Covington Advises HealthpointCapital on Sale of Scient’x Groupe SAS to Alphatec Holdings

LONDON, December 18, 2009 — Alphatec Holdings, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Scient’x Groupe SAS, a spinal implant company based in France. Alphatec Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Alphatec Spine, Inc., is a medical device company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders. Covington & Burling LLP advised funds managed by HealthpointCapital, LLC in the sale of their controlling interest in Scient'x Groupe SAS to Alphatec.

The all stock transaction is currently expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2010 and is subject to the approval of Alphatec’s shareholders. The combined company will create the third largest independent spinal company with a global span of product distribution in more than 50 countries.

The Covington corporate team was led by London-based partner Peter Laveran and New York-based partner Scott Smith with New York-based associate Frank London and London-based associate Karen Brooks. Partner Rob Heller and associate Rucia Pei in the firm’s New York office advised on tax structuring aspects of the transaction.