Category Archives: News

Agomab Therapeutics to Acquire Origo Biopharma

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Andera Partners

— Acquisition strengthens Agomab as a leader in targeting growth factor pathways —
— Origo brings TGF-β-targeted approach with clinical-stage program in Crohn’s disease and preclinical candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis —
— Agomab will integrate Origo’s small molecule development platform, team and R&D facilities —

Agomab Therapeutics NV (‘Agomab’) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which it will acquire Origo Biopharma S.L., a Spanish clinicalstage biotechnology company developing organ-restricted small molecule drug candidates targeting the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway for the treatment of fibrosis-related disorders. The combined organization will focus on translating growth factor signaling pathways into innovative therapies. Agomab’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-targeting monoclonal antibodies together with Origo’s small molecule programs create a rich clinical pipeline of therapeuticsthat address fibrosis and organ failure in multiple therapeutic areas.

“Agomab and Origo share a common vision that targeting growth factors has tremendous diseasemodifying potential. This transaction delivers on Agomab’s growth strategy and brings together two teams that have complementary R&D experience and establishes an exciting clinical pipeline of therapeutics to help patients with severe unmet medical needs,” said Tim Knotnerus, Chief Executive Officer at Agomab Therapeutics. “TGF-β is a validated pathway known to be a master regulator of fibrogenesis. Leveraging their advanced small molecule expertise, the Origo team has done an amazing job developing organ-restricted TGF-β approaches, which circumvent toxicity concerns associated with systemic TGF-β blockade. I very much look forward to working with the Origo team as an integral part of our combined company going forward.”

Ramon Bosser, Chief Executive Officer at Origo Biopharma commented: “We view this acquisition as a unique opportunity to accelerate the further development of our programs as part of a highly competent and committed organization. Agomab has built an impressive and driven R&D and corporate team with access to high-quality resources. We are truly excited to take this step and join Agomab to create a growth factor-focused drug development leader with both antibody and small molecule capabilities.”

Origo Biopharma is a Spanish clinical-stage, privately held biotechnology company with research facilities in Touro (Galicia) and corporate offices in Barcelona. The company has developed novel organ-restricted small molecule entities to maximize the potential of local TGF-β inhibition while avoiding systemic toxicities. Origo’s lead program, ORG-129, is a gastrointestinal tract restricted ALK5 inhibitor currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics. The first target indication is fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease. A second program, ORG-447, is a lung-restricted ALK-5-inhibitor, currently in IND-enabling studies, for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Agomab will integrate these programs into its growing pipeline and add the entire Origo team and facilities to its current organization. As such, Agomab’s corporate footprint will comprise its headquarters in Belgium with research and development locations in Italy and Spain.

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions. Financial details have not been disclosed.

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IK Partners acquires Plastiflex

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap III Fund will, alongside management, acquire Plastiflex Group N.V. (“Plastiflex” or “the Company”) from 3d investors. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Plastiflex is the market-leading global supplier of high-end customised tube system solutions for the healthcare, industrial and appliances markets. Operating seven manufacturing facilities and with a presence across four continents, the Company serves a long-standing and diversified base of blue-chip customers.

Under the ownership of 3d investors and through its technological innovation and state-of-the-art solutions, developed by its research and development functions, Plastiflex has been able to penetrate and acquire significant market share in the healthcare and industrial markets. IK’s partnership with Plastiflex is aimed at driving further above market organic growth in the healthcare segment with share of wallet gains at existing clients, new client acquisitions and expansion of its innovative product offering to increase the addressable market.

Plastiflex will continue to be led by Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) Piet Gruwez and his team, who will also be reinvesting alongside IK.

Piet Gruwez, CEO of Plastiflex, commented: “We’re delighted to have IK’s support in continuing to deliver the very best solutions to customers who all operate with complex requirements and in markets benefitting from long-term growth trends, including healthcare and industrials.”

Sander van Vreumingen, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK Small Cap III Fund added: “Plastiflex is a high potential business with a very interesting market positioning. We’re delighted to be partnering with the Company and its top-quality management team to further their growth ambitions, both organically and through strategic mergers and acquisitions.”

Completion of the transaction is subject to legal and regulatory approvals.

