EQT acquires Atos Medical

• EQT VI acquires the high growth health care company Atos Medical (“Atos” or “the Company”) from Nordic Capital Fund V, board directors and employees.

• Management intends to reinvest a substantial amount of the transaction proceeds in Atos.

• EQT VI will continue to support and accelerate Atos’ growth-oriented strategy in current and new markets.

EQT VI (“EQT”) acquires Atos from Nordic Capital Fund V (94.6 %), board directors and employees (5.4 %). Atos is a fast growing health care company that on average has increased sales by 16 % annually from 2005 to 2010. In 2010 sales amounted to EUR 64 million. Group management of Atos intends to reinvest a substantial amount of the proceeds the transaction will generate.

"Atos is the market leader in voice prosthesis, offering a superior solution for people compared to older solutions such as speaking by swallowing air or by using a vibrator. The Company has a very strong market position and a competitive product range. EQT, together with Atos´ employees and industrialists from the EQT network, will work to continue support the Company's growth in its current markets and by expanding the geographic foot-print. Growth will be EQT’s focus," says Johan Hähnel, press spokesman EQT.

Atos supplies products to the ear, nose and throat (“ENT”) medical segment. The main product category is rehabilitation tools for patients who have undergone a total laryngectomy, which is the surgical removal of the larynx (voicebox). The Company supplies voice implants to enable such patients to speak and filters that cover the stoma, the hole in the neck, that has the same function as the nose, i.e. moisturizing and heating of breathing air. In this segment Atos is a clear market leader and has been instrumental in building the market by educating the medical community about the life improving quality of their products.

In addition, Atos supplies a wide range of other leading ENT products in related areas, such as rhinology (sinus) and otology (ear).

The products are sold by Atos’ own sales forces in Sweden, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, France and the US. In addition, Atos Medical’s products are sold in approximately 60 countries through exclusive third party distributors. Production takes place in facilities in Hörby, in Southern Sweden.

Besides equity from EQT VI the transaction is financed with senior facilities provided by Danske Bank, DnB NOR and Nordea and mezzanine facilities provided by funds advised by MezzVest and Partners Group.

Contact:
Johan Hähnel, Press Spokesman EQT VI, +46 8 506 55 334

About EQT
EQT is the leading private equity group in Northern Europe with more than EUR 16 billion in raised capital and multiple investment strategies. Together with a superior network of Industrial Advisors, EQT implements its business concept by acquiring or financing good medium-sized to large companies in Northern and Eastern Europe, Asia and the United States, developing them into leading companies. Development is achieved by applying an industrial strategy with focus on growth. Since inception, EQT has invested EUR 10.4 billion in more than 90 companies and exited more than 40. EQT-owned companies have more than 550,000 employees.

EQT VI makes controlling investments in market-leading, medium-sized companies in growing industries in Northern Europe. EQT VI currently has EUR 3.5 billion of commitments available for investment.

EQT Partners, acting as investment advisor to the managers of each EQT fund, has more than 100 investment professionals with an extensive industrial and financial competence. EQT Partners has offices in Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Oslo, London, Munich, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Warsaw and Zurich.

More information can be found on www.eqt.se