Sirona Dental Systems and Schick Technologies Join Forces in $1.9 Billion Merger

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is representing Sirona Dental Systems -- a Madison Dearborn Partners portfolio company -- in its $1.9 billion merger with Schick Technologies, Inc.. The transaction will create a leading global player in dental technology with strong product lines in all of the major dental segments. Schick has a leading position in digital intra-oral imaging systems in North America, while Sirona is a leading supplier of CEREC CAD/CAM restoration equipment, panoramic and intra-oral imaging systems, treatment centers and instruments worldwide.

The Kirkland team is led by Chicago partners Sanford E. Perl and Mark A. Fennell.

"We are excited about this merger and confident of the future growth of the combined company. Schick is a logical fit, complementing Sirona's strengths, particularly in the United States," commented Jost C. Fischer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirona. "Sirona and Schick are two of the true innovators in our sector, and our united R&D platform will benefit our distribution partners, customers and patients."

Timothy P. Sullivan, Managing Director of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC and a director of Sirona, added: "We believe the combination of these two strong companies will create significant shareholder value and are excited to remain a major shareholder in Sirona Dental Systems."

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,000-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex corporate, restructuring, tax, litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.