AG Insurance invests EUR 5 million in the Capricorn ICT Arkiv

Capricorn Venture Partners and AG Insurance have just announced that AG Insurance will be investing EUR 5 million in Capricorn ICT Arkiv. This venture capital fund invests in emerging, high potential, innovative technology companies in Europe, with a specific focus on Digital Healthcare and Big Data. For AG Insurance, the investment reflects the company’s strategy to diversify its holdings and increase investment in the real economy, and is a good fit with its insurance activities given the fund’s focus on healthcare.

In today’s digital society, there is an increasing volume and variety of data on offer. The ability to process and analyse large, complex data sets means that clinical data can be managed more effectively. This, in turn, leads to more insightful diagnoses, better outcomes and new services. The Capricorn ICT Arkiv fund was launched in 2012 to capitalise on this growing trend. This venture capital fund is wholly dedicated to identifying and financing innovative European ICT projects in the healthcare, pharmaceutial and biotech industries. Investors in the fund provide talented entrepreneurs with crucial support in the early stages of their growth and development. AG Insurance, the leading player on the Belgian insurance market, has committed EUR 5 million to this initiative.

Jos B. Peeters, founder and Managing Partner of Capricorn Venture Partners, on AG Insurance’s investment: "We are delighted to have a big-name investor such as AG Insurance on board, an added plus for the ICT Archiv initiative. This validates our belief in our concept and the potential of the fund, and demonstrates confidence in the abilities of the Capricorn team. It is also an important signal that investors are still interested in putting longer-term venture capital funds behind local intiatives and companies."

Antonio Cano, CEO of AG Insurance: "This opportunity is a strong strategic fit for us as it both allows us to increase our holdings in Belgium and get a foothold through direct investment. With Capricorn Venture Partners, we have found a partner that shares our interest in investing in high potential local growth companies. As an insurance company, we were particularly drawn to the fund’s focus on Digital Healthcare and Big Data. As one of the dominant healthcare players on the market, AG Insurance is always on the lookout for innovative solutions that meet customer needs, and to capitalise on the latest health-related trends and opportunities."

For more information, contact the following representatives

Jos B. Peeters Managing Partner, Capricorn Venture Partners Tel.: +32 (0)16 28 41 00 jos@capricorn.be
Sven Adams Press Relations, AG Insurance Tel.: +32 (02)664 83 56 sven.adams@aginsurance.be