News

05.08.2009: Cerebricon Ltd Sold to Charles River by Canelco and Company’s Shareholders

The funds managed by venture capital company Canelco Capital and shareholders of Cerebricon have sold Cerebricon Ltd to NYSE listed Charles River Laboratories International Inc (NYSE: CRL). Kuopio based Cerebricon has substantially grown during last years and is a fundamental provider of non-clinical Central Nervous System (CNS) services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Transaction enables Cerebricon to access the extensive resources and distribution channels of a global service provider.

Cerebricon will become part of Charles River's Discovery and Imaging Services (DIS) business, a global premier provider of non-GLP pharmacology and imaging services. With Cerebricon, the therapeutic areas offered by Charles River will now include CNS, oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism and inflammation.

"With this transaction, Cerebricon becomes part of the growth strategy of a globally recognized company and will draw on those strengths to become a more substantial service provider in CNS. Through Charles River's comprehensive marketing and services network, we now can better serve our clients. This transaction enables us to significantly expand our current business and operation in Kuopio,", stated Juha Yrjanheikki, Cerebricon's CEO.

Canelco Capital invested into Cerebricon at its inception in 2000 and since that time, has been involved in development and growth of the company.

"Cerebricon's success is based on the strong vision and expertise of the management team and staff, who will remain with the company in Kuopio. This point in the development of the company is an ideal time to become part of a larger organization that can facilitate growth. We are extremely pleased to have successfully guided Cerebricon to become a globally competitive business, and believe that as a part of Charles River, the company will continue to flourish in Kuopio's science valley," notes Mikko Kuparinen, CEO of Canelco Capital.

For more information:

Managing Director Juha Yrjänheikki, Cerebricon Ltd
Tel:  045 670 7390,email: juha.yrjanheikki(at)cerebricon.com
http://www.cerebricon.com/

Managing Director Mikko Kuparinen, Canelco Capital Ltd
tel:  0400 606 055, email: mikko.kuparinen(at)canelco.fi www.canelco.fi

Associate Director of Public Relations, Amy Cianciaruso, Charles River Laboratories, Inc. tel: +001.781.222.6168,  email:  mailto:joseph.laplume@crl.com http://www.criver.com/

Cerebricon Oy

Cerebricon Oy on lääkekehityspalveluita tarjoava kuopiolainen bioteknologiayhtiö, jonka asiakkaita ovat keskushermostosairauksiin keskittyneet lääkekehitysyhtiöt ympäri maailmaa. Vuonna 2000 perustetulla Cerebriconilla on tällä hetkellä 30 työntekijää, liikevaihto oli viime tilikaudella yli 3 miljoonaa euroa ja tulos positiivinen vuodesta 2006 lähtien. www.cerebricon.fi

Canelco Capital Oy
Pääomasijoittaja Canelco Capital keskittyy pk-yritysten johdon yritysostoihin ja muihin omistusjärjestelyihin. Canelcon sijoitustoiminnassa toteutuu sijoittajan, omistajaksi tulleen johdon sekä aktiivisten ja kokeneiden ammattisijoittajakumppaneiden yhteistoiminta, jolla vauhditetaan kohdeyhtiöitä vahvaan kasvuun. Canelco hallinnoi noin 55 miljoonan euron pääomia. Yhtiön palveluksessa on 8 pääomasijoitustoiminnan ammattilaista Helsingissä, Tampereella ja Kuopiossa. www.canelco.fi

Charles River Laboratories, Inc 

Based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA, Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts.  Our approximately 8,500 employees worldwide are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, development through first-in-human evaluation, and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.