Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) and The ExOne Company (NASDAQ: XONE) have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Desktop Metal will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of ExOne common stock. Under the terms of the agreement, ExOne shareholders will receive $8.50 in cash and $17.00 in shares of Desktop Metal common stock for each share of ExOne common stock, for a total consideration of $25.50 per share, representing a transaction value of $575 million, subject to a collar mechanism as described below and implying a 47.6% premium to the closing price of ExOne’s common stock on August 11, 2021 and a 43.9% premium based on the 30-day average closing price of ExOne common stock. The transaction value also implies an acquisition multiple of 6.4x 2021 consensus revenue estimates for ExOne.
The acquisition of ExOne extends Desktop Metal’s product platforms with complementary solutions to create a comprehensive portfolio combining throughput, flexibility, and materials breadth while allowing customers to optimize production based on their specific application needs. By combining ExOne’s direct sales force with Desktop Metal’s global distribution network of over 200 channel partners, the combined company will enable broader access to additive manufacturing solutions for businesses of all sizes while delivering increased materials innovation to provide customers with more choice and drive new application discovery.
Under the terms of the agreement, at closing, ExOne stockholders will receive total consideration of $575 million, consisting of $192 million in cash consideration and $383 million in share consideration of Desktop Metal common stock, subject to a collar mechanism on the share consideration component described below.
The share consideration component is subject to an exchange ratio adjustment if Desktop Metal’s 20-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) 3 days prior to closing is between $7.94 and $9.70. If the 20-day VWAP exceeds the higher end of that range, the exchange ratio will be fixed at 1.7522 per share, and if the 20-day VWAP goes below the lower end of that range, the exchange ratio will be fixed at 2.1416 per share. The final number of Desktop Metal shares estimated to be issued on a fully diluted basis will range between approximately 39.5 million and 48.3 million shares at closing. Upon closing of the transaction, current Desktop Metal shareholders will own between 85 and 88% and current ExOne shareholders are expected to own between 12 and 15% of the combined company, respectively.
Kent Rockwell, ExOne’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and largest shareholder, has entered into a Support Agreement in which he will vote his 4.2 million shares in favor of the transaction.
The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of ExOne, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of ExOne shareholders and satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Latham & Watkins is acting as legal advisor to Desktop Metal. Stifel is acting as exclusive financial advisor and McGuireWoods LLP is acting as legal advisor to ExOne.
