Rymarz Zdort advises PBKM on voluntary public offering to exchange its shares for Vita 34 shares

Rymarz Zdort advised Polski Bank Komórek Macierzystych S.A. (“PBKM”) on a voluntary public offering to exchange shares in PBKM for shares in Vita 34 based on an agreement signed in May 2021 concerning the business combination of PBKM and Vita 34.

The transaction was the first cross-border exchange offer in Poland carried out by a German company for a Polish listed company, and one of a very few exchange offerings on the Polish market executed to date. With an acceptance rate of 98%, this exchange offer was one of the most successful transactions ever conducted on the Polish capital market. The business combination of PBKM and Vita 34 will strengthen the position of both companies by way of the establishment of the leading pan-European family cord blood bank.

PBKM leads the international FamiCord Group, being number 1 in Europe , and manages stem cell banks located in Europe. FamiCord Group stores 610,000 samples belonging to over 450,000 families. FamiCord’s core business is the procurement, processing and long-term storage of stem cells from umbilical-cord blood and other post-foetal tissues on behalf of parents (family banking). The purpose of this banking is to provide security for the family in the event of a serious illness which requires a stem cell transplant in the donor or his/her immediate family members. Additionally, FamiCord is involved in the CDMO business and participates in various clinical trials.

Vita 34 was founded in 1997 in Leipzig and is today one of the leading cell banks in Europe. As Europe’s first private cord blood bank and a pioneer in cell banking, the company has since offered collection logistics, processing and the storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood and tissue as a full-service provider for cryopreservation.

The transaction was led by partner Jacek Zawadzki, who was supported by associate Aleksander Jakubisiak. The transaction team also included managing partner Paweł Rymarz, partner Monika Kierepa, counsel Marek Kanczew, senior associate Michał Chyła and associate Małgorzata Deruś.