"It is not clear that it (the all-stock offer Stratasys made for Desktop Metal) creates value for 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys shareholders," ISS wrote in its note to clients with a headline "vote against acquisition at SSYS meeting."
The directors felt this deal was more attractive than others, including overtures from 3D Systems and Nano Dimension.
But as Stratasys', Desktop Metal's and 3D Systems' share prices have dropped in the last 52 weeks, ISS argued that 3D Systems' cash and stock offer for Stratasys "holds out an important hedge against further declines."
3D Systems offered to pay $7 in cash and 1.6387 3D shares per Stratasys share, which would leave them owning 46% of the combined company.
Stratasys investor Nano Dimension, which owns 14.1% of the company, said last week that it would vote against the merger.
Persons:
ISS's, Stratasys, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Josie Kao
Organizations:
Services, Reuters, ISS, 3D Systems, Desktop, Systems, Svea, Thomson