Fishawack snaps up Brighton’s Facilitate

MEDICAL communications specialist Fishawack has announced a third bolt-on acquisition since a secondary buyout last year.

The Knutsford company’s latest swoop is for Facilitate, a Brighton-based rival which has developed a unique daily content analysis tool which has proved popular with pharmaceutical clients.

Founded in 2002 by Ann Dieckmann and Alan Bromley, Facilitate has primarily been supporting global pharma clients based in the US and Europe. While Mr Bromley will retire, Miss Dieckmann is staying on.

She said: “I am excited to be part of the Fishawack Group both for myself and for the team. We wanted to become part of a group that has global reach but remained focussed on medical communications.”

Facilitate will be integrated into the Fishawack Group, and be rebranded as Fishawack-Facilitate.

Oliver Dennis, chief executive of Fishawack said: “Medical communications in the UK is based around an axis that connects Manchester to Oxford to London to Brighton.

“Being present in those areas puts you within reach of 75% of all experienced medical communications professionals. Brighton is a great place for Fishawack to be. I’d like to thank our investor, Growth Capital Partners, for their continued support as we have completed three acquisitions in just over a year.”

Gail Flockhart, group managing director added: “We’ve been collaborating with Facilitate for the past six months and have a clear plan for supporting them with additional resource. Facilitate joining the group brings our global team to over 240 staff, a significant size for an independent organisation in the medical communications sector.”

Fishawack was advised by BDO Manchester corporate finance partner Ruth Percival who was assisted by James Fieldhouse. Hill Dickinson’s Liverpool office also advised.

Ruth Percival said: “This deal marks another step forward in Fishawack’s buy and build strategy. The combined businesses are a great fit, providing Facilitate with access to deeper resources and broader global reach.”

She added: “It is a great example of how private equity and corporates can work together to successfully execute ambitious growth plans.”