Cerner, a cloud-based health information and electronic health records solutions provider, announced an agreement to acquire Kantar Health, a healthcare data analytics division of Kantar Group, for $375 million in cash.
The acquisition includes Kantar Health’s proprietary syndicated data products, including CancerMPact, Claritis, National Health & Wellness Survey, its broader oncology, rare disease, and multi-therapeutic expertise used by life science and healthcare companies to further their real-world evidence, commercial and clinical research efforts.
With this acquisition, Cerner plans to harness data to improve the safety, efficiency, and efficacy of clinical research across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and health care at large.
“We are excited about this next chapter, where our real-world evidence and commercial data assets will be powered by Cerner,” said Lynnette Cooke, CEO, Kantar Health.
“There is a strong cultural fit between the two organizations, grounded by our shared vision to increase access and affordability for patients around the world. We expect the combination of our expertise and assets with Cerner’s technology and unique insights into patients will enable a step-change in the way healthcare is developed and delivered, resulting in improved patient outcomes.”
Harris Williams acted as exclusive financial advisor; Weil, Gotshal & Manges acted as a legal advisor; and EY served as accounting, tax, operational, technology, and separation advisors to Kantar Health.
Latham & Watkins acted as a legal advisor; EY provided financial, tax, and HR due diligence; and its EY-Parthenon consulting practice served as strategic, commercial, and operational advisors to Cerner.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) continue to be the most popular source of exit for digital health investors and companies. A total of 132 digital health companies were acquired in the first nine months (9M) of 2020, compared to 125 in 9M 2019, according to Mercom’s 9M 2020 Digital Health Funding and M&A Report. Recently, JLL Partners, a private equity firm, acquired MedeAnalytics, a cloud-based enterprise healthcare analytics platform used by health systems and health plans.
