Nano Dimension Ltd. (Nasdaq: NNDM) (“Nano Dimension” or the
“Company”), a leading supplier of Additively Manufactured
Electronics (“AME”) and multi-dimensional polymer, metal &
ceramic Additive Manufacturing (“AM”) 3D printing solutions, today
sent a letter to shareholders in connection with the Company’s
upcoming 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual
Meeting”).
The letter details the progress Nano Dimension
has made in executing its focused value creation strategy under the
guidance of Nano Dimension’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and
the leadership of its management team. Key highlights of the past
12 months include:
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Two transformational M&A agreements that accelerate Nano
Dimension’s plans to become a leader in digital manufacturing; |
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Improvements in financial and operational performance; and |
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Significant governance enhancements. |
The letter also highlights the value destructive
and deeply concerning proposed Annual Meeting agenda items received
from Murchinson Ltd. (“Murchinson”). Despite shareholders’ clear
rebuke last year, Murchinson is once again attempting to gain
control of Nano Dimension through a series of proposals that would
paralyze the Company’s strategy, while facilitating its path to
gain control of the Board, obtain Nano Dimension’s cash, and
prevent the maximization of long-term value for all
shareholders.
The Board urges shareholders to protect their
investment and the future of the Company by voting today
“FOR” ALL of Nano
Dimension’s proposals. The Annual
Meeting will be held on Friday, December 6th, 2024, at 7:00 A.M.
ET. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on
October 22nd, 2024, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Votes must be received by 11:59 P.M. ET on Sunday, December 1st,
2024.
The Company’s definitive proxy statement and
other important information and resources related to the Annual
Meeting can be found at www.ProtectingNanoValue.com or the investor
relations page of the Company’s website.
The full text of the letter can be found
below.
Nano Dimension Shareholders: Once Again,
You Must VOTE to Protect Your Investment in Nano!
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
At last year’s Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of Nano Dimension
(“Nano” or the “Company”), you made the choice to protect your
Company and your investment — your decisive votes prevented the
self-interested actors at Murchinson Ltd. (“Murchinson”) from
seizing control of Nano.
In the year since our last AGM, your Board of Directors
(“Board”) and management team have been delivering on the
promises we made to you, leading Nano’s successful
expansion strategy to become a digital manufacturing leader.
We are executing on our multi-pronged growth
strategy, comprised of transformational M&A, and driving
improvements in financial and operational performance, while we
have also instituted significant governance enhancements.
Despite our progress in executing our strategy, Murchinson is
once again seeking to derail our approach for its own
self-interested gains.
As a result, at the upcoming AGM to be held on December 6, 2024,
shareholders must again vote to protect their investment.
The answer is clear:
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Vote FOR ALL of
Nano’s proposals, allowing our Board to continue executing on our
strategic plan to build significant long-term value for all Nano
shareholders; |
– AND –
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× |
Vote AGAINST
Murchinson’s efforts to derail our progress. All of their proposals
will destroy value. |
Nano Is Executing a Focused Value
Creation Strategy
Delivering Results and Driving Future Value
Creation
Over the past year, your Board and management team have driven
Nano’s transformation into a broad, digital manufacturing leader
with expanded 3D printing and additive manufacturing (“AM”)
capabilities.
Our strategy is delivering
results. Nano’s strong organic growth
from development and innovation in leading technologies, combined
with a disciplined and focused M&A strategy and publicly stated
plans to return capital to shareholders, are expected to continue
to drive future value for shareholders:
Transformational
M&A. The agreements to acquire
Desktop Metal, Inc. (“Desktop Metal”) and Markforged Holding
Corporation (“Markforged”), which are expected to close in the
fourth quarter of 2024 and first quarter of 2025, respectively, are
a realization of Nano’s ambitious and prudent M&A strategy to
create the market leader in AM. The future combined company,
including both Desktop Metal and Markforged, is expected to have
approximately $340 million in revenue based on fiscal year 2023 and
is expected to have approximately $475 million in cash, cash
equivalents, and marketable securities at the time of expected
closing of both transactions. The addition of both companies at
compelling valuations is expected to accelerate Nano’s path
to becoming a leading force in Industry 4.0 and digital
manufacturing, further strengthening the Company’s value
proposition for shareholders, customers and employees, as well as
provide Nano with a clear path to
profitability.
