
Lifebrain Group was founded in 2013 by Prof. Michael Havel and Bernhard Auer and is today one of the largest Italian providers in clinical laboratory testing in the fields of clinical chemistry, haematology, immunochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, cytology and pathology. In 2018 Lifebrain Group also added non-clinical environmental and food testing to its portfolio with the acquisition of Lab Giusto. In 2019 Lifebrain Group consolidated its presence in 17 regions with more than 300 locations. As of today, Lifebrain Group is the fastest growing laboratory group in Europe.
✓ Network of 308 locations in 17 regions – broad network all over Italy
✓ More than 1.567 employees taking care of our clients
✓ Annual tests volume of more than 25 million tests
✓ More than 1.500 testing parameters tested in 4 regional hubs and a special laboratory
✓ With Laboratorio Giusto Lifebrain acquired one of the biggest players on the Italian market for food and environmental testing with a strong footprint in Northern Italy
History
2013
Foundation of Lifebrain Group with the focus on creating a Central-European laboratory network, starting in Switzerland.
2014
Entry of the Italian market with take-over of Laboratorio Guidonia in Latium, first acquisitions in Puglia.
2015
Market entries in Emilia-Romagna, Basilicata, Liguria, Campania, Lombardy, Marche. Lifebrain Group becomes leading laboratory group in Latium based on add-on acquisition.
2016
Sale of Swiss activities and full focus on the Italian market, establishment of 3 platforms with North / Central / South with already 145 locations.
Lifebrain Group becomes N.2 laboratory group in Italy and N.1 in Veneto.
2017
Lifebrain Group expands its network into 4 new regions and increases its presence to 15 regions and 204 locations in Italy.
2018
Takeover of Lifebrain Group by Investindustrial, a leading European group of independently managed investment, holding and advisory companies with €6.8 billion of raised fund capital.
By the acquisition of Laboratorio Giusto entry of non-clinical environmental and food testing in Italy. Based on 122 acquisitions Lifebrain reaches more than EUR 100 million revenues and was present in 270 locations within 16 regions.
2019
In 2019 Lifebrain Group consolidates its presence in 16 regions with 308 locations, with a revenue of EUR 158 million.

Year 2020: estimated revenues and number of locations

Univ. Prof. Dr. Michael Havel
Group CEO

Bernhard Auer
Group CFO
Mr. Auer is the co-founder and CFO of Lifebrain Group and successfully executed more than 120 acquisitions in the last 5 years. He was already Finance Director of FutureLAB from the end of 2006 until 2011. He was responsible for financial management, planning & reporting processes and systems, standardised due diligence processes, reporting to equity investors, bondholders and banks and preparing and coordinating the exit process. After the successful sale, he became the CFO of the buyer and newly formed Synlab Group in Germany until 2011.
Before joining the Lifebrain management team, Mr. Auer served from 2011–2013 as CFO of an internet-focused Holding company.
Mr. Auer’s professional career started at Austrian Airlines AG as Group Controller (2001 – 2006), where he became a Director and Head of Controlling & Finance (Technical) in 2005. Mr. Auer is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Treasury Professional.

Riccardo Manca
Lifebrain GM
Mr. Manca became General Manager for Lifebrain Group’s operational business in 2019. He is the former CFO and manager of Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato – San Raffaele (2005 – 2018) where he was responsible for the financial management of the group, treasury and M&A activities. Further he took care of reporting and financial controlling. Additionally, he served for the group of hospitals as CEO for its subsidiaries GSD Sistemi e Servizi and Istituti Clinici di Pavia e Vigevano and as Financial Attorney of Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.
Before joining Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato – San Raffaele Mr. Manca worked as Credit Analyst for Mediobanca (2003-2005) with focus on financial analytics and rating supporting the acquisition finance team.
Mr. Manca is also contracted Professor of the Università degli Studi di Pavia.

Giovanni Giusto
Lifeanalytics GM
Mr. Giusto is the General Manager of Lifeanalytics.
After a degree in Chemical Sciences, he gained a solid experience as Laboratory Technician in the field of chemical and microbiological analysis.
He authored several articles focused on environmental issues published in scientific journals.
Since 2009 he is also Key-Account Manager and Sales Director of the Giusto Laboratories. Moreover, he is in charge of coordinating scientific training courses related to workplace safety.
In collaboration with University of Verona, in 2014 he contributed to publish the article Human cell-based reporter gene assays for endocrine disrupters, POPs, obesogens and other toxic pathways for drinking water and WTP effluents focused on the issue of emerging organic contaminants and on innovative analytical techniques.