WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading middle-market private equity firm, The Halifax Group, announced today that it has sold Envision Pharma Group to Ardian (the independent private investment company) and GHO Capital (a specialist healthcare investment company), who have partnered with Envision’s existing leadership team to purchase the group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Envision is a recognized strategic partner for Medical Affairs teams within biopharma, providing scientific data communication services and industry-leading technology solutions. Working with Envision's management in 2013, Halifax acquired the company from a subsidiary of Express Scripts Holding Co. In collaboration with Halifax, Envision completed two strategic acquisitions and doubled its number of offices, with the 10 current locations now spread across four continents. The company added new medical communications and Market Access communication services, strengthened its leadership position in a variety of therapeutic areas, and invested heavily in developing an industry-leading technology platform (iEnvisionTM). All of this was accomplished while enhancing and expanding its range of technology solutions, which facilitate compliant knowledge-sharing, operational excellence and decision-making effectiveness.
Envision's management team, including CEO Brian Hepburn, will remain in their executive roles with the company and will maintain a substantial shareholder position. Mr. Hepburn said, "Our goal is to be the leading international Medical Affairs agency, providing biopharma with strategically focused, technology-enabled, scientific communications programs working in concert with our technology platform, iEnvisionTM. The iEnvisionTM platform provides a suite of purpose-built solutions which facilitate and support industry best practice within the Medical Affairs organization. We are pleased to have enhanced our market position in partnership with Halifax and now look forward to working with Ardian and GHO to further extend our commitment to this pivotal function within the biopharma industry.”
David Dupree, Senior Partner at Halifax, said, "A hallmark of any Halifax deal is that we aim to form a highly collaborative partnership with management. That has certainly been the case with Envision, where the founding partners continue to run the company. Their leadership, along with Halifax's investment in capital, operations, and strategic acquisitions, has helped create significant value for all stakeholders."
"Envision occupies a coveted position as the Medical Affairs partner of choice to the biopharma industry, providing a full complement of services and technology solutions to its customers. Coupled with the addition of new capabilities and further geographic expansion, the company’s portfolio of capabilities continues to produce superior results for its customers," added Scott Plumridge, Halifax Partner.
William Blair served as financial advisor and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal advisor to Envision and The Halifax Group.
About Envision
Founded in 2001, Envision Pharma is an international, innovative global technology and scientific communication company serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. Initially focusing on re-inventing the way biopharma companies managed their global data communications programs through the use of smart technology and best-in-class publication planning; Envision has evolved to become a leading provider of evidence communication services and Medical Affairs solutions, encompassing all aspects of scientifically driven data dissemination activities required to support a successful access to market strategy for new biopharma compounds.
This capability of the organization is further enhanced with industry-leading, complementary technology solutions across the Medical Affairs responsibilities. Envision has grown steadily under consistent leadership across its three core business areas in support of the Medical Affairs team that include (i) Evidence Communication – including strategic publication planning, data dissemination services, medical education, and Market Access communications; (ii) Technology Solutions – design, development, implementation, and support of innovative and strategic management software, purpose-built for life-science clients, including, publication planning and management (Datavision®), clearance approval (Clear®), activity request management (Visiontracker®), workflow management for HEOR activities (Visiontracker HEORTM), searchable repository for the sharing of appropriate educational and training materials (LibraryTM), and next generation solution for managing medical information enquiries (MedinfoTM); (iii) Consulting Solutions – policy, process, compliance, and guideline consultancy to life-science companies.
Envision currently has ten offices, three in the United Kingdom – Horsham, Wilmslow, and London; five in the United States – Philadelphia, PA, Southport, CT, Madison, NJ, Stirling, NJ, Glastonbury, CT; and two in Asia Pacific – Tokyo and Sydney. The company employs approximately 450 team members, including over 185 highly qualified and experienced in-house medical writers and a more than 80-strong technology solutions team providing platform development and customer support. Envision currently provides service and product solutions to more than 75 client companies, including 18 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies.
About The Halifax Group
The Halifax Group is a private equity firm that partners with managers and entrepreneurs to recapitalize and grow leading lower middle-market businesses with revenues generally between $25 million and $300 million across a variety of industries, including business services, health and wellness, infrastructure, and franchising. The firm maintains offices in Washington, D.C.; Dallas, TX; and Raleigh, NC. For more information, please visit www.thehalifaxgroup.com.
