Foros Continues Success in 2019, Its Tenth Anniversary Year
In 2019 we advised on seven announced transactions, ranging in size from $1 billion to $50 million, for a total of $3 billion in transaction volume. At the same time, we continue to perform important strategic advisory work for several clients that has not yet resulted in transactions. Consistent with our basic tenets of creating long-term value and advising against transactions that do not create value, we take as much pride in our long-term strategic advice as we do in announced transactions.
Our 2019 results continue to demonstrate that strategic M&A advice — derived rigorously, delivered with integrity and targeting long-term value creation — is valued by clients across sectors and industries.
US based transactions included advising industry leading application delivery networking and security provider F5 Networks on two acquisitions, NGINX (software-based application delivery controller) for $670 million and Shape Security (application security provider) for $1 billion; leading specialty pharmacy and specialty infusion provider Diplomat Pharmacy on its $900 million sale to UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx unit; and home health care provider VNA Health Group on its sale to Bayada Home Health Care. Cross border work also continued to be a key part of our business, as we advised industry leading pest management provider ServiceMaster on its $200 million acquisition of Sweden based Nomor Holding AB (pest management) and its acquisition of UK based MPCL (pest management); and EQT portfolio company, Sweden based enterprise software developer IFS on its $75 million acquisition of US based Astea (service management software solutions).
In 2019, we also celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of the June 2009 founding of Foros. Since its founding, Foros has served 76 clients, advising on 81 announced transactions with over $64 billion in transaction value, with the vast majority of clients working with us over several years or multiple announcements. We are excited about the next phase of our firm’s trajectory.
We are also proud to announce the promotion of Kyla Adler to Vice President. Kyla joined Foros from Harvard in 2013 and has enjoyed career success as the firm has succeeded. We are excited that she will continue to contribute to the firm and advise our clients in this new leadership role.
We thank you again for your partnership that has helped Foros thrive over the years. We look forward to continuing our work with you in 2020 and wish you a healthy and successful year.
The Foros Team