Ottobock expands its Western European patient care network

Ottobock, the global healthtech company, announces that it has agreed to acquire Livit B.V. (“Livit”), one of the leading patient care providers in the Netherlands, from HAL Investments, the Dutch investment subsidiary of HAL Holding N.V., an international investment company. Following the acquisition of the Belgian market leader Vigo in 2019, the transaction marks another important addition to the patient care network in Western Europe and at the same time strengthens Ottobock’s position as one of the leading patient care companies worldwide. The conclusion of the transaction remains subject to customary regulatory clearance by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) and is expected to be completed within the next few months.

Founded in 1926, Livit operates 50 full-service patient care centres in the Netherlands, offering patients and users a comprehensive portfolio of prostheses and orthoses as well as orthopaedic shoes and stockings. The company’s footprint is complemented by several hundred service and consulting locations. Providing customers with maximum support in their freedom of movement is at the centre of Livit’s mission. The company thus works with healthcare professionals from hospitals and rehabilitation centres to inform patients after an amputation about possible treatment options at an early stage. In 2021, Livit generated sales of more than EUR 40 million.

“We know that therapeutic success is based on treatment quality. By strengthening our patient care network with Livit, we want to seize the opportunity to combine high-quality products and best possible treatment under one roof in order to get even closer to our users and further improve the standard of care,” says Philipp Schulte-Noelle, CEO of Ottobock. “Thanks to Livit’s expertise and local market leadership we will help even more people to maintain, regain and improve their freedom of movement,” he adds.

Livit’s management team will remain with the company and closely collaborate with other patient care entities within Ottobock. “With Ottobock we have found the perfect partner for our company and our more than 400 employees to further improve our service to our customers,” says Jan Willem van der Windt, who has led Livit as CEO since 2016. “The orthopaedic market is in transition. Digitalisation and new technologies are becoming increasingly important. Care must be effective, accessible and affordable. These and other trends demand professionalisation, modernisation and sustainability of our profession. Livit will be able to develop further as part of Ottobock's European network. Only by sharing and combining knowledge and expertise will progress be made. And that is what we believe in.”

Ottobock operates the largest global network of patient care centres, offering customised orthopaedic treatment and rehabilitation solutions for patients in need. With harmonised quality standards in over 340 patient care centres worldwide to date, state-of-the-art technology and close collaboration with doctors and specialised clinics, Ottobock helps users to improve their quality of life. By applying a digitalised user centric approach, Ottobock is leading the way towards a data-driven, fully integrated O&P value chain allowing for accelerated growth and continuous improvements of the standard of care.