After a busy second quarter in terms of portfolio activity, the third quarter was far quieter. Our only significant purchase was of the dental supply leader Dentsply Sirona (NASDAQ:XRAY). We’ve owned predecessor company Sirona since 2011, and it has been an excellent performer. Our original investment thesis was based on Sirona’s leadership in digital dentistry. Sirona is strong in digital equipment, and its product line includes CEREC, an incredibly innovative and useful CAD/CAM system that allows dentists to design and mill crowns in their offices during the course of a single patient visit. The merger brings together the highest-tech maker of dental equipment (Sirona) with the largest maker of dental consumables (Dentsply), creating the industry’s largest global supplier. It is our belief that Dentsply Sirona is in a unique position to create and sell new value-added solutions in both equipment and consumables over the years ahead. In addition, we think CEO Jeff Slovin is the right person to drive the combined organization toward a world-class level of performance.
From Ruane Cunniff (Trades, Portfolio)'s Sequoia Fund third quarter 2016 letter to shareholders.