Improved Financial and Operational
Performance. Nano’s focus on operational
excellence has enabled it to deliver strong organic growth
and meaningful efficiencies. This focus has enabled the
leadership team to scale Nano, drive improved business performance
and deliver results to the bottom line. Nano’s focus on sales wins
and new product development has led to 29% organic revenue growth
in 2023 compared to the prior year. Importantly, it is not just
about the top-line — Nano reported a 69% reduction in cash burn in
the first half of 2024 from the first half of 2023 and is
laser-focused on driving towards profitability.
Returning Capital to
Shareholders. Nano is executing a
balanced capital allocation approach that enables shareholder
returns, investment in R&D and further growth through M&A.
Nano has completed over $160 million in share repurchases over two
programs to buy back its shares at compelling valuations to drive
shareholder value since the first repurchase program was approved
in August 2022.
Under Our Current Strategy
Nano Has Enacted Corporate Governance
Enhancements
Nano has acted on feedback from shareholders and governance
experts over the past year and instituted important enhancements to
its corporate governance. These changes include:
Reducing the size of the Board from nine to
eight directors, seven of whom are independent;
Separating the Company’s Chairman and CEO roles
and appointing Dr. Nissan-Cohen as Chairman of the Board; and
Continuing efforts to refresh the Board,
including the appointments of three new directors: Ambassador
Georgette Mosbacher, Major General (Ret.) Eitan Ben-Eliahu and
4-Star General (Ret.) Michael Garrett.
Our accomplished Board consists of eight highly
qualified individuals – seven of whom are independent –
with diverse skills that align with and support our focus on
growth, while taking our portfolio of proprietary manufacturing
solutions to the next level.
The two Nano directors targeted by Murchinson, our CEO Yoav
Stern and 4-Star General (Ret.) Michael X. Garrett, are
critical to the Board’s oversight of our strategy
and continued success. During both their tenures, Nano has executed
eight M&A transactions, including the recent agreements with
Desktop Metal and Markforged, driven meaningful operational
efficiencies, while delivering strong organic revenue growth, and
made significant progress in innovation. With their deep expertise
and institutional knowledge, we have the right Board in
place to bolster our long-term strategy and deliver value for
shareholders.
Murchinson Is, Again, Threatening to
Derail Our Progress With Its Self-Interested Agenda
Items
Last year, shareholders recognized that Murchinson brought
NO plan for value creation, NO
executable ideas, and NO director candidates with
additive skills.
Despite shareholders’ clear rebuke last year, Murchinson is once
again attempting to take control of Nano through a series
of proposals that would paralyze Nano’s strategy, while
facilitating Murchinson’s path to gain control of the Board and
prevent us from maximizing long-term value for all
shareholders. Murchinson is attempting to do this by
removing two directors who are critical to our Board oversight in
favor of two unqualified nominees, while also de-staggering the
Board.
In addition, Murchinson has made a proposal, which Nano has
rejected on legal grounds, seeking to prevent us from executing on
any M&A transactions above $50 million,
including our already signed agreements with Desktop Metal and
Markforged. This absurd concept would effectively hold up
Nano’s growth strategy to allow Murchinson time to take
control of a de-staggered Board. Make no mistake, this approach is
not an attempt to protect your interests: it is a blatant
effort to freeze Nano in place as Murchinson seeks to gain
control.
You have before you two proposals from Murchinson and the choice
is clear:
Reject Murchinson’s Unqualified Director
Nominees.
