EQT Healthcare Growth has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Europa Biosite, a Stockholm-headquartered distributor of life science products, from Adelis Equity. The transaction, announced on July 3, 2025, positions EQT to capitalize on the growing demand for specialized research tools in the life sciences sector.
Strategic Distribution Platform
Europa Biosite operates across 17 countries in Europe and North America, serving more than 60,000 researchers in academia and biopharma. The company offers access to over ten million individual scientific products essential to life sciences research, including antibodies, biochemicals, diagnostic kits, and ethically sourced biospecimens from a wide range of science-led suppliers.
The acquisition builds on EQT's proven track record in specialized distribution, including successful investments in Azelis (chemicals), Beijer Ref (refrigeration systems), and OEM International (industrial components). According to the company, Europa Biosite has executed seven acquisitions in seven years, driving a fivefold sales increase.
Growth Strategy and Market Opportunity
EQT plans to accelerate Europa Biosite's expansion through three key strategies: commercial excellence initiatives, digital infrastructure investments, and continued M&A activity. The company will particularly focus on high-growth markets like the United States, where its 2023 acquisition of AMSBIO, a biospecimen specialist, has expanded product offerings to 5 million SKUs.
The U.S. represents a $50 billion market for life science reagents, supported by stable NIH funding that has increased 6% annually since 2020. Rising biopharma R&D spending is projected to reach $250 billion by 2027, creating favorable conditions for specialized distributors serving this fragmented market of over 10,000 distributors globally.
Leadership and Operational Excellence
Kate Swann, Senior Industrial Advisor to EQT and former Chair of Beijer Ref, will lead Europa Biosite's Board. Swann brings expertise in scaling proprietary product lines and operational improvements from her previous role, where Beijer Ref achieved 140% sales growth through digital integration and regional expansions.
"Europa Biosite supports European scientific research by connecting thousands of labs with the reagents they need to advance discovery," said Rikke Kjær Nielsen, Partner in the EQT Healthcare Growth advisory team. "With our support, the company will be set up to scale its business through investments into digital tools, strengthening of its supplier network, and acceleration of its M&A platform."
Digital Transformation and Product Diversification
EQT plans to enhance Europa Biosite's operational efficiency by investing in digital tools for inventory management, supply chain optimization, and customer analytics. The company will also expand its own-brand biospecimen offerings to reduce supplier dependency and increase gross margins, following a proven strategy used in other EQT portfolio companies.
Sune Schmølker, CEO of Europa Biosite, commented: "We're excited to partner with EQT for the next phase of growth. With growing demand for reagents and more scientists relying on these critical products, this is a pivotal moment for the business. EQT's expertise in scaling distributors will help us reach new customers, offer even better service, and bring exciting new products to market."
Market Fundamentals
The life sciences distribution market benefits from several favorable trends, including stable NIH funding, rising biopharma R&D spending, and fragmented supplier networks. EQT's financial position, with $1.7 billion in operating cash flow and a deleveraged balance sheet, provides substantial resources to fund growth initiatives without diluting returns.
The acquisition demonstrates EQT's continued focus on healthcare sector investments, building on the firm's three-decade track record in the space. Europa Biosite's highly localized footprint and strong technical sales capabilities position it well to serve the fast-moving life sciences industry, which is expected to benefit from continued stable research funding.
