Deutsche Private Equity buys Zellbios from Ergon

The company's CEO and management team remain invested in the firm.

Zellbios is the second company in the healthcare sector in DPE's portfolio. The new owner aims to drive the firm's R&D projects to commercialisation.

Previous funding
Zellbios was formed in 2011 via the merger of two specialised API manufacturers: Italy-based Farmabios and German firm PharmaZell.

In 2011, Ergon Capital Partners wholly acquired German biotechnology firm PharmaZell from Auctus Capital Partners and Lead Equities, according to unquote" data. The investment, made via Ergon's second fund, was supported by a unitranche facility provided by Ares Capital Europe.

The GP then merged the asset with existing portfolio company Zambios under a new Luxembourg-based holding company named Zellbios.

Auctus created newco PharmaZell in June 2006 after acquiring the pharmaceutical division of NYSE-listed Lubrizol Group. Management also took a significant stake in the company. The transaction, valued at around €20m, was supported by a senior debt package from BHF Bank.

Company
Based in Luxembourg, Zellbios manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the global pharmaceutical markets.

The company employs around 700 staff and has a turnover in excess of €130m. Production facilities are located in Germany, Italy and India.

People
Marc Thiery, managing partner, and Guido Prehn, partner, led the deal for DPE.

Advisers
Equity - Latham & Watkins (Legal); P + P Pöllath + Partners (Legal); The Boston Consulting Group (Commercial due diligence); EY (Corporate finance); N+1 Germany (M&A).

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• Topics
• Benelux
• Healthcare
• Exits
• Buyouts
• Luxembourg
• Ergon Capital Partners
• Secondary buyout