Case History
2
Nautic brought significant vision in leading the merger of QoL and Genoa, and proved to be a valuable partner as we integrated and positioned the companies for future growth in serving the mental health community.
John Figueroa, CEO, Genoa Healthcare, a QoL Company

QoL Meds

During Nautic’s partnership with QoL, the company more than doubled its footprint of on-site pharmacies through both de novo growth and a significant acquisition in only 15 months. Following its rapid growth in number of pharmacies and profitability, the company was sold to Advent International in 2015. Nautic retained an ownership stake and remains on the board.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

QoL is one of the largest specialty pharmacy operators in the U.S. focused primarily on serving the needs of the mental health community. The company partners with mental health providers, typically community mental health centers (“CMHCs”), to provide on-site pharmacy and related services in dedicated space the company leases from these providers. CMHCs are not-for-profit institutions that support or treat the severely mentally ill in an outpatient setting. QoL’s value proposition of improving quality of care at a lower cost to the overall system is compelling to all three constituents in mental health – patient, provider and payor.

THE SITUATION

QoL was owned by a group of individuals led by the brother of the founder, who passed away tragically before he was able to execute on his vision. The board had recruited an experienced pharmacy executive, Jim Smith, to meet the market demand for on-site pharmacy services at CMHCs. Under Jim’s leadership, the company grew from 12 to 86 pharmacies through a highly efficient and profitable de novo model. Jim and the board were seeking a partner to continue the company’s history of growth.

WHAT WE DID

Within seven months of Nautic’s ownership, Nautic supported management in acquiring a leading competitor, Genoa Healthcare. Genoa operated a very similar pharmacy model. Renamed Genoa Healthcare, a QoL Company, the combined company is the market leader in mental health pharmacy and had over 240 pharmacies at the time of sale to Advent. With the power of consolidated purchasing, the company was able to negotiate significant savings with a key wholesaler. With the support of Jim Smith, Nautic recruited John Figueroa to be chief executive. Prior to joining Genoa, John was the CEO of Omnicare and then became the CEO of Apria Healthcare, which was owned by The Blackstone Group before it was sold to CVS Health for $2.1 billion. John has built a world-class team and the company continues its mission of serving the mentally ill by adding approximately 40 new pharmacies a year.

All Case Histories
Healthcare
Services
Industrials
Certain statements about Nautic made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate Nautic’s business relationship with such persons, including with respect to Nautic’s facilities as a business partner, rather than Nautic’s capabilities or expertise with respect to investment advisory services. Portfolio company executives were not compensated in connection with their participation, although they generally receive compensation and investment opportunities in connection with their portfolio company roles, and in certain cases are also owners of portfolio company securities and/or investors in Nautic-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein.