Venerable EU Firm, Mathys, Merging With U.S. DJO

Lewisville, Texas-based DJO, LLC, (formerly DonJoy Orthopedics, now owned by the publicly traded conglomerate, Colfax Corporation), has entered into an agreement to acquire one of the foundational European-based orthopedics companies, Mathys Ag, based in Bettlach, Switzerland.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021. Closing will be subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. DJO declined to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

DJO, one of the pioneering firms in advanced bracing and prosthetics, is now a supplier of a broad spectrum of orthopedic products including joint arthroplasty products. One of the driving reasons behind the transaction was to acquire international channel for its joint replacement products including its “AltiVate Reverse^® shoulder replacement system” and “EMPOWR™ Hip and Knee Systems.

DJO, via its parent Colfax, is about to acquire one of the premier distribution channels for orthopaedic (or, in the U.S. spelling, orthopedic) products in Europe.

Founded in 1946, Mathys, was one of the earliest developers and manufacturers of orthopedic instruments and products and played a pivotal role in training generations of European surgeons in artificial joint replacement, synthetic bone graft solutions, sports medicine and so much more.

Mathys production facilities are located in Switzerland and Germany, its sales and distribution centers and subsidiaries are all over Europe and Asia.

OTW asked DJO Chief Executive Officer Brady Shirley about DJO’s initial attraction to Mathys. “DJO Surgical’s rapid growth has been predominantly within the U.S. over the last several years and we viewed Mathys as a very well-respected and trusted company with strong positions in upper extremity and joint replacement across the international landscape.”

Shirley continued, “We found that our collective focus of delivering superior outcomes and powering & [and] preserving motion were very aligned. We believe that combining the two will create a unique expansion opportunity across the globe.”

OTW also spoke with Shirley about the two companies’ top priorities for the remainder of the year. Looking forward, the two companies will focus on three top priorities. The first being thoughtful integration of “people, portfolio, and pipeline.”

The companies’ second priority will be continued growth. Notably, Shirley told OTW that the companies will “work together and expand DJO’s position as a leader in the growing extremity and joint replacement markets worldwide through the strength of our collective brands and technologies.”

Finally, Shirley informed OTW that the companies will prioritize the “acceleration of our strategic imperative of delivering superior patient outcomes.”