Alma Lasers Announces $90 Million Investment by TA Associates
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, March 4, 2006 - Alma Lasers, Ltd. TA Associates, a leading private equity and buyout firm, today announced it has completed a $90 million investment in Alma Lasers, Ltd., a developer, manufacturer and marketer of laser, light and radiofrequency-based systems for the aesthetic medical market.Alma Lasers' products utilize innovative electro-optical technology and state-of-the-art engineering design to provide efficient, safe and cost-effective systems for use by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, obstetricians, gynecologists and general physicians. The products are used for non-invasive aesthetic procedures such as hair removal, skin rejuvenation and cellulite reduction on an outpatient basis. The company's products include the flagship multi-application Harmony platform, the Soprano diode hair removal laser system and the Accent radiofrequency system. The Harmony system has been FDA approved for over 60 applications. Alma Lasers is headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, with U.S. operations based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
"We are very pleased to partner with Alma Lasers," said Ajit Nedungadi, Director of TA Associates Ltd., who led the transaction from TA's London office, and will join the company's Board of Directors. "The management team led by Ziv Karni are veterans of the aesthetic device industry and have built an exciting, rapidly growing new player in the market." "We are confident that this partnership with TA Associates will give us a distinct competitive advantage," said Ziv Karni, CEO and President of Alma Lasers, Ltd. "TA's industry expertise, strategic guidance and extensive network of contacts will prove very beneficial in our ongoing commitment to provide innovative and technologically advanced products to the medical community."
The aesthetic medical device market is large, growing and very profitable. The global aesthetic laser market is estimated at over $1 billion globally and is growing at over 20% annually. The market is characterized by very high demand and attractive economics for practitioners. Growth trends are expected to be maintained as the industry expands into new applications, new geographies and an enlarged non-traditional practitioner group.
"Alma Lasers is very well positioned for further growth in this burgeoning market," said David S.B. Lang, a Managing Director at TA Associates who will also join the company's Board of Directors.
TA Associates has 38 years of investing experience, focusing on profitable, growth companies. The firm has extensive expertise in the healthcare sector. TA's healthcare investments include CompBenefits Corporation, Gulf South Medical Supply, Invitrogen Corporation, Logistics Health, MQ Associates, One Call Medical, Preferred Payment Systems, Triumph HealthCare and Youth and Family Centered Services.
Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel for TA Associates. Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co. provided legal counsel to Alma Lasers. William Blair & Company and Poalim Capital Markets served as advisors to Alma Lasers.