Carlyle Signs "Asset Purchase Agreement" with Colin Corp.

Tokyo, Japan – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group and Colin Corp. announced today that two companies entered into an "Asset Purchase Agreement" that covers all of Colin's operations. The asset purchase is expected to be completed by the end of December. The new entity will continue to use the Colin brand name, and will aim to restructure and grow its business by leveraging the management expertise and know-how of both companies.

Colin was established in 1975 initially as a blood pressure monitor manufacturer and has since broadened its product line into two primary lines of business. With regard to the first one, i.e., the Moneo business, the company is a leader in the non-invasive blood pressure and patient monitor market, with strong support from a wide range of medical institutions and hospitals. With regard to the second one, i.e., the AT business, the company has developed the epoch-making “VP1000/2000 device” (vascular profiling system), which screens for peripheral arterial disease utilizing a simpler process than that used by existing devices. Rapid growth of the arteriosclerosis screening market is expected in the future due to the increase in arteriosclerosis in Japan as well as the growing importance of preventive medicine. Carlyle highly regards the significance of Colin’s blood pressure products within Japan’s medical community as well as the future growth potential of Colin’s AT products, and thus have submitted a rehabilitation proposal to Colin. Carlyle was selected as sponsor after an auction process was conducted following Colin’s recent filing of Civil Rehabilitation Law, Minji Saisei Hou or Chapter 11 equivalent in Japan.

The Carlyle Group is a global private equity firm with more than $16 billion under management. Since its founding in 1987, the firm has invested in more than 295 transactions. The Carlyle Group employs approximately 300 investment professionals in 12 countries. The firm focuses on management-led buyouts of large corporations and mid-sized companies where it can facilitate the mid-to-long term improvement in corporate value. Carlyle has made numerous investments globally within the healthcare sector. In the Japanese market, Carlyle invested in eAccess, Asahi Security, and Kito Corp.

###