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Ofir Baharav is Nano’s prior
Chairman of the Board. His career has been riddled with concerns
about questionable ethics and failed businesses. Importantly, his
oversight of Nano’s strategy led the Company to one of its most
dire periods. He currently serves as the CEO of PowerBreezer, a
fledgling ventilators manufacturer, which under Mr. Baharav’s
leadership has failed to meet all its goals since 2016, including
to complete an IPO. Prior to that, he was ousted from XJet, a
company he founded, after conflicts with at least two prominent
investors and the company’s co-founder. |
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Robert Pons has ZERO direct 3D printing
experience. |
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These unqualified director
candidates have NO additive skills,
NO strategic plan, and NO
independence from Murchinson. |
Reject De-Staggering the Board. A staggered
Board ensures that only a portion of the directors are up for
election at any given time, providing stability and continuity in
leadership and allowing time for long-term strategic planning.
Importantly, it also reduces risk of attempts to undervalue the
Company in a takeover. Murchinson clearly recognizes that a
staggered Board would make it harder for it to gain control – this
proposal is a blatant attempt to make it easier to dismantle and
liquidate Nano.
Murchinson Brings a History of Dubious,
Self-Interested Behavior and NO Plan to Create Value for Nano’s
Shareholders
As a reminder, Murchinson is a family hedge fund with a
long track record of problematic actions and poor judgment
– including stock manipulations, violations of law, and legal
proceedings with regulatory authorities. This record
extends to its founder, Marc Bistricer, who was required to pay the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) $8 million in August
2021 for rules violations and has subsequently been accused by the
Ontario Security Commission of carrying out an abusive
short-selling scheme. In addition, Murchinson’s co-conspirators
Anson Funds and Anson Advisors were fined $2.25 million by the SEC
for misleading disclosures in June 2024, just a few months after
another October 2023 SEC fine.
Murchinson follows a simple playbook whereby the fund finds
promising companies such as Nano, furtively acquires a large
position and then seeks to dismantle the company and
distribute its cash for Murchinson’s own benefit. The fund
brings NO insight into the business,
NO plan for value creation and NO
executable ideas.
Murchinson’s own employees admit to these facts. Mr. Moshe
Sarfaty, a senior analyst and employee of Murchinson, directly
admitted to Murchinson’s lack of understanding of Nano’s business
activities and valuation in his July 2023 court testimony:
“I don't analyze the activity, because I don't
understand 3D printing…. we really have no idea what is good and
what is not good to do here.”
With no insight into the business, it is clear Murchinson does
not care about creating value for all of Nano’s shareholders – it
only cares about itself. Murchinson is ultimately seeking to gain
control of your Company without paying a premium. Allowing
Murchinson to pursue its self-interested agenda through its
proposals would deprive you of considerable upside as Nano
continues to execute on its strategy.
WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT – VOTE
FOR NANO’S PROPOSALS AND AGAINST
MURCHINSON’S SELF-INTERESTED AGENDA ITEMS
Your vote is important. Throw away any proxy materials you may
receive from Murchinson. For most shareholders, the expected
deadline to vote electronically will be 11:59 pm ET on
December 1, 2024. Please vote as early as possible and
follow the instructions on your voting instruction form as your
broker may impose earlier voting cut-offs.
If you have questions about how to vote your shares, please
contact:
About Nano Dimension
Nano Dimension’s (Nasdaq: NNDM) vision is to
transform existing electronics and mechanical manufacturing into
Industry 4.0 environmentally friendly & economically efficient
precision additive electronics and manufacturing – by delivering
solutions that convert digital designs to electronic or mechanical
devices – on demand, anytime, anywhere.
Nano Dimension’s strategy is driven by the
application of deep learning-based AI to drive improvements in
manufacturing capabilities by using self-learning &
self-improving systems, along with the management of a distributed
manufacturing network via the cloud.
Nano Dimension has served over 2,000 customers
across vertical target markets such as aerospace and defense,
advanced automotive, high-tech industrial, specialty medical
technology, R&D, and academia. The Company designs and makes
Additive Electronics and Additive Manufacturing 3D printing
machines and consumable materials. Additive Electronics are
manufacturing machines that enable the design and development of
High-Performance-Electronic-Devices (Hi-PED®s). Additive
Manufacturing includes manufacturing solutions for production of
metal, ceramic, and specialty polymers-based applications - from
millimeters to several centimeters in size with micron
precision.
