nxt2b becomes a major shareholder in Olink AB

Uppsala, Sweden, 29 August 2011 - nxt2b (Nexttobe AB) an investment company  owned by Bengt Ågerup, has today signed an agreement with a group of shareholders in Olink AB to purchase 49 % of the outstanding shares in the company. The intention is to accelerate the growth and value creation of the company by injecting knowledge, experience and financial strength to complement Olink’s unique product and technology position. Financial details of the transaction are not disclosed.

“We are very excited to partner with nxt2b, a strong local investor with impressive commercial and business experience, as a major shareholder in Olink. Together with nxt2b we have now created a foundation to take Olink to new levels of commercial success by combining our unique portfolio of technologies and products with the experience and financial strength of nxt2b”, says Björn Ekström, President and CEO of Olink AB.

“Olink offers exciting business opportunities based on cutting-edge science. This is the first major investment for nxt2b and I look forward to participate in continuing to develop Olink. Olink‘s head office and operations will remain in Uppsala, Sweden”, says Bengt Ågerup of nxt2b.

About nxt2b
nxt2b is a privately owned investment company started in 2011 by the Swedish entrepreneur Bengt Ågerup. nxt2b focuses on growth equity investments in healthcare, medical devices and specialty pharmaceutical companies but also invests in technology and consumer companies. With its structure nxt2b is able to make fast decisions on any investment opportunity and has invested in more than 15 companies. nxt2b supports its portfolio company management teams not only financially but also with entrepreneurial experience to build fast growing, market leading companies.

About Olink AB
Olink Bioscience, a company founded by scientists at Uppsala University, is commecializing cutting-edge technologies for analysis of proteins and nucleic acids revealing new insights into basic science, drug development, and diagnostics.  Our products are available worldwide through a network of distributors and through our webshop. The Duolink® product line enables users to visualize and quantify individual proteins, their interactions and modifications, in unmodified cells and tissues. Proseek® is an open assay development reagent kit for analyzing proteins in only 1 µl of serum or plasma sample with high sensitivity.

Olink’s molecular technologies are also commercialized through partnerships with industry leading organizations such as Affymetrix, Life Technologies, and through Olink spin-out companies Halo Genomics and Qlinea. Olink Bioscience was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden

For more information, please contact:
Björn Ekström, President and CEO,
Olink AB
Phone: +46 18 444 3970
Mobile: +46 70 655 4110

Bengt Ågerup,
nxt2b
Mobile: +46 70 974 9025

Alexander Kotsinas,
nxt2b
Mobile: +46 73 500 1111