Patterson Dental

Infobox_Company
company_name = Patterson Companies, Inc.
company_
company_type = Public (nasdaq|PDCO)
company_slogan =
foundation = 1877 (Patterson Dental)
location = Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
key_people = Peter L. Frechette, Chairman
James W. Wiltz, President and CEO
industry = Healthcare Wholesale, Distributor
num_employees = Approximately 6,580 as of April 2008
products = Medical, Dental, Veterinary supplies, equipment and technology
homepage = [http://www.pattersoncompanies.com www.pattersoncompanies.com]

Patterson Companies is a value-added specialty distributor serving the dental, veterinary and rehabilitation supply markets.

Business Overview

Patterson began trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 1992, with a public offering of 3 million common shares. In 2004, the Company changed its corporate name from Patterson Dental Company to Patterson Companies, Inc., but retained the existing stock symbol (NASDAQ: PDCO). This S&P 500 member’s corporate name change was adopted to reflect an expanding base of businesses, which includes the veterinary and rehabilitation supply markets, as well as its traditional base of operations in the dental supply market. Currently, the Company’s operating units are Patterson Dental, Webster Veterinary (formerly known as J. A. Webster, Inc.) and Patterson Medical (formerly known as AbilityOne Products Corp.).

Operating Units

Patterson Dental

Founded: 1877

LBO: 1986

IPO: 1992

President: Scott Anderson

Description: The Company’s most substantial business and one of North America’s largest distributors of dental merchandise, with an offering of over 90,000 products and a wide range of leading equipment, software, technology solutions and services. The company maintains several exclusive distribution partnerships, including the Sirona CEREC® 3D restoration system and Schick digital X-ray, as well as Patterson-owned EagleSoft practice management and clinical software and CAESY Patient Education software.

Webster Veterinary

Acquired: 2001

President: George Henriques

Description: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Sterling, Mass. Serves as the nation’s second largest distributor of consumable veterinary supplies, equipment and software, diagnostic products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. With over 30,000 products from the leading names in veterinary medicine, Webster supplies companion-pet, equine and mixed practice clinics through branch locations across the country. Total-solution capabilities include the Milburn Equine division and industry-leading IntraVet practice-management software.

Patterson Medical

Acquired: 2003

President: Dave Sproat

Description: Based in Bolingbrook, Ill. Serves as the leading distributor of rehabilitation supplies and non-wheelchair assistive patient products for physical and occupational therapies. With operations in North America, U.K. and France, Patterson Medical provides over 20,000 top-name rehabilitation supplies, equipment and assistive living products. The Medco sports medicine division provides more than 12,000 products to athletic trainers in professional sports, high school and college teams and recreational sports organizations. Leading product brand names include Sammons Preston in the U.S. and Homecraft in international markets.

History

In 1877 two young, enterprising brothers, John and M.F. Patterson, purchased a Milwaukee drug store. The brothers soon added dental and surgical supplies to their regular stock of medicines, extracts, toiletries, brushes, perfumes and soaps. In 1891, M.F. Patterson agreed with his brother to acquire the dental interests of their drugstore, then moved the company to St. Paul, Minn. In 1960, Patterson operated branches in 36 cities. Peter L. Frechette joined Patterson in 1982. As CEO, he built a regional distributor into one of the nation’s largest specialty distribution companies. The Company began a series of purchases to broaden its operation base, and in 1987, purchased Saslow Dental Company, the third largest U.S. dental distributor at the time. Starting in 1989 the Company acquired a series of smaller dental distributors. More significant purchases included the Canadian subsidiary of Healthco Dental (1993), Colwell Systems (1996), EagleSoft practice management software, and Canadian Dental Supply (1997). In the 2000s, business operations expanded into three reportable segments: dental, veterinary supply and rehabilitation supply. Patterson acquired the assets of J.A. Webster, Inc. (now Webster Veterinary) in 2001; then acquired AbilityOne Products Corp. (now Patterson Medical) in 2003. In 2005, James W. Wiltz was named chief executive officer. Frechette continues to this day as chairman of Patterson’s board of directors. In 2006, the organization established the Mount Joy (Pa.) distribution center as the first dental, veterinary and medical fulfillment facility within the Patterson Logistics Services distribution network. Presently, Patterson Companies continues expanding market presence through acquisitions and internal startups, as well as bolstering the value-added capabilities of all three businesses.

References

External links

* [http://www.eaglesoft.net Patterson EagleSoft]
* [http://www.caesy.com CAESY Patient Education]
* [http://www.pattersondental.com Patterson Dental]
* [http://www.webstervet.com Webster Veterinary]
* [http://www.patterson-medical.com Patterson Medical]
* [http://www.schicktech.com Schick Technologies]
* [http://www.sirona.com Sirona, The Dental Company]
* [http://www.toothinghammer.com Toothinghammer]
* [http://www.intravet.com IntraVet]
* [http://www.pattersoncompanies.com Patterson Companies]