Lexum Group Sold to ARX Equity

European private equity firm ARX has completed the acquisition of Czech opthalmology provider Lexum Group through a leveraged buyout. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the transaction has been funded through the Czech LBBW Bank.

ARX will work together with Lexum founder Professor Martin Filipec, to increase Lexum’s business within the Czech Republic and expand to other Central and Eastern European countries.

Lexum Group (www.lexum.cz)
Founded in 1993, Lexum Group is a network of private ophthalmology clinics in the Czech Republic. Clinics have been established in Prague, Ostrava, and Ceské Budejovice, and a new clinic is planned later this year for Brno.

Lexum completed over 11,000 cataract operations and 5,700 laser refractive corrective procedures in 2008. Lexum also provides treatment services for cataracts, retina disorders, and aesthetics. The growing popularity of Lasik procedures lead to an increase in staff at several Lexum clinics in 2008.

In 2007 the company was honored as having performed two of the most important medical achievements in the Czech Republic for its work in keratoconus surgery and corneal surgery. Professor Filipec performed both operations with the assistance of colleagues.

Arx Equity Partners (www.arxequity.com)
Arx Equity Partners, formerly known as DBG Eastern Europe, was created by German private equity firm Deutsche Beteiligungs in 1996. With Deutsche focusing its investments primarily in Germany, the two parties agreed that an independent DBG Eastern Europe would be best for both. The spin-off fund was re-branded as Arx Equity Partners.

With offices in Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw, Arx provide liquidity solutions to businesses in Central and Eastern Europe. Their investment strategy involves investing in mid-sized companies with either medium or long-term goals. The fund’s primary investors consist of blue chip financial institutions from all over the world.