The Carlyle Group to Acquire 80% of Groupe Marle

London - Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced that it is acquiring 80% of Groupe Marle (“Marle”) alongside the Marle family and management team. Based in Nogent, France, Marle is the largest independent medical forging company in Europe, and second largest worldwide. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Marle has a 30-year track record serving the orthopaedic implant industry and specialises in the precision forging of hip implants stems. Bernard Marle developed the company since 1978 from a modest forging operation with 11 employees to the European leader it is today, employing over 220 staff and making in excess of 400,000 hip implant stems annually.

Whilst the company offers many complementary medical forging services and is developing new products and services, Marle mainly focuses on the manufacture of stems used for hip implants. The company also forges prostheses for other body parts such as the shoulder and the knee as well as ancillary medical instruments such as bone scrapers and socket holders. The Marle Groupe is composed of Marle SA, which conducts specialist forging and machining, and HMP (Haute Marne Parachevement) which is a finishing company with expertise in both manual and mechanical polishing.

Vladimir Lasocki, Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, commented, “There are strong long-term prospects for the medical implants and equipment segments, and Marle has evolved to become a leading player in this attractive market. Under the excellent leadership of Bernard Marle, the company has developed an outstanding reputation for high quality products. Marle is perfectly positioned to consolidate its position as a major supplier to the implants industry in Europe by expanding into adjacent areas. Marle also benefits from a great platform to follow its customers overseas, including in North America. The Carlyle team is looking forward to supporting the company in its next phase of growth and development.”

Bernard Marle, Chief Executive of Groupe Marle, said, “Marle has been on a rapid growth path driven by our outstanding team of over 220 highly skilled employees. We are delighted to have found in Carlyle an investor whose resources and expertise will help propel us forward as we continue to grow and consolidate our position in the orthopaedic implant industry.”

Carlyle’s financial advisors were Aforge; strategic due diligence was provided by Arthur D Little; financial due diligence was provided by Deloitte; legal advisors were Frieh & Associés; debt advisors were CIC Est and LCL. Sell-side advisors were: finance, Potomac Capital Conseil and legal, Franklin and Bruno Hassanin.

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