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Novo Holdings A/S
Danish holding company From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Novo Holdings A/S (formerly Novo A/S)[1] is the Novo Nordisk Foundation's wholly owned holding company for Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis (formerly Novozymes A/S). Novo Holdings A/S was established in 1999 and manages the Novo Nordisk Foundation's assets, which in 2023 was worth almost DKK 1,060 billion[2] Danish Kroner (approximately US$161 billion). The company generated a total income and investment return of DKK 31 billion in 2023[3] and DKK 60 billion in 2024.[4][2][5] By the end of 2024, Novo Holdings had a total of 181 companies[2] in its investment portfolio.[6]
It is the largest charitable foundation in the world making Novo Holdings A/S a world-leading life sciences investor.[7] Novo Holdings A/S is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with offices in San Francisco, Boston and Singapore.
Eivind Kolding succeeded Henrik Gürtler as CEO on 1 May 2014.[8] Eivind Kolding left Novo Holdings A/S in March 2016 and Kasim Kutay took over as CEO for the organisation.[9]
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Purpose
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Perspective
Novo Holdings A/S manages the Novo Nordisk Foundation's assets, aiming to enable and make a positive impact on health, science and society by generating long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which the Novo Nordisk Foundation in return can award as grants for scientific research and humanitarian and social purposes.[10][11][12]
The overall purpose of Novo Holdings A/S is to hold the position as the controlling majority shareholder of the Novo Group companies (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S), aiming at making a positive impact on health, science and society by generating long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.[13] The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation which is a self-governing entity with no owners, focusing on long-term ownership of the Novo Group (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S) while combining business and philanthropy within scientific, humanitarian and social purposes. A key task of Novo Holdings A/S is to act as a stable basis for the commercial activities of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S. Novo Holdings A/S also invests in both financial assets and in companies with application-oriented research in the life sciences.
Objectives
Novo Holdings A/S' objective is to grow the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. In addition to investing in equity and fixed income securities, Novo Holdings pursues direct investments in life science companies.[11] The Novo Nordisk Foundations share of financial returns generated from investments are added to the Novo Nordisk Foundation endowment and later distributed through charitable grants and awards aiming to improve the lives of people, science and society around the world.[11]
Novo Holdings A/S is recognised as a leading international life science investor focusing on creating long-term value.[10] Besides from being the controlling shareholder in the Novo Group companies (including Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S),[14] Novo Holdings also provides seed and venture capital to companies in the development-stage.[12]
Novo Holdings also takes on significant ownership in growth and well-established companies and manages a broad portfolio of diversified financial assets.[12][14]
Increased focus on industrial Biosolutions
In 2021–2022, Novo Holdings have announced an increased investment focusing on Biosolutions (also known under the term bioindustrials or biotechnologies within the healthcare and environmental spaces), aiming to make biotechnology a spearhead for the green transition.[15] Novo Holdings claim that the ambition is "to help remove the roadblocks wherever they are, paving the way for promising biologic discoveries to become new solutions".[15]
In 2021, Novo Holdings added numerous biotechnology companies to its portfolio, including 21st. BIO, which helps other biotechnology companies scale up production through an advanced technology platform.[16]
These diverse investments include companies supplying climate-neutral cement, biopesticides, synthetic silk biopolymers and many other products and solutions that challenge current conventions. Novo Holdings added eight bioindustrial companies to its portfolio in 2021 and invested approx. €98 million ($97.35 million) in total in the bioindustrial space.[16]
Investment profile
In 2021, the Novo Holdings portfolio focusing on Life Science Investment (Novo Seeds, Novo Growth, Novo Ventures and Novo Principal Investments[17]) made up 52% of the total portfolio[12] while the Novo Capital Investors made up the remaining 48% of the total portfolio.[12] The Life Science Investment portfolio and Novo Capital Investors generated returns of approximately DKK 12 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2021.[18][12]
- Novo Holding A/S's most common sectors for investment are life sciences (38%) and diversified (13%).[11]
- Novo Holding A/S's most common investment types are secondary buyouts (75%) and recapitalisation (13%).[11]
- Novo Holdings A/S has invested in three US states and five different countries.[11]
- Novo Holdings A/S' most common type of exit is secondary buyout (100%).[11]
- Novo Holding A/S's largest (disclosed) investment was in 2013; the acquisition of Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S for $700 million.[19][20][11]
- Novo Holdings A/S' largest (disclosed) exit was in 2021 when Unchained Labs was sold to The Carlyle Group for $435 million.[21][22][23][11]
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Novo Group
The Novo Group comprises Novo Holdings A/S, Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S. Novo Holdings A/S owns more than 25% of the ordinary share capital of Novo Nordisk A/S and controls more than 70% of the votes through its ownership of all the preferred (A) shares, which are not traded.
