EQT Credit, through its Mid-Market investment strategy, is pleased to announce that it has provided the financing to support Keensight Capital and ERES’ (the “Shareholders”) investment in Biovian (or the “Company”), a leading European player in contract manufacturing and development of biopharmaceuticals. The Company offers outsourcing services in process development and contract manufacturing for small and medium size biotechnology firms and has deep industry expertise across different key biological processes.

Founded in 2003 and based in Turku, Finland, Biovian has 70 employees and a strong offering in key stages of the drug development lifecycle. With main operations in UK, EU, US and South Korea, the Company benefits from a strong Biotech pipeline, fueled by new biologic products progressively replacing traditional pharma.

EQT Credit, as sole lender, is providing a unitranche facility to back the Shareholders acquisition of Biovian.

Paul Johnson, Partner at EQT Partners’ Credit team, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, commented: ”Biovian has a stable business model and a strong backlog supported by its entrenched relationships with customers. EQT Credit is pleased to provide a financing solution for Biovian and look forward to supporting the Company and its management team under the Shareholders new ownership”.

Contacts
Paul Johnson, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Mid-Market Credit, +44 203 372 94 24
Alexandre Hökfelt, Director at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Mid-Market Credit, +44 203 372 94 14
EQT Press Office, +46 8 506 55 334, press@eqtpartners.com

About EQT Credit
EQT Credit invests through three complementary strategies: Senior Debt, Mid-Market Credit (direct lending) and Credit Opportunities. Since inception, EQT Credit has invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in over 160 companies. EQT Credit’s direct lending strategy seeks to provide flexible, long-term debt capital solutions to medium-sized European businesses, across a wide range of sectors. These businesses may be privately-owned corporates seeking alternative funding to grow or be the subject of private equity-led acquisitions or refinancings.

More info: www.eqtpartners.com/Investment-Strategies/Credit

About EQT
EQT is a leading alternative investments firm with approximately EUR 50 billion in raised capital across 27 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 information: www.eqtpartners.com

Montagu Private Equity (“Montagu”), a leading European private equity firm, announces today that it has entered exclusive negotiations with Symphony Technology Group and Maincare’s management for the potential acquisition of Maincare.

Over the past twenty years, Maincare Solutions, which specialises in electronic patient records and hospital administration software, has become the main software solutions provider for the healthcare sector in France. Thanks to the Ideo software platform, Maincare has also started its international expansion with its first clients in Luxemburg. Maincare generated sales of €69m over its last 2017 fiscal year with growth of about 10%, it has close to 600 employees.

Christophe Boutin, President of Maincare, said:

“Since becoming independent from McKesson in 2014, Maincare has been structured as an independent company and combined long-term organic growth with focussed acquisitions. Over the next years, Maincare intends to support healthcare’s digitalisation, within hospitals and beyond. We also plan to accelerate our international expansion, having confirmed our potential abroad. To achieve this, our new partnership with Montagu’s team based in Paris, which has substantial experience in these areas, will be a key advantage”

The contemplated transaction remains subject to the approval of relevant regulatory authorities. Bryan Garnier and Linklaters advised Montagu on the transaction.

• Intention to merge leading hearing aid companies Sivantos and Widex into a top-three contender globally with a comprehensive, multi-channel sales and distribution platform in more than 125 markets and combined revenues of approximately EUR 1.6 billion

• Combined businesses to become a global R&D powerhouse as well as an innovation leader with approximately 800 specialists and abundant resources to further accelerate innovation of hearing instruments and tailored solutions including by leveraging its leading digital platform

• Ambition to redefine the competitive landscape for hearing aids serving both existing users as well as improving the offering and access to the millions with hearing impairments

• Exciting career opportunities for the more than 10,000 employees in both organizations across the globe

Lynge, Denmark and Singapore May 16, 2018: EQT funds, owners of Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (“Sivantos”), and the Tøpholm and Westermann families, owners of Widex A/S (“Widex”), today announced that they have agreed terms to merge the two companies. The strategic merger of equals will create a global hearing aid leader generating combined revenues of approximately EUR 1.6 billion and employing more than 10,000 people worldwide. The transaction values the combined entity at an enterprise value of more than EUR 7 billion.

