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Carasent ASA: Growth investor Vitruvian Partners to become significant minority shareholder in Carasent through NOK 420 million private placement
Oslo, Norway, 22 July 2021
Carasent ASA ("Carasent" or the "Company", ticker code "CARA") is pleased to announce that Cardigan Holdco S.à r.l., a company indirectly owned by Vitruvian Investment Partnership IV, a fund managed by Vitruvian Partners LLP (together “Vitruvian”) has on 22 July 2021 subscribed for 11,987,332 shares (the “Private Placement Shares”) in the Company at a price of NOK 35.05 per share in a private placement of new shares in the Company (the "Private Placement").
Following registration of the share capital increase pertaining to the Private Placement, the Company will have a share capital of NOK 104,718,852, divided into 78,617,757 shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 1.332.
Following registration of the share capital increase related to the share issue and delivery of the shares to Vitruvian, Vitruvian will hold 11,987,332 shares in the Company, equal to 15,25% of the total number of shares and votes in the Company, thereby crossing the 15% disclosure threshold set out in the section 4-2 of the securities trading act.
"I am pleased to see Vitruvian becoming the largest shareholder in Carasent. With its proven experience from the e-health sector, I am confident that Vitruvian will make an important and value adding contribution to Carasent going forward. Furthermore, the investment from Vitruvian enables Carasent to pursue additional acquisitions as we experience increasing opportunities for consolidation within the sector," comments Johan Lindqvist, chairman of the board of directors of Carasent.
The new shares to be issued through the Private Placement corresponds to 17,99% of the existing shares outstanding in Carasent. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to finance potential acquisitions and strengthen the ability to capitalize on organic growth opportunities, as well as for general corporate purposes.
A spokesperson for Vitruvian comments: “Carasent has built a very strong reputation in the Nordic healthcare market where its eHealth solutions have proven to drive improved patient outcomes and greater efficiency for healthcare providers. As a rapidly growing Nordic eHealth leader, Carasent is well positioned to continue benefitting from the ongoing cloud adoption, as well as customers’ desire to manage their various digital applications through a single platform. Johan and Dennis have with their team built an outstanding company with a central focus on customers’ needs. We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with the Carasent team and support the Company’s next phase of development, by leveraging our experience and network to seek to create value for all shareholders over the coming years.”
The share capital increase pertaining to the Private Placement was resolved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") on 22 July 2021 pursuant to an authorization granted by the Company's general meeting held 30 June 2021. The Board of Directors has considered the Private Placement in light of the equal treatment obligations under relevant acts and regulations, and is of the opinion that the Private Placement is in compliance with these requirements. Following careful considerations, the Board is of the view that it is in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders to raise equity through the Private Placement, in view of the current market conditions and the growth opportunities currently available to the Company. In connection with the fully underwritten private placement of new shares by the Company at a price of NOK 33.40 per share announced on 26 May 2021 and completed on 2 June 2021 (the “May Private Placement”), the Company made a customary lock-up undertaking towards DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA, as manager of the May Private Placement, not to issue new shares for a period of 90 days from completion of the May Private Placement, except with the consent of DNB Markets. DNB Markets has consented to the Private Placement.
Carnegie AS and DNB Markets act as managers (the “Managers”) in connection with the Private Placement.
BAHR acts as legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Private Placement. Schjødt acts as legal advisor to Vitruvian in connection with the Private Placement.
About Carasent ASA
Founded in 1997, Carasent ASA (former Apptix ASA) is a Scandinavian E-health company that develops and expands digitalization that helps customers in providing efficient and quality health care services. The company operates through its subsidiaries Evimeria EMR AB, Avans Soma AS, and Metodika AB, acquired in 2018, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
About Vitruvian
Vitruvian is a leading international growth investor headquartered in London with offices in London, Stockholm, Munich, Luxembourg, San Francisco and Shanghai. Vitruvian focuses on dynamic situations characterized by rapid growth and change across industries. Vitruvian has backed over 50 companies, including 12 healthcare investments and dozens of SaaS businesses, and has assets under management of approximately €10 billion. Notable investments include global market leaders and disruptors in their field such as CRF Health, Maxcyte, Doctari, Farfetch, Wise (prev. Transferwise), and Global-e. Vitruvian has a strong presence in the Nordics with an established office in Stockholm and twelve investments across the region: Accountor, Benify, BHG Group, Carasent, CRF Health, EasyPark, Just Eat, Scrive, Snow Software, Storytel, Trustpilot and Unifaun. More information can be found at: www.vitruvianpartners.com.
DISCLAIMER
The information included in this announcement is defined as inside information pursuant to MAR article 7 and is publicly disclosed in accordance with MAR article 17. The announcement is made by the contact persons.
For further information, please contact:
Dennis Höjer (CEO)
dennis.hojer@evimeria.se
+46 733 28 49 22
Johan Lindqvist (Chairman)
johan.lindqvist@windchange.se
+46 733 55 09 35
Vitruvian media contact
Thomas Ahlerup
+46-768-966 300
