Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF-T, SLF-N) C$69.55 | US$52.80
Sun Life Acquires Dialogue Health Technologies Event
This morning, SLF announced that it is acquiring Dialogue Health Technologies (CARE-T), a health and wellness virtual care platform.
Impact: NEUTRAL
SLF is acquiring the business for $5.15/share, a 43% premium to yesterday's closing price. This represents $365mm in total equity value (fully diluted), or $277mm for equity not currently owned by SLF or rolled by certain members of Dialogue's executive management (executive management will maintain a minority interest post close). This implies a 2.7x EV/revenue multiple on 2024 consensus estimates, which is above other virtual care comps (average 1.4x; Good RX trades at 3x) but below its historical average of ~3.2x. Dialogue is expected to break-even/turn profitable by year-end 2023.
The transaction will be financed with cash and is expected to close in 2023. Dialogue will remain headquartered in Montreal and operate as a standalone entity post closing.
SLF has an existing partnership with Dialogue, rolling out Dialogue's services in March 2020 to SLF's Group Benefits clients under the banner 'Lumino Health Virtual Care'. Additionally, just a couple of weeks ago the two companies reached an agreement for SLF U.S. to offer Dialogue's platform and services to certain clients, marking Dialogue's entry to the U.S. market.
Dialogue offers on-demand care from their healthcare team, serving nearly 2.8mm members across 50k organizations. Virtual healthcare and well-being services include: physical health, mental health, employee assistance program, and wellness.