SMB Holding SA, a leading European medical contract manufacturing company, was sold to Marle International SAS, a company backed by the financial sponsors IK Investment Partners and The Carlyle Group.

Quarton International exclusively advised the Switzerland-based SMB and their shareholders, who were collectively managed by Patrimonium, an independently owned Swiss alternative assets management company. Quarton negotiated a cross-border sale of all SMB shares to Marle International SAS, a leading contract manufacturer in the European orthopedic industry. Quarton International conducted the transaction and exclusively advised the vendors throughout the entire preparation and negotiation process.

Marle’s acquisition of SMB represents a landmark transaction in the ongoing consolidation process of the European medical contract manufacturing industry. It also reiterates Quarton International’s leading position in medical technology M&A transactions.

The holding company SMB Holding SA is the 100% owner of SMB Medical SA, a leading medical contract manufacturer in the European orthopedic market. SMB Medical SA, located in S. Antonino (Canton Ticino), is specialized in the production of forged medical products like joint implants, anatomical trauma products and medical instruments. With nearly 30 years of experience in precision forging, machining and finishing of medical implants and instruments, the company is dedicated to providing its customers with tailor-made solutions, applying core competencies in metallurgy, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and services.

Established over 30 years ago as a family business, Marle has become a leading company in the orthopedic industry. The company provides specialized manufacturing services for the production of a wide range of hip, knee, shoulder, spine and extremities implants as well as orthopedic instruments of the highest quality.

Covering the full scope of the manufacturing value chain and benefiting from remarkable R&D capabilities, the company acts as a strategic partner to medical technology companies worldwide and delivers over 1 million products annually. Marle serves orthopedic implant OEMs across Europe, the US, Latin America, Russia, Japan, Korea and China. Headquartered in Nogent (France), Marle runs six certified production sites in France.