Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 2: Canadian VC Eyes Nine Allocations over Six Months

A venture capital firm based in Canada currently manages four funds that specialize in biotechnology with a total of more than CAD $300m under management. The firm is currently investing from its fourth fund, which raised around CAD $50m. The fund will be making about 9 allocations in the next six months, all in the form of an initial investment of CAD $500,000 for preliminary research with a possible follow-up investment of a further CAD $2.5m if these initial experiments are successful.

The fourth fund in-licenses early-stage assets and funds the preclinical development of these assets. The fund’s investments are focused on asset-holders based in Canada, but allocations can be provided to asset-holders in the USA, provided that development of the asset will take place in Canada. The fund most often exits investments by out-licensing the asset after preclinical development is complete, but sometimes bundles assets to form a start-up company and then seeks syndicated financing for these new companies.

The fund invests only in therapeutic assets at a very early stage of development, before preclinical development has begun, and invests to hold licenses, with the original asset owner retaining ownership of the asset.

Their investments are not indication-specific, but as the fund requires that preclinical research can create strong out-licensing potential, allocations tend not to be made to psychiatric drug assets. They are interested in orphan indications and currently have orphan drug assets in development.

The firm primarily invests in promising assets produced by academic researchers, but also invests in assets shelved by biotech and pharma companies. Within academia, they allocate to a wide variety of researchers who wish to set an asset on the path to market, a process that a conventional academic grant generally cannot cover, requires that preclinical development follow a strict timeline and financial plan, therefore their primary requirement in an asset owner is comfort with this type of stricture and with losing some control over the asset’s development path. The fund most often works with younger researchers (under 7 years in academia) who are adaptable to the process, but they have also worked with veteran academics who are willing to depart from the conventional academic pace in order to bring a drug towards market.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 1: Venture Philanthropy Seeks Early-Stage Companies for Several Allocations

A venture philanthropy group established in 2008 and based in the Eastern US makes equity and convertible note investments of approximately $1 million into companies seeking up to $5 million that are targeting cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases. The firm invests in privately held companies at both the seed and venture stage, and is planning on making 3-4 allocations over the next 12 months. The firm operates under an evergreen structure and is constantly seeking new investment opportunities.

The group is currently looking for companies in both the Biotech Therapeutic & Diagnostics and Medtech sectors. Within these sectors, the firm is opportunistic in terms of subsector, although they do have special interest in companies developing regenerative technologies. The firm’s main focus is on companies developing technologies for cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases – however, they will also consider investing in companies targeting diabetes and metabolic disorders. The firm looks to invest in companies with a product in preclinical or phase 1 of clinical trials for Biotech Therapeutics and Diagnostics, and companies with a product in development or prototype stages for Medtech.

As a venture philanthropy organization, the group is only willing to allocate to companies who have a clear impact on patient therapy and/or standard of care, an adequate level of IP protection, well-defined use of proceeds with quantifiable and achievable milestones, and a clear understanding of the next round of fundraising needs including how much and likely sources.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 2: PE/VC Hybrid has High AUM, Wide Range of Interests

A private equity / venture capital firm which was founded in 1994 and is based in the Western US manages a total of 7 funds with a combined AUM of $2 billion. The typical investment size is anywhere from $5 – $10 million initially, and up to $20 million over the lifetime of the investment. The firm provides both equity investments and convertible notes to companies located all over the globe. They plan to make 2-3 investments over the next 6-9 months.

The firm is interested in companies in biotech therapeutics & diagnostics, medtech, and biotech R&D services. They are also interested in other organizations in the biotech space, such as agricultural biotechnology or industrial biotechnology. In terms of subsector and indication, the firm is entirely opportunistic; however, they are not interested in companies that do not have a viable proof-of-concept for their technology, and strongly prefer to invest in companies that have entered into clinical trials.

The group prefers to invest in experienced management teams, and generally provides a professional to serve on company’s board of directors, in addition to assisting with operational activities. The firm will consider all management teams on a case-by-case basis, and may consider rearranging the management team if necessary.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 3: Seed-Stage VC Acquires Early Assets from Universities, Pharma

A seed-stage investor in emerging life science technologies that was founded in 2003 and is based in the Western US makes about 2 allocations per year. In the past, their typical allocation size has been between $2-5 million, but this amount may increase for future funds; the VC will be raising a new fund in the near future. Investments are made at the seed stage or in Series A venture rounds. The firm invests throughout the USA, and has evaluated investment opportunities globally. Investments are most often in the form of equity, but structures involving debt are also considered.

This group invests particularly in assets at an early, preclinical, stage of development, often acquiring emerging assets from university labs or from pharmaceutical companies. The firm primarily invests in therapeutic assets, and has also made investments in diagnostic technology. They do not invest in medical devices, and have not invested in industrial biotechnology innovation in the past, but is open to proposals in this area. Investments are considered in assets related to any indication. The firm prefers to invest in assets that do not have a management team, as the firm supplies management and technical expertise to develop the technology.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 1: Large Family Office Looking for Opportunities in Medtech Subsectors

A family office located in the Western US with around $100 million in assets is looking for a compelling opportunity for allocation within the next 6-9 months. The office invested in more than five deals in 2012, typically between $1-5 million per firm.

The foundation is most interested in medical devices, and will look at firms within the full gamut of medtech subsectors. Typically, the office allocates to firms that have at least one product on the market. They have no strict criteria in terms of a firm’s EBITDA or revenue, but require that any firm in which they invest has goals to lower the cost of healthcare.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 2: PE Group Interested in Analytical Services, CROs for Upcoming Investments

A private equity group based in the Eastern US has over $250 million in total assets under management, has raised three funds, and is currently looking for new investment opportunities in the life sciences space. While the firm has no set time frame to make an investment, they would allocate to a firm within the next 3-6 months if a compelling opportunity were identified. The group typically invests around $5-20 million per company.

Currently, they are looking for firms within the R&D services space. The firm is most interested in analytical services companies, as well as contract research organizations (CROs) that specialize in toxicology, however would consider other companies that fall within the umbrella of the biotech R&D services space as well.

This PE group executes recapitalization, growth equity, and buyout transactions. The firm is only interested in companies that are cash flow positive. With that being said, the firm is looking for firms whose EBITDA is in the $1-10 million range, and has annual revenue that does not exceed $75 million.

Hot Life Science Investor Mandate 3: PE Group in Eastern US with Large AUM Looking for Life Science Opportunities

A private equity group based in the Eastern US currently has over $9 billion in assets under management, and is currently looking to deploy capital from its fifth fund – which raised over $2 billion – to life science companies.

The firm has no set timeframe to make allocations, but would invest within the next sixth months if a compelling opportunity were identified. The firm’s investments typically range from $30-50 million. The firm is most interested in biotech R&D service firms, and specifically is looking for contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract research organizations (CROs).

The firm provides firms with growth capital, and also does distressed equity transactions, and therefore is only looking for established firms. The PE has no preference as to where the firm is based, and plans to invest up to 49% of the fund’s assets in firms that are located outside of the US. The firm mainly invests in private companies but will consider public companies as well.