The Group's main purpose is to manage the financial assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation to ensure an adequate financial return to cover the Foundation's investments and grants for scientific, humanitarian and social purposes and projects in the Nordic countries and the rest of the world. The Group achieves this by investing in life science companies in Europe and North America. The Novo Group also invests in a portfolio of financial assets.[24]
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Senior management
In 2014, Henrik Gürtler stepped down as CEO after serving in the position since the company was established in 1999. He was replaced by Eivind Kolding, previously the CEO of Danske Bank.[25] On 29 February 2016, Eivind Kolding was dismissed as CEO of Novo A/S after 2 years in the post. He was temporarily replaced until June 2016 by Sten Scheibye, Chair of the Board of Directors. His successor as CEO of Novo Holdings A/S is Kasim Kutay,[26] a British citizen who previously worked for investment banks Morgan Stanley and Moelis & Company.
- Kasim Kutay (CEO), 2016 – current
- Sten Scheibye (chairman and interim CEO), March 2016 – June 2018
- Eivind Kolding, 2014 – 2016
- Henrik Gürtler, 1999 – 2014
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Novo Holdings A/S has nine members and the Novo Holdings Executive Leadership Team has six:[27]
- Lars Rebien Sørensen (Chair), July 2018 - current
- Steen Riisgaard (Vice Chair)
- Henrik Poulsen (Board member)
- Jun Sung Kim (Board member)
- Lars Green (Board member)
- Narv Narvekar (Board member)
- Susanne Schaffert (Board member)
- Torsten Sløk (Board member)
- Viviane Mongens (Board member)
- Britt Melby Jensen (Board member)
- Francis Cuss (Board member)
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REPAIR Impact Fund
In February 2018, Novo Holdings announces the establishment of an impact fund commissioned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with a total initial budget of US$165 million to invest in companies involved in discovering and early-stage development of therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance.[28]
According to CEO Kasim Kutay, Novo Holdings are looking to increase this type of investments in global healthcare challenges: “We are looking to increase investments of this type in the coming years, and we are excited about our potential to make a significant difference in improving global healthcare”.[29]
REPAIR is an acronym for: Replenishing and Enabling the Pipeline for Anti-Infective Resistance.[30]
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Investments
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Perspective
In addition to the Novo Group, Novo Holdings A/S owns major stakes in several Danish companies, including the Xellia Group, Sonion and Chr. Hansen Holdings A/S. By the beginning of 2018 Novo Holdings A/S had a portfolio of 85 listed and unlisted Life Science companies in Europe and North America.
