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Top row: Dominic Miller, Fishawack COO, Gail Flockhart, Fishawack Managing Partner, Liz Maclaren, Healthcircle Creative Director, Dr. David Ingram, Healthcircle Managing Partner; Bottom row: Mike Taylor, Healthcircle Managing Director, Oliver Dennis, Fishawack CEO (Photo: Business Wire)
Top row: Dominic Miller, Fishawack COO, Gail Flockhart, Fishawack Managing Partner, Liz Maclaren, Healthcircle Creative Director, Dr. David Ingram, Healthcircle Managing Partner; Bottom row: Mike Taylor, Healthcircle Managing Director, Oliver Dennis, Fishawack CEO (Photo: Business Wire)
July 10, 2018 02:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
KNUTSFORD, England--( BUSINESS WIRE )--The Fishawack      Group of Companies , one of the world’s largest independent medical      communications organisations, has acquired Healthcircle      Advertising Limited , a strategic brand communications agency with      offices in London and Portugal. “This acquisition is a major step in Fishawack’s plan to build a      global strategic creative agency that can work alongside our medical      communications business,” explained Oliver      Dennis , Chief Executive Officer of the Fishawack Group. “We also      acquired US-based Carling Communications in July last year. Carling      needed critical mass in Europe and Healthcircle needed a US partner. This is a great match and positions us to deliver integrated creative      and medcomms solutions for clients on a truly global scale.”
Mike      Taylor , Managing Director of Healthcircle added, “We’ve been on      the lookout for a partner to support our growth in the US whilst also      providing us access to scientific and strategic talent. Healthcircle and      Fishawack have already collaborated extensively and we’ve known and      worked with many of the Carling team over our years in the business.”
Gail      Flockhart , Group Managing Director at Fishawack said, “All      agencies are collections of people with different talents. What makes us      different is the investment we make in establishing real chemistry      between teams so that collaboration is fun and triggers new ideas. We’re      still at a size where we can make this meaningful.”
About the Fishawack Group
The Fishawack Group of Companies is one of the largest independent      medical communications specialists, with offices in the UK (Knutsford,      Oxford, and Brighton), the USA (Philadelphia, PA, and San Diego, CA),      Switzerland (Basel), and India (Hyderabad). For over 17 years, Fishawack has been partnering with global and      regional pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device clients to      develop and deliver services in the fields of medical communications,      scientific engagement, market access, strategic consultancy, and thought      leader consultancy. For more detailed information about our services,      please see the Fishawack Group website at www.fishawack.com . We have built our reputation on excellence, creativity, and transparency. About Healthcircle
Healthcircle is a full-service strategic brand communications agency. With extensive experience in direct-to-patient communications, creative      digital solutions and creative medcomms, Healthcircle has consistently      won awards for its surprising and innovative creative work. Healthcircle      is headquartered in London, UK, with an office in Cascais, Portugal. Healthcircle strongly believes that connecting strategy and creative is      the key to brand success and has demonstrated the success of this      approach on some of the largest brands in the global pharmaceutical      marketplace during the last 10 years. More information is available at  www.healthcircle-uk.com
Fishawack Group of Companies

Fishawack Group Acquires Healthcircle to Strengthen Creative Offering

Fri, 07/07/2017 - 10:20
Acquisitions
LDC-backed Fishawack Group of Companies, a specialist provider of scientific communications services to global pharmaceutical companies, has acquired the US-based Carling Group of Companies. The transaction value has not been disclosed. The Group includes Carling Communications, a full-service healthcare marketing and communications agency, and MCME Global, the specialist provider of medical education services. Both businesses are headquartered in San Diego. Founded in 2010 by Didi Discar, and with offices in San Diego and London, Carling has a team of more than 100 people specialising in full-service marketing, advertising and physician communications. It supports clients across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries and provides specialist expertise across 35 therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and pain management. This deal marks the first acquisition Fishawack has made since mid-market private equity investor LDC backed the GBP38 million buyout of the business in January this year, with a commitment to support its buy-and-build strategy. Carling Communications will be the first agency in the Fishawack Group to focus solely on healthcare marketing. Simon Braham, Investment Director at LDC, says: “Over the past six months we have been working closely with Oliver and his team to implement their growth strategy. With the acquisition of the Carling Group, Fishawack has not only strengthened its foothold in the US, the largest market for the global pharmaceutical sector, but bolstered its position as one of the world’s largest full-service medical communications groups. “This is a major milestone for Fishawack and we look forward to continuing to support the team as they deliver their growth ambitions.”
 
