It looks like contract research organizations are still in high demand. EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Equity are teaming up to acquire Parexel from Pamplona Capital Management for $8.5 billion. Parexel is a leading global clinical research organization (CRO) serving sciences and biopharmaceutical clients.
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than $79 billion in assets under management across 26 active funds. Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Equity is the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs, overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of March 31, 2021.
This investment into Parexel will help the company continue to grow in the APAC market, an area of important growth for the CRO market. Outsourced clinical research services are anticipated to grow at a conservative CAGR of 8% to 9% percent, so it’s a market with a high ceiling.
Evercore acted as the financial advisor to Parexel, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel in connection with the transaction. Goldman Sachs and Jefferies LLC acted as financial advisors to EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided legal counsel in connection with the transaction.