Novo Holdings A/S invests mainly in companies that develop, manufacture or sell medicine, new treatment methods or medical or health-related equipment.[31]
At the end of 2017, Novo Holdings A/S had allocated nearly DKK 38 billion for investment in portfolios in Large Investments, Ventures and Seeds of DKK 31.5 billion, DKK 5.9 billion and DKK 291 million, respectively.[32]
- In April 2021, Novo Holdings made its first investment in an Asia-based company, Halodoc.[33]
- In May 2013, Novo Holdings acquired all shares in the pharmaceutical company Xellia.[34]
- In July 2014, Novo Holdings acquired all shares in Sonion, a manufacturer of components for the hearing aid industry.[35]
- In March 2017, Novo Holdings acquired 20 percent of the shares in the UK listed company Convatec with Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings A/S, joining the Board of Directors.[36]
- In February 2024, Novo Holdings A/S agreed to acquire Catalent for $16.5 billion. On completion, Novo Nordisk would acquire three manufacturing facilities from parent Novo Holdings for $11 billion to scale up production to meet the demand of its obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic respectively.[37][38]
- In December 2024, Novo Holdngs sealed its $16.5 billion deal for Catalent with its aims to boost supplies of widely popular weight-loss drug Wegovy. This investment will allow Novo Nordisk to take control of three fill-finish facilities of the contract drug manufacturer in Italy, Belgium, and the U.S.[39]
List of all investments[40][41]
| Company | Area | Region | Date of Investment |
| HealthCap | Seed Investments | Europe | Apr. 2025 |
| Sylvan | Planetary Health Investments | Asia | Apr. 2025 |
| Biocomposites | Principal Investments | Europe | Mar. 2025 |
| AnaCardio | Seed Investments | Europe | Jan. 2025 |
| Coave Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Jan. 2025 |
| Windward Bio AG | Venture Investments | Europe | Jan. 2025 |
| Catalent | Principal Investments | North America | Dec. 2024 |
| Crystalys Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Dec. 2024 |
| Subra | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Dec. 2024 |
| Benchmark Genetics | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Nov. 2024 |
| Agnext | Planetary Health Investments | Asia | Oct. 2024 |
| AvenCell | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2024 |
| Booster Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2024 |
| Elektrofi | Growth Investments | North America | Oct. 2024 |
| KIVU BIOSCIENCE | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2024 |
| Stingray Marine Solutions | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Oct. 2024 |
| Convergent | Venture Investments | North America | Sep. 2024 |
| Medi Assist | Uncategorised | Asia | Sep. 2024 |
| Route92 | Growth Investments | North America | Sep. 2024 |
| Oxford Nanopore Technologies | Growth Investments | Europe | Aug. 2024 |
| Magenta Medical | Venture Investments | North America | Jul. 2024 |
| MATR Foods | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Jul. 2024 |
| Myricx Bio | Venture Investments | Europe | Jul. 2024 |
| Single Use Support | Principal Investments | Europe | Jul. 2024 |
| Sejet Plant Breeding (Sejet) | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Jun. 2024 |
| Bluejay Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | May. 2024 |
| CIRCTEC | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | May. 2024 |
| Reunion Neuroscience | Venture Investments | North America | May. 2024 |
| Obsidian Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Apr. 2024 |
| REDUCED | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Apr. 2024 |
| Manipal Hospitals | Uncategorised | Asia | Feb. 2024 |
| Cleveland Diagnostics | Growth Investments | North America | Jan. 2024 |
| Nalu Medical | Venture Investments | North America | Jan. 2024 |
| Site One | Venture Investments | North America | Jan. 2024 |
| OnCusp | Venture Investments | North America | Dec. 2023 |
| ROSLIN TECHNOLOGIES | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Nov. 2023 |
| Terremoto Biosciences | Venture Investments | North America | Nov. 2023 |
| Clasp Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2023 |
| LimmaTech Biologics | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2023 |
| MapLight Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2023 |
| Ellab | Principal Investments | Europe | Sep. 2023 |
| Euroclear | Capital Investments | Europe | Sep. 2023 |
| Glentra | Capital Investments | Europe | Sep. 2023 |
| HPNow | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Sep. 2023 |
| Paratek Pharmaceuticals | Europe | Sep. 2023 | |
| Hillstar Bio | Venture Investments | North America | Aug. 2023 |
| Sangon Biotech | Asia | Aug. 2023 | |
| WuXi XDC | Uncategorised | Asia | Aug. 2023 |
| Pureos Bioventures II | Venture Investments | Europe | Jul. 2023 |
| Octave | Venture Investments | North America | May. 2023 |
| Commit Biologics | Seed Investments | Europe | Apr. 2023 |
| Noom | Venture Investments | North America | Apr. 2023 |
| Ray Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Apr. 2023 |
| Alentis Therapeutics | Venture Investments | Europe | Mar. 2023 |
