Baird Capital portfolio company Apervita today announced the acquisition of Boston-based Qcentive. The combined Apervita-Qcentive solutions will integrate clinical and financial insights into a single, secure platform to enable healthcare organizations to create value-based contracts that drive greater efficiency and quality of care.

Here the press-release:

Combined company to provide performance measurement, performance improvement and value-based contract administrative solutions to more than 1 in 5 U.S. hospitals and leading insurers

CHICAGO, August 13, 2019 – Apervita, the leading platform for performance-based collaboration in healthcare, today announced the acquisition of Boston-based Qcentive, a leader in value-based contract and alternative payment administration solutions for healthcare organizations. The combined Apervita-Qcentive solutions will integrate clinical and financial insights into a single, secure platform to enable healthcare organizations to create value-based contracts that drive greater efficiency and quality of care.

“Qcentive is the perfect complement to Apervita,” said Paul Magelli, CEO of Apervita. “Apervita has focused on performance measurement and improvement for providers and plans, including the ability to engage providers directly in their workflow. Qcentive’s focus on performance-based contracts between plans and providers and their associated economics is a natural extension.”

“Value-based relationships are critical building blocks to changing the way we buy and sell healthcare,” said Christopher Pilkington, co-founder and CEO of Qcentive. “Linking plans and providers through a trusted secure platform that aligns incentives across quality, efficiency and consumer satisfaction is absolutely essential. The Apervita-Qcentive combination is the first healthcare industry platform with the ingredients to make that happen at scale.”

Qcentive was launched in 2016 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a nationally recognized leader for value-based payment innovation. BCBSMA has engaged Apervita and will continue to be a customer of Qcentive technologies.

“Several years ago, we realized we needed a cloud-based analytics solution to make it easier to navigate the complex demands of a new generation of value-based contracts,” said Patrick Gilligan, executive vice president of sales, marketing and product for BCBSMA and CEO of its venture investment subsidiary, Zaffre Investments. “Not finding a solution in the market, we incubated Qcentive with the intent of sharing its innovations with the broader market. The combination of Apervita and Qcentive makes this vision a reality.”

Value-based contracts align financial and clinical quality incentives between healthcare insurance plans and hospitals, physicians, and other clinicians. These contracts establish metrics to measure the quality of care that consumers receive. BCBSMA’s Alternative Quality Contract, one of the largest and longest-running value-based models in the country, has substantially moderated cost growth while producing significant improvements in the quality of patient care, a recent Harvard Medical School study found.

Qcentive was designed to allow other healthcare organizations to create their own value-based models. It provides detailed insights into the quality of clinical care and financial results to both payers and providers on a continuous, year-round basis.

The combined Apervita and Qcentive entity will operate under the Apervita brand with offices in Chicago and Boston.

About Apervita
Apervita, Inc. is the first platform-as-a-service (PaaS) for the healthcare industry that enables providers, payers and their stakeholders to easily connect, build and share critical applications that lower costs, improve consumer and clinician experience, and improve healthcare outcomes. With Apervita, health enterprises can collaborate freely and securely within and outside of their organizations, streamlining, standardizing and auditing quality measures, operational metrics and care pathways. Apervita is used by approximately 1,000 U.S. hospitals.

About Qcentive
Founded in 2016 and based in Boston, Qcentive is the nation’s leading platform for streamlining the administration of value-based contracts and payment relationships in healthcare. The company’s cloud tools support the end-to-end lifecycle of value contract operations, including collaborative modeling and negotiation, rolling financial/clinical performance calculations and reports, actionable insight tied to actual financial rewards, and accurate final settlement/reconciliation.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable healthcare with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with its promise to always put its members first, the company is rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.

For further information, contact:
Michelle Schallhorn
Vice President of Marketing
773.320.9788
michelle.schallhorn@apervita.com

IK Investment Partners (“IK”), a leading Pan-European private equity firm, is pleased to announce  that the IK VIII Fund has reached an agreement to sell Ellab A/S (“Ellab” or “the Company”), a leading global supplier of solutions and services for measuring, recording, monitoring and validating critical parameters of thermal processes to EQT. 

During the past 70 years, Ellab has grown from a small Danish manufacturer of thermometers to a leading global supplier of thermal validation solutions and services. The Company serves both small and large clients within the pharmaceutical, medical and food industries by providing solutions for applications like sterilisation, freeze drying, heat tunnels and pasteurisation, among others. Ellab’s solutions are well known for their industry-leading quality and are used by customers like Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Mars, Getinge and many hospitals.

