MediZine LLC, a leading consumer health education company, has acquired the assets of University Health Publishing Group (UHPG). With its 24-year history of consumer health information and education in collaboration with two of the most esteemed universities in the country – Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, Berkeley, UHPG provides millions of readers worldwide with a variety of print and online subscription-based products. Terms were not disclosed.
JEGI CLARITY (www.jegiclarity.com), the leading provider of independent investment banking services for media, information, marketing services and related technologies represented UHPG in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.
“For many years, we have discussed the possibility of joining forces with UHPG in our mutual goal to educate consumers about their health needs,” said Traver Hutchins, CEO & President of MediZine LLC, a portfolio company of Veronis Suhler Stevenson. “With this acquisition, we are now able to build on UHPG’s impressive heritage to reach more consumers with extensive research-based health content. This complements MediZine’s current programs reaching more than 100 million consumers each year.” He added, “Stuart Jordan, UHPG Chief Operating Officer, has done a tremendous job developing the company’s assets, which will be a growth catalyst for MediZine, as we continue to build out our multi-media and integrated health education platform.”
“Everyone at UHPG is excited by the prospect of expanding our existing consumer health brands and creating new products, which will now be possible thanks to the completion of this deal,” said Jordan. “I am personally happy to be joining the MediZine team which shares the same mission to further the consumer health information experience.”
MediZine’s proven expertise in how to reach proactive, health-concerned consumers – when and where they seek solutions – in pharmacies, in doctors’ offices and in home and online, will provide novel opportunities to grow the subscriber base for UHPG’s portfolio of publications, including John Hopkins Health After 50 and the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter newsletters.
“We look forward to significantly expanding the readership of our collaborative Wellness Letter through our new partnership with MediZine,” explained Stephen M. Shortell, Ph.D., Dean, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. “Touching the lives of as many people as possible with health information that can be trusted is increasingly important, given the rapid changes occurring in medical and health care discoveries.”
“Our much-valued and long relationship with UHPG, and our partnership in the Health After 50 enterprises, play an important part in our efforts to inform the public about advances in biomedical research and health care,” said Edward D. Miller, M.D. Dean/CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “UHPG’s contributions to consumer education have been impressive. Now, with access to MediZine’s resources and expertise, we are looking forward to expanding our reach.”