DLJ Merchant Banking Partners Acquires A Controlling Interest in Den-Mat Holdings, LLC

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (“DLJMB”), a private equity investment affiliate of Credit Suisse, announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Den-Mat Holdings, LLC (“Den-Mat”), a leading manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive dental products for cosmetic and professional dentists, with LUMINEERS® as its flagship product. The transaction closed in December 2007.

“Working closely with Dr. Ibsen and Den-Mat’s management team, we look forward to leveraging the Company’s leading-edge products to capitalize on new opportunities and significantly expand the business from its current niche position.”

In connection with the transaction, Den-Mat also announced several additions to the senior management team, naming Nicholas L. Teti, Jr., former CEO of Isolagen Inc. and former Chairman and CEO of Inamed Corporation, as Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Adel Michael, former Vice Chairman and CFO of Mentor Corporation, has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Robert Ibsen, Den-Mat’s founder, will remain active in the business as Chairman and Director of Professional Education and Product Development.

Founded in 1974 in Santa Maria, California by Dr. Robert Ibsen, Den-Mat is a leading dental manufacturer that develops and distributes over 200 esthetic products primarily through a direct sales force as well as distributors. The Company’s flagship product is LUMINEERS, a revolutionary, ultra-thin porcelain veneer that offers a pain-free alternative to traditional veneers, eliminating the need for any type of anesthetic. Backed by over 20 years of research, LUMINEERS made of Den-Mat’s patented Cerinate® porcelain is now offered by over 12,000 dentists and has opened the market to consumers who are seeking a minimally invasive approach to a smile makeover. LUMINEERS represents a significant offering into the expanding cosmetic dental product market. In addition, Den-Mat markets a full line of professional dental products that includes curing lights, bonding agents, crowns, bridges, whitening procedures and restorative products. Den-Mat also offers dentists a range of services, including continuing education seminars and marketing support programs, particularly in the area of cosmetic dentistry.

“We are delighted to acquire Den-Mat, a unique platform in one of the fastest growing segments of the healthcare industry,” said Steven Rattner, Global Head of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners. “Working closely with Dr. Ibsen and Den-Mat’s management team, we look forward to leveraging the Company’s leading-edge products to capitalize on new opportunities and significantly expand the business from its current niche position.”

Dr. Ibsen said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners to continue to build on Den-Mat’s success as a leader in cosmetic dentistry offering pain-free, minimally-invasive products. Access to DLJMB’s resources will allow us to accelerate our growth strategy.”

In the coming months, the company will also be forming an advisory board to further strengthen its relationships with key opinion leaders, dental schools and other dental associations.

Mr. Nicholas Teti said, “I am extremely impressed by Den-Mat’s portfolio of products and services and believe it is well positioned to capture share in the high potential and fast growing cosmetic dentistry market. I look forward to working with Den-Mat’s talented employees to expand the product offering and geographic footprint while building out the company’s infrastructure to provide the highest level of service to its customer base.”

Mr. Teti has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Most recently, he has been CEO & President of Isolagen Inc. (Amex: ILE), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing emergent, novel skin and tissue rejuvenation technologies. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Teti was Chairman and CEO of Inamed Corporation, a leading medical aesthetics and obesity intervention company that was sold to Allergan in 2006 for over $3 billion. Prior to joining Inamed, Mr. Teti was President and CEO of DuPont Pharmaceuticals until 2001 when it was sold to Bristol Myers Squibb.

Mr. Michael has a distinguished thirty-five year career that has included several senior management positions with global responsibilities in finance, manufacturing, legal and IT systems, as well as general management. Most recently, Mr. Michael served as the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of Mentor Corporation (NYSE: MNT), a leading supplier of medical aesthetics and urology products.

About DLJ Merchant Banking Partners

DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (“DLJMB”) is a leading private equity investor that has a 22-year record of investing in leveraged buyouts and related transactions across a broad range of industries. DLJMB, with offices in New York, London and Los Angeles, is part of Credit Suisse's Alternative Investments business, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, with more than $138 billion of assets under management. Alternative Investments, which is part of the Asset Management business, is comprised of a diverse family of funds, including private equity, leveraged buyouts, mezzanine, real estate, secondary funds and fund of funds, as well as the businesses covering hedge funds (both direct and fund of funds), leveraged loan and collateralized debt obligation investment programs, core real estate funds, and quantitative investment and volatility management products.

About Den-Mat Holdings, LLC

California-based Den-Mat Holdings, LLC is a leading manufacturer and marketer of advanced cosmetic and restorative dental products and laboratory services that allow a dentist to preserve, restore and enhance their patient’s teeth without the requirement for anesthesia, extensive cutting, drilling and tooth removal that have characterized dentistry in the past. This revolutionary type of dentistry not only focuses on superior esthetic results, but on patient comfort and convenience as well. Den-Mat Holdings, LLC has also developed the revolutionary LUMINEERS® BY CERINATE®, the only porcelain laminates that are strong, reversible, and have a proven record of over 20 years of clinical success. LUMINEERS eliminate the need for the shaving and grinding down of sensitive tooth structure that is common with traditional veneers. This means people can now have a beautiful smile without the dentist needing to give sedation or shots for a beautiful LUMINEERS Smile. LUMINEERS BY CERINATE provide exceptional results, taking worn, misshapen teeth and transforming them into a naturally beautiful and radiant smile.

Den-Mat currently has more than 680 employees and manufactures a complete line of more than 200 cosmetic and restorative formulations. The company services approximately 40,000 dentists worldwide, and offers variety of educational seminars and marketing support services for dentists. For additional information, please visit www.denmat.com.

About Credit Suisse

As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 40,000 people. Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group, is a leading global financial services company headquartered in Zurich. Credit Suisse Group's registered shares (CSGN) are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

In its Asset Management business, Credit Suisse offers products across the full spectrum of investment classes, ranging from equities, fixed income, and multiple asset-class products to alternative investments such as real estate, hedge funds, private equity and volatility management. Credit Suisse's Asset Management business manages portfolios, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles for a broad spectrum of clients ranging from governments, institutions, and corporations to private individuals. With offices focused on asset management in 18 countries, Credit Suisse's asset management business is operated as a globally integrated network to deliver the bank's best investment ideas and capabilities to clients around the world.