The European Investment Fund (EIF) is investing in Thuja Capital Management (Thuja), to create a new EUR 34 million venture capital fund, targeting early-stage Dutch and Belgian companies developing innovative products for medical applications.

Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund II (TCHF II) will invest in products improving diagnosis, cure or care, and contributing to lowering the cost of healthcare. The fund will invest in new medical devices, diagnostics and medicinal products and medical food products.

TCHF II is based on partnerships with Rabobank and Knowledge Centres including the Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht and Radboud University Medical Center and Regional Development Agencies. A large number of family offices and private investors also contribute to TCHF II.

About Thuja Capital Management

Thuja Capital Management BV is a management company founded in 2007, which manages a number of venture capital funds, each with a focus on medical product innovations. By investing in smart medical innovations Thuja pursues both financial as well as healthcare return. The team consists of Harrold van Barlingen and Michel Briejer as investment managers and Martin Solleveld as financial controller. Thuja Capital Management holds office in Utrecht Science Park. For more information: www.thujacapital.com.

About Rabobank

Rabobank holds a solid position in the Dutch healthcare sector. In order to maintain the high quality, ensure ease of access and affordability of healthcare also for future generations, it is important to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector. Healthcare innovations should contribute to the vitality of people and communities. An important strategic goal of Rabobank. Vitality is a major pillar for a productive and prosperous society. Michel van Schaik: ”Our involvement with Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund II parallels our vision for the healthcare sector and the contribution we would like to make to make the healthcare landscape future proof”.

About the Utrecht Holdings

Utrecht Holdings is the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) of Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht. It is focused on the transfer, utilization and commercialization of academic research. Since 1996 it has been supporting scientists in creating, building and investing in innovations with a particular expertise in biotech, medtech, education and ICT. The have assisted Utrecht University and the University Medical Center in attracting significant amounts of research money, filed over 150 patents, closed many license agreements, established over 40 spin-off companies and invested over EUR 15 million in these new ventures. Utrecht Holdings and Thuja Capital have been successfully working together since 2008. For more information: www.utrechtholdings.nl.

About BOM

The Brabant Development Agency (BOM) endeavors to promote an innovative and resilient economy in the Dutch province of Brabant, giving the region a lasting competitive edge in a rapidly globalizing world. The emphasis in this policy is focused on the top economic clusters, crossovers between these clusters, and linking these clusters to social issues. BOM encourages companies, local and national authorities and knowledge institutes to realize the economic ambitions nurtured by the province of Brabant. The starting point in this is to provide smart solutions to social problems. BOM’s core tasks involve forging alliances between companies and institutions, attracting foreign companies, investing risk capital in both innovative startups as well as growing companies and developing business sites. For more information, visit www.bom.nl.

About LIOF

LIOF supports SME’s from the early start up to and beyond the finish with innovation and economic development. LIOF finances the start and growth phases of promising small companies located in the Dutch province of Limburg. LIOF also attracts foreign companies to settle in Limburg and provides full support in their local embedding. LIOF supports with Knowhow, Network and Capital.

About EIF

EIF is a leading financial institution in the European Private Equity market. Through our venture capital and private equity interventions, we play a crucial role in the creation and development of high-growth and innovative SMEs by facilitating access to equity for these companies across the entire life cycle of corporate innovation. We do so by investing in venture and growth capital, from the very earliest stages of intellectual property development into technology transfer, to more mature phases of development. In supporting both well-known and first time teams, we have built a strong track record in the industry. Through this reputation, while maintaining a highly selective process, we take significant minority stakes in funds which provide a catalytic effect on commitments from a wide range of investors, particularly in the private sector. The scale and scope of our investments, along with our added value on fundraising, allows us to promote best market practice and corporate governance for teams we choose to support. EIF's equity activity is principally backed by resources from its main shareholders, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission.

Press contact:

EIF: David Yormesor
Tel.: +352 42 66 88 346, e-mail: d.yormesor@eif.org