Philips acquires Discus Holdings Inc.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Los Angeles, USA – Royal Philips Electronics announced today that it has agreed to acquire Discus Holdings Inc, the leading manufacturer of professional tooth whitening products. Through this acquisition Philips expands its oral healthcare portfolio, adding to Philips’ globally leading Sonicare  electric toothbrush business. Upon closing of the transaction, pending regulatory approvals and expected in the fourth quarter of 2010, Discus will become part of Philips’ Consumer Lifestyle sector’s Health and Wellness business. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Oral healthcare is an important part of our strategy to enhance consumer health and well-being, and an important growth driver of our portfolio. Discus’ professional tooth whitening business provides a strong foundation for growth in the cosmetic dentistry space and will strengthen Philips’ position as a leading oral healthcare brand amongst dental professionals and consumers,” said Philips Consumer Lifestyle CEO Pieter Nota. “Moreover, Discus’ oral care products complement our existing Sonicare portfolio, further building our relationship with dental professionals.”

Professional tooth whitening involves the use of special compounds designed to penetrate the surface of the tooth and remove stains in both dentin and enamel.  Discus’ portfolio includes products such as Zoom and BriteSmile, two widely recognized light-activated whitening systems used by dental professionals worldwide, as well as a range of take-home whiteners that are sold under dental supervision. In addition, Discus’ oral care portfolio provides dental professionals and their patients a wide range of treatment options for sensitivity relief, caries prevention, gingivitis, breath management, oral ulcer relief and other dental care.

“Over two decades, Discus built a global dental products company while introducing some of the most recognized brands in dentistry. Millions of consumers have benefited from the whiter, brighter smiles created by our products,” said Steve Semmelmayer, CEO of Discus Holdings, Inc. “Merging with Philips will bring significant growth opportunities for Discus products with unprecedented reach and scope. We are excited about becoming part of the Philips global organization,” said Dr. William Dorfman, Discus’ founder.

Founded in California in 1989 and headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, Discus is a privately held company that employs approximately 400 people and has a distribution presence in over 100 countries. Discus has annual sales of around EUR 100 million of which approximately one-third is generated outside of North America.