Small Bone Innovations, Inc. Secures $43 Million Credit Facility (press release)
NEW YORK, Dec 07, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBi), a leading, privately held orthopedics company focused exclusively on technologies and treatments for the small bones & joints, has closed on a $43 million credit facility to help further accelerate sales of its flagship STAR(TM) total ankle replacement technology, upper and lower limb portfolio and to refinance existing indebtedness.
The senior, secured credit facility was provided by New Health Capital Partners Fund I LP and affiliated private equity funds managed by New Health Capital Partners, LLC (together “New Health Capital Partners” or “NHCP”). New Health is focused on investing throughout the capital structure of life sciences companies, including senior secured loans, royalty monetizations, control equity investments and other structured financings.
The new credit facility has enabled SBi to repay its previous credit facility and provide working capital to continue to drive growth in the STAR ankle and its upper and lower limb product portfolio. The facility will also support a more aggressive buildup of SBi’s direct sales organization in the United States.
Anthony G. Viscogliosi, SBi’s Chairman & CEO, said: “We are highly encouraged by SBi’s positive sales and business performance this year. We have been successful in achieving continued growth in revenues while substantially reducing operating expenses.”
Mr. Viscogliosi added: “The STAR ankle continues to gain significant traction in North America. We believe that the STAR ankle continues to be the #1 total ankle replacement system in the world. This new credit facility represents both a vote of confidence in our business model and underlines the potential of the small bone and joint market as the fastest growing sector in the orthopedic devices market. NHCP’s industry expertise and ability to create highly customized financing solutions was an ideal match for a technology intensive, fast growing company like SBi. NHCP quickly delivered a transaction that makes a great deal sense for our business.”
Richard Baxter, Founder and Managing Director of New Health, said: “We have been monitoring SBi’s performance closely since its inception and have been impressed by what the company has achieved thus far, especially in light of the extremely weak global economy and corresponding slowdown in global orthopedic device revenue growth. We are excited to partner with SBi and are confident that the STAR ankle will realize its full potential by changing the standard of care from fusion to total ankle replacement.”
About Small Bone Innovations, Inc.
Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBi) was founded in 2004 by Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC (VB), the New York-based merchant banking firm that specializes in the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector. SBi was the first company to focus purely on small bones & joints by integrating established companies and professionals in the field. It offers a broad, clinically proven portfolio of products and technologies to treat trauma and diseases in the small bones & joints. SBi has facilities in New York, NY, Morrisville, PA, Peronnas, France, Donaueschingen, Germany, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has sold its products in 46 countries.
For a notice on Forward Looking Statements and more information about SBi, please visit: www.totalsmallbone.com/us/press.php4 For product and patient information about the STAR ankle please visit: www.star-ankle.com and www.staranklereplacement.com
About New Health Capital Partners
New Health Capital Partners, founded by Aron Dantzig and Richard Baxter, recently closed on New Health Capital Partners Fund I LP (“Fund I”), a private equity vehicle focused on investing throughout the capital structure of life sciences companies, including senior secured loans, royalty monetizations, control equity investments and other structured financings. The New York-based fund received an initial capital commitment of $150,000,000 from ORIX USA Asset Management in September 2011. NHCP specializes in originating customized investment structures that provide significantly more financial flexibility than such traditional sources of capital as the public markets, private equity or pure royalty monetization firms. NHCP uniquely provides capital to a broad spectrum of commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical, medical devices, diagnostics and technology tools companies. For additional information contact Adam Kaye at akaye@newhealthcapital.com or (917) 866-6400.
SOURCE: Small Bone Innovations, Inc.