LivaNova Enters Binding Letter of Intent to Sell Cardiac Rhythm Management Business

January 26, 2018 — LivaNova PLC and MicroPort Scientific Corp. announced the companies have entered into a binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for the sale of LivaNova’s Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) business franchise to MicroPort for $190 million in cash.

The CRM Business Franchise develops, manufactures and markets products for the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart rhythm disorders and heart failures. CRM products include high-voltage defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy devices and low-voltage pacemakers. The CRM Business Franchise generated approximately $249 million in net sales in fiscal year 2016 and has approximately 900 employees with operations chiefly in Clamart, France; Saluggia, Italy; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

In 2014, LivaNova (formerly Sorin Group) and MicroPort founded a China-based joint venture called MicroPort Sorin CRM (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. to market CRM devices, including implantable pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices, in China. During the past four years, the Joint Venture has achieved many milestones in the development, manufacture and promotion of CRM products for the China market. In September 2017, the Joint Venture announced the China Food and Drug Administration approval of the Rega pacemaker family, the smallest sized pacemakers available on the Chinese market.

MicroPort Chairman and CEO Zhaohua Chang, M.D., said that the strong position of LivaNova’s CRM business franchise in Europe complements MicroPort’s leadership position in China and growing presence in the United States and emerging markets, enabling both parties to expand their worldwide reach.

LivaNova CEO Damien McDonald said the sale of the CRM business will allow the company to focus on its Cardiac Surgery and Neuromodulation businesses.

LivaNova previously announced on Sept. 14, 2017, that it was reviewing strategic options for the CRM Business Franchise, including a potential divestiture.

The companies expect the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2018.

For more information: www.livanova.com, www.microport.com