Opto Circuits to Acquire Cardiac Science


BOTHELL, Wash. and BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, India, Oct. 19 - Cardiac Science Corporation (Nasdaq: CSCX) and Opto Circuits (India) Limited [BSE Code: 532391; NSE: OPTOCIRCUI] today announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Opto Circuits has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Cardiac Science common stock for $2.30 USD per share. The $2.30 price represents a 10% premium to the closing price of Cardiac Science common stock of $2.10 on October 18, 2010, a 28% premium to the average closing price for the 30 day period ended October 18, 2010 and a 30% premium to the average closing price for the 100 day period ended October 18, 2010.

"We believe this transaction provides excellent value to our shareholders and expanded opportunity for our customers, employees, and partners," said Dave Marver, Cardiac Science president and chief executive officer. "Our business will benefit greatly from Opto Circuits' financial resources, operational capabilities, and global scale."

"We are delighted to expand our presence in noninvasive diagnostic monitoring through this acquisition and are excited to enter the high-growth automated external defibrillation market," said Vinod Ramnani, Opto Circuits chairman and managing director. "Cardiac Science has a strong reputation for innovative, high-quality products and services. This transaction is expected to open many new global markets for Cardiac Science's products and will greatly enhance Opto Circuits' product offering and presence in the United States."

Piper Jaffray acted as financial advisor to Cardiac Science and delivered a fairness opinion to Cardiac Science's board of directors. Perkins Coie LLP served as outside legal counsel to Cardiac Science, while Quarles & Brady LLP served as outside legal counsel to Opto Circuits.

About the Transaction

The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, which will take the form of an all-cash tender offer by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Opto Circuits, followed by a second-step merger. The closing of the tender offer by Opto Circuits, which is expected to be commenced within 10 business days, is subject to customary conditions, including that shares representing at least sixty percent (60%) of Cardiac Science's outstanding shares of common stock are validly tendered into the offer. As a result of the second-step merger, any shares that have not been validly tendered into the offer will be converted into the right to receive cash equal to the offer price of $2.30 per share. The subsequent closing of the merger may be subject to obtaining stockholder approval of the merger agreement if Opto Circuits does not acquire a sufficient number of shares to effect a short-form merger. If such approval is needed, Cardiac Science will call a special meeting of its stockholders. If a stockholder meeting is required to approve the merger, Opto Circuits has agreed to vote (or cause its acquisition subsidiary to vote) all shares of Cardiac Science it owns in favor of the merger. The companies are targeting a late fourth quarter 2010 closing, assuming satisfaction of closing conditions and successful execution of the tender offer process.

Upon completion of the merger, Cardiac Science will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Opto Circuits. Opto Circuits will fund the purchase with its cash and credit lines.

About Cardiac Science

Cardiac Science develops, manufactures, and markets a family of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic cardiology devices and systems, including automated external defibrillators (AED), electrocardiograph devices (ECG/EKG), cardiac stress treadmills and systems, diagnostic workstations, Holter monitoring systems, hospital defibrillators, vital signs monitors, cardiac rehabilitation telemetry systems, and cardiology data management systems (informatics) that connect with hospital information (HIS), electronic medical record (EMR), and other information systems. The company sells a variety of related products and consumables and provides a portfolio of training, maintenance, and support services. Cardiac Science, the successor to the cardiac businesses that established the trusted Burdick®, HeartCentrix®, Powerheart®, and Quinton® brands, is headquartered in Bothell, Washington. With customers in more than 100 countries worldwide, the company has operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. For information, call 425.402.2000 or visit www.cardiacscience.com.

About Opto Circuits

Opto Circuits (India) Ltd. (OCI) (BSE Code: 532391; NSE Symbol: OPTOCIRCUI) is an Indian MNC in the business of design, development, manufacture and marketing of healthcare equipment and interventional products. The product profile includes pulse oximeters, patient monitoring systems, sensors, digital thermometers, anesthesia and respiratory care equipment, stents, catheters and other innovative products. Some of the well-known brands marketed by Opto Circuits are Criticare, Mediaid, Unetixs and Eurocor. It is presently a Group of 14 companies with a consolidated total sales of USD $243 million/Rs.1077 crores (FY10) and it is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Its key markets are the US, Europe and South East Asia. It was ranked as one amongst 200 Best Under a Billion companies in AsiaPac by Forbes Asia in 2009, 2008. Visit us at www.optoindia.com

SOURCE Cardiac Science Corporation

CONTACT: Investor Relations, Cardiac Science Corporation, +1-425-402-2009; Investors, Matt Clawson of Allen & Caron, +1-949-474-4300, matt@allencaron.com; Media, Christopher Gale of EVC Group Inc., +1-646-201-5431, or +1-203-570-4681, cgale@evcgroup.com, both for Cardiac Science Corporation; Opto Circuits, IR, ir@optoindia.com, Media: media@optoindia.com, +91 80 2852 1040/41/42

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