Rhône expands leadership in healthcare mobility sector with acquisition of DHG and Invacare
Private equity firm Rhône has completed the acquisitions of Invacare Holdings (Invacare Europe and APAC) and Direct Healthcare Group (DHG) and will be combining the two businesses and associated brands to create DHCare.
DHCare is expected to be one of the international leaders in designing, manufacturing and distributing medical devices in the mobility and post-acute care sectors. The acquisition was completed on January 30 following discussions over several months.
Invacare and DHG are two businesses with firm reputations for quality, innovation, clinical performance and service, committed to improving the lives of those with reduced mobility.
The combination brings together highly regarded brands such as Invacare’s Alber, Küschall, Action, Rea, Aviva and Aquatec, alongside DHG’s keystone products such as the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance, Quattro range, System RoMedic Solutions and the Raizer falls management device.
The companies together offer an even more robust and comprehensive portfolio of products and services spanning mobility, seating, pressure ulcer prevention, safe moving and handling, rehabilitation, and rental and services – positioning DHCare as a leader in mobility and care management within the rapidly evolving healthcare market.
DHCare is expected to combine Invacare’s scale with DHG’s agility. Its expanded footprint includes a direct presence in 16 countries and more than 50 established export markets – granting greater reach to the new company and improving access to high quality solutions for end-users, health professionals, facilities and commercial partners.
Graham Ewart, CEO of DHCare and former CEO of DHG, comments: “Here we have the combination of two strong, successful companies, both driven by a mission to improve quality of life for their end-users.
“The businesses are complementary in a number of ways, but that mission is undoubtedly the most important. I want to thank everyone at Invacare and DHG who has helped us get here, and I look forward to leading the newly formed DHCare to create a better business focused on moving health forward.”
Marianne Kirkegaard at Rhône adds: “In Invacare and DHG we saw a complementary combination resulting in limited product overlap, together with very strong alignment across geographic footprints, cultures and missions. The medical device market remains fragmented, and we believe strategically scaled platforms like DHCare will be even better positioned to serve our customers.”
Geoff Purtill, former President and CEO of Invacare says: “This combination opens up new possibilities for innovation and collaboration, and I am confident that the new organisation and leadership team led by Graham Ewart, DHCare will be well positioned to ultimately enhance the quality of life for those served by it, and reshape the future of mobility and care.”
Post-close, the new leadership team and senior management will be communicating directly with employees, customers, partners and suppliers on the forward-looking vision of DHCare.
ARCHIMED will also retain a minority share in the newly combined business.
To stay up to date with industry news and receive twice-weekly newsletter updates subscribe to THIIS here.
