Investors
At the beginning of January 2007, MOVETIS NV secured a €49 million series ‘A’ financing round, with lead investors including:
Sofinnova Partners
Founded in Paris in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is one of Europe’s leading independent venture capital firms. With €900 million under management, Sofinnova Partners invests in start-ups and early-stage companies in information technology and life sciences. Its investment strategy consists of investing early in teams and projects with high potential, most often acting as lead or co-lead investor. Sofinnova Partners also benefits from a long-established relationship with its sister company in San Franscisco, Sofinnova Ventures. Sofinnova Partners’ team consists of 10 professionals who bring market insight and technical expertise to portfolio companies.
Life Sciences Partners (LSP)
LSP is a leading independent European venture capital firm, providing private equity financing to early- to mid-stage life science companies. Since the late 1980s, LSPs management has invested in a large number of highly innovative enterprises, many of which have grown to become leaders of the global life science industry. With €400 million under management and offices in Amsterdam, Munich and Boston, LSP is one of Europe’s largest and most experienced specialist life sciences investors.
Sofinnova Ventures
Founded in 1974, San Francisco-based Sofinnova Ventures emphasizes a diversified investment strategy through the financing of early-stage companies in the life science and information technology sectors. Sofinnova’s mission is to create value by providing entrepreneurs with the resources, experience and networks necessary to turn their bright ideas into thriving businesses.
KBC Private Equity
KBC Private Equity, the KBC group’s venture capital unit, provides growth capital and finances takeovers of mid-sized companies for amounts of between €2 million and €50 million. KBC Private Equity is primarily active in Belgium and Central Europe, KBC Group’s home market. With a 25-strong experienced team, KBC Private Equity manages a portfolio of more than sixty active shareholdings with a market value in excess of €400 million.
KBS Private Equity Fund Biotech NV (‘Biotech NV’)
Biotech NV is a Privak, a private equity closed-end investment company and invests on a global scale in both public and private biotech firms. Biotech NV is listed on Euronext Brussels and is managed by KBC Asset Management in close collaboration with KBC Private Equity.
GIMV (www.gimv.com)
Since its incorporation in 1980, GIMV has grown to become Belgium’s leading venture capital provider and company-builder. GIMV is now a major European and international market player. Both in Belgium and abroad, GIMV invests in information and communication technology, in life sciences, as well as in growth financing and management buy-outs (MBOs) of companies in more traditional sectors. GIMV currently manages assets of around €1.5 billion (including third-party funds). GIMV has been listed on Euronext Brussels since 1997.
Quest for Growth (www.questforgrowth.com)
The Privak Quest for Growth is a Pan-European investment company that invests in European technology-based growth companies in a broad range of industrial sectors such as information technology, semiconductors, telecommunications, software electronics, biotechnology, medical devices, healthcare and new materials. Quest for Growth invests in quoted and unquoted companies.
BIP Investment Partners SA (BIP)
BIP is a Luxembourg Investment Company listed on the Luxembourg stock exchange. As an institutional investor, BIP holds stakes in major businesses in the Luxembourg economy and neighbouring regions. The company is active in the private equity sector and also invests in venture capital funds. As part of its mission, BIP seeks to encourage entrepreneurship by supporting innovative, high-potential projects.