Silverfleet Capital invests in leading UK fertility group CARE Fertility

Silverfleet Capital, the pan-European private equity firm, has entered into a binding contract to acquire a majority stake in CARE Fertility Holdings Limited (“CARE” or the “Company”). Headquartered in Nottingham, England, the Company is the UK’s leading fertility services provider with market-leading success rates underpinned by a strong scientific and clinical backbone. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1997, the Company operates nine CARE branded clinics and 13 satellite facilities providing extensive coverage across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Since its formation CARE has aided the conception of over 30,000 babies, with the Company’s success rates amongst the UK’s highest across all key metrics. With extensive R&D operations, CARE has become an industry innovator, using data analysis and clinical expertise to bring pioneering treatments and procedures to market.

The investment builds upon Silverfleet’s extensive experience in the Healthcare sector and fits the firm’s strategy of investing behind strong underlying market growth dynamics – in this case the increasing fertility needs of the population – and helping companies transform their performance through supporting growth both domestically and internationally.  Silverfleet’s investment will enable CARE to continue its strong and diversified growth through: (i) broadening the clinic network across the UK; (ii) executing acquisitions to consolidate a highly fragmented market; (iii) developing new products and services to improve patient success rates; and (iv) building an international fertility platform.

CARE represents Silverfleet's ninth investment from its current fund, adding to a portfolio containing companies headquartered in the UK, France, the Nordics and Germany.

"CARE is a clear market leader operating in a sector with high growth potential fuelled by increasing fertility needs.  It has a strong brand with leading patient outcomes and top quartile success rates.  We look forward to working closely with the Company’s management team and employees in continuing to develop the business," comments Alfa Chan, Partner at Silverfleet responsible for Healthcare investments.

David Burford, CEO of CARE, adds: "Silverfleet is the ideal partner to take our business through the next stage in its growth. Their impressive track record in assisting companies to achieve their development plans and their extensive investment experience in the Healthcare sector will be invaluable as we look to execute on our growth objectives. I have known the Silverfleet team for a long time and I am very keen to start executing on our business plan together."

The Silverfleet team that worked on the transaction included Alfa Chan, Sumit Dheir, Peter Kisenyi and Dominic Mitchell, who are based in Silverfleet Capital’s London office.

Silverfleet was advised by Lincoln (M&A), PwC (Financial, Commercial & Tax) Ropes & Gray (Legal, Corporate), Deloitte (Debt Advisory), WA Communications (Political), Intuitus (IT) and AJ Gallagher (Insurance).  Debt finance was provided by Apollo.