OCTOBER 10 2017
NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.
Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer of commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction. Any offer to acquire shares pursuant to the proposed Offering will be made, and any investor should make his investment decision, solely on the basis of the information that is contained in the prospectus published by the Company in connection with the Offering. Copies of the prospectus are available at the Company’s website, www.handicaregroup.com.
Nordic Capital-backed Handicare lists on Nasdaq Stockholm
Nordic Capital extends its outstanding healthcare and IPO track record, delivering significant value to investors through eight successful IPOs across all core sectors since June 2015.
Handicare Group AB (“Handicare” or the “Company”), a Nordic Capital Fund VII-backed global provider of mobility solutions for the disabled and elderly, today announced the successful listing of its shares on the Nasdaq Stockholm Exchange. The Offering attracted very strong interest from both Swedish and International institutions as well as the general public in Sweden, the board and employees of Handicare, and was heavily over-subscribed. For full information about Handicare and its listing please see www.handicaregroup.com/ipo/.
As one of the world’s leading healthcare investors, Nordic Capital has invested in 21 healthcare companies with an aggregated enterprise value of EUR 19 billion. It has achieved repeatable success and developed thriving companies as evidenced by the performance of former investments in healthcare companies such as Mölnlycke Health Care, Permobil, ConvaTec, Nycomed and Atos Medical. The current portfolio includes healthcare companies Acino, AniCura, Binding Site, ERT, GHD, Sunrise Medical, as well as a remaining stake in ConvaTec which was listed in October 2016.
Handicare is the eighth company that Nordic Capital has floated on the public markets since June 2015. It follows the successful IPO of ConvaTec - the UK's biggest IPO of 2016 and the largest European healthcare IPO in more than 20 years. The listing of Handicare comes at a time of high transactional activity for Nordic Capital. In the last six months, Nordic Capital has also successfully listed air treatment company Munters at the Nasdaq Stockholm as well as traffic safety products and services provider SafeRoad at the Oslo Stock Exchange, fully exited Finnish discount retailer Tokmanni Group Corporation and sold Swedish payment-services company Bambora to Ingenico Group in a deal that valued the company at EUR 1.5 billion, a transaction expected to close in Q4 2017.
Fredrik Näslund, Partner, NC Advisory AB, advisor to the Nordic Capital Funds, said:
“Handicare is a great example of a business that is successfully capitalising on changing demographics and the consequent demand for new products and services. Many companies restrict their ambitions to local markets but Handicare has been able to refocus, creating a scalable, fully international business that is able to meet the needs of society and individuals around the globe. This is one of the key ways that Nordic Capital seeks to support the creation of stronger businesses that are sustainable for the longer term and is able to achieve repeatable success for Nordic Capital’s investors. As a market leader with a clear strategy and a strong operational structure, Handicare is very well placed to enjoy continued growth in the years to come.”
Asbjørn Eskild, CEO and President of Handicare, said:
"I am very happy and proud about the strong interest shown in Handicare by the public and institutional investors during the listing process and we are very excited about this important step for Handicare. The journey started in 2010 and we have since then streamlined the corporate structure, product portfolio and the operational platform. Handicare is now well positioned for continued profitable growth as a leader in providing healthcare equipment to elderly, disabled and to those caring for them. Bringing Handicare to the public markets will allow us increased visibility and market transparency and will further enhance our offering. It is with great pleasure that we welcome new and old shareholders to take part in this next step in the journey."
"It is with significant pride the board look at what the management team has achieved since the strategic transformation of Handicare began in 2010. I am confident that the Company has the right strategy and leadership team in place for profitable, value-creating growth going forward. As we embark on the next phase we are excited to broaden the ownership base and offer the opportunity for an enlarged group of shareholders to follow us into the exciting future of the Company."
Press contact:
Katarina Janerud, Communications Manager, NC Advisory AB, advisor to the Nordic Capital Funds Tel: +46 8 440 50 69 e-mail: katarina.janerud@nordiccapital.com
About Nordic Capital
Nordic Capital is a leading private equity investor in the Nordic region with a resolute commitment to creating stronger, sustainable businesses through operational improvement and transformative growth. Nordic Capital focuses on selected regions and sectors where it has deep experience and a proven track record. Core sectors are Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services, Industrial Goods & Services and Consumer & Retail, and key regions are the Nordics, Northern Europe, and globally for Healthcare. Since inception in 1989, Nordic Capital has invested EUR 11 billion through eight funds. The Nordic Capital Funds are based in Jersey and are advised by advisory entities, which are based in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the UK. For further information about Nordic Capital, please visit www.nordiccapital.com
Important information
This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities issued by the Company in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale would be unlawful.
In any EEA Member State, other than Sweden, that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any member State, the “Prospectus Directive”), this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive.
This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into the United States of America. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There is no intention to register any securities referred to herein in the United States or to make a public offering of the securities in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, this document and any other materials in relation to the securities described herein is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, “qualified investors” (as defined in section 86(7) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) and who are (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Persons who are not relevant persons should not take any action on the basis of this document and should not act or rely on it.
A prospectus prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Directive has been published and is available at Handicare’s website.
Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “assumes”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “could”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “according to estimates”, “is of the opinion”, “may”, “plans”, “continue”, “potential”, “predicts”, “projects”, “indicates“, “targets”, “aims, “likely”, “can have”, “to the knowledge of” and similar expressions. This applies in particular to statements referring to future results, financial position, cash flow, plans and expectations for the Company’s business and management, future growth and profitability and general economic and regulatory environment and other circumstances which affect the Company. Forward-looking statements are based upon various estimates and assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, such as no changes in existing political, legal, fiscal, market or economic conditions or in applicable legislation, regulations or rules (including, but not limited to, accounting policies, accounting treatments and tax policies), which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to the results of operations of the Company or its ability to operate its businesses. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors, which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should also particularly review the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the prospectus for further information.
Potential investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements herein and are strongly advised to read the detailed description of factors that have an effect on the Company’s business and the market in which the Company operates, which are included in the prospectus.
The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Neither Nordic Capital nor the Company undertakes any obligation to update, review or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this communication.