Align to Buy Cadent for $190M
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, APRIL 4, 2011
Align Technology, the manufacturer of Invisalign, announced last week that they would purchase intra-oral scanner company Cadent for $190 million. Cadent offers 3-D scanning solutions and is a leader in the scanner space, which the press release says is growing at 20% over the next five years. Align says the acquisition will help accelerate the market acceptance of intra-oral scanners, simplify the Invisalign treatment process for practitioners and allow the company to expand into restorative dentistry.
Align and Cadent announced a development deal in January whereby the companies would co-develop Invisalign software to run on Cadent scanners. Per the press release, the acquisition builds on that collaboration by providing a "dedicated digital scanning platform to dental practitioners" while expanding Align's presence into restorative dentistry. Align says, "Cadent brings . . . CAD/CAM restorative dentistry to Align, including capabilities in digital records storage and digital impressions for fabrication of crown and bridge, veneers, implants and other restorative procedures."
The transaction is expected to close in 2Q:11.
