Gimv today announced a EUR 7 million investment in Ireland-based The Foundry Innovation and Research 1, Ltd. (FIRE1), a medtech company that is developing a connected monitoring solution to improve outcomes for people suffering from an increased risk of heart failure.This investment is part of a Series C financing of in total EUR 40 million from a strong syndicate of specialised investors, led by new investor Gilde Healthcare, with the participation of new investors Gimv and Seventure as well as all existing investors.

FIRE1 (www.fire1foundry.com) is the 15^th medical device company and the 1^st European spin-out from The Foundry, a successful Menlo Park, California-based medical device company incubator. FIRE1’s first product is a novel remote monitoring solution to improve outcomes for patients suffering from an increased risk of heart failure. Early detection enables a timely intervention and adjustment of pharmacotherapy, the Us avoiding hospitalisation, improving quality of life and lowering health care costs.

FIRE1 is led by an experienced medical devices team working closely with researchers, clinicians, patients and payers to help reduce the burden of heart failure.

Patrick Van Beneden, Partner in Gimv’s Health & Care platform, on this transaction: “We are very pleased to be involved in FIRE1, a company with an experienced team That is developing a new monitoring device for heart failure. This is a market with growing unmet needs, as cardiac disease is currently the world’s leading cause of death. This financing represents one of the bigger medtech transactions in Europe over the last months and is supported by an outstanding investor syndicate.”

The current financing, in which existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Lightstone Investors and Medtronic are also participating, will be used to complete a first-in-human study as well as for the submission of an IDE.

ABOUT GIMV

Gimv is a European investment company with almost 38 years’ experience in private equity and venture capital. Listed on Euronext Brussels, Gimv currently manages around 1.6 billion EUR (including co-investment partnerships) of investments in about 50 portfolio companies.

As a recognized market leader in selected investment platforms, Gimv identifies entrepreneurial and innovative companies with high-growth potential and supports them in their transformation into market leaders. Gimv’s four investment platforms are: Connected Consumer, Health & Care, Smart Industries and Sustainable Cities. Each of these platforms works with a skilled and dedicated team across Gimv’s home markets of the Benelux, France and Germany and can count on an extended international network of experts.

More information on Gimv can be found on www.gimv.com.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Van Beneden, Partner in Gimv’s Health & Care platform

T +32 3290 2136 –  patrick.vanbeneden@gimv.com

Frank De Leenheer, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Manager

Gimv T +32 3 290 22 18 – frank.deleenheer@gimv.com

• EQT Mid Market to sell diagnostic imaging service company I-MED Radiology Network to the Permira funds
• EQT Mid Market invested in I-MED in April 2014 together with Singaporean Sovereign Wealth fund GIC and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers
• During EQT Mid Market’s ownership, I-MED has had substantial organic growth, increased scale through multiple add-on acquisition, invested significantly in new equipment and technology and enhanced operating efficiency

The EQT Mid Market fund (“EQT Mid Market”) has, together with co-investors, entered into an agreement to sell I-MED Radiology Network (”I-MED” or “the Company”) to a company backed by the Permira funds.

I-MED is the leading diagnostic imaging service provider in Australia with 204 clinics and performs almost five million procedures per year. During EQT Mid Market’s ownership, the Company has grown the number of fully owned clinics with more than 30% and the number of radiologist by more than 25%. I-MED has during the last three years further strengthened its market position in Australia and for 2017 generated revenues of almost AUD 700 million. I-MED has a strong and dedicated staff with over 3,500 employees, including more than 300 radiologists who serve over 30,000 referrers in the growing healthcare market in Australia.

• During the ownership of EQT Mid Market, I-MED has successfully enhanced its business on multiple fronts:
• Achieved strong organic growth through establishing new clinics and entering new hospital contracts
• Successfully completed a number of value accretive add-on acquisitions
• Made significant investments into equipment, new technology and people
• Implemented strategies for further enhancing the customer experience

Steven Rubic, CEO of I-MED, said: “We are proud to have been part of EQT, one of the world’s most respected global investment firms, with a strong experience within the healthcare sector. EQT have supported I-MED’s growth focused strategy and their ownership approach has provided us with a solid foundation for I-MED’s further growth.”

Fredrik Åtting, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Mid Market, added: “We are very impressed by I-MED’s management, doctors and staff for the professional and consistent service they provide to the Australian healthcare system. Through a combination of organic and inorganic growth, I-MED has evolved into the undisputed market leader in Australia. It has been a privilege to support I-MED’s management team under the leadership of Paul McClintock and Steven Rubic.”

The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2018.

Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor and Herbert Smith Freehills as legal advisor to EQT Mid Market.

