Agfa close to inking Italian deal to divest healthcare IT div

Agfa-Gevaert has entered into exclusive negotiations with Dedalus Holding to sell part of its healthcare IT business. The Italian industrial group is to acquire 100 percent of the business at an enterprise value of 975 million euros – even higher than the upwardly revised analyst projection of 675-750 million. Dedalus outbid contestant of the first hour, German Compugroup (link in Dutch). Upon positive conclusion of the negotiations, the transaction is planned to be completed in Q2 2020. According to Agfa president and CEO Christian Reinaudo, no major restructurings are to be expected.

The business to be sold consists of Agfa’s healthcare information solutions and integrated care activities, as well as the imaging IT activities to the extent that these are tightly integrated into the healthcare information solutions activities. This is the case mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Brazil. “We believe that under Dedalus’ ownership, the business will continue to develop into a leading pan-European player in the healthcare IT market,” comments Reinaudo. “Going forward, Agfa Healthcare will focus on imaging IT solutions.”

Founded in Florence in 1990, Dedalus specializes in diagnostic and clinical management solutions, general practitioners and primary care management, interoperability and population health management. With more than 130 million euros of revenues and 1,200 workers in Italy, more than 60 million euros and 550 people in France and more than 210 million euros and 2,000 employees globally, it holds a leading position in Europe. In 2016, the European private equity fund Ardian acquired 60 percent of the group, boosting its international expansion and strengthening the R&D activities, which are now composed of more than 600 people.