBITDA); later years are year over year.

The proxy disclosed Adjusted Clarient Projections for fiscal years 2015E through 2025E, prepared by GE Medical/Clarient management as adjusted and extrapolated by NeoGenomics management: revenue of $123.8 million in 2015E rising to $265.9 million in 2025E, EBITDA of $9.5 million in 2015E rising to $34.4 million in 2025E, and EBIT of $(2.1) million in 2015E rising to $16.4 million in 2025E. NeoGenomics management also prepared estimated synergies, with total net annual savings growing from $0.0 million in 2015 (3-month stub) and $6.0 million in 2016E to $33.0 million in 2025E and terminal (net after-tax savings of $18.0 million in 2025E and $20.1 million terminal, using a 39.0% tax rate). Houlihan Lokey also reviewed NeoGenomics management projections for NeoGenomics for fiscal years 2015 through 2025.

Process notes

Opinion was delivered to the NeoGenomics (acquirer) Board only — this is a buy-side stock issuance proxy; Clarient was a wholly owned GE subsidiary and no target-side fairness opinion was rendered. Houlihan Lokey's opinion addressed fairness to NeoGenomics of the consideration to be paid. Houlihan Lokey's fee of $350,000 was not contingent on closing; Houlihan Lokey has provided and is providing services to GE and its affiliates. Houlihan Lokey assumed, at NeoGenomics' direction, that the NEO Preferred Shares were worth approximately $110.0 million. Transaction consideration referenced as ~$282 million (one-month average NEO share price) and ~$278 million (October 16, 2015 closing price). Termination fees: $3.0 million if stockholders fail to approve the required proposals; up to $15.0 million in other specified circumstances. Aspen Capital Advisors, LLC (affiliated with director Steven Jones) to receive $250 thousand contingent on consummation for proxy solicitation assistance.

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