The merger aims at accelerating growth, strengthening market penetration and enhancing efficiencies to enable additional investments into R&D and supply chain. This will allow the merged company to expand access to hearing healthcare via its dedicated salesforce through even more innovative solutions across a wide range of hearing needs, increasing the quality of life of millions of people and allowing them to actively participate in social life.

Marcus Brennecke, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to the EQT funds, says: “Sivantos has developed immensely during EQT funds’ ownership and now the idea is to create a game changer for the future of hearing. Combining these two innovative companies will change the hearing experience for people with hearing loss across the world. In Widex, we have found an equally strong partner to Sivantos, sharing a passion for enriching the quality of life for people with hearing deficiencies. The combined company presents a unique opportunity for EQT to extend the investment horizon in Sivantos and take part of the next phase of transforming the hearing aid industry. With nearly 170 years of combined experience, Sivantos and Widex will take the lead in developing hearing aid technology for future generations.”

Jan Tøpholm, Chairman of Widex, added: “We and Sivantos share a common vision of giving people unlimited access to a world of sound by providing unparalleled hearing aids and customer services. I am confident that our employees, partners and customers will benefit from this merger as it will allow us to accelerate our efforts to pioneer innovation, quality, manufacturing and customer satisfaction. Further we will expand our geographical footprint and provide exciting career opportunities for our employees across countries and functions. The merger fits with the families’ values and long-term goals for Widex and that’s why we have decided to substantially invest to become long-term owners.”

Global R&D powerhouse and innovation leader

The intended merger will create one of the most innovative R&D teams in the industry backed by financial and strategic capabilities as well as strong digital skills to become a global powerhouse for innovative hearing aids and hearing care solutions. Combined R&D resources include approximately 800 specialists in R&D centers located in Singapore, Erlangen (Germany) and Lynge (Denmark) with more than EUR 100 million in annual R&D spending.

The R&D centers will continue to develop, and innovation will be accelerated to bring more products to markets faster, to regularly update and develop technology platforms and address more types of hearing disabilities with creative, high-tech and user-friendly solutions. Sivantos and Widex have a joint ambition to change the industry paradigm through digitization, customization and next generation services to transform end-user experience and expand access to hearing.

Both companies have a history of being “first movers”. Building on Siemens’ heritage, Sivantos’ most recent accomplishments include Signia Nx™, a game changing hearing aid platform resolving the “own voice” issue by digitally filtering out any noise disturbances thus improving hearing comfort. Sivantos is also a pioneer in digitalization and remote hearing care with its TeleCare solution allowing audiologists to adjust hearing aids remotely in real time. Widex has recently launched the groundbreaking WIDEX EVOKE™ – the first hearing aid to feature advanced machine learning technology in real time, allowing the hearing aid to learn the user’s preferences and share that learning.

Truly global footprint and strong brands

The combined entity will have a comprehensive, multi-channel sales platform spanning more than 125 markets. The current Sivantos and Widex sales teams will continue to serve and further develop both traditional retail channels and innovative online channels. The ambition is to create a truly global provider with a complementary offering and touchpoints reaching more people with hearing aid needs across the world and securing second to none service to customers. Around 700 million people worldwide suffer from different levels of hearing loss of which only around 10% currently use hearing aid devices.

Sivantos offers a diverse portfolio of technologically advanced products. Product brands include Signia, Siemens, Audio Service, Rexton and A&M, while retail and online brands include HearUSA, audibene and TruHearing. Sivantos has a strong presence in the online channel leveraging its digital capabilities through its strategic partnership with audibene and has recently strengthened its US footprint through a strategic partnership with TruHearing.

Widex offers sophisticated hearing aid technology focusing on high-end solutions. The key brand Widex is supplemented by the Coselgi brand and local brands in certain markets. Products are offered via wholesalers to governments, retail chains and independent retailers, while Widex has an established presence in the B2C market with sales via own retail and online channels directly to end-users.

Sivantos and Widex combined will become an even more global and growth-focused organization. By joining forces, the combined business will offer its employees even better prospects to develop professionally across geographies and functions.

The combined entity will be owned by EQT funds (EQT VI, EQT VII and EQT VIII), including co-investors, as well as the Tøpholm and Westermann families of Denmark. The Tøpholm and Westermann families, founders and owners of Widex, will be the largest individual shareholder in the combined entity reflecting their long-term commitment to the company. The merger will combine the strengths of EQT funds’ value creation capabilities in building sustainable companies with the Widex owners’ long-term ownership horizon. The new headquarters will be based in Lynge (Denmark) and Singapore. The Board of Directors and Management will have a balanced representation from both companies.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The approval process starts today. Until closing, the merger will have no effect on employees, customers or suppliers.

