Cook Medical Selling its Reproductive Health Business Unit

Cook Medical has signed a letter of intent with private equity firm Astorg to sell its Reproductive Health business (Cook ART). This sale, which includes the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and assisted reproductive technology (ART) products, is another step toward fulfilling Cook’s vision for the future of the company.

Cook has been involved in the Reproductive Health space for more than 30 years, developing and launching products for in vitro fertilization and advanced reproductive therapies. Astorg, which has deep experience in investing in medtech across both manufacturing and product businesses with a focus on growth and innovation, intends to acquire and simultaneously combine the Cook ART portfolio with Hamilton Thorne, a provider of instruments, consumables, software, and services to the ART research and the cell biology space. Through combining Cook ART and Hamilton Thorne, Astorg expects to create a leading ART provider with a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality, innovative, and reliable equipment and consumables to better serve doctors, embryologists, researchers, and patients. 

Transaction details:

• The proposed transaction is subject to applicable local consultation obligations and regulatory review globally before it can be finalized. The transaction is expected to close in the fall of 2024.
• The 93 Reproductive Health commercial employees include sales, product management, training, and marketing, will receive employment offers from, or (where applicable under local law) automatically transfer to, the newly combined company as soon as the transactions close.
• This purchase includes the Cook Vandergrift, Pennsylvania manufacturing site. After the transaction closes, there will be a three-year transition period during which Cook will continue to provide manufacturing services at Cook Vandergrift. After that period, all of Cook Vandergrift’s 209 employees will transfer to the combined company.
• The proceeds from this sale will be reinvested back into Cook Medical’s strategic plan.