During IK’s ownership, Ellab has successfully broadened its product portfolio, executed a M&A strategy and continued to strengthen its organisation. The Company also more than doubled its number of employees over the past three years, creating over 100 new jobs whilst maintaining its strong profitability. Most recently, Ellab extended its offering to monitoring equipment through the acquisition of Hanwell in the UK.

“Thanks to IK, Ellab was able to make significant investments in human capital and strengthen its sales and service organisation, creating value for our customers. They have actively supported our ambitious growth agenda and helped us launch several new products. We now look forward to continuing on our next chapter in the Ellab story,” said Peter Krogh, CEO of Ellab.

“Ellab truly has proven the scalability of its business model, making it the right time to hand over the Company to a new owner. It has been a pleasure working with Peter and all of Ellab’s employees over the past three years and we would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication,” said Alireza Etemad, Partner at IK Investment Partners and advisor to the IK VIII Fund.

Ellab is the first exit of the IK VIII Fund. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Completion of the transaction is subject to legal and regulatory approvals.

For further questions, please contact: 

IK Investment Partners
Alireza Etemad, Partner
+46 8 678 95 00

Mikaela Murekian, Director of Communications & ESG
+44 77 87 573 566
mikaela.murekian@ikinvest.com

Ellab A/S
Peter Krogh, CEO
Phone: +45 4452 0500

About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in the Nordics, DACH region, France, and Benelux. Since 1989, IK has raised more than 10 billion of capital and invested in over 125 European companies. IK funds support 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.ikinvest.com

About Ellab
Since the late 1940’s Ellab A/S has been a leading manufacturer of complete Thermal Validation Solutions for food, medical, pharmaceutical and other industries where thermal processing involves safety, energy savings, improvement of quality, and optimization. Ellab offers both wireless data loggers and wired thermocouple systems for highly accurate and reliable validation. For more information, visit www.ellab.com

Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland, August 06, 2019. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company that is developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies*,  announced on 6 August that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated the marketing authorisation application (MAA) of its strategic partner Allergan for abicipar, a novel DARPin® therapy for the treatment of nAMD. If approved, abicipar is expected to be the first anti-VEGF therapy to sustain vision gains on a true fixed 12-week dosing interval. The validation of the MAA confirms that the submission by the EMA is sufficiently complete to begin the formal review process.

Financial Calendar

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

*DARPin® is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics opening an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates can engage more than five targets, offering potential benefits over those offered by conventional monoclonal antibodies or other currently available protein therapeutics. The DARPin® technology is a fast and cost-effective drug discovery engine, producing drug candidates with ideal properties for development and very high production yields.

With their low immunogenicity and long half-life in the bloodstream and the eye, DARPin® therapeutics have the potential to advance modern medicine and significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer and sight-threatening disorders. Molecular Partners is partnering with Allergan to advance clinical programs in ophthalmology and is advancing a proprietary pipeline of DARPin® drug candidates in oncology and immuno-oncology. The most advanced global product candidate is abicipar, a molecule currently in phase 3, in partnership with Allergan. Several DARPin® molecules for various ophthalmic indications are also in preclinical development. The most advanced DARPin® therapeutic candidate wholly owned by Molecular Partners, MP0250, is in phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin® candidate owned by Molecular Partners, binds to Her2 and inhibits downstream signaling, which leads to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 is currently in phase 1. The company’s lead immuno-oncology product candidate MP0310 is a FAP x 4-1BB multi-DARPin® therapeutic candidate designed to locally activate immune cells in the tumor by binding to FAP on tumor stromal cells (localizer) and co-stimulating T cells via 4-1BB (immune modulator). Molecular Partners has closed a collaboration agreement with Amgen for the exclusive clinical development and commercialization of MP0310. MP0310 is expected to enter into the clinic in H2 2019. Molecular Partners is also advancing a growing preclinical and research pipeline in immuno-oncology that features its “I/O toolbox? and additional development programs. DARPin® is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biotech company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapeutics. The company continues to attract talented individuals who share the passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on oncology and immuno-oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.

For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details, please contact:

Patrick Amstutz, CEO

patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com

Tel: +41 44 755 77 00

Lisa Raffensperger, International Media

lisa@tenbridgecommunications.com

Tel: +1 617 903 8783

Thomas Schneckenburger, IR & Media

thomas.schneckenburger@molecularpartners.com

Tel: +41 44 755 5728

Susan A. Noonan, IR USA

susan@sanoonan.com

Tel.: +1 212 966 3650

New York, NY– Metalmark Capital (“Metalmark”), a leading private equity firm, announced that it has sold Collagen Matrix, Inc., (“Collagen Matrix”or the “Company”),a global developer and manufacturer of collagen and mineral-based medical devices. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1997and headquartered in New Jersey, Collagen Matrix is a leading developer and manufacturer of collagen and mineral-based products for tissue repair and regeneration. Leveraging strong product development and internal R&D capabilities, including two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, the Company has developed a propriety portfolio of collagen and non-collagen tissue engineering technologies that support the body’s natural ability to heal. Collagen Matrix’s products are suitable across a range of applications, including the growing device sectors of Dental, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Spine and Sports Medicine.

