Cerner Finalizes Kantar Health Takeover

US-based healthcare technology provider Cerner has completed its acquisition of Kantar Health for $375m in cash, subject to adjustment.

Following WPP shareholders' approval of the sale of 60% of Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital in 2019, and then the economic impact of the pandemic, Kantar announced that it would be making changes to its business, focused on building a 'faster, simpler organisation'. These included the sell-off of Kantar Health to enable the group to increase its focus on its previously identified growth priorities.

Kantar Health's team around the world, its research and consulting solutions and global clients will be integrated with Cerner's Strategic Growth business. Lynnette Cooke (pictured), Head of Kantar Health, will continue to lead the team, while joining the Cerner leadership group. Cerner says its 'Learning Health Network' client consortium, which represents 92 million patients and 776 million clinical encounters, will now be able to engage more with life sciences companies for funded research studies, generating additional health insights.

Cooke comments: 'Kantar Health and Cerner's Strategic Growth business have a great deal in common, starting with a vision to advance patient care around the world. Culturally, we share the same values when it comes to how we develop our people, our offer and our client base. Our collective capabilities and assets will enable the acceleration of innovation and elevate our expertise in addressing the most complex clinical research questions changing the way healthcare is developed and delivered'.

Web site: www.cerner.com .