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Maitland/AMO
James McFarlane
+44 (0) 7584 142665
jmcfarlane@maitland.co.uk / ik-maitland@maitland.co.uk

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €14 billion of capital and invested in over 155 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit www.ikpartners.com

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Plastiflex

For over 60 years, Plastiflex has been a global leader in plastic hoses and hose systems for healthcare, industrial and appliances markets. For more information, visit: http://www.plastiflex.com/

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3d investors sells Plastiflex to IK Partners

3D Investors

3d investors is proud to announce that after 25 years of ownership, it is selling Plastiflex to IK Partners. Plastiflex produces plastic hose system solutions used in healthcare, industrial and appliances applications (floor care, swimming pools and white goods). The investment in Plastiflex was a perfect example of 3d investors’ investment philosophy as a long-term shareholder and dedicated partner. Plastiflex successfully reinvented itself since 2010 with a focus on the medical sector. This “blue ocean innovation” helped achieve strong growth. Together, the management and the new shareholder, IK Partners, will focus further on strengthening the market position in healthcare and industrial through continuous product innovation.

Plastiflex, founded in 1953 in California, developed a novel technology to spiral wounding plastic hoses. This quickly positioned the company in its markets as the hose innovator. Nowadays, Plastiflex is operating in 3 key markets: healthcare, industrial applications and appliances such as for floor care, swimming pools and white goods. In 1998, 3d Investors took over the company and since the beginning of its investment positioned itself as a dedicated long-term shareholder and solid strategic partner. This contributed to the international expansion and the opening of several factories in the USA, Europe, and Asia. It is a long-term supplier of a diversified base of blue-chip OEMS such as Miele, Electrolux, Fluidra, Kärcher, Dräger, Hamilton Medical. It developed a new state-of-the-art innovation and R&D center in Belgium and strong R&D capabilities in China. Passion for innovation has been the key driver during its ownership. In 2010 the company started developing, based on a unique technology, heated tubes for the respiratory healthcare market. With a clear focus on improving the breathing comfort of patients, who are using ventilators in intensive care units or for sleep apnea treatment. Plastiflex became a well-respected medical device manufacturer.

Hans Swinnen, Partner at 3d investors clarifies: “Our journey together with Plastiflex has been fascinating. The sector of plastic hoses changed enormously over the past 25 years. We have witnessed changing and expanding markets and we actively participated in growth opportunities in the medical industry. Our investment in Plastiflex is a clear demonstration of our core values. We are dedicated, we have patience, and we believe in the innovative potential of the unique companies we invest in. For Plastiflex this was the transformation from producing vacuum cleaner hoses to becoming a medical device supplier. We are convinced that the management, together with IK Partners, will continue to realise sustainable profitable growth.”

Piet Gruwez, CEO Plastiflex, explains: “3d investors has actively supported us for many years and strongly helped us to achieve exponential growth in the health care sector in recent years. We are very grateful for the good cooperation with 3d investors as well as for the hard work of all our employees and, of course, for the long-standing trust of our customers and suppliers. Together with IK Partners, we are now enthusiastically embarking on a new chapter in the unique growth story of Plastiflex.”

*3d Investors and Plastiflex were advised by GCA Altium (M&A), Four & Five (Legal) Roland Berger (Commercial), EY (Financial and Tax) and ERM (ESG)

About 3d investors

3d investors is a long term family owned investment company that chooses to support the growth of solid companies, in partnership with entrepreneurs and management. Built on a proud tradition of entrepreneurship, we choose to support solid companies with growth potential. In doing so, we start from our core values: entrepreneurship, empathy, integrity, passion and agility. 3d investors is a long-term shareholder in a number of listed groups (KBC, Ackermans & van Haaren, Atenor and Barco), non-listed companies (including Care Cosmetics, DSIT, Pauwels Consulting, Studio 100, 3P and Zenitel) and 3d Real Estate.

About Plastiflex

Plastiflex Group is specialized in the production of plastic flexible tubes and injection molded components for a number of markets such as Floor care, White Goods, Pool, Industry and Health Care. The Health Care customers are both distributors and OEM’s who use the tubes for their ventilation or sleeping quality improvement devices. Plastiflex group is one of the world biggest producers of plastic flexible tubes and hoses with headquarters in Belgium and production facilities in China, Europe, Mexico and USA. It employs around 1000 people worldwide. The yearly turnover is close to 100 million EUR.

