KARL STORZ Further Expands Direct Sales in Europe with a dedicated acquisition in Belgium, Luxembourg & the Netherlands

Utrecht / Brussels, April 2, 2024 – The family-owned MedTech company KARL STORZ
announces the acquisition of the KARL STORZ related business of distributor Stöpler to
expand further direct sales into Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Both parties
have agreed to the complete transfer of Stöpler’s KARL STORZ product sales and service
operations in these countries after twenty years of successful cooperation. In addition, all
current Stöpler employees working on KARL STORZ accounts will be taken over by KARL
STORZ to ensure continued operational excellence for customers. The parties have agreed
not to disclose the purchase price.

Strengthening the market position

The business transfer was completed on April 2, 2024. KARL STORZ products in Belgium,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands will now be distributed solely by direct sales. This acquisition
brings KARL STORZ closer to its customers and their individual needs regarding products and
services in the MedTech industry. The goal is to further strengthen KARL STORZ`s market position
in the Benelux. “We are committed to providing the highest quality products for patient care coupled
with strong customer service and support. By transitioning to direct sales, we increase our focus on
customers in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Expanding direct sales and close contact
with healthcare partners will help us to advise them even better on increasingly complex digital
products and integrated solutions,” said Kibo Hyman, KARL STORZ’s managing director, Benelux.
Increasing direct sales is a strategic goal of KARL STORZ and in the last two years similar switches
have been made in Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and Chile.

Empowering the new workforce

KARL STORZ commercial entities in the Netherlands and Belgium will employ roughly 60 people,
with the Luxembourg market served from Belgium. The new KARL STORZ colleagues are
integrated into the organization and fully embrace the corporate values and strategy to support the
KARL STORZ vision to enable healthcare partners to perform at their very best every day to
improve patients' lives. The Belgian team has moved into a new office in the Atlantis Bridge Building
in Brussels, while the Dutch team has relocated to the Newton House Building in Utrecht. KARL
STORZ’s clear objective is to keep growing as a company, and with the expansion of Belgium,
Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, the independent family-owned company will strengthen its
position in the region.

Smooth transition for all customers

In the last couple of months, the KARL STORZ team has worked together with Stöpler to ensure a
smooth transition for all existing customers. All account representatives for the portfolio of KARL
STORZ will continue to offer support in person while assisting in implementing all necessary
changes and new processes. The cooperation and commitment of the two parties were aligned to
ensure minimal impact on the employees and customers. KARL STORZ is grateful for more than 20
years of partnership with Stöpler in building a strong position in the Benelux markets and is excited
to now engage further with customers in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.