The Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées Fund, managed by Eurazeo¹, dedicated to the development of the healthcare sector in Europe and which was launched at the initiative of France Assureurs and the Caisse des Dépôts, is announcing the finalization of its third Growth Equity investment in Germitec. Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées is acting as lead investor in this €29 million Series B fundraising alongside historic shareholders including Kurma Partners (Eurazeo’s Health Venture subsidiary), Financière Arbevel, Turenne Capital and the founding family.

Germitec: an innovative French MedTech specializing in High-Level Disinfection solutions for ultrasound probes

Germitec, whose headquarters are based in Bordeaux, is a leader in the field of ultrasound probe disinfection. Using patented technology, the company designs automatic UV-C High Level Disinfection solutions for external, long and short endocavitary and transesophageal ultrasound probes as well as ENT endoscopes without working channel which are all notably used in gynecology and IVF treatments, cardiology, urology and ENT. Using cycles ranging from 90 seconds to approximately 3 minutes, these chemical-free and single-button automatic devices considerably reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Moreover, the intuitive workflow interface enables data storage, visualization and downloading to guarantee complete traceability of the disinfection process.

Its environmentally friendly technology provides an alternative to existing offers on the market (automated or manual chemical solutions such as wipes or chemical baths) whilst meeting the demands of health professionals.

The demand in the global disinfection market is booming, driven by growing needs in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (in 2023, 72,000 people in the USA and 4,000 in France died because of an infection caught in a medical environment) and the growth dynamic in the use of ultrasound as a reference-tool in medical imagery. By offering solutions adapted to the needs of healthcare professionals, Germitec is positioning itself as a major player in a key public health sector.

With a presence in over 40 countries, Germitec already benefits from international recognition and is today aiming to establish itself in new markets such as the United States, where the company recently obtained the FDA De Novo certification² for its flagship Chronos³ product. To meet its goals, the company is raising €29 million with the support of Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées acting as lead investor alongside existing investors who are again participating in this second round.

A symbol of the Eurazeo group’s healthcare expertise

This co-investment between Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées and Kurma Partners, its Health Venture subsidiary, Eurazeo reaffirms its commitment to build its leadership in the strategic healthcare sector. Following on from PanTera in September 2024, this new joint participation illustrates the complementarity of skills within the Group which aims to support innovation and the emergence of industrial European leaders in the healthcare sector.

Following on from Kinvent in December 2023 and PanTera in September 2024, Germitec is the third Growth Equity investment by Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées.

Vincent Gardès, CEO of Germitec, declared:

“The Nov Santé and Kurma Partners teams’ expertise is a major asset that will support Germitec in our new development phase. With the obtention of the FDA accreditation, we have accomplished a decisive move that provides us with an exceptional perspective in the United States where there is a market opportunity of 60,000 units. We are confident in our capacity to capture this market thanks to the quality and distinction of our products, as well as the commitment and expertise of our teams.”

Arnaud Vincent, Managing Director – Healthcare at Eurazeo, added:

“We are very proud that Germitec and its historic shareholders have chosen Eurazeo as lead investor. We have been convinced by the company’s expertise, its innovative position, as demonstrated by its FDA accreditation, and the quality of its management. We are delighted to participate in this new phase for Germitec: the roll-out of its solution in the United States. By supporting Germitec, we are contributing to the advancement of healthcare solutions that respond to major challenges in public healthcare with the prevention of nosocomial infections and are supporting French healthcare sovereignty with products that are fabricated on home soil.”

**********************

1 As part of the Eurazeo Global Investor company.

2 The FDA’s De Novo classification process creates, when the technology is not matched by any other, a new classification validating marketing and distribution of medical devices in the US.

3 September 5th, 2024, Germitec’s press release: Germitec’s Chronos® Achieves First-Ever FDA De Novo: A Breakthrough in Infection Prevention.