Knutsford medical comms agency makes third acquisition in a year after MBO

Knutsford-based Fishawack, one of the largest independent medical communications organisations, has acquired Facilitate, the medical communications specialist based in Brighton, UK, as part of its ongoing buy and build strategy.

Facilitate is a full-service medical communications agency, but the team have also developed their unique Independent Global Leadership board service providing detailed daily content analysis by expert physicians at key medical congresses, an offering which has resonated with many of their pharmaceutical clients.

Established in 2002 by Ann Dieckmann and Alan Bromley, the team at Facilitate has primarily been supporting global pharmaceutical clients based in the US and Europe.

Whilst Alan will take this opportunity to leave the medical communications sector after over 30 years, Ann will stay with the business. Ann explained: “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 Fishawack will provide Facilitate with additional resources and representation in the US. Recognising this, Facilitate will rebrand as Fishawack-Facilitate.

Oliver Dennis, CEO 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 said: “Whenever we acquire a new business, we are focussed on the reputation of the team, team fit with Fishawack, and great client relationships.”

“We’ve been collaborating with Facilitate for the past 6 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.”

Dominic Miller, chief financial officer at Fishawack, thanked Ruth Percival and James Fieldhouse of BDO (Manchester, UK) for corporate finance lead advisory support, and Craig Scott and Michael Murphy of Hill Dickinson LLP (Liverpool, UK) for corporate legal lead advisory support.