UDG moves mergers and acquisitions scouts to US

UDG Healthcare hopes to gain “additional visibility” on acquisition targets over the coming months with it relocating its mergers and acquisitions team to the US this summer.

The Dublin-based diversified healthcare services group generates 70% of its earnings in the US and Britain. Yesterday, it reiterated it has up to €100m to spend on acquisitions, with a good pipeline of potential targets being considered.

Further bolt-on buys are most likely being targeted for the group’s Ashfield Commercial & Medical Services contract sales outsourcing unit in the US, but UDG also has targets in existing European territories and expansion in emerging markets particularly China on its radar.