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Retein closes SEK 11 million financing round to enable efficient recovery of clean water

Industriefonden

The Swedish company Retein that has developed a patented technology for water separation today announced the successful closing of their latest financing round. The company is being backed by Industrifonden, Butterfly Ventures, Navigare Ventures, and existing owner Chalmers Ventures. The new financing will bring their technology one step closer to industry and people in need.

Retein, until recently named Aquammodate, was founded in 2019 and has developed a patented technology for energy-efficient and high purity water separation. The technology has the potential to reduce the cost for recovering clean water and have lower impact on the environment than traditional methods. The new investment will be used to increase the production of stabilized aquaporins and finalize the development of a filtration module with embedded aquaporins.

Simon Isaksson, co-founder and CEO at Retein, said: “We are excited to welcome Industrifonden, Butterfly Ventures, and Navigare Ventures on board our journey towards enabling sustainable reuse of resources such as clean water. Their extensive experience in scaling and advancing deep tech solutions adds additional strength on our path to realize the transformational potential of our solution”.

The patented molecular separation technology was initially developed over the course of Simon Isaksson’s PhD project under the supervision of Retein co-founder professor Martin Andersson, at Chalmers University of Technology. The foundation of the technology is a biomimetic approach to water separation, as the company has taken inspiration by how aquaporins function in diatoms. The proprietary silica stabilization allows the aquaporins to be used as an additive to various kinds of filters on a wide range of scales.

Iliam Barkino, Principal at Industrifonden, said: “We’re proud to back the team at Retein and their unique technology based on impressive science from Chalmers University of Technology. They are truly unique in the way they have been able to stabilize aquaporins in a similar way that algae do, and we believe in the team that has a mix of highly qualified technological expertise and entrepreneurial experience.”

Learn more at retein.tech ↗

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EQT Private Equity to sell kfzteile24, a leading eCommerce platform for automotive spare parts and accessories in Germany

eqt

EQT Private Equity sells kfzteile24 to an investment consortium consisting of the Company’s Management, Project A Ventures, Koehler Group and a group of technology investors (“SB21”)

Under EQT’s ownership, kfzteile24 has made substantial investments in its digital platform and logistics infrastructure to support its growth trajectory and operational efficiency

The Company has expanded its online offering from around one million to around three million products, has significantly grown its B2B customer base and also initiated international expansion

EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market fund (“EQT Private Equity”) has agreed to sell kfzteile24 (the “Company”) to an investment consortium consisting of the Company’s Management, Project A Ventures, Koehler Group and a group of technology investors (“SB21”).

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Berlin, kfzteile24 is a leading eCommerce platform for automotive spare parts and accessories in Germany. In addition to its online webshop and app, kfzteile24 operates three retail stores with affiliated repair shops in Berlin to supplement the online distribution. kfzteile24 is positioned within the large independent automotive aftermarket, which sees a healthy and steady growth outlook driven by increasing online adoption and a growing and aging car fleet in Germany.

EQT Private Equity acquired kfzteile24 from its founders in October 2015. During EQT’s ownership, kfzteile24 has made substantial investments in its digital platform and logistics infrastructure to support its growth trajectory and operational efficiency. The Company has expanded its online offering from around one million to around three million products (including one of the largest online e-mobility product range in Germany), has significantly grown its B2B customer base, and also initiated international expansion.

Vesa Koskinen, Partner within EQT Private Equity’s Advisory Team, said, “The Company’s management team has played an instrumental role in developing kfzteile24 to a leading digital automotive spare parts platform with excellent operational capabilities. We believe kfzteile24 is in great hands and has a bright future ahead.”

Markus Winter, CEO of kfzteile24, said “We are very grateful for EQT’s extensive support, which enabled us to turn kfzteile24 into the successful and profitable omnichannel company it is today. Our strong digital platform has been key to the rapid expansion of the direct delivery business for commercial customers. EQT has been a great partner and helped to position kfzteile24 for the long-term. We are excited for what the future holds.”

