Date: 2013-05-16
Type of information: Fundraising
Company: MS Ventures (Germany)
Investors: Merck Serono (Germany)
Amount: € 100 million
Funding type:
Planned used: venture capital
Others: * On May 16, 2013, Merck Serono has announced that it will increase its commitment to its strategic corporate venture capital fund MS Ventures to € 100 million. MS Ventures was originally established in March 2009 with a € 40 million commitment to invest in emerging biotechnology companies.
Since its foundation, MS Ventures has become an important component of the Merck Serono division’s window to companies receiving funding through venture capital and developing next generation platforms and products. This increased commitment secures a long term mandate and will allow MS Ventures to significantly expand its investment activities while still focused on Merck Serono’s core researchareas. Merck will create a dedicated investment affiliate, MS Ventures, for these activities.
In addition to the € 100 million strategic venture fund, MS Ventures also manages the € 10 million Merck Serono Israel BioIncubator Fund as well as portfolio companies funded through the € 30 million Entrepreneur Partnership Program established to fund spin-offs from Merck Serono.. MS Ventures has a total of € 140 million under management for strategic investments, investments through its Israel BioIncubator and for spin-offs from the Merck Serono organization.
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