CapMan Press Release 30 April 2010 11.30. a.m.
CapMan to acquire Esperi
The CapMan Buyout IX fund is to acquire Esperi Care Oy together with the company’s management Esperi is the market leader in the care sector in Finland, and the investment is intended to help drive the company forward through organic growth and acquisitions.
Established in 2001, Esperi Care Oy offers assisted living services, response alarm systems, and home care services to senior citizens, assisted living services for people recovering from psychological problems and the disabled, and ambulance services in more than 150 municipalities. The company recorded net sales of 40.9 million in 2009 and currently employs over 1,000 people across Finland.
“The consolidation of the private care sector in Finland has gathered momentum over the last few years and Esperi has grown strongly through a number of mergers and acquisitions,” says CapMan Senior Partner, Ari Tolppanen. “CapMan has solid experience in the Nordic healthcare field and we have invested in companies such as Proxima in Sweden, Espira in Norway, and Mehiläinen in Finland. Esperi has developed an excellent service concept and we believe that the company is well-placed to continue growing strongly in Finland.”
“The change in ownership is a natural step in developing Esperi. CapMan is willing to continue Esperi’s successful growth strategy and focus on developing quality, personnel and services further. We will continue to work on the challenges of our industry and to provide good quality services and care to our customers,” says Esperi Care’s Managing Director, Marja Aarnio-Isohanni, who will continue as Managing Director and a substantial owner of Esperi.
Following the transaction, funds managed by CapMan will become the majority shareholder in Esperi. The sellers of the company are an investor consortium led by Unicus, management and the Finnish Red Cross. The closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Finnish competition authorities and is expected to be completed during June. CapMan Plc is a major investor in the CapMan Buyout IX fund.
For further information, please contact:
Ari Tolppanen, Senior Partner, CapMan Buyout, tel. +358 (0)207 207 507 or +358 (0)500 407 343
Marja Aarnio-Isohanni, Managing Director, Esperi Care Oy, tel. +358 (0)400 694 340
CapMan www.capman.com
CapMan is one of the leading alternative asset managers in the Nordic countries and Russia and manages private equity funds with approximately EUR 3.6 billion in total capital. CapMan has six investment areas (CapMan Buyout, CapMan Technology, CapMan Life Science, CapMan Russia, CapMan Public Market and CapMan Real Estate), and each of them has a dedicated team and funds. Altogether CapMan employs approximately 150 people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Moscow. CapMan was established in 1989 and its B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since 2001.
Esperi Care Oy www.esperi.fi
Esperi Care offers assisted living services, response alarm systems, and home care services to senior citizens, assisted living services for people recovering from psychological problems and the disabled, and ambulance services in more than 150 municipalities. The net sales of Esperi were 40.9 million in 2009 and it currently employs over 1,000 people across Finland.