Contact:
Angela Pittman Taylor
Baird Public Relations
414-298-1902
apittmantaylor@rwbaird.com
Investment Leverages Baird Capital’s Extensive Healthcare Network
SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2013 – Baird Capital announced today that its China Growth Equity team has invested in Kedu Healthcare (Kedu), one of China’s largest independent medical equipment service providers.
Kedu was founded in 2006 by former GE Healthcare executive James Ni to provide medical equipment service in China. Since then, the company has installed more than 23,000 pieces of equipment in more than 10,000 hospitals across China and grown to become a trusted partner to both hospitals and many multinational healthcare original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Through this investment, Baird Capital will leverage its extensive healthcare network to help add new U.S. and European equipment and instrument manufacturers to the Kedu platform in China.
“We discovered that many U.S. and European healthcare instrument and equipment makers are finding it very difficult to provide quality maintenance service and spare parts to their hospital customers across China,” said Brett Tucker, Partner with Baird Capital’s China Growth Equity team. “Kedu’s broad network of more than 400 service and sales engineers across China is a compelling solution to that problem and we are excited to partner with the company’s experienced management team to drive further business growth.”
“We are a trusted partner to large OEMs because we understand quality and global service standards,” said James Ni, President of Kedu. “We are excited to partner with and leverage Baird Capital’s international relationships which will allow us to serve even more healthcare equipment providers and expand our business.”
Brett Tucker will join the Kedu board of directors as part of this transaction.
About Baird Capital
Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Baird Capital’s China-based growth equity team provides capital to companies with substantial operations and opportunities in China. Baird Capital leverages its in-depth sector knowledge, experienced investment team and network of relationships to serve as a value-added partner for its portfolio companies. Baird Capital provides operational support to its portfolio companies through teams on the ground in Asia, a pro-active portfolio operations team and a deep network of relationships which together strive to deliver enhanced shareholder value. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. For more information, please visit www.BairdCapital.com.