| Aquafortus | Planetary Health Investments | Feb. 2023 | |
| FIRE1 | Venture Investments | Europe | Feb. 2023 |
| Evosep | Growth Investments | Europe | Jan. 2023 |
| Hemab Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Jan. 2023 |
| LePure | Asia | Jan. 2023 | |
| iECURE | Venture Investments | North America | Nov. 2022 |
| KabaFusion | Principal Investments | North America | Nov. 2022 |
| Breye Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2022 |
| Kate Farms | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Sep. 2022 |
| Medanta | Uncategorised | Asia | Sep. 2022 |
| Esco Aster | Planetary Health Investments | Asia | Aug. 2022 |
| MedGenome | Asia | Aug. 2022 | |
| Riva Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Jun. 2022 |
| Elo Life Systems | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Apr. 2022 |
| Engimmune Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Apr. 2022 |
| Nuvig Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Apr. 2022 |
| Qure.ai | Asia | Mar. 2022 | |
| Ritedose | Principal Investments | North America | Jan. 2022 |
| Rondo Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Jan. 2022 |
| Medical Knowledge Group | Principal Investments | North America | Dec. 2021 |
| Verana Health | Growth Investments | North America | Dec. 2021 |
| 21st.BIO | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Nov. 2021 |
| Asgard Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2021 |
| Clever Care Health Plan | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2021 |
| Zencore Biologics | Uncategorised | Asia | Oct. 2021 |
| BBI Solutions | Principal Investments | Europe | Aug. 2021 |
| Doctor Anywhere | Uncategorised | Asia | Aug. 2021 |
| Availity | Principal Investments | North America | Jul. 2021 |
| Genomatica | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Jun. 2021 |
| Muna Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Jun. 2021 |
| Quanta | Growth Investments | Europe | May. 2021 |
| Tribune Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | May. 2021 |
| AMSilk | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Apr. 2021 |
| Esco | Asia | Apr. 2021 | |
| Hummingbird | Venture Investments | Asia | Apr. 2021 |
| Numab | Venture Investments | Europe | Apr. 2021 |
| Adcendo | Seed Investments | Europe | Mar. 2021 |
| Bactolife | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Mar. 2021 |
| Halodoc | Uncategorised | Asia | Mar. 2021 |
| Renewable Energy Partnership | Capital Investments | Europe | Mar. 2021 |
| Deep Branch | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Feb. 2021 |
| BGV | Venture Investments | Europe | Dec. 2020 |
| Orbis Medicines | Seed Investments | Europe | Nov. 2020 |
| ZELP | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Nov. 2020 |
| The Protein Brewery | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Oct. 2020 |
| Urban Partners | Capital Investments | Europe | Jul. 2020 |
| Chromologics | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Jun. 2020 |
| NodThera | Venture Investments | North America | May. 2020 |
| Recursion | Growth Investments | North America | Apr. 2020 |
| WCG | Principal Investments | North America | Dec. 2019 |
| Biomason | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Nov. 2019 |
| Glycomine | Venture Investments | North America | Jul. 2019 |
| LanzaTech | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Jul. 2019 |
| Edgewise Therapeutics | Venture Investments | North America | Jun. 2019 |
| Claris Bio | Venture Investments | North America | May. 2019 |
| Vestaron | Planetary Health Investments | North America | May. 2019 |
| MycoWorks | Planetary Health Investments | North America | Apr. 2019 |
| Oxford Biomedica | Growth Investments | Europe | Apr. 2019 |
| Mirum Pharmaceuticals | Venture Investments | North America | Oct. 2018 |
| Precirix | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2018 |
| Draupnir Bio | Seed Investments | Europe | Sep. 2018 |
| NorthSea Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Nov. 2017 |
| Antag Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Apr. 2017 |
| Avalyn | Venture Investments | North America | Feb. 2017 |
| ConvaTec | Principal Investments | Europe | Feb. 2017 |
| Evotec | Principal Investments | Europe | Jan. 2017 |
| Hoba Therapeutics | Seed Investments | Europe | Nov. 2016 |
| HepaRegeniX | Seed Investments | Europe | Oct. 2016 |
| CorWave | Seed Investments | Europe | Sep. 2016 |
| Clario | Principal Investments | North America | May. 2016 |
| F2G Limited | Venture Investments | Europe | May. 2016 |
| NMD Pharma | Seed Investments | Europe | May. 2016 |
| DADES | Capital Investments | Europe | Jun. 2015 |
| Biosyntia | Planetary Health Investments | Europe | Dec. 2014 |
| Sonion | Principal Investments | Europe | Sep. 2014 |
| Xellia Pharmaceuticals | Principal Investments | Europe | Apr. 2013 |
| Reapplix | Seed Investments | Europe | Dec. 2012 |
| Acesion Pharma | Seed Investments | Europe | Dec. 2010 |
| Orexo | Principal Investments | Europe | Mar. 2010 |
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References
External links
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