Nordic Capital Fund VII acquires Handicare

Oslo, June 2nd 2010 - Nordic Capital Fund VII has acquired the healthcare company Handicare from the Herkules Private Equity Fund. - Nordic Capital has a strong funding base, industrial expertise and international experience, all of which are important to ensuring the further growth of Handicare, says Per Gunnar Borhaug, CEO of Handicare.

Handicare, which provides technical aids for the elderly and disabled, has grown substantially over recent years, increasing its turnover from 650 million NOK in 2005 to 2.5 billion NOK in 2009. During that same period Handicare acquired 12 other companies and has become the European market leader within its industry.

- Our partnership with Herkules has been very good throughout and characterised by expansion and growth. With Nordic Capital Fund VII as our new owner, Handicare’s foundation for further growth and expansion will be strengthened, says Per Gunnar Borhaug, CEO of Handicare.

Herkules Private Equity Fund, a Norwegian investment fund, became Handicare’s major shareholder in 2005. Nordic Capital Fund VII will now, together with management, own 100% of the shares in HC Holding AS – the holding company of Handicare.

- We are impressed by what the management team at Handicare has achieved in co-operation with Herkules Capital over the last five years, says Fredrik Näslund, partner at Nordic Capital. We see great potential for further growth and are looking forward to working closely with the management team to further strengthen Handicare’s position in a growing market.

- It has been exciting for us to contribute to the development of Handicare, now a leading European player, and the investment has resulted in good returns on equity during our partnership, says Morten Blix, partner at Herkules Capital. Handicare’s continued strategy of further growth requires additional funding, and this is the right time for us to exit the company. We are convinced that Nordic Capital will prove an excellent owner and partner for Handicare.


For more information, please contact:

Per Gunnar Borhaug, CEO, Handicare +47 69 24 45 14

Morten Blix, Partner, Herkules Capital, +47 92 80 18 24

Fredrik Näslund, Partner, Nordic Capital +46 70 653 60 80

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