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Asensus Surgical, Inc. has announced the completion of its merger with the KARL STORZ Group, following approval from Asensus Surgical shareholders.

According to the merger agreement, KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of KARL STORZ, acquired all outstanding shares of Asensus Surgical for $0.35 per share in cash. As a result, Asensus Surgical is now a subsidiary of KARL STORZ, and its common stock is no longer traded on the NYSE American Exchange.

“We are thrilled to complete this merger with KARL STORZ, which marks an exciting new chapter for Asensus,” said Anthony Fernando, Asensus Surgical President and CEO. “By joining forces with a leading company in endoscopy that became a system provider for integrated MedTech, we are well-positioned to accelerate the development and delivery of our innovative robotic and digital surgical solutions. This union will benefit patients and surgeons worldwide by advancing precise, safer, and more predictable surgical outcomes.”

“Asensus’ cutting-edge technology and expertise in robotic surgery complements our comprehensive portfolio of surgical solutions,” said Karl-Christian Storz, CEO of KARL STORZ. “This enhances our portfolio and market presence, strengthening our position in the growing robotic and digital surgical market, particularly with the development of the next generation LUNA™ system. We are thrilled to welcome 200-plus talented Asensus team members into our company. Together, we will revolutionize healthcare by delivering better outcomes for patients and surgical teams worldwide.”

KARL STORZ identified Asensus for acquisition due to its talent and technology. As a potential partner, Asensus proved to be a perfect match because of its aligned philosophy and vision, as well as its experience in launching the first-generation Senhance robot. Asensus’s second-generation LUNA™ System, which is still under development, aims to offer enhanced robotic precision, improved dexterity, and superior motion range, complementing KARL STORZ’s advanced visualization capabilities.

LUNA™ has not yet been submitted to, or cleared by, the US FDA or other global regulatory bodies and is not available for sale in any market. Jefferies LLC acted as the financial advisor to Asensus Surgical, while Ballard Spahr LLP served as legal counsel. UBS Investment Bank served as the financial advisor to KARL STORZ, with Ropes & Gray LLP providing legal counsel.

© Asensus Surgical