Press contact 3d investors

Hans Swinnen
hans.swinnen@3d-investors.be

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Partners Group to acquire significant minority stake in leading independent Swiss watchmaker Breitling

CVC Capital Partners
  • Breitling draws on a unique industry heritage as the inventor of the modern wrist chronograph
  • Partners Group Co-Founder Alfred Gantner will join the Board of Breitling
  • Management, CVC, and Partners Group will jointly drive Breitling’s development into the leading neo-luxury watch brand

Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, has, on behalf of its clients, agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in leading Swiss watchmaker Breitling (or “the Company”), from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI and management.

Founded in 1884, Breitling is already one of the leading Swiss watchmakers, with a unique heritage in the industry as the inventor of the modern wrist chronograph and a particular positioning as a casual, inclusive, and sustainable luxury brand. Breitling has a diverse range of watch collections centered around air, land, and sea themes, and its unique modern-retro design style appeals to an increasingly broad consumer base globally. The Company benefits from attractive macro and sectoral transformative growth trends, especially in Asia, where rising disposable incomes amongst the middle classes are increasing demand for premium products, including watches. It is estimated that the luxury watch segment will grow at 6% CAGR between 2021 and 20241, with the majority of this growth coming from China.

Partners Group will partner with CVC Capital Partners and management to further accelerate Breitling’s growth, building on its successful track record in recent years. Key value creation initiatives include growing direct-to-consumer sales channels, expanding Breitling’s own retail network, particularly in Asia and the US, and continuing to improve operational efficiency. In line with Partners Group’s entrepreneurial governance approach, the firm’s Co-Founder Alfred Gantner will join the Board of Breitling.

Alfred Gantner, Co-Founder, and Executive Member of the Board of Directors, Partners Group, says: “Breitling is an iconic Swiss brand whose watches are instantly recognisable around the world for their quality and style. Under the leadership of Georges Kern, the Company has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, and we believe it has significant potential to capture a wider audience of consumers globally. We wholeheartedly look forward to working with Georges and the CVC team to realize this next stage of growth for Breitling.”

Georges Kern, Chief Executive Officer, Breitling, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Partners Group as an investor, and Alfred Gantner as a Board member. With CVC and Partners Group we have a strong alliance to accomplish our ambitious targets to realize our immense potential to become one of the undisputed leaders in the Swiss Watch Industry.”

Daniel Pindur, Partner, CVC Capital Partners, states: “We are proud of the fantastic progress Breitling has made since we invested in 2017. Working in close partnership with Georges and his team, we have been able to significantly accelerate Breitling’s growth, through a repositioned brand, a rejuvenated product offering and a continued digitization of the business. We are very pleased to be bringing Partners Group on board and look forward to working closely with them to continue to grow this iconic business further and ultimately target an IPO in a few years’ time.”

1Source: Boston Consulting Group 2021

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3i-backed GartenHaus continues its international growth with the acquisition of Outdoor Toys in the UK

3I

3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that A-Z Gartenhaus GmbH (“GartenHaus”), a digital leader in garden homes, sheds, saunas and related products in North Europe, has acquired Outdoor Toys, a leading online D2C retailer of outdoor garden toys in the UK. As part of the transaction, 3i will invest c.€56m of additional capital.

Founded in 2006 by James Owen and based in Mid Wales, Outdoor Toys is among the largest outdoor garden toys specialists in the UK. The company offers over 1,000 products and specialises in Modular Toys, including swing sets, slides and climbing frames, as well as ride-on toys, trampolines, sandpits and accessories. The company operates a vertically integrated value chain with its own product design, UK manufacturing, customer service, dedicated logistics fleet and direct online sales to customers through its own website as well as online marketplaces.

Outdoor Toys is known for its comprehensive customer service and strong customer satisfaction, with a reputation for quality. The company has delivered sales growth of 70% per annum since 2019 and shipped over 1 million items in the last twelve months.

This acquisition expands GartenHaus’s product portfolio and geographic reach whilst also enabling Outdoor Toys to increase its international reach. The combined business will be able to cross sell its products to customers as well as benefit from online marketing, customer service and supply chain synergies. The acquisition also supports GartenHaus’s ambition of building the leading European platform for home and garden projects.