Oliver Dennis, CEO of Fishawack, adds: “The financial backing and support of our investment partner LDC is enabling us to accelerate our international growth strategy. Through creative agency Carling Communications we’re now able to offer clients a comprehensive healthcare marketing service for the first time, while the addition of MCME bolsters our medical education offering. This deal marks the seventh strategic acquisition during our 16-year history and a significant step in the expansion of our reach, capabilities and client base.”
 
Commenting on the deal, Didi Discar, Principal at Carling Group, adds: “This deal signals a new beginning in our offering. Our skills complement each other and provide synergies that will significantly benefit current and future clients, while building on our shared vision of excellence, integrity and respect. As part of the Fishawack Group we join a truly global network. This is not only a boost for our ability to provide expanded client support, but also for career and development opportunities for both Carling and Fishawack employees.”

LDC-backed Fishawack acquires US-based Carling Group

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July 06, 2017 09:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time
SAN DIEGO--( BUSINESS WIRE )--The Fishawack      Group of Companies , one of the largest independent medical      communications organizations, has acquired the Carling Group of      Companies, based in San Diego, CA, USA, including Carling      Communications and MCME      Global . Carling Communications is the first agency in the Fishawack      Group to be focused entirely on healthcare marketing, while MCME Global      specializes in medical education. Carling Communications was founded in 2010 by Didi      Discar , leveraging over two decades of experience on the client and      agency sides of pharmaceutical marketing. Carling has a team of nearly      100 who specialize in award-winning, full-service marketing,      advertising, and physician communications for clients from the      pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. Since its      early focus in ophthalmology and dermatology, the agency has expanded      its expertise to 35 therapeutic areas, including aesthetics,      cardiovascular, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and pain management. “Fishawack has already made six strategic acquisitions to expand our      reach, capabilities, and client base,” explained Oliver      Dennis , Chief Executive Officer of the Fishawack Group. “Our new      investor, LDC, is supporting us to expand the group further. Our clients      comprise a mix of medical affairs and commercial teams, and we have      always offered a complete range of services to the former and with the      addition of a creative agency we can now do the same for the latter. I’ve known Didi and her team for over 7 years, frequently partnering      with Carling for their promotional capabilities, so Carling is a natural      fit as our creative agency.”
As part of a true global network, Didi Discar, Principal at Carling,      believes that the company can achieve even more for its valued clients      and employees. “I believe that this signals a new beginning in what we      can bring to our clients. Our skills complement each other and provide      synergies that will significantly benefit current and future clients,      while building on our shared vision of excellence, integrity, and      respect.”
Discar adds, “Carling officially opened our London office last month to      better serve our growing roster of non–US-based clients and this month      we joined the Fishawack Group of Companies, solidifying our      international agency status with additional offices in the UK,      Switzerland, and India. This is not only a boon for our ability to      provide expanded client support, but also for career and development      opportunities for both Carling and Fishawack staff.”
“Fishawack will benefit from a significant increase in our team based      out of the expanded West Coast presence,” commented Gail      Flockhart , Group Managing Director at Fishawack. “Adding an office      in San Diego to our one in San Francisco will allow us to deliver better      service for our California-based clients.”
This deal marks the first acquisition Fishawack has made since      mid-market private equity investor LDC backed the buyout of the business      in January 2017. Simon      Braham , Investment Director at LDC, said, “Over the past six months      we have been working closely with Oliver and his team to implement their      growth strategy. This is a major milestone for Fishawack and we look      forward to continuing to support the team.”
The newly formed group of companies received guidance from Ruth Percival      at BDO, Craig Scott and Michael Murphy of Hill Dickinson LLP (UK), Beni      Surpin and Carrie Long of Foley & Lardner, and Ed Batts, Chris Trester,      and Eric Wall from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (USA). Mathias      Reiter and Chris Wilson of KPMG provided tax advice. About the Fishawack Group
The Fishawack Group of Companies is one of the largest independent      medical communications specialists, with offices in the UK (Knutsford,      Oxford, and Brighton), the USA (Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco,      CA), Switzerland (Basel), and India (Hyderabad). For over 16 years, we have been partnering with global and regional      pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device clients to develop and      deliver services in the fields of medical communications, scientific      engagement, market access, strategic consultancy, and thought leader      consultancy. For more detailed information about our services, please      see the Fishawack Group website at www.fishawack.com . We have built our reputation on excellence, creativity, and transparency. About Carling Group of Companies
The Carling Group of Companies is comprised of Carling      Communications, a full-service creative agency specializing in      award-winning work for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device      industries, and MCME Global, which specializes in medical education. Carling is headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, and has an office in      London, UK. Carling Communications pursues global innovation and excellence by      acting as an extension of each client’s marketing team, ensuring maximum      impact from an extensive offering of state-of-the-art services,      strategic planning, creative development, brand marketing, and tactical      execution. More information is available at  www.carlingcom.com . The Carling Group of Companies is now an official member of the      Fishawack Group of Companies. Fishawack Group of Companies

