Since 2005, Thompson Dean has overseen Avista Capital Partners in New York as a co-CEO. In this capacity, Thompson Dean directs the Avista investment strategy, which focuses on middle-market companies in communications, industry, and health care. VWR International, which provides equipment and consumable supplies to research laboratories around the world, remains one of the firm’s portfolio companies.
A global supplier of life sciences materials, Avantor recently signed an agreement to acquire VWR for $33.25 in cash per share of the company’s common stock. This figure reflects a total value of $6.4 billion.
The acquisition builds upon the strengths of each company to create a new organization more capable of meeting the needs of biopharma and advanced technology clients around the world. The combined organization will be vertically integrated to serve education, research, and government institutions from initial inquiry through production. This marketplace remains one of the fastest growing in the world.
Since its IPO, VWR has maintained strong growth patterns. Combining the company’s large breadth of products and strong distribution channels with Avantor’s industry-leading materials and solutions will result in an organization that can meet the demands of the growing life sciences sector.
