The Wire

Dec. 16, 2020

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As the rollout of the covid-19 vaccine in the coming months shines a light on pharma services businesses lesser known by the mainstream, I’m wondering if the cold-chain logistics sector is poised to field even more private equity investment in the coming year.

 

PE-backed businesses including PCI Pharma, backed by Kohlberg & Co and Partners Group, and publicly-traded Cryoport, backed by Blackstone, are poised to play a crucial role in the global distribution of covid-10 vaccines, according to a New York Times report. The virus has brought new attention to the temperature-controlled shipping and storage of therapeutics that is offered by such companies, the report says. 

 

Both companies scored new investments earlier this year, with Kohlberg in August reaching a $3-billion-plus deal for PCI, preempting and concluding one of the summer’s most anticipated healthcare processes for a majority stake, PE Hub wrote. Around the same time, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities agreed to inject $275 million into Cryoport, investing behind one of the fastest-growing fields of medicine: cell and gene therapy. 

 

Any other deals brewing in the space I should know about? Write to me at springle@buyoutsinsider.com. 

 

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Note to Readers: It's that time of year ... for the 21st time, the editors of PE Hub and Buyouts honor exceptional buyouts with our Deal of the Year Awards.

 

Winners are chosen in seven categories: Deal of the Year, Large-Market Deal of the Year, Middle-Market Deal of the Year, Small-Market Deal of the Year, Turnaround of the Year, International Deal of the Year, and Secondaries Deal of the Year.

 

Go here for more information and to read about rules and methodology. Also check out past winners. Last year, New Mountain took the crown with its exit of Equian.

 

If you have additional questions, email Private Equity Editor Chris Witkowsky at cwitkowsky@buyoutsinsider.com.

 

Also of note (may require subscriptions)

No 'status quo': Summit Partners, which is running a secondaries process to move some 23 assets into a continuation pool, is not offering the typical “status quo” option as part of the restructuring. Check out Buyouts’ full report.