RE: Swiss Hearing Aid Firm Sonova Buying Advanced Bionics

[Guest guest]

Original press release via Business Wire - November 9, 2009:

http://tinyurl.com/yc9y7h5

Bob

[Guest guest]

Press release, Advanced Bionics - November 9, 2009

-------------

ADVANCED BIONICS TO BE ACQUIRED BY SONOVA

-- Acquisition to expand Sonova Group’s position as a leader in hearing

healthcare solutions --

VALENCIA, Calif., November 9, 2009 – Advanced Bionics (AB), the only

U.S.-based manufacturer of cochlear implants (or “bionic ears”), announced

today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Sonova

Holding AG, the world’s leading provider of hearing systems. Pending

regulatory and shareholder approval, the transaction is expected to close

within the next three months. The acquisition represents a strategic

expansion into the area of cochlear implants for the Sonova Group, enabling

the group to offer a comprehensive range of solutions for hearing loss.

“Sonova was attracted to our company for our advanced technology, commitment

to our patients and our potential for expansion,” said Greiner, CEO

of Advanced Bionics. “Not only will we continue to grow under the leadership

of Sonova, but we have taken an enormous step toward ensuring that AB

remains the industry’s performance leader, now and in the future. We are

truly excited by the technological possibilities that this acquisition will

offer our candidates and our recipients.”

The Sonova Group brings together Advanced Bionics, a global leader in

cochlear implant manufacturing, and Phonak, a global provider of micro

hearing systems. Both pioneers in their field, Advanced Bionics and Phonak

have 75 years of combined experience in engineering innovative hearing

solutions.

Like Phonak, AB will remain an independent division within the Sonova Group,

but will share the elements that have been driving the success of AB’s new

parent company over the last decade: global sales coverage, outstanding

customer service, a global supply chain, and a dedication to innovation. The

partnership will also provide:

a.. Versatile, attractive, easy-to-use products

b.. High-performance hearing devices

c.. State-of-the-art acoustics and engineering

d.. Industry-leading technology and performance innovations

e.. Expanded international distribution

f.. Lifelong commitment to patients’ needs

g.. Attentive, caring customer service

h.. Improved quality of life for patients

In addition, Phonak’s proven capabilities in the field of micro auditory

devices will set the stage for AB to develop smaller, higher performing

sound processors for patients across the globe. Combined, Sonova, Phonak and

Advanced Bionics will provide the most comprehensive product line in the

hearing healthcare industry, offering a full range of hearing options for

those with mild-to-profound hearing loss.

For the acquisition, UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial

advisor and O'Melveny & Myers LLP acted as exclusive legal advisor to

Advanced Bionics.

About Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear

implant systems in the world. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Valencia,

Calif., AB is the only American company developing cutting-edge cochlear

implant technology that restores hearing to the deaf and allows recipients

to hear their best today, tomorrow, and always.

AB has the most sophisticated cochlear implant system on the market, the

Harmony® HiResolution® Bionic Ear System, with five times more sound

resolution than its competitors, designed to allow recipients to go beyond

deciphering simple speech to hearing music.

With sales in over 30 countries and a proven track record for developing

high-performing, state-of-the-art products, AB’s talented group of 660

technologists and professionals from all over the world are driven to

succeed, work with integrity and stay firmly committed to quality.

To learn more about AB and its revolutionary cochlear implant technology,

please visit www.advancedbionics.com.

About Sonova

Sonova is the leading provider of innovative hearing healthcare solutions.

This globally active group of companies is one of the world's top three

manufacturers of hearing systems, the market leader in wireless

communication systems for audiology applications and a provider of

professional solutions for hearing protection. Sonova is pursuing a clear

growth strategy and is intent on building its market share. To this end it

is constantly expanding its existing business segments and branching out

into other areas of the hearing healthcare industry.

Present in over 90 countries, and with a workforce of over 5,300 employees,

Sonova generated sales of CHF 1.249 billion in the financial year 2008/09

and a net profit of CHF 284 million. This financially strong group of

companies bases its success on innovation, customer focus and proactive cost

management.