Contacts:
Fredrik Åtting, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Mid Market, +49 892 554 9950

EQT Press Contact, +46 8 506 55 334

About EQT
EQT is a leading alternative investments firm with approximately EUR 38 billion in raised capital across 25 funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 19 billion and approximately 110,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About I-MED
I-MED is one of the world’s leading diagnostic imaging providers. It was formed in 2000 and offers comprehensive and high-quality services including X-ray, PET, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, Mammography and Interventional Procedures. Across Australia, I-MED operates 204 clinics covering all major metropolitan areas and significant parts of rural Australia. Each year almost 5 million patient procedures are performed by I-MED’s more than 300 radiologists, 50 nuclear medicine physicians, and 3,500 staff.

More info: www.i-med.com.au

Mérieux Développement and Gimv, together with the management team, announce that they have signed an exclusivity agreement with Stage Capital, Stiplastics Healthcaring’s majority shareholder, with a view to acquiring the company.

Stiplastics Healthcaring, which was founded in 1985 and has been owned by Stage Capital (formerly NBGI) since 2013, designs, develops and manufactures standard and smart plastic solutions for the pharmaceutical industries and the health sector. Based in Saint-Marcellin (Isère – France), the company currently employs over 90 people on a 10,000 m2 industrial site opened last October. The Group expects to achieve turnover of EUR 21 million in the current 2017/2018 financial year, 98% of which will be generated by the health sector. Exports account for 55% of Stiplastics’ turnover, thanks to its development of devices for the dispensing of solid-form medications (especially in the USA).

Stiplastics Healthcaring has over 30 years’ experience in medical plastics. It works with customers throughout the entire process, from formulating the exact needs until the product is launched. It is a recognised specialist in the area of treatment observance, and its range of “intelligent” pill dispensers encourage treatment observance, and make administering and taking medicines easier and safer. It has also built solid expertise in solutions for respiratory diseases. Stiplastics Healthcaring works in partnership with pharmaceutical industry leaders and has recently developed an inhalation device.

The company has a strong development potential in the connected health sector, with new products in the pipeline and a modern workshop for the production of electronic products in a controlled environment. In order to meet the new needs of patients and healthcare actors faced with changing pathologies and uses, and more specifically the increasing prominence of connected care, the Group has set up its IoC [Internet Of Care]® unit, which is dedicated to designing, developing and producing e-health medical devices. In addition, several partnership agreements were finalised in 2017 in what is an extremely promising sector, which will benefit patients and practitioners alike.

Mérieux Développement and Gimv[1] have joined forces to acquire Stiplastics Healthcaring. They will contribute their complementary expertise in the health sector and support the growth of this French company. Stiplastics Healthcaring will remain under the operational management of Jérôme Empereur and Laetitia Le Gall, who have successfully developed this high-performing industrial platform, whilst creating real sales momentum in recent years.

“The Mérieux Développement – Gimv consortium is an ideal tandem that will allow Stiplastics Healthcaring to grow further and accelerate its development. They bring to the table health sector specialists as well as substantial financial resources, which is perfectly suited to support the Group’s growth challenges” explained Jérôme Empereur, Stiplastics Healthcaring’s Chairman-CEO.

“Our decision to invest in Stiplastics Healthcaring is based on our assessment of the strength of the management team and our shared ambition on the company’s future. In particular, we have jointly identified the increased need for innovative solutions to improve observance and administration of medicines. We are delighted to be the new reference shareholder of this French company and to be given this opportunity to support its innovative strategy and international development plans.” says Jean-François Billet, Senior Partner at Mérieux Développement.

“Stiplastics Healthcaring has all the necessary assets to become a European market leader, including cutting-edge production facilities, excellent regulatory expertise and a deep understanding of its clients’ needs. We are very proud that Jérôme Empereur and the entire management team have chosen the Mérieux Développement-Gimv consortium to support them in their ambitious growth plans,” adds Benoit Chastaing, Partner Health & Care at Gimv.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of January 2018. No further financial details about this transaction will be disclosed.

January 2018

Partners and Friends of Ufenau Capital Partners, we are delighted to announce,that Ufenau portfolio company Altano Gruppe GmbH(“Altano”) has acquired Equine Clinic Grosswallstadt(“Pferdeklinik Grosswallstadt”) and therewith expands its geographical footprint in Germany.

The Equine Clinic Grosswallstadt is a leading regional Champion specializing in equine medical diagnostics and surgery. The 53 highly qualified employees including the two renowned vets Holger Fischer and Souel Maleh treat around 6,000 patients each year. The Equine Clinic has an outstanding reputation in surgery, equine dentistry, regenerative equine medicine including stem cell therapies as well as sports medicine in addition to the general, horse-medical treatment and therapy offer.