Today’s acquisition is the second for GartenHaus since 3i’s investment in September 2020 and follows the addition of Polhus, a leading online retailer of garden houses and related products based in Scandinavia, in late 2020. Based on the strong organic performance of GartenHaus as well as the two strategic acquisitions, total EBITDA of the group has tripled since 3i´s original investment.

James Owen, founder and CEO of Outdoor Toys said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with GartenHaus to bring our award winning products to even more customers across Europe. We are excited for the future and look forward to continuing to grow Outdoor Toys whilst benefitting from the know-how of GartenHaus and its strong platform.”

Sebastian Arendt, CEO of GartenHaus commented: “I would like to welcome James and the Outdoor Toys team to GartenHaus. There is a strong fit between our businesses and we look forward to working together as we continue our growth. 3i’s backing and international network have been instrumental in our achievements to date and we are excited to look ahead at further international expansion.”

Peter Wirtz, Partner 3i added: “GartenHaus and Outdoor Toys are a great combination and we are very happy to sign our second acquisition only a year after investing in GartenHaus. This transaction fits with our strategy of building GartenHaus into the leading European platform for home and garden projects.”

 

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Download this press release  

 

For further information, contact:

 

3i Group plc

Kathryn van der Kroft

Media enquiries

 

 

Silvia Santoro

Shareholder enquiries

  

Tel: +44 20 7975 3021

Email: kathryn.vanderkroft@3i.com

 

 

Tel: +44 20 7975 3258

Email: silvia.santoro@3i.com

 

 

 

Notes to editors:

 

About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity and Infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com

 

About GartenHaus

Hamburg-based A-Z GartenHaus GmbH was founded in 2002 and employs over 100 people. With over 1 million monthly users, it is the digital market leader for home and garden projects in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux and Denmark. Since 2020 the digital leader for garden houses in Scandinavia, Polhus, is part of the GartenHaus group with webshops in Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and DACH.

As a digital specialist, GartenHaus GmbH has developed an innovative online shop including price comparison and unique and rich media content for a product range of 30,000 items and services. Consequently, GartenHaus GmbH offers the largest product assortment in Europe from 100 third party and 7 private label brands, such as Alpholz, FinnTherm, Terrando, Kibungi and POOLCREW. The product range includes garden sheds, saunas, patios, carports, garages, children’s playhouses, pools, green houses and much more. On request, GartenHaus GmbH handles the entire garden and home project, from A to Z: assembly, consultation, planning permission, foundations, maintenance and accessories. The extensive range of services includes products made to measure and configurators allowing customers to design products individually.

For further information, please visit: www.gartenhaus-gmbh.de, www.polhus.se

 

About Outdoor Toys

OutdoorToys was founded by CEO James Owen in 2006 and developed into one of the UK’s digital leaders for children’s toys and play equipment. With its modular design philosophy, its eCommerce platform and an agile manufacturing process it has disrupted the market. From humble beginnings the company quickly established itself in the market with its 100% D2C model built on a leading technology platform that enables the customer’s experience to be tailored to their unique requirements.

For further information, please visit: www.outdoortoys.co.uk

 

Regulatory information

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Germany.

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Andera Partners supports Exciva in a Series A to fight Alzheimer’s disease

Andera Partners

German startup Exciva attracts venture capital funding to combat behavioral symptoms – including agitation and aggression – associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Andera Partners – a leading private equity player – through its biotech and medtech activity Andera Life Sciences, is leading the €9 million Series A round of Exciva GmbH, a German clinical biotech company developing a novel therapeutic compound for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer’s patients. LBBW Venture Capital and Cure 8 are participating in this first round.

This first round of financing will help Exciva GmbH develop its lead compound to completion of Phase I. The compound is a combination of two clinically validated products that have demonstrated efficacy in the central nervous system (CNS).

François Conquet, CEO of Exciva said: « I am very happy that we were able to convey the relevance of our approach and I would like to thank the investors for their support,” said Francois Conquet, CEO of Exciva. “Our lead candidate combines two compounds which have separately demonstrated a safety profile as well as an efficient activity in patients living with behavioral conditions. With this investment, we can look forward to advancing this product, the combination of these two compounds, through to the start of Phase II.»

