3i, an international leader in private equity, has agreed to divest its 48.7% shareholding in Romanian based Centrul Medical Unirea (“CMU”) to Advent International, a global private equity firm.

CMU is a leading chain of medical clinics based in Romania, providing ambulatory and inpatient medical services through a network of clinics (11 in Bucharest and 8 in other locations), a maternity unit in Regina Maria and a separate surgical unit. 

Founded in 1995 by Dr Wargha Enayati, 3i, advised by 3TS Capital Partners invested in CMU in 2007.  Supported by both 3i and 3TS Capital Partners, CMU has achieved successful growth through increasing the breadth of its regional footprint and expanding its range of specialist services, including the addition of a specialist maternity hospital, stem cell bank services, a dedicated diagnostics centre with highly advanced MRI and CT equipment and a paediatrics policlinic.  Estimated revenues for CMU in 2010 are €21 million.

3i have a long track record of investment in the healthcare space.  Current investments include the leading European wide diagnostics and laboratory services business Labco, as well as contract research outsourcing provider Quintiles Transnational and Axellia, a Nordic based worldwide supplier and developer of active pharmaceutical ingredients. 

Daniel Lynch, Managing Partner at 3TS Capital said: “Centrul Medical Unirea has all the ingredients of a great business: visionary founder, talented management team and well thought strategy. Dr Enayati has been not only a successful businessman but a great partner and we look forward to following the developments of the company through its next stage of growth."

Rowena Cahill, 3i investment executive said: “Under the leadership and vision of Dr Enayati and with the support of 3i , Centrul Medical Unirea has delivered significant growth throughout the past 3 years, expanding both its product offering and regional platform.  We are confident that the business will continue its great success going forward.”