Cello Health £182m Takeover Completed

Private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners has completed its £182m acquisition of UK-based advisory group Cello Health.

Cello Health comprises a number of communications, science, strategy and insight brands. The group's business insights and analytics teams are made up of market researchers, data analysts and behavioural scientists who collate, mine and model data with insights generated through primary research with healthcare professionals, patients and payers. Divisions are Cello Health Logic, a specialist healthcare social media insight and analytics business; Experience First, which works on research to guide the development of device-based, digital and service offerings; and dedicated quant practice IQ.

First announced early last month, the takeover comes via Bidco, a new company wholly owned by biopharma services firm Pharma Value Demonstration, itself backed by Arsenal Capital Partners. It also follows Pharma Value Demonstration's recent acquisition of health economic and outcomes research consultancy BresMed Health Solutions. According to a statement, the acquisition of Cello Health provides the foundation for a new healthcare-related enterprise, which will acquire, invest in, and develop companies across the strategy and insights, evidence generation, data and analytics, and communications disciplines.

Jon Williams (pictured), CEO of Arsenal's new enterprise, comments: 'We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Cello Health as the foundation of this ambitious enterprise. We are creating an enterprise that supports better strategic decisions, generates robust data and evidence, undertakes advanced analytics to draw out critical insights, and supports communication with a range of critical stakeholders. We look forward to working with our new colleagues as we embark on the next important phase of our journey'.

Web sites: www.arsenalcapital.com , www.cellohealth.com and www.pharma-value-demonstration.com .