Raphaël Wisniewski, partner at Andera Partners, commented: « Exciva GmbH is taking a uniquely promising approach to addressing symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease; a condition which still has huge unmet medical needs ».

Sofia Ioannidou, partner at Andera Partners, added: « Andera has been supporting Exciva from its foundation and we are excited about the progress the program has made so far. These proceeds will be used to complete Phase I with the goal of starting Phase II next year».

The Exciva team combines the best research and development expertise in the CNS field. Each member has a successful background in the pharma industry. «The caliber of the team and its collective scientific and industry expertise will make a huge impact on developing commercial products in the field of Alzheimer’s disease », said Stefanie Wojciech investment manager at LBBW Venture Capital.

The board of directors is composed of: Raphaël Wisniewski (chairman) and Sofia Ioannidou, partners at Andera, Stefanie Wojciech, investment manager at LBBW Venture Capital GmbH, and Vikram Sudarsan CEO of Engrail Therapeutics.

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AnaCap and RivingtonHark partner to acquire St Johns Shopping Centre in Liverpool

Anacap

AnaCap Financial Partners (“AnaCap”), a leading specialist mid-market investor and RivingtonHark, a UK retail asset manager focused on ensuring the future sustainability of towns and cities,  announce a joint venture to acquire St Johns Shopping Centre (“St John’s”),  a 540,000 sq. ft prime property in central Liverpool.

St John’s is located in the heart of Liverpool, between Liverpool’s two main train stations and the main bus station where significant public sector infrastructure works are being completed. The centre is currently 97% occupied with over 100 tenants, and the scheme is also the home of the St John’s Beacon, one of the UK’s most well-known and iconic buildings.

St John’s has benefited from significant renovation and refurbishment investment over the past decade, and AnaCap and RivingtonHark are looking to continue investing to meet the ongoing demands of a leading city-centre shopping centre.

The investment in St John’s sits within AnaCap’s opportunistic real estate strategy where it is capitalising on its extensive network to identify attractive, well located properties across Europe. It also epitomises AnaCap’s approach of leveraging dedicated, in-house specialist investment and asset management expertise to work alongside best-in-class operating partners targeted for each investment.

Sebastien Wigdo, Managing Director at AnaCap, commented:
“This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for AnaCap to invest in a prime and stabilised retail asset in the UK, demonstrating our ability to identify value in a sector which may have been previously overlooked. We were particularly attracted to the asset given its high-quality location and strong tenant mix of both local and national retailers, a large number of whom have shown a long-term commitment to the location during Covid.”

Mark Williams, Executive Director at RivingtonHark, added:
“We are glad to partner with AnaCap and are looking forward to engage with our tenants, the Liverpool City Council and the wider community to continue to invest in the asset and create long term value for all stakeholders.”

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Hellman & Friedman partners with EQT Private Equity for an improved voluntary tender offer by Zorro Bidco for zooplus AG at increased and final offer price of EUR 480 per share

eqt

The partnership between Hellman & Friedman and EQT Private Equity now provides zooplus shareholders with higher transaction certainty on improved economic terms, and will allow zooplus to benefit from the “best of both” investors in support of its growth strategy.

25 October 2021 – London & Munich –Today, Hellman & Friedman LLC (“Hellman & Friedman” or “H&F”) and the EQT IX fund (“EQT Private Equity”) have announced a partnership to finance Zorro Bidco S.à r.l.’s (“Zorro Bidco”) voluntary public takeover offer (the “Zorro Offer”) for all outstanding shares of zooplus AG (“zooplus” or the “Company”), at an increased and final cash consideration of EUR 480 per zooplus share (the “Increased Offer”).

On 13 August 2021, Zorro Bidco, a holding company currently controlled by funds advised by H&F, announced its intention to launch a voluntary public takeover offer for zooplus, and most recently on 7 October 2021 it further increased the cash consideration offered to the zooplus shareholders from EUR 460 to EUR 470 per zooplus share. In doing so, Zorro Bidco matched the competing takeover offer published on 6 October 2021 (the “Pet Offer”) by Pet Bidco GmbH (the “Pet Bidco”), an investment vehicle indirectly held by EQT Private Equity.