“We are proud to have partnered with the strong Collagen Matrix team during a time of considerable success for the Company,” said Howard Hoff en,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Metalmark. “Through numerous strategic investments since Metalmark’s investment in late 2014, Collagen Matrix has significantly strengthened its position in the marketplace. We are pleased to have supported Collagen Matrix’s sustained growth and wish the Company continued success as a trusted partner to medical device companies worldwide.

”“I’d like to thank the entire Metalmark team for their incredible collaboration,” said Bart Doedens, CEO of Collagen Matrix.“Under Metalmark’s stewardship, we have scaled our platform by expanding our product suite with innovative solutions spanning multiple clinical focus areas.Collagen Matrix is well positioned to further its proven track record as an innovation leader, delivering high-quality collagen and mineral based products for the diverse needs of our customers.”

Financial and Legal Advisors Robert W. Baird & Co.and Piper Jaffray & Co.acted as financial advisors and Ropes & Gray LLP acted as legal advisor to Collagen Matrix on the transaction.

About Metalmark Capital

Metalmark Capital is a leading private equity firm that seeks to build long-term value through active and collaborative partnerships with business owners, founders, and executives. The firm focuses its investment activity in healthcare, industrials and agribusiness. Metalmark Capital manages funds with $3.7 billion in aggregate capital commitments.

For more information: http://www.metalmarkcapital.com

About Collagen Matrix

Collagen Matrix, Inc., founded in 1997, delivers a full line of the highest-quality collagen and mineral based medical devices that support the body’s natural ability to regenerate. The Company currently manufactures finished medical devices in the areas of Dental, Spine, Orthopedic, Dural Repair and Nerve Repair Surgery. The evolution of the Company’s leadership, proprietary technologies, manufacturing expertise and product portfolio has established a solid foundation for continued growth. Opportunities continue to exist for collaboration through Product Distribution, Product Development and Contract Manufacturing.

More information about Collagen Matrix can be found at www.Collagen Matrix.com.

Media Contacts:

Sard Verbinnen & Co.

Warren Rizzi

Phone: +1 (212) 687-8080

EQT Credit, through its Direct Lending investment strategy, is pleased to announce its support for Alanta Health Group (“Alanta” or the “Company”) with EUR 331 million of committed senior facilities. Proceeds were used to refinance the Company’s existing debt as well as provide committed acquisition facilities to support its future growth

Owned by IK Investment Partners since 2016, Alanta is one of the largest certified compounders for patient-individualized infusions, which are applied mainly in oncology treatment in Germany.

Ralph Betz, Managing Director at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, commented: “Alanta is the leading German player in compounding and distribution of infusions for oncology treatments. We were particularly attracted by the Company’s high-quality offering and the management team’s impressive track record in developing a vertically-integrated business model. We would like to thank EQT’s Industrial Advisors, who added their knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry to provide key support and insight throughout the due diligence process. This transaction consolidates the long-standing relationship between IK Investment Partners and EQT Credit”

Paul Johnson, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, added: “Alanta’s market-leading position provides it with a strong opportunity to further consolidate the industry. We look forward to supporting Alanta and its management team in their continued growth and expansion.”

Contact
Paul Johnson, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit
Ralph Betz, Managing Director at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit
EQT Press Office, +46 8 506 55 334, press@eqtpartners.com

About EQT
EQT is a leading investment firm with more than EUR 61 billion in raised capital across 29 funds and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 21 billion and approximately 127,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About EQT Credit
EQT Credit invests through three complementary strategies: Senior Debt, Direct Lending, and Special Situations. Since inception, EQT Credit has raised over EUR 7 billion of capital and invested in over 160 companies. EQT Credit’s Direct Lending strategy seeks to provide flexible, long-term debt solutions to support European businesses, across a wide range of sectors. These businesses include privately-owned companies seeking growth capital as well as those that are the subject of private equity-led acquisitions or refinancings

For more information: www.eqtpartners.com/business-segments/Credit

• EQT to partner with founder and CEO Michael Chambers, as well as TA Associates, to support Aldevron on its future growth journey
• EQT will support Aldevron through investments in additional production capacity, R&D, and growth initiatives and by leveraging EQT’s strong healthcare expertise, global presence, and network of Industrial Advisors

The EQT VIII Fund (“EQT” or “EQT VIII”) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Aldevron (the “Company”). Following the close of the transaction, EQT VIII will own a majority interest in the Company. Founders, management and TA Associates will retain a minority stake.

