Korys, the family office behind the France and Belgium-based retailer Colruyt Group, and Mérieux Equity Partners, the asset management arm of the Institut Mérieux holding company, have set up joint funds targeting companies in the healthcare and nutrition sectors in Europe and North America.
OMX Europe Venture Fund has raised more than €60m from Korys and Mérieux and third party subscribers and is targeting a final close at €90m. OMX Europe will be managed by Mérieux Equity Partners in Europe, with the operational support of Korys’ Life Science team as a key advisor to the fund.
The US-based OMX Ventures team of Craig Asher, Nick Haft and Dan Fero, with the support of senior adviser Paul Conley, have raised more than $66m for its OMX Ventures Fund I, which is targeting $100m in a final close. The US fund has a similar investment strategy to, and privileged right of co-investment with, OMX Europe.
OMX refers to a field of study in biology ending in -omics, such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics or microbiomics. The fund has already made deals in these areas, including organ-on-a-chip developer Mimetas, microbiome-focused MRM Technologies, genome editing platform Inscripta and induced pluripotent stem cells supplier Tara Biosystems.
Valérie Calenda, partner at Mérieux Equity Partners, said: “Together with Mérieux Développement’s sponsorship, privileged access to the experience and industrial network of Korys will bring real additional value to our portfolio of fast-growing companies.”
Christoph Waer, investment director at Korys, added: “Our collaboration with Mérieux Equity Partners is based on an entrepreneurial history spanning several generations, common values and the shared ambition to dedicate significant, long-term resources within the healthcare and nutrition sectors.”
