Alantra advises Blackford Analysis on sale to Bayer

Jan 2023

Sell-side advisory

New York – Alantra, a leading global investment bank and asset management firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised Blackford Analysis (“Blackford”), a market-leading medical imaging Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) platform and solutions company, on its sale to Bayer, a global life sciences company. The deal is expected to close later this year pending customary closing conditions.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, Blackford offers tailored tools and services that unlock the value of medical imaging AI within the clinical workflow. The company, which currently has a significant presence in both the UK and the US, will continue to be based in Scotland and will operate as an independent organization while advancing Bayer’s position in digital medical imaging. 

“Alantra’s multi-skilled team was unstinting in its energy and effort to advise our management and our shareholders, at all stages of the deal, from day one through completion,” said Ben Panter, CEO of Blackford Analysis. “Alantra combines deep sector expertise and networks with a phenomenal work ethic, delivering strategic advice, tactical support and materials of the highest quality. Alantra was instrumental in helping us shape and express our vision for AI in digital medical imaging and allowed us to focus on our core business and creation of value.”

“Ben, Blackford’s founder and CEO, has built a leading technology platform, strong commercial partnerships, and an expert team behind all of it,” said Frederic Laurier, Managing Director with Alantra. “We are extremely pleased to have served as Blackford’s advisor as it combines forces with Bayer, a global vendor in healthcare. We are excited to watch them evolve along with the fast-growing market for clinical applications.” Alantra acted as sole financial advisor to Blackford Analysis on this transaction. The Alantra US Healthcare team advising Blackford Analysis included Mr. Laurier, Christian Carlson, PhD, and Darius Kuddo.