EMIS owner bought by US private equity firm
US private equity firm TPG has bought Optum UK, the company that owns major UK GP IT system supplier EMIS.
The deal, which was first reported as a possibility at the beginning of this year, means that it is the second time ownership of the software has changed hands in less than three years.
Optum UK is a subsidiary of US health insurance company UnitedHealth, which bought EMIS for £1.2bn in October 2023.
UnitedHealth confirmed the sale of Optum UK in its first quarter results on 21 April, saying that it completed the sale of the Optum UK business ‘with $400m in net proceeds committed to the United Health Foundation’.
Pulse understands that TPG is the acquirer and the deal has now closed.
TPG invests in healthcare technology focused on ‘automation, data and analytics’, and ‘interoperability to improve care and patient choice in their own health’, according to its website.
It holds $286bn (£231bn) in assets and has a history of investing in US-based and global healthcare technology companies.
EMIS is one of two main providers of clinical systems in primary care in England, used by more than 4,000 GP practices.
A spokesperson for Optum told Pulse: ‘TPG has completed its acquisition of Optum UK, comprised of the EMIS business and select Optum assets.
‘The transaction establishes Optum UK as a standalone business with enhanced operational support and investment capacity to deliver comprehensive and modern technology solutions that help improve care delivery and efficiency across the UK healthcare system.
‘TPG’s partnership will help strengthen our ability to support customers, partners, and suppliers through investment into industry‑leading technology and services, and the development of next‑generation capabilities.
‘Our focus remains on delivering trusted systems that enable high-quality and integrated care, aligned with the NHS strategic priorities.’
Meanwhile, Medicus Health, which was approved by NHS England as the newest GP IT system last June, was bought by European firm Doctolib this week.
In a statement, Doctolib said it is ‘joining forces’ with Medicus to ‘accelerate the transformation of general practices in the UK’, bringing ‘the best technology, AI and services’ to the clinical and administrative teams of GP practices across the country.
Doctolib plans to invest more than £100 million in the UK over the coming years, hire 150 people and establish a full research and development centre in London to ‘drive innovation in primary care’, it said.
It also said that Doctolib brings ‘a suite of AI assistants’ and a standard of service used by over 500,000 health professionals and 1,000 hospitals across Europe.
Medicus will continue to operate with the same CEO and founder and its UK-based team.
Earlier this year, Pulse revealed that just 10 GP practices had adopted Medicus, despite an investment of nearly £3m by NHS England, but that that ‘implementation projects’ were planned in 97 practices across 18 ICB areas.