The closing of the transaction took place on 20 April 2023.

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334

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BURE comments on the merger between ACQ BURE AB and YUBICO AB

Bure

Based on today’s information regarding the merger between ACQ Bure AB (“ACQ”) and Yubico AB (“Yubico”), Bure’s ownership in Yubico after completion of the transaction will increase to 17.4% given the terms and assumptions set out in ACQ’s press release.

  • The Swedish acquisition company ACQ was established on the initiative of Bure Equity (“Bure”) and was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in March 2021. ACQ has focused on finding an unlisted, sustainable, Nordic technology-based quality company that operates in a market with strong potential or in a niche market where the target company has a leading position.
  • Yubico is a global leading provider of hardware-based multi-factor authentication solutions, which protects against use of stolen identities. Yubico was founded in 2007 by Stina and Jakob Ehrensvärd, and its customer base spans approximately 160 countries. To date, the company’s core product, the YubiKey, has been sold in over 22 million units worldwide and it is currently used by many of the world’s largest enterprises.
  • Bure owns 20% in ACQ since 2021 and has been an owner of Yubico since 2017, when Bure acquired a minority stake. Since 2017, Bure has continued to invest in Yubico and today, Bure has an ownership stake of 15.3% in the company on a fully-diluted basis. Following the merger between ACQ and Yubico, Bure’s ownership in the combined company, which will change name to Yubico, will amount to 17.4% (given the terms and assumptions set out in ACQ’s press release). Hence, Bure will become the company’s largest shareholder.
  • As an owner of both Yubico and ACQ, Bure has a conflict of interest. Patrik Tigerschiöld and Sarah McPhee, board members of both Bure and ACQ, as well as Henrik Blomquist, the CEO of both Bure and ACQ, have therefore not participated, and will not participate, in the board of ACQ‘s resolutions to approve of the transaction or enter into the merger plan and the merger agreement, nor have they participated in the board’s deliberations regarding such resolutions. The non-conflicted board members in ACQ’s board of directors have thus managed the resolutions, and the deliberations regarding the resolutions, concerning the transaction.
  • The final decision on whether the transaction should be completed will be made by ACQ’s shareholders at ACQ’s extraordinary general meeting around June 20, 2023.
  • Bure is supporting the merger and has committed to vote in favour of the merger at the extraordinary general meetings.
  • Bure has accepted a lock-up period of 365 days from the date of completion of the transaction, meaning Bure has accepted to not sell its shareholding in ACQ during this period. The transaction is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2023.
  • The merger consideration to the shareholders in Yubico consists of 42% payment in cash and 58% payment in newly issued shares in ACQ. As a shareholder in Yubico, Bure will receive 8,064,674 new shares in ACQ, and SEK 579 million in cash. Bure thereby has 15,064,674 shares after the transaction and hence increases its ownership in Yubico of 15.3% to 17.4% after completion of the merger.
  • As a sponsor in ACQ, Bure holds 4,200,000 sponsor warrants in the merged company. The sponsor warrants can be exercised for subscription of shares no earlier than 1 April 2026 and no later than 1 April 2031 with a strike price of SEK 130. This means that Bure can reach a maximum ownership of 21.2% in Yubico.
  • Bure intends to propose Patrik Tigerschiöld as Chairman of the Board of Yubico.

Patrik Tigerschiöld, Chairman of the Board of Bure, comments:

“Stina and Jakob Ehrensvärd have been extremely successful entrepreneurs and company builders, as they have developed Yubico into a world-leading player in the global cybersecurity market. I am very pleased that a quality company like Yubico chooses to become listed in Sweden, and I am looking forward to continuing the Yubico journey together with its founders, employees, and other shareholders”.

“The fact that Bure has been an owner of Yubico since 2017 has added a layer of complexity in the transaction process. Given the circumstances, special requirements have been placed on the decision-making process and deliberations. The non-conflicted members of ACQ’s board have been responsible for making the decisions concerning the transaction, while Bure’s representatives with conflicts of interest have not been involved in these particular activities. Lastly, it is important to note that the final decision on whether the transaction should be carried out will be made by ACQ’s shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting”.

