Agreement signed to divest CaridianBCT
Gambro AB, jointly controlled by Investor (49%) and EQT IV (51%), has signed an agreement to sell CaridianBCT to the Japanese medical technology company Terumo Corporation for a total enterprise value of USD 2,625 m. The enterprise value corresponds to a multiple of approximately 15x 2010 EBITDA.
During EQT IV’s and Investor’s ownership, annual sales growth of CaridianBCT has been more than 10 percent and EBITDA has almost doubled. R&D investments have been significant and the company has continued to strengthen its position in the important growth areas of Pathogen Reduction and Whole Blood Processing. The roll-out of several new products like the Spectra Optia Apheresis System and the Quantum Cell Expansion System during the past years will be important future growth drivers. The company is today more efficiently managed and the combination with Terumo Corporation is industrially very strong and complementary both with regard to products and geography.
“During our ownership CaridianBCT has strengthened its position as a global leader within apheresis for blood collection and therapeutic purposes, while also investing heavily in technologies of the future. We are satisfied with the results and can now divest a company, which is significantly larger and stronger than when it was acquired”, comments Johan Hähnel, press spokesperson of EQT IV.
“We are very pleased with the development of CaridianBCT. Over the last few years, CaridianBCT has fortified its position as best-in-class in its industry, and sales and profitability have grown significantly. We are confident that the combination of CaridianBCT and Terumo Corporation is very strong from an industrial point of view and that Terumo Corporation will be a very good home for continued successful development of CaridianBCT. The value creation generated by CaridianBCT has clearly been attractive for our shareholders”, comments Börje Ekholm, CEO of Investor.
The seller of CaridianBCT is Gambro AB and at completion of the transaction its external debt will be adjusted to better suit Gambro, as the sole remaining entity. Post transaction, pro forma net debt is estimated at SEK 7.6 bn., calculated on the basis of the December 31, 2010 figure adjusted for current foreign exchange rates. In 2010, sales of Gambro was SEK 12.2 bn. and normalized EBITDA was SEK 2.4 bn. Focus continues to be on improving the business of Gambro and to capture growth opportunities.
The transaction is subject to approval from the relevant competition authorities.
Background to the investment in CaridianBCT
Gambro AB was acquired in 2006. The initial step in the value creation plan adopted subsequent to the buy-out was to divide the company into three independent entities and to streamline operations. Gambro (dialysis), CaridianBCT (blood technology) and the clinics business Gambro Healthcare were created. In 2007, Gambro Healthcare was divested, as planned.
CaridianBCT has been managed as an independent company since 2007 and is today a world leading global provider of technology, products and services in automated blood collection, therapeutic systems, whole blood processes and pathogen reduction technologies.
Impact on Investor AB´s net asset value
The transaction, valuing CaridianBCT at an enterprise value of USD 2,625 m., is estimated to increase Investor´s share of Gambro AB’s book equity by approximately SEK 3.6 bn. After the transaction, Investor´s share of book equity in Gambro AB will amount to approximately SEK 5.3 bn. In addition, Investor’s indirect ownership of Gambro through the EQT IV fund investment will increase to SEK 0.9 bn. from SEK 0.3 bn. In total, the positive net asset value impact will be approximately SEK 4.2 bn.
Investor and EQT IV have been advised by Goldman Sachs and Shearman & Sterling.
EQT contact:
Johan Hähnel, press spokesperson of EQT IV
Phone: +46 8 506 55 322, +46 70 605 6334
Investor contacts:
Oscar Stege Unger, Head of Corporate Communications, Phone +46 8 614 2059, +46 70 624 2059
Magnus Dalhammar, Investor Relations Manager, Phone +46 8 614 2130, +46 735 24 2130
About EQT
EQT is the leading private equity group in Northern Europe with more than EUR 13 billion in raised capital and multiple investment strategies. Together with a unique 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 9.7 billion in more than 85 companies and exited more than 40. EQT-owned companies have more than 500,000 employees.
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, London, Munich, New York, Oslo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Warsaw and Zurich. More information can be found on www.eqt.se
About Investor AB
Investor AB is a Nordic-based industrial holding company founded almost one hundred years ago by the Wallenberg family. Today we have investment activities in Europe, the United States and Asia. The business concept is to generate attractive long-term returns for our shareholders by owning and developing companies with solid potential for value creation. We are an engaged owner and apply experience, knowledge and a unique network to develop listed and unlisted companies to make them best-in-class. We are the leading shareholder in companies such as Atlas Copco, ABB, SEB, Ericsson, AstraZeneca and Mölnlycke Health Care. More information can be found on www.investorab.com