Fishawack Boosts Healthcare Marketing Capabilities as Carling Communications Joins the Group

Health Policy Expert Joins Ogilvy Public Relations in Sacramento
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170706005498/en/
Fishawack leaders join Carling Group of Companies partners in San Diego office. Oliver Dennis, CEO, Fishawack, and Didi Discar, Principal, Carling, are pictured in the center. (Photo: Business Wire)
Carling Communications was founded in 2010 by Didi      Discar , leveraging over two decades of experience on the client and      agency sides of pharmaceutical marketing. Carling has a team of nearly      100 who specialize in award-winning, full-service marketing,      advertising, and physician communications for clients from the      pharmaceutical, biotechnology , and medical device industries. Since its      early focus in ophthalmology and dermatology, the agency has expanded      its expertise to 35 therapeutic areas, including aesthetics,      cardiovascular, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and pain management. “Fishawack has already made six strategic acquisitions to expand our      reach, capabilities, and client base,” explained Oliver      Dennis , Chief Executive Officer of the Fishawack Group. “Our new      investor, LDC, is supporting us to expand the group further. Our clients      comprise a mix of medical affairs and commercial teams, and we have      always offered a complete range of services to the former and with the      addition of a creative agency we can now do the same for the latter. I’ve known Didi and her team for over 7 years, frequently partnering      with Carling for their promotional capabilities, so Carling is a natural      fit as our creative agency.”
As part of a true global network, Didi Discar, Principal at Carling,      believes that the company can achieve even more for its valued clients      and employees. “I believe that this signals a new beginning in what we      can bring to our clients. Our skills complement each other and provide      synergies that will significantly benefit current and future clients,      while building on our shared vision of excellence, integrity, and      respect.”
Discar adds, “Carling officially opened our London office last month to      better serve our growing roster of non–US-based clients and this month      we joined the Fishawack Group of Companies, solidifying our      international agency status with additional offices in the UK,      Switzerland, and India. This is not only a boon for our ability to      provide expanded client support, but also for career and development      opportunities for both Carling and Fishawack staff.”
“Fishawack will benefit from a significant increase in our team based      out of the expanded West Coast presence,” commented Gail      Flockhart , Group Managing Director at Fishawack. “Adding an office      in San Diego to our one in San Francisco will allow us to deliver better      service for our California-based clients.”
This deal marks the first acquisition Fishawack has made since      mid-market private equity investor LDC backed the buyout of the business      in January 2017. Simon      Braham , Investment Director at LDC, said, “Over the past six months      we have been working closely with Oliver and his team to implement their      growth strategy. This is a major milestone for Fishawack and we look      forward to continuing to support the team.”
The newly formed group of companies received guidance from Ruth Percival      at BDO, Craig Scott and Michael Murphy of Hill Dickinson LLP (UK), Beni      Surpin and Carrie Long of Foley & Lardner, and Ed Batts, Chris Trester,      and Eric Wall from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (USA). Mathias      Reiter and Chris Wilson of KPMG provided tax advice. About the Fishawack Group
The Fishawack Group of Companies is one of the largest independent      medical communications specialists, with offices in the UK (Knutsford,      Oxford, and Brighton), the USA (Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco,      CA), Switzerland (Basel), and India (Hyderabad). For over 16 years, we have been partnering with global and regional      pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device clients to develop and      deliver services in the fields of medical communications, scientific      engagement, market access, strategic consultancy, and thought leader      consultancy. For more detailed information about our services, please      see the Fishawack Group website at www.fishawack.com . We have built our reputation on excellence, creativity, and transparency. About Carling Group of Companies
The Carling Group of Companiesis comprised of Carling      Communications, a full-service creative agency specializing in      award-winning work for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device      industries, and MCME Global, which specializes in medical education. Carling is headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, and has an office in      London, UK. Carling Communications pursues global innovation and excellence by      acting as an extension of each client’s marketing team, ensuring maximum      impact from an extensive offering of state-of-the-art services,      strategic planning, creative development, brand marketing, and tactical      execution. More information is available at  www.carlingcom.com . The Carling Group of Companies is now an official member of the      Fishawack Group of Companies. Fishawack Group of Companies

