London-based Global Healthcare Opportunities and Singapore-based CBC Group have announced plans to merge, creating what they are calling the largest healthcare-focused investment management firm with more than $21 billion in assets.
The deal brings together two specialized healthcare investors and more than 200 investment and operations professionals across 13 offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Together, these regions account for approximately 90% of global healthcare R&D spending, according to the companies.
The investment firm said in a press release that the combination of its expansive footprint, network and global connectivity allows it to take advantage of “high-growth, innovation-driven opportunities in the world’s largest healthcare market.”
The new combined company will support innovation-driven healthcare businesses across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, life science tools, diagnostics, healthcare infrastructure and healthcare IT.
The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. GHO and CBC will continue to operate independently until the transaction closes.
GHO’s portfolio of North American and European healthcare companies will benefit from enhanced access to local insights and operational capabilities across Asia-Pacific, a key growth frontier for many of the company’s portfolio businesses, the companies said. In parallel, CBC’s portfolio will be enhanced with global market insights and execution support from the expanded company.
Two of GHO and CBC’s co-founders, Mike Mortimer and Hu Wei, will serve as co-CEOs of the combined company, and the senior leadership teams of both companies will continue to be actively involved in the day-to-day management of the new company. Dr. Lady Mireille Gillings, vice-chairman and co-founder of GHO, and Mr. Wei will serve as co-chairmen of the board.
“This combination aims to connect leading healthcare companies and innovations with the world’s largest and most established markets and global capital pools by bringing together complementary strengths across Asia Pacific, North America and Europe,” Wei, currently CEO of CBC Group, said in a statement. “Together, we are building the world’s largest healthcare-focused investment firm that accelerates patient access to affordable care, supports innovation, and improves efficiency in addressing unmet healthcare needs by helping our portfolio companies and their leadership teams grow and scale their impact.”
“Our vision has always been to support high-growth, innovation-driven healthcare opportunities to deliver better, faster and more accessible healthcare. In particular, AI is a rapidly evolving force in healthcare and life sciences, so AI applications in these areas will continue to be a focus.” Gillings said. “The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 40% of global healthcare R&D spending, and establishing a strong local presence is natural and highly complementary to our strategy.”
Mortimer said the merger will expand the investors’ global reach and enable portfolio companies to “compete and win in the increasingly dynamic global healthcare market.”
In October, GHO closed Fund IV with $2.9 billion, increasing total assets under management to $10.5 billion. New investments in 2025 include Avid Bioservices, a contract development and manufacturing organization, Scientist.com, an AI-powered R&D orchestration platform serving pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and FotoFinder Systems, a manufacturer of cutting-edge skin diagnostic and imaging solutions.
CBC Group has $10.8 billion in assets under management and recent investments include loans to Singapore-based miRNA cancer diagnostic startup Mirxes and breast reconstruction technology producer Motiva. Last fall, the company acquired UCB’s mature neurology and allergy business in China.
Each company’s existing funds and portfolio companies will continue to be managed by their respective investment teams, with no change in investment mandate, governance or ownership, the companies said.
