Kester Capital acquires EMAS Pharma

Kester Capital (“Kester”), a leading UK private equity investor, today announced its acquisition, alongside an experienced incoming executive team, of EMAS Pharma, the clinical development division of Bionical Emas. EMAS Pharma is a leading Clinical Research Organisation (“CRO”), providing specialised services to the global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

Headquartered in the UK, EMAS Pharma offers market-leading expertise across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare diseases, inflammation, immunology and microbiome therapeutics. The business counts several of the largest and most innovative global pharma and biotech companies as long-standing customers.

The investment from Kester and the incoming executive team will enable EMAS Pharma to scale rapidly, both organically and through acquisitions, to broaden its range of bespoke and tailored service capabilities, enhance its technology base, and strengthen its presence in global markets, including North America and Europe. EMAS Pharma will be rebranded to reflect the new company’s strong independent and global position in due course. The investment represents Kester’s fourth investment out of its latest fund, Kester Capital III, which closed at its hard cap of £200 million in March 2024.

PMSI provided CDD to support the transaction, addressing critical investment themes such as: the current opportunity and future outlook of the clinical CRO market with a focus on EMAS Pharma’s specialities in oncology and rare diseases; key market dynamics and drivers including biotech funding and pipelines; an in-depth customer referencing process; as well as an assessment of Kester’s competitive positioning.

Kester Capital completes carve-out of EMAS Pharma