Investment in Disposal Cubicle Curtains Limited by Beringea

HMT LLP advised Beringea LLP (“Beringea”),  the growth capital investor that manages the Proven Venture Capital Trusts, on their £3 million investment in Disposable Cubicle Curtains Limited (“DCCL”), trading as All in One Medical.

DCCL manufactures and distributes an evolving range of patented, best in class, disposable curtains and blinds which actively destroy deadly and harmful pathogens.  Distributed to medical institutions, DCCL’s products are manufactured and shipped from its manufacturing plant in Wolverhampton, UK. Part of Beringea’s investment was used by DCCL to acquire the anti-microbial biocide manufacturer Fantex UK Limited. Fantex is developing biodegradable biocides, with an exceptionally fast kill rate, for a number of applications outside of the healthcare industry including the retail sector, and are in negotiations with several high street retailers.

Hospital Acquired Infections that cross infect patients, their carers and visitors to hospitals have become a global public health issue. A typical fabric cubicle curtain that surrounds a hospital bed has a high probability of having developed on its surface pathogens such as MRSA, ECOLI, VRE, or CDIFF. As a result, in certain A&E wards, curtains must be changed and cleaned up to 20 times per annum. The replacement of traditional linen products with disposable, anti-microbial curtains, assists medical institutions in preventing and combating the outbreak of infectious diseases amongst patients, staff and visitors.

Demand for infection preventative medical products is also being driven by the increasing imposition of financial penalties by governments on hospitals that fail to meet minimum standards of hygiene and whose cross infection rates are deemed unacceptable.

John Hawkins, Chairman and CEO of All in One commented:

“The disposable curtain market is rapidly growing here in the UK and abroad, and with the investment by Beringea, we are in a position to achieve global market leadership. The acquisition of Fantex allows us to provide a broad spectrum of highly effective pathogen and bacteria eliminating products, applicable across a wide variety of applications, for example keeping fabrics fresh, clean and odourless.”

Beringea Partner, Stephane Mery, commented:

“I am thrilled with our investment, and to be supporting such a great team. I am also delighted that our investment is helping a British company bring its manufacturing back to the UK. DCCL’s highly specialised plant in Wolverhampton allows the Company to successfully outperform Chinese manufacturers on both quality and price.

 We would like to thank HMT for their expert assistance throughout the transaction.  HMT quickly gained a detailed understanding of the business and was able to provide us with the focussed and commercial advice that we required.”

HMT commented:

“We were delighted to advise Stephane and Beringea on their investment in DCCL.  This is an exciting opportunity to bring together DCCL’s specialist manufacturing expertise and Fantex’s product range to create a leader  in this rapidly growing market.”