For more information, contact

Henrik Blomquist, CEO
henrik.blomquist@bure.se
Telephone: +46 (0) 8-614 00 20

This information is information that Bure Equity AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 2023-04-19 07:15 CEST.

Attachments

BURE COMMENTS ON THE MERGER BETWEEN ACQ BURE AB AND YUBICO AB

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Gilde Healthcare raises €600 million to invest in healthcare innovation

GIlde Healthcare
  • A balanced mix of international investors commits €600 million to Gilde Healthcare Venture&Growth VI, a transatlantic investment fund
  • Gilde Healthcare invests in fast growing companies that enable better care at lower cost, supported by its recently appointed Impact Council
  • In three years’ time, Gilde Healthcare raised over €1.5 billion across three funds

Gilde Healthcare today announces a new investment fund with €600 million in commitments: Gilde Healthcare Venture&Growth VI. The new fund focuses on fast growing companies developing solutions for better care at lower cost. Gilde Healthcare invests in companies in Europe and North America active in digital healthcare, medical technology (MedTech) and therapeutics.

The fund is backed by a balanced mix of international investors, including corporates, banks, pension funds, insurers, fund-of-funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, family offices, entrepreneurs and the Gilde team.

Pieter van der Meer, Managing Partner at Gilde Healthcare: “We are pleased with the strong interest from investors who support our mission. Innovations that improve the quality of care but also keep it affordable are essential to ensure access to healthcare. Our broad strategy, covering digital health, MedTech and therapeutics, results in a holistic approach allowing us to select the most optimal and cost effective solution for the individual patient. With a team of sector experts, we help companies to further scale medical innovations and to make them accessible globally.”

The healthcare expenditure in the Western World continues to grow, already exceeding 20% of GDP in the United States. Gilde Healthcare’s mission to invest in better care at lower cost, is supported by the recently established Impact Council, chaired by the former executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The new fund will invest €10-60 million per new portfolio company. Together with the last Venture&Growth fund (closed in 2020) and Gilde Healthcare Private Equity IV (closed in 2022), Gilde Healthcare has raised €1.5 billion in capital over the last three years.

Media contact:
Ruben Cardol (media contact)
email: ruben.cardol@cffcommunications.nl
phone: +31 (0)6 55 358 427

Pieter van der Meer (Managing Partner)
email: vandermeer@gildehealthcare.com
phone: +31 30 219 2565

About Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare is a specialized healthcare investor managing over €2.5 billion across two fund strategies: Venture&Growth and Private Equity. The Venture&Growth fund of Gilde Healthcare invests in fast growing companies active in digital health, medtech and therapeutics, based in Europe and North America. The Private Equity fund of Gilde Healthcare participates in profitable lower mid-market healthcare companies based in North-Western Europe. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.gildehealthcare.com.

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Investment in TSE, an expert in Photovoltaic and Agrivoltaic development

Eurazeo

Eurazeo is investing in TSE through its Transition Infrastructure Fund. Bpifrance and investors from the Crédit Agricole group are also taking part in this €130 million fundraising round.

TSE was founded in 2016 and is a producer of solar energy in France. Its ambition is to meet the challenges posed by energy and ecological transition, partly by developing agrivoltaic projects through partnerships with major players in the world of agriculture. TSE is also recognised for its innovative agricultural canopy solution, and is the company that brought into service the Marville photovoltaic facility, the second-largest in France. TSE currently has 1.6 GW of projects at varying stages of development.
This fundraising round, led by Eurazeo, is intended to support the company’s growth and help it develop large-scale photovoltaic and agrivoltaic projects. TSE’s aim is to reinforce its significant presence in this field by developing strong local roots, close ties with the farming community and a resolute focus on innovation.