Founded in 1998 by Michael Chambers and John Ballantyne, Aldevron is the leading global supplier of GMP, GMP-SourceTM and Research Grade plasmid DNA used in commercial, clinical and research stage gene therapies, as well as proteins, antibodies and mRNA. The Company’s custom development and manufacturing capabilities enable scientists worldwide to develop groundbreaking new therapies with a focus on quality, speed and innovation. Aldevron is based in Fargo, North Dakota and has additional operations in Madison, Wisconsin and Freiburg, Germany. The Company employs approximately 400 people worldwide and serves more than 4,800 clients, including leading academic and research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

EQT will help advance Aldevron’s R&D and innovation efforts as the Company continues to

support the rapidly growing field of genetic medicine by providing a critical input for the development of new life-saving therapies. EQT will also support Aldevron with investments in additional production capacity at its Fargo campus, furthering the Company’s position as a key employer in North Dakota.

Michael Chambers, Co-Founder and CEO of Aldevron, commented: “We’re very proud of what Aldevron has accomplished over the past two decades. We remain committed to our clients and their work, and to our mission – to develop and manufacture biologics at the highest quality that help make meaningful changes, worldwide. EQT shares our strong values and commitment to excellence and we believe their significant healthcare experience, global presence and industrial network make them an ideal partner as we continue our growth journey.”

Eric Liu, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT VIII, said: “EQT has followed the life science tools and gene therapy market closely for many years, and we believe Aldevron is uniquely positioned as a critical supplier to this rapidly growing market. The Company helps its clients deliver leading edge therapies that address previously uncurable medical conditions and improve patient lives around the world. Aldevron has unparalleled scientific-know how, scale and process expertise, enabling the Company to deliver the highest quality products. We are excited to partner with Michael and his team to further develop Aldevron and invest in the Fargo community in these exciting times.”

Marc Wolff, CFO of Aldevron, said: “EQT is among the top 10 private equity investors in the world. They bring considerable financial strength and international reach to Aldevron. With EQT’s strategic approach, TA Associates’ experience with us, and their collective ability to provide informed, industry guidance, we will be in an excellent position for continued growth, which will further bolster our commitment to our clients, their work and the patients they serve.”

Ethan Liebermann, Director at TA Associates, said: “We have been pleased with our partnership with Michael and the Aldevron team and are looking forward to continuing this journey with our new partners at EQT.”

Mark Carter, Managing Director at TA Associates, added: “EQT is one of the most respected firms in private equity and we are eager to embark on a new chapter together at Aldevron.”

Morten Hummelmose, Chairman of EQT Partners Inc. and Head of EQT Equity US, said: “This transaction represents another important milestone for EQT in the US. EQT VIII has now invested in US businesses within each of our three core sectors, Healthcare, TMT and Business Services, and we are excited to continue EQT’s successful track record of developing companies across these industries.”

The transaction is expected to close by year-end, subject to regulatory conditions and approvals.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to EQT, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided legal counsel. Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to TA Associates, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel.

Contact
Eric Liu, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT VIII, +1 917 281 0850
US inquiries: Stephanie Greengarten, +1 646 687 6810, stephanie.greengarten@eqtpartners.com
International inquiries: EQT Press Office, +46 8 506 55 334, press@eqtpartners.com

About EQT
EQT is a leading investment firm with more than EUR 61 billion in raised capital across 29 funds and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 21 billion and approximately 127,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About TA Associates
TA Associates is one of the most experienced global growth private equity firms. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries – technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services – TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $32.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $2 billion per year. The firm’s more than 85 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.

About Aldevron
Aldevron serves the biotechnology industry with custom production of nucleic acids, proteins, and antibodies. Thousands of clients use Aldevron-produced plasmids, RNA and gene editing enzymes for projects ranging from discovery research to clinical trials to commercial applications. These products are critical raw materials and key components in commercially available drugs and medical devices. Aldevron is known for inventing the GMP-SourceTM quality system, and for specializing in GMP manufacturing, operating the world’s largest facility at its company headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota. Aldevron has additional facilities in Madison, Wisconsin, and Freiburg, Germany.More info: www.aldevron.com