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Healthcare Wire
 
February 27, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
It’s Thursday, everybody.

Lots of news to get to today, but first, a note to readers about some ongoing changes. As you likely have seen, we've taken steps to consolidate our newsletter commentary into a new premium version of the PE Hub Wire. Starting next week, that change will extend to this product as well. Registered users will begin receiving a streamlined version of this newsletter; our insight on M&A in the healthcare, tech and other industries will shift to the subscriber-only premium Wire. Thank you for your readership and if you haven't already, we hope you'll consider subscribing to PE Hub!

Now, to today’s news.

This just in: Great Hill Partners is awaiting final bids for Quantum Health, sources familiar with the matter told PE Hub. While the self-insured employer benefits arena has surfaced as an increasingly hot area of investment, I’m told Quantum in particular saw interest accelerate amid the strong performance of its publicly traded peer, Accolade – which is trading at a low teens revenue multiple.

Read my full report for financial detail and more.

Great Hill, if you haven’t noticed, has made quite a mark in the employer healthcare benefits services universe. Including Quantum, the Boston growth equity firm has now invested in five businesses in the space so far. That includes RxBenefits, which earlier this month brought on Advent International as an additional investor in the business, I wrote. Read more.

Pharma commercialization: Another area of healthcare that has remained busy is the pharma services industry. This week I learned that GHO Capital-backed Envision Pharma Group is getting into the business of pharma commercialization through the acquisition of Two Labs, concluding a Baird-run sale process. Read my story for valuation info and more.

The pharma commercialization vertical in which Two Labs plays is a large and very fragmented space - and there are lots of ways to play the market, I’m told. You can be a traditional agency, a consultancy firm, or, like Envision Pharma Group, play on the communication services side of things.

Whatever your approach, big funds Like London’s GHO are planting a flag and buying stuff around it. Other players like CD&R, which earlier this year bought medical affairs firm Huntsworth for £575 million ($755 million), are doing the same thing in their own way.

It’s also worth noting that the continued strength of the pharma services arena is not due to a “covid bump,” sources tell me. Rather, outsourced pharma services are playing on long-term themes driven by the needs of specialty pharma and cell and gene therapy.
 
 
 
Top Scoops
 
In one of the week’s biggest shocks to the healthcare market, Cano Health, a primary care provider serving seniors in the Medicare Advantage market, has agreed to a $4.4 billion merger with Jaws Acquisition Corp., a SPAC sponsored by real estate investor Barry Sternlicht.

Check out my two cents on the deal in today's PE Hub wire and read my recent coverage on the business, which fielded final round bids from sponsors last month.

In other notable activity, Bain Capital Tech Opportunties simultaneously agreed to buy and merge HST Pathways and Casetabs, two cloud-based software providers specializing in the ambulatory surgery center market, I wrote. Check out my full report.

That's it for me today. As always, write to me with any feedback, tips or just to say hello!

Sarah
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Morgan Stanley Capital’s Comar looks to fill gap in healthcare packaging
Comar, now generating over $200m in revenue, will target select M&A opportunities within the scientific molding, micromolding, silicon and sharps areas. More...
 
PRN, Silver Oak-backed physical therapy provider, kicks off auction
PRN's Houlihan Lokey-run auction gets underway as Gryphon Investors gears up to sell the even-larger Cora Physical Therapy. More...
 
ExactCare, Nautic-backed pharmacy company, seeks buyer
Nautic in March 2016 recapitalized ExactCare, which specializes in serving complex patients in their homes. More...
 
Sun Capital makes push in growth-oriented healthcare with West Dermatology
The Boca Raton, Florida, firm eyes potential opportunities for investment in eyecare, behavioral health and across the orthopedic supply chain. More...
 
Cano Health, InTandem-backed primary care group, readies for Moelis-run auction
The Florida provider of at-risk primary care for seniors has grown from one to 35 clinics in three years. More...
 
 
 
 
Deals
 
 
 
 
Arsenal buys BresMed
Arsenal Capital Partners has acquired UK-based BresMed Health Solutions, a provider of health economic research, communications, and consulting services to the global pharmaceutical industry. More...
 
Water Street to fund Solvias
Water Street Healthcare Partners has agreed to invest in Solvias AG, a Swiss pharmaceutical lab platform. More...
 
PE-backed MSP buys Skin Matters
MedSpa Partners, a portfolio company of Canadian healthcare private equity firm Persistence Capital Partners, has acquired Vancouver, British Columbia-based Skin Matters, a medical aesthetics platform. More...
 
Morgan Stanley Capital’s Comar looks to fill gap in healthcare packaging
Comar, now generating over $200m in revenue, will target select M&A opportunities within the scientific molding, micromolding, silicon and sharps areas. More...
 
New Harbor recaps Quigley Eye
New Harbor Capital has recapitalized Fort Myers, Florida-based Quigley Eye Specialists, an ophthalmology group. More...
 
Carlyle invests in Mak-System
The Carlyle Group has made an investment in Mak-System, a provider of software for blood management solutions. More...
 
Jordan Co-backed Vyne acquires Renaissance Electronic Services
The acquisition will enhance Vyne's portfolio of dental health information exchange, revenue cycle management and communication services. More...
 
PRN, Silver Oak-backed physical therapy provider, kicks off auction
PRN's Houlihan Lokey-run auction gets underway as Gryphon Investors gears up to sell the even-larger Cora Physical Therapy. More...
 
Capiton completes single-asset process for KD Pharma Group
Pantheon and Aberdeen Standard Investments led the deal alongside other investors. More...
 
 
 
Firms & Funds
 
 
 
 
Envest Capital collects over $18.2 mn for second fund
Envest Capital Partners has raised over $18.2 million for its second fund, according to an SEC filing. More...
 
 
 
People Moves
 
 
 
 
Harvest Partners promotes seven, including two to partner
Michael Greenman joined in 2012 focusing on healthcare services, software and industrial services. James Mitchel joined in 2009 and focuses on industrial services, distribution and business services.  More...
 
DWHP promotes Mitchnick to VP
Toronto and Park City, Utah-based DW Healthcare Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm, has promoted Michael Mitchnick to vice president. More...
 
PE-backed Griswold appoints Slupecki as CEO
Griswold Home Care, which is backed by Pouschine Cook, has named Michael Slupecki as CEO. More...
 
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