Through this investment – the fifth made by Eurazeo’s Infrastructure team – Eurazeo is pursuing its ESG and sustainability targets while supporting energy transition and contributing to a low-carbon economy.
Mathieu Debonnet and Pierre Yves Lambert, who jointly lead TSE, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Eurazeo, Bpifrance and Crédit Agricole as shareholders. Their investment will help to boost our growth and is a major source of pride for us. It also demonstrates the strength of our business model, products, innovations and know-how in the field of solar power. We will continue to develop according to our business model based on quality, a focus on the long term, a grass-roots commitment to farmers and manufacturers and an environment-focused culture. More than ever, we will play an active role in decarbonising our economy and increasing its resilience. We thank our new investors for the confidence they have shown in TSE’s plans.”

Melissa Cohen, Managing Director of Eurazeo’s Infrastructure team, added:
“We are delighted to be partnering with TSE, a producer of photovoltaic energy whose products combine the benefits of solar power and agricultural development, and which can be adapted to all types of terrain. This fundraising round will give it the resources it needs to fulfil its ambitions. We are happy to be taking part in TSE’s entrepreneurial journey, and particularly its development of innovative agrivoltaic solutions. TSE’s market position is entirely aligned with Eurazeo’s commitment to energy transition.”

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Gimv leads a 72 million € Series A financing round of Complement Therapeutics to finance further development of therapies for eye diseases

GIMV

17/04/2023 – 07:27 | Portfolio

Complement Therapeutics announces the closing of a 72 million € Series A financing round led by Gimv together with existing investor Forbion and further joined by BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), Panakes Partners, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), Hadean Ventures and Seroba Life Sciences. Complement Therapeutics will use the proceeds of this round to continue to develop its innovative therapies for the treatment of complement-related diseases, with particular focus on ophtalmology.

Complement Therapeutics, a spin-out of the University of Manchester founded in 2021, aims to transform the treatment of complement-mediated conditions by developing novel therapies such as CTx001, an innovative AAV gene therapy for the treatment of geographic atrophy, a progressive and advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) associated with significant, irreversible loss of vision.

Furthermore, the financing round will allow Complement Therapeutics to evaluate its pipeline assets for non-ocular indications as well as further develop the novel Complement Precision Medicine (CPM) platform.

Michaël Vlemmix, Principal Life Sciences at Gimv and Board Director at CTx comments: “One of the pillars of our Life Sciences strategy is to invest in companies where cutting-edge science could lead to a potential paradigm shift in the treatment and lives of patients.  Complement Therapeutics is a key example of such an investment whereby we are proud to have been able to build a strong syndicate, supported by a high-quality current investor base.”

Rishabh Chawla, Associate of Gimv’s Life Sciences team and Observer at CTx adds:“With the ability to target the etiology of complement-related diseases along with a very experienced and dedicated management team, we are convinced that Complement Therapeutics will make a real difference to patients that have limited treatment options today.”

For more information, please read the full press release from Complement Therapeutics attached.

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Hyperautomation specialist Ciphix accelerates growth strategy with Mentha

Mentha

Mentha has entered into a partnership with Ciphix, a fast-growing hyperautomation specialist that automates and optimises processes for large and reputable companies such as Marel, ASR, Vattenfall and ANWB. The collaboration will boost its growth strategy, which should make Ciphix a leading European player in hyperautomation.

Since its founding in 2018, Ciphix’s mission has been to ‘take the robot out of the human’ by letting RPA (robotic process automation) software take over repetitive tasks carried out by employees. Since then, Ciphix has grown into a company with more than 60 employees and operates as a broad hyperautomation service provider active in RPA, (conversational) AI, process mining, low-code and iPaaS. Thanks to these various technologies, Ciphix also automates more complex repetitive processes, which ensures higher efficiency and a reduction of errors and costs. In addition, it enables customers to assign more important, valuable and challenging work to employees such as solving complex problems.