The company has been successfully promoting understanding and communication

for over 60 years, and is ideally positioned to benefit from the trends in

this growth industry.

Sonova shares (ticker symbol: SOON) have been listed on the SIX Swiss

Exchange since 1994. For more information please visit www.sonova.com.

Contact:

Olmstead Communications

www.olmsteadwilliams.com

310.479.7055

[Guest guest]

Does anybody have any thoughts on what this will mean for AB in terms of

service, support, technology development etc? I hope it's not like what happens

when a small, high-quality book publisher (for example) gets snapped up by a

corporate giant that just wants to squeeze out all the profit it can.

>

> Press release, Advanced Bionics - November 9, 2009

> -------------

>

> ADVANCED BIONICS TO BE ACQUIRED BY SONOVA

>

>

> -- Acquisition to expand Sonova Group's position as a leader in hearing

> healthcare solutions --

>

>

>

> VALENCIA, Calif., November 9, 2009 – Advanced Bionics (AB), the only

> U.S.-based manufacturer of cochlear implants (or " bionic ears " ), announced

> today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Sonova

> Holding AG, the world's leading provider of hearing systems. Pending

> regulatory and shareholder approval, the transaction is expected to close

> within the next three months. The acquisition represents a strategic

> expansion into the area of cochlear implants for the Sonova Group, enabling

> the group to offer a comprehensive range of solutions for hearing loss.

>

> " Sonova was attracted to our company for our advanced technology, commitment

> to our patients and our potential for expansion, " said Greiner, CEO

> of Advanced Bionics. " Not only will we continue to grow under the leadership

> of Sonova, but we have taken an enormous step toward ensuring that AB

> remains the industry's performance leader, now and in the future. We are

> truly excited by the technological possibilities that this acquisition will

> offer our candidates and our recipients. "

>

> The Sonova Group brings together Advanced Bionics, a global leader in

> cochlear implant manufacturing, and Phonak, a global provider of micro

> hearing systems. Both pioneers in their field, Advanced Bionics and Phonak

> have 75 years of combined experience in engineering innovative hearing

> solutions.

>

> Like Phonak, AB will remain an independent division within the Sonova Group,

> but will share the elements that have been driving the success of AB's new

> parent company over the last decade: global sales coverage, outstanding

> customer service, a global supply chain, and a dedication to innovation. The

> partnership will also provide:

>

> a.. Versatile, attractive, easy-to-use products

> b.. High-performance hearing devices

> c.. State-of-the-art acoustics and engineering

> d.. Industry-leading technology and performance innovations

> e.. Expanded international distribution

> f.. Lifelong commitment to patients' needs

> g.. Attentive, caring customer service

> h.. Improved quality of life for patients

> In addition, Phonak's proven capabilities in the field of micro auditory

> devices will set the stage for AB to develop smaller, higher performing

> sound processors for patients across the globe. Combined, Sonova, Phonak and

> Advanced Bionics will provide the most comprehensive product line in the

> hearing healthcare industry, offering a full range of hearing options for

> those with mild-to-profound hearing loss.

>

> For the acquisition, UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial

> advisor and O'Melveny & Myers LLP acted as exclusive legal advisor to

> Advanced Bionics.

>

> About Advanced Bionics

> Advanced Bionics is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear

> implant systems in the world. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Valencia,

> Calif., AB is the only American company developing cutting-edge cochlear

> implant technology that restores hearing to the deaf and allows recipients

> to hear their best today, tomorrow, and always.

>

> AB has the most sophisticated cochlear implant system on the market, the

> Harmony® HiResolution® Bionic Ear System, with five times more sound

> resolution than its competitors, designed to allow recipients to go beyond

> deciphering simple speech to hearing music.

>

> With sales in over 30 countries and a proven track record for developing

> high-performing, state-of-the-art products, AB's talented group of 660

> technologists and professionals from all over the world are driven to

> succeed, work with integrity and stay firmly committed to quality.

>

> To learn more about AB and its revolutionary cochlear implant technology,

> please visit www.advancedbionics.com.

>

> About Sonova

> Sonova is the leading provider of innovative hearing healthcare solutions.