Through the integration of its portfolio of
products, Nano Dimension is offering the advantages of rapid
prototyping, high-mix-low-volume production, IP security, minimal
environmental footprint, and design-for-manufacturing capabilities,
which is all unleashed with the limitless possibilities of additive
manufacturing.
For more information, please visit www.nano-di.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding
benefits and advantages of the proposed transactions with
Markforged and Desktop Metal, and the combined company; Nano
Dimension’s leadership in AM; the combined company’s revenues and
cash; other aspects of the expected transactions with Markforged
and Desktop Metal, including the timing of closing of the
acquisitions thereof, the potential benefits of a staggered board;
Nano Dimension’s strategy; Nano Dimension’s path to profitability,
future growth and value to shareholders; and all other statements
other than statements of historical fact that address activities,
events or developments that Nano Dimension intends, expects,
projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future.
Such statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions
made based on information currently available to management. When
used in this communication, the words “outlook,” “guidance,”
“expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “should,” “estimates,” “may,”
“will,” “intends,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,”
“potential,” “continue,” “plan,” “target,” or the negative of these
words or similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking
statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which
may cause the Company’s actual results and performance to be
materially different from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we caution you that any
such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and
uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Because such
statements deal with future events and are based on the current
expectations of Nano Dimension, Desktop Metal and Markforged, they
are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The acquisitions of
Markforged and Desktop Metal are subject to closing conditions,
some of which are beyond the control of Nano, Desktop Metal or
Markforged. Further, actual results, performance, or achievements
of Nano Dimension, Desktop Metal or Markforged could differ
materially from those described in or implied by the statements in
this communication. The forward-looking statements contained or
implied in this communication are subject to other risks and
uncertainties, including those discussed (i) under the heading
“Risk Factors” in Nano’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 21, 2024,
and in any subsequent filings with the SEC, (ii) under the heading
“Risk Factors” in Desktop Metal’s annual report on Form 10-K filed
with the SEC on March 15, 2024, and in any subsequent filings with
the SEC, and (iii) under the heading “Risk Factors” in Markforged’s
annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024,
and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. The combined company
financial information included in this communication has not been
audited or reviewed by Nano’s auditors and such information is
provided for illustrative purposes only. You should note that such
combined company information has not been prepared in accordance
with and does not purport to comply with Article 11 of Regulation
S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Except as
otherwise required by law, Nano undertakes no obligation to
publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements
to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and
links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the
information contained on such websites is not incorporated by
reference into this communication. Nano is not responsible for the
contents of third-party websites.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute
an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor
shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by
means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information about the Transaction and Where
to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, Markforged intends
to file a proxy statement with the SEC. Markforged may also file
other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction. This document is not a substitute for the proxy
statement or any other document that Markforged may file with the
SEC. The definitive proxy statement (if and when available) will be
mailed to shareholders of Markforged. INVESTORS AND SECURITY
HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN
THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain
free copies of the proxy statement (if and when available) and
other documents containing important information about Markforged
and the proposed transaction, once such documents are filed with
the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC
at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the
SEC by the Company will be available free of charge on Markforged’s
website at https://investors.markforged.com/sec-filings.
Participants in the Solicitation
Nano Dimension, Markforged and certain of their respective
directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies from Markforged shareholders in
respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the
directors and executive officers of Nano Dimension, including a
description of their direct or indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Nano Dimension’s Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023,
which was filed with the SEC on March 21, 2024. Information about
the directors and executive officers of Markforged, including a
description of their direct or indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Markforged’s proxy statement
for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with
the SEC on April 26, 2024 and Markforged’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed
with the SEC on March 15, 2024. Other information regarding the
participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their
direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise,
will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant
materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction when such materials become available. Investors should
read the proxy statement carefully when it becomes available before
making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free
copies of these documents from Nano Dimension or Markforged using
the sources indicated above.
Nano Dimension Contacts
Investor:Julien Lederman, VP Corporate
Developmentir@nano-di.comMedia:Kal Goldberg / Bryan Locke / Kelsey
Markovich | NanoDimension@fgsglobal.com
To learn more, visit ProtectingNanoValue.com
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