HeartWare International, which tangling with an activist investor opposed to its $860M acquisition of Valtech Cardio, is relying on Sard Verbinnen & Co. for PR support.

Heartware, a Framingham, Mass.-based maker of heart pumps for patients with advanced heart failure, announced in September its deal for Valtech, an Israel-based developer of valve repair and replacement devices for heart valve diseases.

Engaged Capital, a top 20 shareholder of Heartware, went public this week against the Valtech deal with the help of PR shop Bayfield Strategy. EC released a letter to Heartware's board which laments "years of disappointing returns" and urges the board to "walk away from this highly-dilutive, highly-risky acquisition and return to the company's focus to the core left ventricular assist device business."

The hedge fund wants Heartware to pursue its own sale, rather than the acquisition.

Heartware "respectfully disagree[d]" with the EC position, noting the fund only recently bought Heartware shares and affirming its commitment to the deal. "We are confident this acquisition will deliver significantly greater value to shareholders and patients alike than could be achieved through Engaged capital's recommended alternatives," the company said.

Sard managing directors Andrew Cole and Mark Harnett lead the Heartware account for the firm.