With support of its partner EQT Private Equity, H&F has decided today to again increase the cash consideration under the Zorro Offer and to present the Increased Offer as a final proposal to zooplus shareholders.

The Increased Offer remains subject to reaching a minimum acceptance threshold of 50 percent plus one zooplus share and other customary conditions as set out in the offer document dated 14 September 2021. zooplus shareholders are reminded that Zorro Bidco has already obtained all regulatory clearances necessary for the Increased Offer to become wholly unconditional when the minimum acceptance threshold is reached.

EQT Private Equity plans, subject to required regulatory approvals and other conditions, to become a jointly controlling partner with equal governance rights in a parent of Zorro Bidco following settlement of the Increased Offer.

Zorro Bidco is focused on delivering the offer consideration to zooplus shareholders at the earliest opportunity and has therefore effected today an increase of the cash consideration under the Zorro Offer through the purchase of zooplus shares at a price of EUR 480 by an affiliate of Zorro Bidco. This will have no effect on the existing timeline of the Increased Offer, and in particular, does not affect the acceptance period deadline of 3 November 2021. On that basis, settlement of the Increased Offer is expected to take place by mid-November 2021.

The cash consideration under the Increased Offer of EUR 480 per share now constitutes a premium of 85 percent to the three-month volume weighted average share price of zooplus prior to the initial announcement of the Zorro Offer on 13 August 2021.

Pet Bidco does not intend to increase or otherwise amend the Pet Offer which is therefore expected to lapse in accordance with its terms.

The irrevocable tender commitments which Zorro Bidco has concluded with zooplus shareholders for approximately 17 percent of the share capital of zooplus remain binding on the relevant shareholders, who have already tendered the relevant shares to the Zorro Offer.

As already explained in the offer document for the Zorro Offer, Zorro Bidco intends to pursue a delisting of zooplus in case of a successful completion of the Zorro Offer.

Stefan Goetz, Partner of Hellman & Friedman, and Johannes Reichel, Partner and Head of EQT Private Equity’s Advisory Team in Germany, jointly said: “With this step we have found a solution to resolve the current deadlock in the tender process and enable the continued pursuit of the investment. The improved offer with a very attractive price provides the highest degree of transaction security to the benefit of all stakeholders of zooplus. H&F and EQT Private Equity are both excited to partner and to support the future development of the Company.”

Both the Management Board and the Supervisory Board of zooplus have welcomed the Increased Offer and intend to support it. The zooplus boards recognize that the Increased Offer provides zooplus shareholders with a clear resolution for a successful completion of the takeover process and thus enhanced transaction certainty. In addition, zooplus shareholders will receive a compelling value, with a premium of EUR 10 per zooplus share to the most recently recommended Zorro Bidco offer.

“With this offer by H&F in partnership with EQT, our shareholders now have the clarity and ability to take an informed tender decision and realize a remarkable 85% premium. Given the significant value creation for our shareholders, the complementary expertise of both partners as well as their financial and strategic commitments to the company and its stakeholders, we as the Management Board – together with the Supervisory Board – confirm our recommendation to our shareholders to accept Zorro Bidco’s offer”, said Dr. Cornelius Patt, CEO of zooplus.

Both H&F and EQT have been partners of choice for many European entrepreneurs and their companies. Access to the extensive experiences of both partners across sectors including internet, consumer, retail and pet care will be very beneficial for the future development of zooplus and will enable a long-term value creation.

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For further information, please contact:

For H&F

Regina Frauen
Phone: +49 160 8855105
Email: regina.frauen@fgh.com

Christian Falkowski
Phone: +49 171 8679950
Email: christian.falkowski@fgh.com

For EQT

Isabel Henninger
Phone: +49 174 940 9955
Email:eqt-offer@kekstcnc.com

Finn McLaughlan
Phone: +44 77 1534 1608
Email: eqt-offer@kekstcnc.com

About

About Hellman & Friedman
Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on large-scale equity investments in high quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors including software & technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer & retail, and other business services. The firm is currently investing its tenth fund, with over $24 billion of committed capital, and has over $80 billion in assets under management and committed capital.

Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 70 billion in assets under management across 27 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 175,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

Learn more at www.eqtgroup.com

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Ardian to acquire Míla, Iceland’s largest telecoms infrastructure company

25 October 2021 Infrastructure Iceland, Reykjavik

Síminn and Ardian reach an agreement for the acquisition of a 100% in Míla, the largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider in Iceland
Alongside Ardian, Icelandic pension funds will have the opportunity to invest in Mila

Ardian will support Míla on its path to becoming a fully independent wholesaler provider offering best-in-class network access with a focus on accelerating 5G deployment and further fibre roll-out in rural areas

Míla complements Ardian Infrastructure’s global portfolio of diversified and essential infrastructure investments in telecommunications, energy and transportation

Reykjavik, Frankfurt, Paris, 25th October 2021 – Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, announces the acquisition of a 100% stake in Míla ehf. (“Míla”), the largest integrated telecommunications network in Iceland, from Síminn Group (“Síminn”), Iceland’s leading telecommunications operator. Míla represents Ardian Infrastructure’s sixth investment in the Nordic region, its first in Iceland, and its fourth investment in the telecommunications sector, and complements Ardian’s global portfolio in terms of geographic and sector diversification.

Míla is Iceland’s largest telecommunications infrastructure company and owns a comprehensive network comprised of fixed broadband, mobile access and backhaul covering the entire country. This transaction is of unique significance in the telecommunications sector, given the current national owner is selling the entire collection of digital infrastructure, including both active and passive equipment. Ardian will support Míla’s efforts to enhance the country’s connectivity through substantial investments that will enable the roll out of additional fibre and 5G technology.

Gonzague Boutry, Managing Director in the Ardian Infrastructure team, commented: “We are very proud to have secured this unique investment, which is a perfect example of Ardian’s vision and leadership in telecommunications infrastructure. We believe that this acquisition, which comprises an entire integrated network, including passive and active equipment, will pave the way for similar transactions within the telecommunications industry.”

Síminn will remain Míla’s long-term anchor tenant to ensure its clients continue to receive best-in-class services. Post separation, Míla will become the leading platform for wholesale services in Iceland.

Orri Hauksson, CEO of Síminn said: “We are delighted to have signed this transaction with Ardian as a buyer of Mila, but more importantly, as a long-term infrastructure partner. Síminn will continue to be a strategic customer, and Míla will now become fully independent with an opportunity to flourish on its own.”

“To be recognised by a world-leading private investment house is evidence of the strength of our business,” said Jón Ríkharð Kristjánsson, CEO of Mila. “At the same time this is an exciting turning point for Míla.  With Ardian Infrastructure‘s support, Mila as an independent infrastructure provider with holistic service offerings can help to enhance the competitiveness of Iceland‘s telecommunications market. Ardian‘s financial support, experience and knowledge will enable us to develop our network even further and fulfill our mission to connect Iceland to the future.

“Alongside Ardian, several Icelandic pension funds will have the opportunity to invest in Míla.” Dr. Daniel von der Schulenburg, Managing Director and Head of Ardian Infrastructure for Germany, Benelux and Northern Europe , said: “We are excited to expand into Iceland accompanied by our local partners. The Nordic countries are a core region for the Ardian Infrastructure team, with strong fundamentals and attractive investment opportunities. For us, Míla is a long-term investment and a platform for growth. We intend to invest continuously into Iceland’s coverage and look forward to continuing to deliver top quality service and connectivity solutions. We will work together with Mila‘s management team to build an even more progressive electronic communications company.”

This transaction is yet to receive clearance from local competition authorities. Ardian does not own any competing or overlapping businesses with Míla in Iceland or in the Nordic countries.

 

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$114bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world. Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 800 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 1,200 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.

www.ardian.com

 

ABOUT MÍLA

Míla is the largest telecom infrastructure company in Iceland providing comprehensive end-to-end services in all areas of digital infrastructure. Mila’s network is comprised of fixed copper and fiber access, backbone and connectivity, as well as active equipment across a nationwide footprint. Míla was established in 2007 as the sole infrastructure entity of the publicly-listed telecommunications incumbent Síminn. Míla nowadays provides critical telecommunication services such as access to its fiber, mobile and backhaul network as an open access wholesaler to both Síminn and third party operators.

