Stonebridge Associates Advises Taconic Farms, Inc.
on the Acquisition of Xenogen Biosciences Corporation
BOSTON, Massachusetts—December 17, 2009—Stonebridge Associates, a boutique investment bank serving medical technology businesses, announced today that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to Taconic Farms, Inc. ("Taconic") in its acquisition of Xenogen Biosciences Corporation ("XenBio") from Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASD: CALP). The acquisition represents the third transaction in which Stonebridge advised Taconic, one of the largest providers of research animal models and laboratory services.
During this engagement, the Stonebridge team helped Taconic navigate an auction sale process, provided valuation analytics, and took a lead role in structuring and negotiating the transaction. “Given our longstanding relationship, Stonebridge Associates was the obvious choice when it came time to select an investment bank to advise us on this transaction. As always, their team provided valuable expertise and counsel that greatly facilitated the transaction process and improved the outcome,” said Todd Little, CEO of Taconic.
The acquisition of XenBio expands Taconic’s genetically modified model generation, production, and phenotyping capabilities, and provides access to Caliper’s unique line of bioluminescent models and optical imaging technology that enable real-time in vivo imaging studies. Following Taconic's 2007 purchase of Artemis Pharmaceuticals—in which Stonebridge also served as financial advisor—the company is now the leading provider of advanced genetically modified animal models and related services.
About Stonebridge Associates
Stonebridge Associates specializes in providing merger and acquisition (M&A), divestiture, private placement, and strategic financial advisory services to middle market and emerging growth companies. Applying industry experience and structuring expertise to every engagement, Stonebridge Associates develops creative solutions to help clients achieve superior outcomes. Since 1986, Stonebridge has closed over $3 billion in private financings and advised on over 300 M&A transactions and advisory assignments. Member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, please visit www.stonebr.com.
About Taconic Farms, Inc.
Founded in 1952 as a family-owned business in New York’s Hudson River Valley, Taconic has become one of the largest and most respected laboratory rodent providers in the world. With six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, a staff of over 1,000, and a commitment to technological innovation, Taconic is increasingly the partner of choice for biomedical researchers conducting in vivo studies.
About Xenogen Biosciences Corporation
XenBio is a leading provider of customized in vivo drug discovery services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as academic institutions. The company’s comprehensive and integrated services include the custom design and production of genetically modified animals and efficacy assessment of potential therapeutic compounds. Acquired by Caliper Life Sciences in 2006, XenBio has produced more than 10,000 unique transgenic mice and rats from over 3,500 transgene constructs and 850 gene knockout lines.
For additional information regarding this transaction, please contact Mitchell Briskin, Managing Director, at (617) 357-1770 or mbriskin@stonebr.com.
Ten Post Office Square, Suite 1330 Boston, MA
tel 617.357.1770 fax 617.357.4933 www.stonebr.com
Contact: Ginny Caggiano
VP, Marketing gcaggiano@stonebr.com