Ciphix as an appealing employer
Next to the innovative use of the various technologies, Ciphix stands out in successfully attracting and retaining talent. This is made possible by a positive and challenging corporate culture and provides a solid foundation for further organic growth. As an active shareholder, Mentha will also be looking at possible acquisitions in the home market and abroad, in order to accelerate the growth strategy. The investor has extensive experience in scaling technology companies internationally and will use this knowledge and expertise at Ciphix on both an operational and a strategic level.

Koen Mallee and Marijn van de Poel together form the management of Ciphix and are enthusiastic about the collaboration. Mallee: “We have a lot of confidence in this collaboration. Our journey has only just begun and this is the start of the next phase.” Van de Poel: “We are proud of our team, customers and partners and look forward to taking the next steps with Mentha on board.”

The joint aim of Ciphix and Mentha is to grow the company into a leading European hyperautomation specialist in the coming years. This is fuelled by the ambition to play a role in solving major labour market challenges such as the large shortage of qualified staff and high staff turnover due to low job satisfaction and a lack of challenging and meaningful work. Ciphix is convinced in its ability to further shape this ambition, partly due to the broad applicability of robotisation of certain labour processes in combination with continuous innovation from software suppliers.

Stijn Dietz, Investment Director at Mentha: “We are impressed by Ciphix and very excited to invest in the future of hyperautomation through this partnership. The management’s ambition and Ciphix’s innovative approach to intelligent automation, combined with our expertise in scaling this type of business is an excellent foundation to continue growing and increasingly delivering value to customers in the coming years.”

——

About Ciphix
Ciphix is a Rotterdam-based Hyperautomation specialist. Ciphix believes that in a world with so much technological potential, there is no need for employees to carry out monotonous, boring and repetitive work. That is why the company is committed to helping organisations harness human potential through smart automation of business processes. With an integrated approach to Process Mining, RPA, Low-code, Integrations and Machine Learning, Ciphix offers its customers, including global brands and government organisations, unique and robust solutions to take the robot out of the human.

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Ratos company HENT signs a new billion NOK contract with Statsbygg – construction of part of the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre in Trondheim

Ratos

Statsbygg, which manages most of the Norwegian government’s property portfolio, has selected HENT as the general contractor for the construction of the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre Wing B. The project is a partnering project and one of Norway’s most unique construction projects.

HENT and Statsbygg are now entering the partnering phase of the project in preparation for the start of construction towards the end of the first quarter of 2024. The new Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre, which is expected to be completed in 2027, will play an important role in the green transition. It will help to secure Norway’s position as a leading port nation through the development and transformation of the local, national and international maritime industry. The centre will include a 300-metre-long ocean basin building measuring approximately 25,000 square metres, and that is what HENT is now building.

“It is gratifying that HENT has been awarded yet another important contract for the construction of critical infrastructure and another landmark in Norway. We will also do our utmost to uphold the confidence once again shown in HENT by Statsbygg. This is a complex project that requires considerable experience and an extraordinary partnering ability. It will be great to get started,” says Christian Johansson Gebauer, Chairman of the Board of HENT and President, Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

The centre will house office premises, meeting rooms and an underground parking garage as well as wet and dry laboratories, which in turn will house two ocean basin facilities. Working together with the equipment suppliers for the basin laboratories will be an important component of the partnering phase.

“We are very proud to have been awarded this contract. The facility will be a world leader in its area and is an important acknowledgment for HENT. It feels particularly gratifying to be able to contribute to Trondheim’s development since HENT has its roots and head office there. The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre will be an important building for Norway, and we look forward to beginning the partnering phase and creating a solid foundation for implementing the project,” says Jan Jahren, CEO of HENT.

The projects carried out by the companies in Ratos’s Construction & Services business area mainly comprise infrastructure maintenance and commercial buildings, with very limited exposure to housing construction (<5% of net sales).

