Fujifilm Holdings announces agreement to acquire SonoSite, Inc.

Fujifilm, through a U.S. subsidiary, will make an all-cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of SonoSite common stock for $54 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of 50.0% over SonoSite’s average closing stock price over the three months ended December 14, 2011, and a 75.4% premium over the closing price on November 2, 2011, the last trading day before news reports relating to a possible sale transaction were first published. The tender offer is scheduled to commence within 20 business days and will remain open for 21 U.S. business days. The transaction is conditioned on the tender of a majority of the outstanding shares of SonoSite and remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including expiration of the applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and necessary foreign jurisdictions. Following the completion of the tender offer, Fujifilm intends to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of SonoSite common stock through a second-step merger.

SonoSite’s Board of Directors will recommend that SonoSite’s shareholders tender their shares to Fujifilm pursuant to the offer. Upon completion of the acquisition, SonoSite will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujifilm, and will continue operations in Bothell, WA. SonoSite will continue to be managed by its current leadership team, who will play a key role in driving the group’s future growth in the medical equipment sector, a key strategic pillar of Fujifilm.

This transaction will bring together the complementary strengths of Fujifilm’s high-quality imaging technologies and SonoSite’s pioneering point-of-care expertise and miniaturization capabilities, amplifying the business’ leadership within the growing HCU sector. In particular, the combined entity will be well-positioned to:

Develop and produce industry-leading and price-competitive products for both point-of-care and traditional diagnostic markets, utilizing Fujifilm and SonoSite’s innovative manufacturing technologies.

Drive the geographic expansion of HCU devices by deploying a worldwide sales infrastructure and distribution channels on a reciprocal basis.

According to a press release Fujifilm has successfully transformed its business structure for growth by expanding from traditional photographic film to other priority business fields. Positioning the medical systems and life sciences business as one of its key growth areas, Fujifilm is seeking to cover "prevention, diagnosis, and treatment" comprehensively as a total healthcare company.