SLS Venture sells its 23 per cent ownership in Carmel Pharma AB

SLS Venture, a Scandinavian venture capital company, has signed an agreement to sell its 23 per cent ownership in Carmel Pharma AB to 3i Group Plc. With SLS Venture as a key owner, Carmel Pharma AB has experienced a period of internationalisation and rapid growth. The largest market today is the United States, growing almost 40 per cent during the last year. “We will realise a good return on our investment and ownership efforts in Carmel Pharma AB. In line with our value creation and exit-focused business model, it is now time for us to exit”, Jonas Frick, CEO of SLS Venture, explains. Carmel Pharma AB has also been established throughout Europe, in South-East Asia and the Middle East. In 2004, it was nominated a Technology Fast 500 EMEA company by Deloitte due to its strong growth. “It has been a rewarding journey for us to work as an active owner of the company. To experience such rapid international growth represents a true challenge for any company and we are now very proud to hand over Carmel Pharma AB in a strong position and with excellent prospects for further growth”, Jonas Frick continues. For further information, please contact: Jonas Frick, Chief Executive Officer SLS Venture, tel +46 8 5450 7035, mobile +46 708 913020, e-mail: jonas.frick@slsventure.com To the editors: SLS Venture is one of the leading venture capital companies focused on life science in Scandinavia. With a wide experience from research, development and company management within the biotech and pharmaceutical industry as well as a broad network, SLS Venture is an active owner of its portfolio companies. The equity in charge amounts to USD 325 M. The portfolio includes companies as A. Carlsson Research AB, BioLipox AB, Doxa AB, Sophion Bioscience A/S, Symphogen A/S, Aerocrine AB and NeuroNova AB. Carmel Pharma AB develops, manufactures and markets PhaSeal, a sealed product system for the handling of toxic drugs, minimizing the leakage and spread of aerosols into the working environment. PhaSeal is since long established on the Swedish market and has been granted an FDA approval. 3i Group Plc is a leading private equity and venture capital company listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company focuses on buyouts, growth capital and venture capital, with activities in Europe, the United States and South-East Asia.