Acquisition gives investment firm global footprint

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - PBM Capital Group, a private investment firm that owns Human Design Capital (HDM), maker of the recently released Z1 CPAP machine, has acquired Breas, a Swedish maker of home respiratory ventilators and sleep apnea products.

PBM Capital Group will integrate Breas into HDM. Breas, a subsidiary of General Electric Company, sells its products in more than 40 countries through a global network of distributors.

“We acquired Breas because it is a logical fit with our growing HDM sleep apnea business,” stated Paul Manning, CEO of PBM Capital Group, in a release. “The Breas acquisition opens the door to global distribution channels and gives us immediate access to an established line of home care ventilators backed by a strong IP portfolio.”

The combined companies will extend their reach into the global home respiratory products market by developing new products or acquiring additional respiratory product companies, according to the release.

Breas, which operates a 30,000-square foot manufacturing/office facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, and employs more than 100 in nine countries, expects to introduce its Vivo 50 ventilator in the United States this quarter.

HDM launched its first product, the Z1 CPAP machine, in November 2013, and has more products in the pipeline. The Z1, which is small, lightweight and has the option of an integrated battery, has been “selling ahead of plan,” according to the release.