EMAS Pharma Secures UK Private Equity Backing for Growth and Expansion
Deal News | Dec 10, 2024 | PMSI
Kester Capital, a prominent UK private equity firm, has announced its acquisition of EMAS Pharma, the clinical development division of Bionical Emas. EMAS Pharma is a leading Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) that provides specialized services to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, focusing on oncology, rare diseases, inflammation, immunology, and microbiome therapeutics. This strategic transaction involves a new executive team alongside Kester Capital and aims to facilitate rapid scaling of EMAS Pharma. The firm's growth strategy includes organic development and potential acquisitions to enhance its bespoke service offerings, improve its technological infrastructure, and bolster its market penetration, particularly in North America and Europe. The acquisition is Kester Capital's fourth investment from its latest fund, Kester Capital III, which closed with a fund size of £200 million in March 2024. PMSI acted as a commercial due diligence advisor for the transaction, analyzing critical investment themes in the clinical CRO market.
Sectors
- Private Equity
- Clinical Research Organizations (CROs)
- Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Geography
- United Kingdom – Kester Capital is headquartered in the UK, and EMAS Pharma also has its headquarters there.
- North America and Europe – EMAS Pharma aims to expand its global presence in these regions following the acquisition.
Industry
- Private Equity – Kester Capital is a private equity firm involved in the acquisition of EMAS Pharma.
- Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) – EMAS Pharma operates as a CRO, providing clinical development services to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
- Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology – EMAS Pharma's services focus on sectors such as oncology, rare diseases, and immunology, which are key segments in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Financials
- £200 million – Size of Kester Capital III fund which facilitated the EMAS Pharma acquisition.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kester Capital | Bidding Company/Investor | Company | A UK private equity firm focusing on strategic acquisitions. |
| EMAS Pharma | Target Company | Company | A clinical research organization providing specialized services to pharma and biotech sectors. |
| Bionical Emas | Selling Company | Company | The parent company from which EMAS Pharma was carved out. |
| PMSI | Commercial Due Diligence Advisor | Company | Provided commercial due diligence to support the acquisition transaction. |