Karolinska Development AB today announced that the European Investment Fund (EIF) has entered into a co-investment agreement with the company. The co-investment fund will be managed by Karolinska Development and used to invest in the company's portfolio of early-stage pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. EIF has agreed to invest 26.7 M Euros in the co-investment fund. The agreement represents EIF's largest single investment in the Nordic region to date.
The agreement was concluded after EIF - the EU body for investment in small and medium-sized enterprises -carried out a thorough due diligence of Karolinska Development's strategy, competences and processes. Investments will be made over a four year period and the fund will be used alongside Karolinska Development's own investments in new projects, as well as for follow on investments in portfolio companies in the latter stages of clinical development.
EIF's Chief Executive, Richard Pelly summarised, "Not only is this a landmark transaction representing the largest single investment ever made by EIF into a Swedish fund, but it also demonstrates EIF's firm commitment to support Technology Transfer initiatives across Europe where a funding gap for innovative SMEs has been identified. This investment will help innovations from research organisations to reach the marketplace more quickly and will hopefully allow spin-out companies to reach their full potential working in conjunction with the Karolinska Development team."