In France, one out of every four abdominal surgery patients is treated using a Cousin Surgery prosthesis. The textile specialist entered this medical niche in the 1980s. Its implantable textiles target not only organs but also orthopedics. “Their aim is to ensure patient mobility and stabilize the spine by protecting the disc, provided it is not too damaged, as if it were an additional shock absorber, which can delay the fusion of the discs by a few years or in the best-case scenario be permanent,” said François Tortel, CEO of Cousin Surgery along with François Henin.
Cousin Surgery is located in the north of France. It has 150 employees and a 20% annual growth rate (with €35 million in sales), but up until now it restricted its activities to the French and European markets. By becoming PlantTec Medical’s main shareholder it has initiated an external growth strategy designed to ensure expansion into the US market.
PlantTec Medical is a German company based in Lüneburg to the south-east of Hamburg. It was established in 2012 and has developed 4DRYFIELD, a unique device that combines hemostasis with adhesion prevention.
Adhesions can lead to severe pain following surgery. “A product that prevents adhesions helps patients return to normal life as quickly and painlessly as possible,” said François Tortel.
“The acquisition of PlantTec Medical and its unique product will allow Cousin Surgery to enhance its range of services and improve its market position. It considerably expands our portfolio of high-quality products designed to fulfill the requirements of doctors and patients in vascular, gynecological, orthopedic and general surgery. It is an ideal addition for us. (…) It will also make it easier to sell Cousin products in Germany, which is an invaluable but notoriously difficult market to penetrate. For patients it offers the assurance that when they leave hospital, they can become active again more quickly and with as little pain as possible,” François Tortel, CEO of Cousin Surgery along with François Henin.
4DRYFIELD will be marketed from the end of summer in France for abdominal surgery, as part of the Cousin Surgery network. At the same time, Cousin products will soon be available for purchase in Germany. The PlantTec sales teams will also double in size.
After two acquisitions in France, this is Cousin’s first international purchase, which is “an important step and the first of many”, said the CEO. Ellen and Joachim Laas, the founders and CEO of PlantTec Medical, will remain within the company and will also invest in the group. Cousin Surgery’s acquisition of PlantTec Medical was funded by Capital Santé 2, the Turenne Group healthcare investment fund, its co-investors – Nord Capital Investissement, Sélection & Opportunités (Turenne Group), Dalle & Associés and Altur Investissement – and the group management.
