Capricorn Venture Partners announces first close of its Capricorn

Capricorn Venture Partners announces first close
of its Capricorn Health-tech Fund Leuven, Belgium: 5 January 2011 – Capricorn Venture Partners announced today that its Capricorn
Health-tech Fund raised € 42 million in a first closing which took place on December 22, 2010.
End 2009 Capricorn Venture Partners launched the Capricorn Health-tech Fund (CHF) focusing on early to
mid stage human health-technology companies in Europe. Capricorn Venture Partners defines healthtechnology as any technology based product used for the prevention, the diagnosis or the treatment of
diseases and medical indications in humans. This includes the following subsectors: biopharmaceutical
and pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, medical devices, medical imaging, diagnostics, (research)
equipment, nutraceuticals and functional foods.
In addition to a number of private investors and two universities the investors in this first close include
Dexia Insurance Belgium, FPIM (Federale Participatie- en Investeringsmaatschappij), PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen), SRIW (Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie) and Quest for Growth.
Dr Jos B. Peeters, Managing Partner, adds “Capricorn Venture Partners is especially pleased to welcome
both KU-Leuven and the Université de Liège as strategic investors. Capricorn Venture Partners has a long
standing tradition of working with universities and research institutes in coaching and setting up spin-off
companies. By investing in CHF both universities recognise the added value such relationship can bring.”
Following this first close the Capricorn Health-tech Fund will start making investments whilst continuing
its endeavours to bring the committed capital of the fund to a level of € 100–120 million in its final close.
Dr Frank Bulens, Ir Els Hubloux, Dr Els Vanheusden and Dr Jos B. Peeters will be in charge of investment
and divestment decisions of CHF. In addition to many years of venture capital experience in the healthtech sector they bring significant operational and business experience relevant to CHF and its portfolio
companies. Furthermore Dr Edwin Moses, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Euronext Brussels
quoted Ablynx, has been appointed as Chairman of the Capricorn Health-tech Fund.
Commenting on this first close, Dr Moses said, “We are pleased to have closed CHF at this level in an
environment of unprecedented difficulty for raising European Venture Funds. We appreciate the support
that our LP’s have shown to the team and the sector, and we look forward to investing this fund at such
an opportune time in the cycle.”
About Capricorn Venture Partners
Capricorn Venture Partners NV is a Leuven based, independent pan-European managing director of
venture capital funds that focus on innovative European companies with technology as competitive
advantage. The investment team of Capricorn is composed of experienced investment managers with
deep technology expertise and a broad industrial experience.
The Capricorn Health-tech Fund is Capricorn’s fourth consecutive venture capital fund and follows the
highly successful € 112 million Capricorn Cleantech Fund which was closed in 2008 and has in the
meantime made investments in 14 companies in 9 countries.
More info on www.capricorn.be
For more information
Dr Jos B. Peeters, Managing Director
Capricorn Venture Partners NV
Lei 19/1
B-3000 Leuven (Belgium)
Tel
: +32(0)16 28 41 00
Fax
: +32(0)16 28 41 08
[email protected]