YORK, Pa., March 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DENTSPLY International Inc. (Nasdaq:XRAY) today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company's authorization to repurchase shares under its stock repurchase program. Under this program, the Company may repurchase shares of Company stock on the open market or in negotiated transactions in an amount to maintain up to twenty-two million shares in Treasury, an increase in the repurchase authorization of five million shares. The Company has repurchased just over one million shares thus far in 2010 and currently has almost seventeen million shares of Treasury stock, nearly completing its prior authorization level. The Company has approximately one hundred and forty-six million shares of common stock outstanding.
Mr. Wise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The increase in the authorization today reflects our confidence in the Company's ability to continue to generate strong cash-flow to meet our objectives, despite a challenging economic environment."
DENTSPLY designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products for the dental market. The Company believes that it is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of dental prosthetics, precious metal dental alloys, dental ceramics, endodontic instruments and materials, prophylaxis paste, dental sealants, ultrasonic scalers, and crown and bridge materials; the leading United States manufacturer and distributor of dental handpieces, dental x-ray film holders, film mounts and bone substitute/grafting materials; and a leading worldwide manufacturer or distributor of dental implants, impression materials, orthodontic appliances, dental cutting instruments, infection control products, and dental injectable anesthetics. The Company distributes its dental products in over 120 countries under some of the most well-established brand names in the industry.
DENTSPLY is committed to the development of innovative, high quality, cost-effective new products for the dental market.
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