Japanese multinational Nikon, backed by SLM Solutions shareholders, has stepped up its interest in the 3D printing industry with a takeover bid for a major metal additive manufacturing enterprise.
An all-cash bid for SLM at EUR 20 per share, represents an 84% premium on the 3-month average trading price of EUR 10.89. Nikon’s proposed acquisition of SLM Solutions values the company at EUR 622 million, $622M, according to the company.
When takeover talk of SLM Solutions was last in the news, GE Additive valued SLM at EUR 38 per share or EUR 900M, $745 million at the exchange rate of the time.
The bid figure is reminiscent of early 2016 when SLM Solutions was trading around EUR 20; speculation during the year would drive up the firm’s share price to more than double.
Toshikazu Umatate, CEO of Nikon, said, “By acquiring SLM Solutions, Nikon is taking an important step towards our…