Financing in connection with the merger is provided by J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank and is expected to replace existing financing arrangements. Latham & Watkins has acted as financing counsel. Widex is advised by J.P. Morgan, Kromann Reumert and Deloitte. EQT and Sivantos are advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Plesner, PricewaterhouseCoopers and AON. The Boston Consulting Group has provided additional commercial advice.

This press release constitutes a public disclosure of inside information by Auris Luxembourg II S.A. under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (16 April 2014). This notification was made by Willem-Arnoud Van Rooyen of by Auris Luxembourg II S.A, on May 16, 2018.

This press release is translated into multiple languages for information purposes. In case of a discrepancy, the English version shall prevail.

Contacts
EQT Press office +46 8 506 55 334
Widex Chairman Jan Tøpholm via Point Communications + 45 23 24 72 10
Sivantos VP Corporate Communication, Gert Van Santen +49 152 02874320

About Sivantos Group
The business operations of the former Siemens AG hearing aid division have been combined into the Sivantos Group (headquartered in Singapore) since early 2015. Sivantos can look back on more than 130 years of German engineering and countless global innovations. Today Sivantos is one of the leading hearing aid manufacturers worldwide. With its 5,950 employees, Sivantos’ international sales organization supplies hearing aids and complementary accessories to hearing care specialists and sales partners in more than 120 countries. The owners of Sivantos are EQT along with the Strüngmann family as a co-investor. Sivantos GmbH is a brand license holder of Siemens AG.

More info: https://www.sivantos.com/en/

About Widex
With more than 60 years’ experience developing state-of-the-art hearing technology, Widex (headquartered in Lynge, Denmark) provides hearing solutions that are easy to use, seamlessly integrated in daily life and enable people to hear naturally. One of the world’s leading hearing aid producers, Widex employs around 4,250 people across sales, manufacturing, operations, distribution and R&D in 38 countries, and its products are sold in 105 countries. The current strategy, introduced in 2018, aims at doubling the business in five years. Widex is owned by the Tøpholm and Westermann families, descendants of the founders.

More info: https://global.widex.com/en

About EQT
EQT is a leading investment firm with approximately EUR 50 billion in raised capital across 27 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

May 2, 2018

Utrecht, The Netherlands – Gilde Healthcare announced it has sold its shareholding in molecular diagnostics STAT-Dx (Barcelona, Spain) to QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA). QIAGEN has agreed to acquire all shares of STAT-Dx for $147 million in cash and additional payments of up to $44 million based on the achievement of regulatory and commercial milestones.

Gilde Healthcare acted as lead investor in the EUR 31 million growth financing round in 2016. The financing enabled STAT-Dx to accelerate the growth of the organization, build in-house manufacturing capabilities, expand its product pipeline, obtain European market approval and to prepare go-to-market activities.

Founded in 2010 in Barcelona, Spain, STAT-Dx focuses on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of “Closer to Care” diagnostic solutions in areas where fast and accurate diagnostic results are crucial, such as infectious diseases and critical care. On April 19th, Qiagen announced the European launch of QIAstat-Dx (formerly STAT-Dx DiagCORE), a next generation multiplex diagnostics platform for one-step, fully integrated molecular analysis of common syndromes. QIAstat-Dx is a versatile, easy-to-use platform that consolidates molecular and immunoassay techniques in a single device. The first two tests are extensive respiratory and gastrointestinal panels. Additional tests are in development.

About Gilde Healthcare

Gilde Healthcare is a specialized European healthcare investor managing €1 billion across two business lines: a venture & growth capital fund and a lower mid-market buy-out fund. Gilde Healthcare’s venture & growth capital fund invests in medtech, digital health and therapeutics. The portfolio companies are based in Europe and North America. Gilde Healthcare’s lower mid-market buy-out fund invests in profitable European healthcare services companies with a focus on the Benelux and DACH-region. The portfolio consists of healthcare providers, suppliers of medical products and other service providers in the healthcare market.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.gildehealthcare.com

26 April 2018

Acquires Acutronic Medical Systems and agrees to acquire imtmedical

Chicago and London, April 26^th 2018 – Vyaire Medical (the “Company”), a global leader in respiratory care, today announced that it has acquired Acutronic Medical Systems and, separately, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire imtmedical.

