SHS Capital sells shares in joint protection expert Betterguards Technology GmbH
- After a four-year investment period, SHS Capital sells its shares in Betterguards Technology GmbH to Hochpfiffig GmbH
- Betterguards has developed a platform technology that protects human joints from ligament and tendon injuries
- Betterguards products are used in orthopaedic technology, occupational safety and also in the field of professional sports
Tübingen / 14.12.2023
SHS Capital is selling its shares in the Berlin-Brandenburg company to Hochpfiffig GmbH, which will support the company in its further internationalisation.
Founded in 2014, Betterguards Technology GmbH develops and produces intelligent joint protection components that can be integrated into sports shoes, braces and work shoes. The technology on which the components are based combines freedom of movement and protection. The joint protection simply stretches with normal movement; only during short, jerky movements – such as twisting an ankle – does the protection harden and therefore does not allow overstretching. As soon as the jerky movement ceases, the device also loosens again and returns to its original state.
SHS invested in the company in 2019 with its fifth fund generation. Since then, the healthcare investor has supported Betterguards in the development of its product through to market maturity. The company’s core product, an ankle brace with the product name “The Betterguard”, is now widely used and is utilised by many athletes in professional sports, for example in basketball, football or handball. In 2022, Betterguards was the winner of the Launchpad Business Competition organised by the American NBA, which awards this prize to new technologies in sport, particularly in basketball.
SHS partner Dr Cornelius Maas says of the investment: “SHS recognised the potential of the Betterguards technology early on. There is great medical demand for the prevention of ankle injuries. We are pleased to have sold our shares in the company to Hochpfiffig GmbH after a four-year investment period, which will focus the company even more strongly on the USA and drive forward its internationalisation. We wish them all the best for the coming chapter.”
About SHS Capital:
SHS Capital is a private equity provider founded in 1993 that invests in healthcare companies in Europe. The focus of the investments is on expansion financing, shareholder changes and succession situations. “Building European Healthcare Champions” is the investment philosophy according to which SHS finances and develops portfolio companies. The German investor takes both minority and majority stakes. The national and international investors in SHS funds include pension funds, funds of funds, foundations, family offices, strategic investors, entrepreneurs and the SHS management team. The equity or equity-like investment of the AIF is up to € 40 million. Volumes in excess of this can be realised with a network of co-investors. In its investment decisions, SHS attaches great importance to the consideration of ESG aspects and has therefore committed itself to the guidelines of the UN PRI. SHS is currently investing from its sixth fund, which was launched in 2022 and has a volume of ca. € 270 million.
Further information at: https://www.shs-capital.eu
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Press contact:
Sarah Stelzer
SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement mbH
Bismarckstraße 12
72072 Tübingen
sas@shs-capital.eu