Medtronic Completes Acquisition of HeartWare International

Medtronic plc has completed its acquisition of HeartWare International Inc., an innovator of less-invasive, miniaturized, mechanical circulatory support technologies (MCS) for treating patients with advanced heart failure. HeartWare will become part of the Heart Failure business within the Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division. Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of HeartWare common stock has been converted into the right to receive $58.00 in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding of taxes.
 
HeartWare develops and manufactures miniaturized implantable heart pumps, or ventricular assist devices (VAD), to treat patients around the world suffering from advanced heart failure. Its flagship product, the HVAD System, features the world’s smallest full-support VAD and is indicated for refractory end-stage left-ventricular heart failure patients in the U.S. who are awaiting a heart transplant, as well as approved in Europe for long-term use in patients at risk of death from refractory, end-stage heart failure.
 
Medtronic estimates that the global VAD market is approximately $800 million currently, and worldwide is expected to grow in the mid-to-high single digits for calendar years 2016-17, and accelerate to high-single/low-double digits beyond calendar year 2017.
 
“Not only does the current HeartWare portfolio expand Medtronic leadership across the heart failure continuum, its product pipeline—when married with our expertise—can result in progressively less-invasive heart pumps that have the potential to benefit even more patients,” said David Steinhaus, M.D., vice president and general manager of the Heart Failure business, and medical director for the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division at Medtronic. “Today, Medtronic offers the industry’s leading cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, including MR-conditional CRT-defibrillators; MCS therapy for advanced heart failure patients; heart failure diagnostics; and meaningful expert analysis through Medtronic Care Management Services, including the recently launched Beacon Heart Failure Management Service.”
 
The acquisition of HeartWare broadens the Medtronic portfolio of therapies, diagnostic tools and services for patients suffering from heart failure, aligning with Medtronic’s Mission of alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life. The acquisition is part of the Company’s therapy innovation strategy to surround the physician with innovative products while focusing on patients and disease states.
 
“This is an exciting moment, as more than 600 HeartWare employees are now part of the broader Medtronic organization,” said Doug Godshall, who served as president and chief executive of HeartWare for the past decade. “HeartWare has delivered incredible advancements for patients suffering from heart failure, through the commercialization of the HVAD system and pipeline development, and I am convinced that being part of Medtronic will allow us to accelerate meaningful innovations even more quickly.”
 
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Heart failure usually develops slowly after an injury to the heart. Some injuries may include a progressive deterioration of the heart muscle, heart attack, untreated high blood pressure, or heart valve disease. Heart failure remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death in the United States, and its prevalence continues to increase, affecting more than 5 million people in the U.S. alone. The cost of heart failure is high. Healthcare expenditures in the U.S. on heart failure are estimated to be approximately $39 billion per year, making it one of the largest expenses to the healthcare system. With the aging of the population, Medtronic estimates that the number of patients with heart failure could exceed 8 million by 2030.
 
This transaction is expected to meet Medtronic’s long-term financial metrics for acquisitions. Medtronic does not intend to modify its fiscal year 2017 revenue outlook or earnings per share (EPS) guidance as a result of this transaction, although it is expected to provide increased confidence in the company’s ability to deliver on its FY17 revenue growth outlook. In addition, Medtronic expects minimal to no net EPS dilution from this transaction for the first two years as the company intends to offset the expected dilutive impact. The acquisition is expected to be earnings accretive in year three.