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Endre Persen, VP Communication, HENT, +47 916 89 929

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 32 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Arcadia Raises $125 Million in New Financing from Vista Credit Partners

Vista Equity

Investment to Accelerate Platform Innovation and Company Growth; Further Establish Leadership Position in Healthcare Data Analytics

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Arcadia (Arcadia.io), a leading data analytics platform for healthcare, today announced $125 million in financing from Vista Credit Partners, the credit-lending arm of Vista Equity Partners and a strategic investor and financing partner focused on the enterprise software, data and technology market. The investment will accelerate Arcadia’s platform innovation and go-to-market strategy to meet the growing demand from leading healthcare organizations to aggregate and analyze data from across disparate systems for business efficiencies and improved patient care.

“Arcadia’s mission is to inform better healthcare decisions by unlocking the power of the vast amount of data that is captured in modern healthcare delivery and operations,” said Michael Meucci, CEO, Arcadia. “Vista Credit Partners is the preferred partner to help us achieve our goals, providing new financing and access to the broader Vista ecosystem which holds deep expertise and resources for scaling HealthTech and enterprise software businesses. We look forward to further investing in our platform, our service delivery and customer relations to solidify our position as the leading data platform for healthcare organizations.”

Arcadia helps providers and health plans deliver actionable insights to advance care and research, drive strategic growth, and ensure financial success. The past year included several important milestones for Arcadia, including:

  • Inclusion on Inc. 5000’s 2022 Fastest Growing Private Companies list, reflecting 99% revenue growth over three years;
  • Achieving 35%+ ARR growth in 2022 by continuing to build and expand relationships with the top payers and providers in the U.S.;
  • Growing total active unique users of the Arcadia Analytics platform by 50% in nine months; and
  • Saving customers more than $1.3 billion through Arcadia’s Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) service.

“Vista Credit Partners invests in innovative software businesses with established market leadership, providing non-dilutive credit solutions and counsel to help them achieve their next phase of growth,” said David Flannery, President, Vista Credit Partners. “Arcadia is an exciting investment as its platform serves as a mission-critical tool for blue-chip national health systems, hospitals, and health plans, helping them drive ROI by delivering actionable intelligence that enables strategic growth and financial success in pursuit of better health outcomes. We’re thrilled to partner with Michael and the entire Arcadia team and support the Company’s continued growth and success.”

In addition to business growth and platform adoption, Arcadia has been consistently recognized for outstanding customer satisfaction and company culture, earning Best in KLAS in Value-Based Care Managed Services for five consecutive years and being named to Built In’s 100 Best Places to Work in 2023 in Boston and Chicago.

About Arcadia

Arcadia is dedicated to happier, healthier days for all. We transform data into powerful insights that deliver results. Through our partnerships with the nation’s leading health systems, payers, and life science companies, we are growing a community of innovation to improve care, maximize value, and confront emerging challenges. For more information, visit arcadia.io.

About Vista Credit Partners

Vista Credit Partners (VCP) is the credit-investing arm of Vista Equity Partners and is a strategic investor and financing partner focused on the growing enterprise software, data, and technology market. VCP employs a highly disciplined approach to credit investing while maintaining flexibility to pursue investments offering the best relative value and investing across the capital structure. Since formation in 2013 and as of December 31, 2022, VCP has deployed over $9.7 billion and grown to over $6.6 billion of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.

Vista Credit Partners offers solutions tailored to strategic objectives with growth-friendly terms and long-term investment horizons across both the private and broadly syndicated markets, sourcing deals directly from founder-led companies, through sponsor relationships, and from its deep network of experts, advisors and other intermediaries to support growth and unlock value through creative capital solutions and operational partnership. Vista Credit Partners has completed more than 495 software and technology transactions since inception.