Press contact

ARDIAN

Headland VIKTOR TSVETANOV

VTsvetanov@headlandconsultancy.co.uk +44 207 3435 7469

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swissfillon, a leader in sterile filling of complex pharmaceuticals, joins 3i-backed ten23 health and enhances the combined company’s integrated offering to its customers

3I

3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that swissfillon, a leader in sterile filling of complex pharmaceuticals, is joining ten23 health, a pure-play, patient-centric and sustainable biologics drug product contract development and manufacturing organisation (“CDMO”).

Founded in 2013 by Daniel Kehl and based in Visp Switzerland, swissfillon is a FDA and Swissmedic approved drug product-focused CDMO. The company is a leader in the sterile filling of complex pharmaceuticals into innovative containers and devices, such as pre-filled syringes, cartridges and vials.

The combined business of ten23 and swissfillon will provide an integrated offering for sterile drug product development and manufacturing of biologics, challenging molecules and dosage forms, offering customers an integrated suite of services. Prof. Dr. Hanns-Christian Mahler will serve as CEO of the combined entities under the ten23 health umbrella. Daniel Kehl, founder of swissfillon, will remain with the business in a key leadership role and will help to lead ten23’s new infrastructure engineering projects that are of great strategic importance for the further development of the combined offering.

The biologics CDMO market is a c.$15bn market which is growing strongly and is characterised by a high degree of fragmentation. Increased outsourcing of key services is anticipated, driven by underlying biologics market growth, development of new advanced therapeutics such as cell & gene therapies, continued emergence of small, virtual, biotechs and increasing need for large pharma to access expertise and capacity. The combined ten23 and swissfillon will also be well positioned as biologics modalities mature and move from bulk vials into formats that facilitate better routes of administration for patients.

Daniel Kehl, current CEO of swissfillon: “We look forward to joining ten23 health’s world-class team. There is a great strategic fit between our deep expertise in sterile drug product manufacturing for complex pharmaceuticals and ten23 health’s focus on the development and manufacturing of injectable treatments. By pooling our expertise, we will be able to further expand our market position for injectable treatments. The swissfillon team looks forward to continue advancing under the ten23 health umbrella and providing our combined group of customers with excellent support and customisable solutions.”

Hanns-Christian Mahler, CEO of ten23 health commented: “I would like to welcome Daniel and the swissfillon team to ten23 health. Sterile fill and finish services are expected to experience significant growth over the coming years. This rising demand is driven by expanded drug development pipelines, incorporating more complex, large-molecule products and therapies that require specific expertise for both development and sterile production. This is precisely why we expect ten23 health’s services, now including swissfillon, to be in great demand. At ten23 health, we are very pleased that we can now offer this sought-after know-how to biotech start-ups and pharmaceutical companies from one single source”

Richard Relyea, Partner, 3i added: “The acquisition of swissfillon fits with our strategy of investing organically and with M&A to build ten23 health into an integrated biologics-focused CDMO. Following the acquisition of swissfillon, ten23 health will be one of a limited number of biologics CDMOs focused on both formulation development and fill & finish, with a particular focus on high value therapeutics.”

 

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For further information, contact:

3i Group plc
Kathryn van der Kroft
Media enquiries		 Tel: +44 20 7975 3021
Email: kathryn.vanderkroft@3i.com
Silvia Santoro
Shareholder enquiries		 Tel: +44 20 7975 3285
Email: silvia.santoro@3i.com

 

About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity and Infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com

About ten23 health   

ten23 health, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is the human-centric and sustainable strategic partner of choice for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech start-ups: we develop, manufacture, and test tomorrow’s medicines. We support our clients in developing differentiated, stable, usable and safe injectable treatment options for patients. ten23 health combines the latest scientific findings with our proven and tested world-class industry and regulatory expertise to forge new paths for supporting our clients. We provide our innovative services in a fair and sustainable manner, respecting people’s health and the future of our planet.

About swissfillon 

swissfillon, based in Visp, Switzerland, is a leading CDMO for high precision sterile drug product manufacturing, filling complex pharmaceuticals into innovative containers and devices. The company provides innovative pharma manufacturing solutions to satisfy previously unmet market and patient needs. Thanks to its first-class filling technology and drug product manufacturing expertise, swissfillon offers its services to a broad customer portfolio supporting biotech start-up companies as well as established pharma companies.

Regulatory information

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation, a US wholly owned subsidiary of 3i Group.

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