Benelux biotech sector attracts strong interest from top segment of US investors
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 — On November 13, 2014, KBC Securities, supported by FlandersBio and Flanders Investment & Trade, will host the third edition of its Annual Benelux Biotech & Healthcare Conference in New York. The conference offers a unique opportunity to meet with top executives of 14 listed companies and 1 pre-IPO company, providing an excellent overview of the vibrant Benelux Life Sciences landscape. This conference is one of several initiatives of KBC Securities and underlines the firm’s continued support for the sector.
Following successful editions in 2012 and 2013, KBC Securities hosts the third edition of its Benelux Biotech & Healthcare conference on November 13, 2014 in New York City. In a matter of years, the event has evolved to a must-attend gathering for the leadership of healthcare companies in the Benelux. The 37% increase of the Benelux Biotech index in 2014, outperforming the Nasdaq Biotech index, is a testimony of the success of this innovation driven sector.
At the first edition in 2012, the attending companies represented € 9.6bn in market capitalization, of which € 2.1bn by SMEs. Today, in this 3rd edition, the represented value has increased by over 70% to € 16.3bn, of which € 3.8bn by SMEs. This value increase was driven by a growth in market value of existing companies (+30% since 2012) as well as the addition of as many as 5 new biotech companies that went public in the last 18 months. Three of the companies listed on Euronext Brussels and two on the NASDAQ.
The Event is now firmly on the map of specialized Healthcare investors in New York and beyond. The number of one on one meetings in this third edition increased by 60% versus the 2012 edition, and moreover, investors are on average more meetings. This underlines the growing interest in as well as the increasing quality of the investment opportunities offered to the US specialist investor.
While 2014 has been a good year from sector, corporate development and financing viewpoints, share price evaluations have been mixed. However, the substantial interest from top tier biotech & healthcare US investors underlines that the sector has grown up and is here to stay.
Companies joining the 2014 event are Ablynx, arGEN-X, Arseus, Cardio3 Biosciences, Galapagos, Genticel, IBA, MDxHealth, Pharming, Promethera, Prosensa, ThromboGenics, Tigenix, UCB and Uniqure.