Contacts

Media
For Arcadia:
Isaac Sheinkopf
isheinkopf@sloanepr.com
212-446-1890

For Vista Credit Partners:
Brian W. Steel
media@vistaequitypartners.com
212-804-9170

Arcadia

Contacts

Media
For Arcadia:
Isaac Sheinkopf
isheinkopf@sloanepr.com
212-446-1890

For Vista Credit Partners:
Brian W. Steel
media@vistaequitypartners.com
212-804-9170

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Jeito Capital leads a $105 million series C financing in Alentis Therapeutics to advance transformational medicines for Claudin-1 in Cancer & Fibrosis

Jeito Capital
  • Funds will support the Phase I/II clinical development of Alentis’ two first-in-class anti-Claudin-1 (CLDN1) antibodies for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors, and CLDN1 platform development
  • After its investment 2 years ago, Jeito Capital amplifies its partnership with Alentis Therapeutics, the leading player in CLDN1, in line with its strategy to grow companies and build potential market leaders to bring much needed treatments to benefit patients

Paris, France, April 13th 2023 – Jeito Capital (“Jeito”), the largest fully independent private equity firm dedicated to healthcare and biopharma in Europe, announced today that it has led a $105 million (€96 million) Series C financing in Alentis Therapeutics (“Alentis” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotech spun out of INSERM, based in Basel (Switzerland) with R&D in Strasbourg (France), that is developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors. CLDN1, as part of the claudin family of transmembrane proteins, is a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the physio-pathology of a broad range of solid tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic diseases across multiple organs.

The financing was led by Jeito together with Novo Holdings A/S and RA Capital Management with participation from existing investors including BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio 2 fund and Schroders Capital. Proceeds will be used to support the Phase II program of Alentis’ lead investigational products, ALE.F02, currently in development for the treatment of advanced kidney, lung and liver fibrosis, and the Phase I program of its lead oncology asset, ALE.C04, the first potential treatment to target CLDN1 positive (CLDN1+) tumors. Funds will also be used to develop the Company’s platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bi-specific antibodies. The Claudin space in oncology has recently seen the success of CLDN-18.2 in gastric cancers. CLDN-1 has the advantage of a much broader expression profile, highlighting Alentis’ growth potential and significant commercial potential.

Jeito became a key investor in Alentis as part of a $67 million Series B financing in June 2021. Since then, Alentis has made significant progress. The Company’s Phase I multiple ascending dose study for ALE.F02 is expected to reach completion imminently. Alentis has also clearly defined the CLDN1+ cancer patient population, including T-cell excluded cancers, as the target for developing its ALE.C04 oncology treatment. The Company has established a platform to engineer CLDN1 ADCs (antibody drug conjugate) and bi-specific antibodies and has expanded its team in France, Switzerland and the US.

Dr. Rafaèle Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, commented : “Claudin-1 has enormous potential in multiple areas of fibrosis and across a broad range of cancers and, with Jeito’s support, Alentis has made significant progress over the past two years in identifying target populations while developing programs and advancing the platform. We are committed to continuing our partnership with the outstanding Alentis team as they are the leading player in the CLDN1 space and are well positioned to generate meaningful clinical data.”

Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO at Alentis Therapeutics, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this support from our investors. There are huge unmet needs in organ fibrosis and cancer, and this funding enables us to continue with the important work we’re doing in the CLDN1 space and generate clinical data from both our programs. We can now aggressively develop CLDN1 biology in oncology and continue with the recruitment of our organ fibrosis trials while advancing our ADC and bi-specific antibodies.”

About Jeito Capital

Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity company with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients’ access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito Capital has €534 million under management and a rapidly growing portfolio of investments. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States.

For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

About Alentis Therapeutics

Alentis Therapeutics, the CLDN1 company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic disease across multiple organs.

 

Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel’s pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US.

Visit https://alentis.ch

For further information please contact:

Jeito Capital
Rafaèle Tordjman
Assia Mouhout, EA
assia@jeito.life
Tel: +33 6 76 49 37 94

Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott /
Davide Salvi / Kris Lam
Jeito@consilium-comms.com
Tél. : +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 

AchTo Conseil
Marion Bougeard
marion@achto-conseil.fr
Tél. : +33 6 76 73 57 31 

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