Kohlberg, Blackstone-backed businesses play critical role in vaccine rollout

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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