Nano Dimension concludes acquisition of Desktop Metal assets.
The Nano Dimension-Desktop Metal merger drama unfolded over a series of intricate corporate moves within the additive manufacturing industry:
Historical Context
- Initial Takeover: Back in July 2024, Nano Dimension agreed to nab Desktop Metal for $183 million ($5.50/share) in a cash-only deal, as part of ambitions to build a more expansive, multidimensional global corporation [1][2][5].
- Progressive Expansion: This move came shortly after Nano's September 2024 bid to acquire Markforged for $115 million ($5.00/share), underscoring an aggressive strategy towards consolidating the industrial 3D printing sphere [1][5].
Legal Woes
- December 2024 Lawsuit: Desktop Metal filed a lawsuit against Nano Dimension for allegedly neglecting to take "reasonable best efforts" to secure regulatory authorizations [1][3]. A subsequent lawsuit accused Nano of breaching merger terms by pursuing Markforged [1].
- Court Rulings: Delaware’s Chancery Court mandated Nano to proceed with the merger in March 2025, emphasizing the importance of contractual obligations [2][3].
Recent Advancements
- Closure: Despite ongoing litigation, Nano finalized the acquisition on April 2, 2025, forming a combined entity with projected 2024 unaudited revenue surpassing $200 million [4][5].
- Strategic Implications: The merged company intends to utilize Desktop Metal’s binder jetting technology alongside Nano's electronics printing technology, although earlier valuations (such as the $1.8 billion 2023 offer for Desktop Metal) hint at market instability [5].
Remaining Conflicts
- Markforged Integration: Pending regulatory approvals for the Markforged acquisition remain essential to Nano’s vision for "disruptive systems" [1][4].
- Lingering Legal Issues: Residual legal risks persist, particularly concerning Desktop Metal's claims about the breach of merger terms [1][3].
This series of acquisitions underlines broader trends in additive manufacturing, as companies strive for scale amid shifting demands and technological convergence.
- In 2024, Stratasys may find itself drawn into the Nano Dimension-Desktop Metal merger drama, considering their presence in the additive manufacturing industry.
- Financial institutions might question the stability of the technology sector, given the ongoing litigation and potential instability in the 2024 valuations of companies like Desktop Metal.
- By the end of 2025, the merged entity formed by the Nano Dimension and Desktop Metal merger could expand their market reach with a combined revenue surpassing $200 million, using Desktop Metal’s binder jetting technology and Nano's electronics printing technology.
- If Nano Dimension successfully integrates Markforged into their operations, as planned, they may establish disruptive systems that could revolutionize the industrial 3D printing industry in the future, provided any remaining legal issues are resolved effectively.