LDC-backed Fishawack buys Carling Group of Companies
July 6, 2017
By Iris Dorbian
Fishawack Group of Companies, which is backed by LDC, the private equity arm of of Lloyds Banking Group, has acquired London and San Diego-based Carling Group of Companies. Included in the transaction are two San Diego companies: Carling Communications, a healthcare marketing and communications agency and MCME Global, a provider of medical services. No financial terms were disclosed. PRESS RELEASE
LDC-backed Fishawack Group of Companies, the specialist provider of scientific communications services to global pharmaceutical companies, has announced the acquisition of the US-based Carling Group of Companies. The transaction value is undisclosed. The Group includes Carling Communications, a full-service healthcare marketing and communications agency, and MCME Global, the specialist provider of medical education services. Both businesses are headquartered in San Diego. Founded in 2010 by Didi Discar, and with offices in San Diego and London, Carling has a team of more than 100 people specialising in full-service marketing, advertising and physician communications. It supports clients across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries and provides specialist expertise across 35 therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and pain management. This deal marks the first acquisition Fishawack has made since mid-market private equity investor LDC backed the £38m buyout of the business in January this year, with a commitment to support its buy-and-build strategy. Carling Communications will be the first agency in the Fishawack Group to focus solely on healthcare marketing. Simon Braham, Investment Director at LDC, said: “Over the past six months we have been working closely with Oliver and his team to implement their growth strategy. With the acquisition of the Carling Group, Fishawack has not only strengthened its foothold in the US, the largest market for the global pharmaceutical sector, but bolstered its position as one of the world’s largest full-service medical communications groups. “This is a major milestone for Fishawack and we look forward to continuing to support the team as they deliver their growth ambitions.”
Oliver Dennis, CEO of Fishawack, added: “The financial backing and support of our investment partner LDC is enabling us to accelerate our international growth strategy. Through creative agency Carling Communications we’re now able to offer clients a comprehensive healthcare marketing service for the first time, while the addition of MCME bolsters our medical education offering. This deal marks the seventh strategic acquisition during our 16-year history and a significant step in the expansion of our reach, capabilities and client base.”
Commenting on the deal, Didi Discar, Principal at Carling Group, added: “This deal signals a new beginning in our offering. Our skills complement each other and provide synergies that will significantly benefit current and future clients, while building on our shared vision of excellence, integrity and respect. As part of the Fishawack Group we join a truly global network. This is not only a boost for our ability to provide expanded client support, but also for career and development opportunities for both Carling and Fishawack employees.”
BDO provided buy-side M&A advice (Ruth Percival) and financial due diligence (Chris Heatlie and Vinod Patel), KPMG (Steven Heath, Chris Wilson and Mathias Reiter) provided tax advice, Clearwater International provided debt advice (Tom Barnwell) and Candesic (Marc Kitten and Dr Joe Taylor) provided commercial due diligence. Hill Dickinson (Craig Scott and Michael Murphy), Foley & Lardener in the US (Beni Surpin and Carrie Long) and Addleshaw Goddard (Paul Medlicott, George Danczak and Ben Edwards) provided legal advice. Orricks in San Diego advised Carling management. 1. LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 2. LDC backs ambitious management teams from UK-based companies seeking up to £100m of equity for management buy-outs, institutional buy-outs or development capital transactions. 3. LDC is celebrating its 35th anniversary and has completed more than 550 investments since 1981. 4. LDC has a portfolio of 90 businesses across the UK which collectively generates £5.5bn of revenues and employs in excess of 40,000 people. 5. LDC invests in a broad range of sectors and has particular experience in Construction & Property, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Retail & Consumer, TMT, Travel & Leisure and Support Services. 6. LDC has committed to invest £1.2bn in UK mid-market businesses over the next three years. 7. Over the last three years (2014-16), LDC has invested over £1bn of equity and generated exit proceeds of more than £2bn. 8. LDC is the leading private equity company in the UK mid-market. Recent transactions include investments with Fishawack Group, Addo, Hill Biscuits, Blue Bay Travel, Lucid Group, Rush, ChargePoint, Mitrefinch, PAW and Team17. 9. LDC has a UK regional network with offices in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Reading. 10. For further information, visit www.ldc.co.uk/pressrelease
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