Market Harborough baby scanning firm sold to fertility specialist

A Market Harborough-based baby scanning firm has been sold to an Oxfordshire business.

The Fertility Partnership has taken a majority stake in Ultrasound Direct, which was set up by husband and wife, Mike and Jan Steward, to give people better baby scans with longer appointments and partners welcome. Having started with just a single clinic, their company network is now booking 120,000 clients a year, with a team of over 230 sonographers running more than 80 clinics across the UK.

The Fertility Partnership runs more than 22 clinics across the UK and Poland, employs over 350 staff and says it achieves some of the highest pregnancy success rates in Europe.

Jan Steward said: “Ultrasound Direct is my baby and I can’t think of a better organisation than The Fertility Partnership to help us transition to the next level of growth.”

Dan Bowtell, corporate finance partner at Smith Cooper, who advised Ultrasound Direct, said: “Strategically, this acquisition strengthens The Fertility Partnership’s commitment to the IVF market and allows them to better serve the growing requirements for expecting parents. The Ultrasound Direct team is knowledgeable, innovative and experienced and is a great fit with The Fertility Partnership, and the combined strengths of the companies will allow them to continue providing award winning services.”

The deal was also advised on by the Leicester office of Bray and Bray, Somersbys, and Fraser Brown in Nottingham.