Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) has completed its acquisition of HemaCare Corporation (OTCMKTS: HEMA) for $380 million in cash, or $25.40 per HemaCare share. [Read more…]
CHAMP Private Equity Acquires Cell Care, Australia’s Largest Cord Blood Bank
CHAMP Private Equity is acquiring Cell Care, the largest cord blood bank within Australia, according to news released October 10, 2018, by the Australian Financial Review (AFR). According to AFR, “It is understood CHAMP will take a controlling stake in the business, while some of the vending shareholders will retain a minority shareholding.”
The transaction has important implications for the global stem cell banking marketplace, because the AFR estimates the deal to have a price tag of more than $100 million.
With this price tag, Cell Care will be well capitalized to continue its research into therapeutic applications of cord blood and tissue stem cells and may be positioned to expand into new markets beyond Australia and Canada.
[Read more…]
Cell Care Australia Acquires Insception Lifebank in Canada
The largest cord blood bank in Australia, Cell Care, has announced that it is acquiring the largest cord blood bank in Canada, Insception Lifebank. This acquisition is part of a larger trend occurring within the cord blood banking industry, which is the trend of maturation and consolidation.
Over the past five years, the cord blood and tissue marketplace has undergone substantial consolidation. One major event was the acquisition of the United States’ largest cord blood, Cord Blood Registry (CBR), by AMAG Pharmaceuticals for $700M in March of 2015. Previously, ViaCord had been acquired by the multinational company PerkinElmer in October 2007 for $300M. [Read more…]
Cord Blood Market Consolidation Continues as “FamilyCord” Acquires Southern Cord Inc.
On November 13, 2015, AlphaCord released news that it was acquiring LifeSource Cryobank. The acquisition was AlphaCord’s fifth acquisition of smaller cord blood banks. Today, California Cryobank Stem Cell Services LLC, better known as “FamilyCord”, announced it has acquired Southern Cord Inc., a cord blood bank operating within the southeastern U.S.
Together, these recent mergers continue the trend of consolidation within the global cord blood banking market. [Read more…]
Leveraging Access to New FUJIFILM Resources, Cellular Dynamics Considers Expansion
This week, I corresponded as a media expert on stem cells for Xconomy.com, a leading news channel focused on today’s high-tech economy.
The discussion point was how life has changed at Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) following the buy-out by FUJIFILM Holdings for $307 million in March 2015 and directions that CDI might take now that it has access to a new pool of resources.
The acquisition by FUJIFILM Holdings certainly brings with it advantages, including access to high-volume production and engineering technology, as well as strong financial reserves. The partnership also allows CDI access to the patents and technologies held by a plethora of other companies owned by its new multinational parent company. [Read more…]