> This globally active group of companies is one of the world's top three

> manufacturers of hearing systems, the market leader in wireless

> communication systems for audiology applications and a provider of

> professional solutions for hearing protection. Sonova is pursuing a clear

> growth strategy and is intent on building its market share. To this end it

> is constantly expanding its existing business segments and branching out

> into other areas of the hearing healthcare industry.

>

> Present in over 90 countries, and with a workforce of over 5,300 employees,

> Sonova generated sales of CHF 1.249 billion in the financial year 2008/09

> and a net profit of CHF 284 million. This financially strong group of

> companies bases its success on innovation, customer focus and proactive cost

> management.

>

> The company has been successfully promoting understanding and communication

> for over 60 years, and is ideally positioned to benefit from the trends in

> this growth industry.

>

> Sonova shares (ticker symbol: SOON) have been listed on the SIX Swiss

> Exchange since 1994. For more information please visit www.sonova.com.

>

> Contact:

> Olmstead Communications

> www.olmsteadwilliams.com

> 310.479.7055

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Advanced Bionics was sold previously to Boston Scientific. Al Mann,

founder of AB did not like the way the company was handled, and went to

court to force Boston Scientific to sell it back to him. He had it in

the original sales contract. SO, he keeps an eye on things.

Most sales of medical device manufacturers is to allow more cash flow in

the seller's pocket to use for research into new devices. Al Mann and

company have fingers in many pies when it comes to medical devices. And

merging with a larger company can give the smaller company access to

larger markets, better advertising, and so forth.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Does anybody have any thoughts on what this will mean for AB in terms of

service, support, technology development etc? I hope it's not like what

happens when a small, high-quality book publisher (for example) gets

snapped up by a corporate giant that just wants to squeeze out all the

profit it can.

____________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Nice overview of this topic. Not all mergers always do the end users

any good. We can hope this is not the case here.

Sometimes mergers bloat the compony and it becomes one that loses touch

with the comsumers. Worse yet, the company's focus is perely on the profit

margin.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

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Re: Swiss Hearing Aid Firm Sonova Buying Advanced Bionics

> Advanced Bionics was sold previously to Boston Scientific. Al Mann,

> founder of AB did not like the way the company was handled, and went to

> court to force Boston Scientific to sell it back to him. He had it in

> the original sales contract. SO, he keeps an eye on things.

>

> Most sales of medical device manufacturers is to allow more cash flow in

> the seller's pocket to use for research into new devices. Al Mann and

> company have fingers in many pies when it comes to medical devices. And

> merging with a larger company can give the smaller company access to

> larger markets, better advertising, and so forth.

>

> I don't think you have anything to worry about.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't like it but there's not a thing I can do about it. They'll either

be there for me when I need them again or they won't. " Que Sera, Sera "

Virg

> I don't think you have anything to worry about.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Virg, my good man,

EVERYTHING is like that. You never know who's going to be there until

you need them.

When I was SO sick after surgery, I called a " friend " of mine whom

I've known since I was 13 - used to babysit her kids. Asked her to

please pick me up some gatorade, since I was getting dehydrated from so

much vomiting. She tells me she's on her way to dance class, and then

tells me about all her dance classes, recitals and so forth. In the time

she took to tell me her schedule, she could have gone to the store and

picked up what I needed. I was not able to drive myself. SO you find

out who your friends are when you need them, don't you?

BTW, for those who were following the saga of the post surgical

recovery, Gastroenterologist said that everything was fine, a lot of

people had the same symptoms I had at the same time, and I either picked

up a bug right before surgery, or in the hospital. Am fine now, getting

my 3rd mapping tomorrow - FRIDAY the 13th!!

So, Virg, hang in there, and hope you don't need help, but if you do,

that they will be there for ya!

I don't like it but there's not a thing I can do about it. They'll either

be there for me when I need them again or they won't. " Que Sera, Sera "

Virg

____________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Makes mental note to stock up on gatorade in advance

I remember going in for a CAT scan after an accident once and became violently

sick afterwards when I got home.  It was a bug I picked up from the technician

or so i heard.  that was the last time I had ever been cick with the " Flu "   and

that was in 1976

Have a great day!

Debbie Cole

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