In addition, the clinic owns a physical therapy centre for post medical treatments. Dr. Holger Fischer, CEO of the Grosswallstadt Equine Clinic: “With Ufenau and Altano, we have found a partner who, at eye level, has a good understanding of the market in order to improveour equine clinic sustainably.”

Dr. Victor Baltus, CEO of Altano, adds: “This third acquisition within 6 months is another important step in strengthening the regional presence of Altano in the greater Rhine-Main area.

We are delighted that we have found such a great partner with the Equine Clinic Grosswallstadt.”

Yours sincerely,

the Ufenau Team

About Ufenau Capital Partners

Ufenau Capital Partners is a privately owned Swiss Investor Group headquartered at the Lake Zurich which advises private investors, family offices and institutional investors with their investments in private equity. Ufenau Capital Partners is focused on investments in service companies in German-speaking Europe and invests in the Education & Lifestyle, Business Services, Healthcare and Financial Services sectors. Through a renowned Group of experienced Industry Partners (Owners, CEOs, CFOs), Ufenau Capital Partners pursues an active value-adding investment approach on eye-level with entrepreneurs and managers.

Utrecht, the Netherlands and Frankfurt am Main, Germany – Gilde Healthcare, the European specialist healthcare investor is pleased to announce the opening of its office in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The Frankfurt office will focus on healthcare service providers and suppliers headquartered in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH). With its local presence, the Gilde Healthcare Team will provide collaborative, hands-on support to business owners and managers and help them execute their envisaged growth plans and buy & build strategies. Gilde Healthcare’s buy-out franchise concentrates on lower-mid-market companies which generate EBITDA between €2-15 million and are valued at Enterprise Values of up to €150 million. The equity ticket in a single transaction will amount up to €50 million.

Expansion into the DACH region is a logical step for Gilde Healthcare as it represents Europe’s largest healthcare market with an annual spend of more than €450 billion, a stable regulatory environment and well-funded insurance systems. The significant size of the healthcare industry allows Gilde Healthcare to invest in more than 40 sub-segments including care provider, pharma outsourcing service provider, medical products & equipment supplier, laboratories, medical IT companies etc. Gilde Healthcare is already active in the DACH region with its investment in RAD-X, an outpatient radiology chain. It invested in RAD-X in 2016 to consolidate the German, Swiss and French radiology market via a buy & build strategy.

The Frankfurt office will be headed by Dr Fabian Braemisch who joined Gilde Healthcare as a Partner of the healthcare buy-out team. He will be responsible for sourcing new DACH investments and work closely with management teams to support the portfolio companies’ growth plans and contribute specialist expertise through its operational partners and industry advisors. The German team will be complemented by additional investment professionals in the next 12 months.

Dr Braemisch is a German citizen and joined Gilde Healthcare from Bridgepoint, a pan-European Private Equity house, where he invested in larger-mid-market companies with a focus on Healthcare and Manufacturing & Industrials across Europe. Prior to that, Dr Braemisch worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs in both London and Frankfurt.

Jasper van Gorp, Managing Partner, comments:

“We believe that Gilde Healthcare can create significant value add not only for our investors but also for healthcare industry participants by combining our sector focus with local presence. The opening of a German office shall further strengthen our relationships with entrepreneurs, management teams and advisors to continue our successful buy-out strategy and help healthcare companies to provide ‘better care at lower cost’ across Europe.”

Fabian Braemisch, Partner and Head of Germany, comments:

“I am highly excited to join Gilde Healthcare and lead the German team’s investment efforts in the DACH market. There is a large pool of high-quality healthcare businesses with significant growth and consolidation opportunities and we are looking forward to working together with motivated Management teams to kick-start their companies’ next phase of growth.”

Background Information on Gilde Healthcare

Gilde Healthcare is a specialized European healthcare investor managing two business lines: lower mid-market buy-out funds and venture & growth capital funds. The Gilde Healthcare buy-out funds invest in profitable European healthcare services companies, e.g., healthcare providers, service providers and various suppliers in Europe with a focus on the Benelux and DACH regions. The venture & growth capital funds invest in medtech, digital health and therapeutics in Europe and North America. Since 2001 Gilde Healthcare has raised €800 million ($1 billion) for its specialized funds.

Contact Germany

Bockenheimer Landstrasse 2-4 | Opernturm
60306 Frankfurt am Main | Germany
Phone: +49 69 667 748 040
braemisch@gildehealthcare.com

Contact Netherlands
Newtonlaan 91 | PO Box 85067
3508 AB Utrecht | The Netherlands
Phone: +31 30 219 25 65

healthcare@gildehealthcare.com
www.gildehealthcare.com