Transactions: Merger Forms ‘Top-Five’ Autism Provider; Discovery Behavioral Health’s Latest Acquisition

Autism treatment companies merge to form one of nation’s largest ABA providers

PE-backed BlueSprig Pediatrics, a Houston-based provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA), has announced its purchase of Florida Autism Center and its Georgia brand Fusion Autism Center, creating a “top-five national provider” of autism services, according to a press release announcing the news.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but PE Hub reported the transaction was valued at about $120 million.

BlueSprig was established in 2017 and is a portfolio company of global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (NYSE: KKR). It has locations in 11 states.

Meanwhile, Florida Autism Center, which is a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners, also provides ABA therapy. It has 33 locations across Florida and operates 18 sites in Georgia under the Fusion Autism Center brand.

The merger will help bolster BlueSprig’s presence in the Southeast, where it already operates centers in Kentucky and South Carolina. Together, BlueSprig and FAC will have a total of nearly 110 clinics across 13 states.

Discovery Behavioral Health acquires mental health provider

Discovery Behavioral Health, a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners, has purchased New Hope Ranch, a Manor, Texas-based drug and alcohol treatment provider that services the Austin area.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

The transaction marks the latest addition to Los Alamitos, California-based Discovery’s ever growing portfolio. In the past few months alone, the provider of mental health, substance abuse and eating disorder services has added new locations in California, Maryland and Washington state.

Overall, Discovery operates centers in 12 states and recently told Behavioral Health Business it has ambitions to enter two new states this year.

Telepsychiatry providers merger

Two providers of telepsychiatry services have joined forces.

Brentwood, Tennessee-based MindCare Solutions Group — which provides telepsychiatry services to specialty outpatient clinics, primary care centers and correctional facilities across the country — has announced its purchase of Dallas-based PsychNow — a regional telepsychiatry company serving more than 30 Texas locations.

The deal closed March 1. Terms of the merger were not released.