Acutronic, a Switzerland and Germany-based leader in the design and manufacture of neonatal ventilation equipment, is globally recognized for its innovative ventilation solutions designed for both neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.

imtmedical, based in Switzerland, is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of acute care mechanical ventilation products utilized in acute care centers, long-term care facilities, home healthcare as well as the emergency services and transport markets. The imtmedical transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory and other approvals, is expected to close in the second quarter.

The Acutronic and imtmedical acquisitions immediately enhance Vyaire Medical’s product offering, complementing investments made by the Company through internal development programs. In combination, these investments have allowed Vyaire Medical to completely renew its ventilation portfolio within the past 18 months.

Dave Mowry, Vyaire Medical’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The transactions we are announcing today, along with our own internal development efforts, underscore our commitment to positioning Vyaire Medical as a global respiratory care leader. Our acquisition of Acutronic and imtmedical immediately enhance our product portfolio, expand intellectual capital and broaden our technological capabilities; all of which will accelerate Vyaire Medical’s growth. We could not be more excited about taking these amazing products, in combination with our own, to market to advance our mission of improving patient outcomes and providing increased value to our customers.”

Vyaire Medical also announced today that funds advised by Apax Partners (the “Apax Funds”) have completed their purchase of Becton, Dickinson & Company’s remaining stake in the Company. Vyaire Medical is now an independent, standalone company owned by the Apax Funds.

Steven Dyson and Arthur Brothag, Partners at Apax Partners, said, “These new acquisitions are exciting steps forward for Vyaire Medical and build on the strong progress made by the Company’s management over the past year and a half. We join Dave Mowry in welcoming both the Acutronic and imtmedical teams to the Vyaire family and are excited about our joint future. We look forward to our ongoing work with Vyaire Medical as it continues to grow as the leader in respiratory care.”

About Vyaire Medical
Vyaire Medical supports and improves the lives of patients with a laser-focus on improving patient outcomes and increasing value for customers. The Chicago, IL-headquartered company was formed in October 2016 to serve healthcare customers with innovative device and service solutions across the respiratory and anesthesia continua of care. Vyaire’s brands have a 65-year track record of pioneering, innovating, and advancing respiratory diagnostics, ventilation, and anesthesia delivery & patient monitoring. From industry-pioneering brands that include Bird, Bear, and Jaeger to respected industry leaders AirLife®, Vital Signs®, Viasys, and many others – Vyaire Medical has nearly 27,000 distinct part numbers recognized, trusted and preferred by specialists in the respiratory therapy and anesthesiology healthcare markets worldwide. Learn more at www.vyaire.com.

About Apax Partners
Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 35-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of over $50 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Healthcare, Tech & Telco, Services and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Apax Partners has a strong track record in corporate carve-outs, supported by its Operational Excellence Practice, a team of dedicated operating specialists who support deal teams and drive value creation in the portfolio. For more information see: www.apax.com.

About Acutronic Medical Systems
Acutronic is a Switzerland and Germany-based global leader in the area of neonatal ventilation equipment, offering innovative solutions for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Over the course of its long history, Acutronic has established itself as a pioneer within the neonatal monitoring and ventilation segment of the respiratory markets. Acutronic’s products and solutions consistently earn high praise and accolades from customers and are well-respected across the broader markets by key opinion leaders around the globe. Learn more at: www.acutronic-medical.ch.

About imtmedical
imtmedical is known for its world class developments in medical ventilator and testing devices and its internationally renowned medical ventilation experts. imtmedical brings continuous efforts to improve and protect its substantial R&D activities, its innovative solutions, and thereby supporting its leading position in the marketplace as an innovative company providing highest quality and leading medical ventilators to its customers. Learn more at: www.imtmedical.com.

Media Contacts  

For Vyaire Medical:

David Stafford | +1 872-757-0300 | david.stafford@vyaire.com

For Apax Partners:

Global Media: Andrew Kenny, Apax | +44 20 7 872 6371 | andrew.kenny@apax.com
USA Media: Todd Fogarty / Aduke Thelwell, Kekst | +1 212-521 4800 | Apax@kekst.com
UK Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 | apax@greenbrookpr.com