Premier Research Announces Growth Investment From Metalmark Capital

Investment Will Advance Premier's Next Development Phase

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Premier Research (“Premier” or the “Company”), a leading middle-market contract research organization (“CRO”) that provides comprehensive clinical development, analytic, and support services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device customers worldwide, today announced that it will receive a growth investment from Metalmark Capital (“Metalmark”), a New York-based private equity firm, which acquired its position from Indigo Capital (“Indigo”), a long-established, independently-owned investment firm based in London. Metalmark has over two decades of healthcare experience, which it plans to leverage to support Premier’s capitalization of the growing outsourced clinical trial market as it continues to provide high-quality services to its valued customers. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Premier’s existing management team members will continue in their current roles.

“Indigo has been a great partner to us, and we thank them for their dedicated support over the years while we welcome our new partners at Metalmark”

“Indigo has been a great partner to us, and we thank them for their dedicated support over the years while we welcome our new partners at Metalmark,” said Ludo Reynders, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Premier Research. “I am proud of the exciting work our team has pioneered since inception. We remain committed to our loyal customers and continue to prioritize and anticipate their needs as they develop life-changing therapies based upon our services. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to be working alongside the team at Metalmark. They have a proven track record of success, industry expertise, and extensive networks in our areas of focus, and we are excited to benefit from their involvement in our business.”

“We are very excited to partner with Ludo and his strong leadership team at Premier,” said Fazle Husain, a Partner at Metalmark Capital. “Our relationship with Ludo and his colleagues spans many years, from our early investments in the CRO industry in the 1990s. We look forward to leveraging our healthcare expertise and our capital base to build upon Premier’s existing momentum as a preeminent platform and grow its position as a leading, differentiated CRO that has a strongly defined presence in the market."

About Premier Research

Premier Research is a leading clinical development service provider that helps highly innovative biotech and specialty pharma companies transform breakthrough ideas into reality. The company has a wealth of experience in the execution of global, regional, and local clinical development programs with a special focus on addressing unmet needs in areas such as neuroscience, oncology, pediatric, and rare disease. Premier Research operates in 84 countries and employs 1,000 professionals, including a strong international network of clinical monitors and project managers, regulatory, data management, statistical, scientific, and medical experts. They are focused on smart study design for advanced medicines that allow life-changing treatments. www.premier-research.com

About Metalmark Capital

Metalmark Capital is a leading private equity firm that seeks to build long-term value through active and collaborative partnerships with business owners, founders, and executives. The Firm focuses its investment activity in healthcare, natural resources, agribusiness, and growth industrials. Metalmark Capital manages funds with $3.7 billion in aggregate capital commitments. For more information, please visit www.metalmarkcapital.com.

About Indigo Capital LLP

Indigo Capital LLP is a long-established independently owned firm based in London, which manages a number of investment funds which have provided mezzanine and junior ranking capital to privately-owned European businesses. The Firm’s portfolio comprises principally mezzanine capital investments in medium-sized operating businesses having a substantial part of their activities within Europe. For more information, please visit www.indigo-capital.com.