Vestar Development Co.

Digital health content and services provider WebMD announced it has acquired technology and data analytics company Mercury Healthcare from private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. Through the deal, Mercury will join WebMD Provider, the company’s business focused on consumer-physician engagement and clinical education. Mercury's analytics solutions are geared towards giving health systems the ability to analyze, target and communicate meaningful information to the targeted patient, while simultaneously offering transparency and performance data to the provider. The company also offers services that aim to improve patient-retention strategies, patient-engagement solutions, including a library of pre-built connectors and APIs, and data analytics solutions with tiered data layering and predictive models. "The addition of Mercury Healthcare accelerates our mission to inform every decision point along the patient's journey, from discovery to recovery," Ann Bilyew, health and group general manager of WebMD Provider Services, said in a statement. She called the acquisition of Mercury, “a major investment in” WebMD’s continuing strategy to empower clients with the best data, content, technology and services. "The merging of these two industry leaders will empower every health system with the solutions needed to ensure each and every patient receives the care they need when and how they need it," Bilyew continued. WHY IT MATTERS The pandemic has brought about major changes in the relationship between consumers and their healthcare providers, according to a recent interview on HIMSS TV with Kyruus' Scott Andrews and HealthSparq's Harlan Edlin. As patient care channels become more fragmented, it is vital that coordination in patient-provider communications become more integrated. THE LARGER TREND The deal follows WebMD’s acquisition of Wellness Network last July, which created educational resources and engagement tools for patients, and included a library of videos and printable resources called HealthClips that touch on 24 therapeutic areas. In February WellSky announced plans to acquire patient-engagement tool TapCloud, a patient-facing app that lets users communicate with clinicians and report symptoms, On the clinical side, providers can access information about patient-reported outcomes. The EHR-agnostic technology also allows doctors to communicate with patients.

NEW YORK, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm, today announced the sale of Mercury Healthcare, the technology and data analytics company, to WebMD Health Corp, an Internet Brands company and a leader in health information services for consumers, physicians and other healthcare professionals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Vestar is proud to have supported the transformation of Healthgrades and Mercury over the last decade as they have become true leaders in consumer and b2b healthcare engagement," said Norm Alpert, Founding Partner, Co-President and head of Healthcare at Vestar. "Vestar targets innovative companies at the forefront of enabling patients, providers, and payers to make better informed decisions that improve the cost and quality of care. We recognize the importance of data and analytics to drive positive outcomes, and we remain committed to investing in market-leading companies at the intersection of healthcare and technology." The combination of WebMD and Mercury Healthcare will help transform the patient experience by supporting more efficient and effective communication with patients and caregivers. "This acquisition is the culmination of Mercury Healthcare's 30-year legacy of supporting healthcare providers in creating lasting consumer and patient relationships," said Jovan Willford, CEO, Mercury Healthcare. "Together, the companies will have unmatched scale, reach and potential in delivering engagement tools that contribute to healthier communities." About Mercury Healthcare Mercury Healthcare is a technology and data analytics company that empowers healthcare organizations to engage consumers and optimize provider relationships to accelerate growth. Customers benefit from 30 years' experience applying data analytics to drive intelligent engagement and enable personalized healthcare journeys. Mercury Healthcare helps healthcare organizations create seamless consumer experiences and improve outcomes to build healthier communities. For more information, please visit . About Vestar Capital Partners Vestar Capital Partners is a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams and private owners to build long-term enterprise value, with a focus on Consumer, Business & Technology Services and Healthcare. Since inception in 1988, Vestar funds have invested $11 billion in 88 companies – as well as more than 200 add-on acquisitions – with a total value of approximately $52 billion. For more information on Vestar, please visit . Media Contact Jennifer Hurson Lambert 845-507-0571 [email protected] SOURCE Vestar Capital Partners