Supported by Sparring Capital, PHS Group (Praticima, IMS) advances its European strategy with the acquisition of Samarit
Founded in 1985 in Switzerland, Samarit invented a patented no-lift patient transfer and positioning system, the “Rollboard”, used across healthcare facilities and operating rooms. Samarit has global reach through a distributor network in 70 countries and sales teams in four European countries (Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain). Its products have been distributed in France by Praticima for nearly 20 years under an exclusive partnership.
The transaction follows PHS Group’s late-2023 acquisition of IMS Medical, a Dutch company specialised in mechanised pill crushing.
Beyond the Rollboard, Samarit offers a portfolio of clinical aids co-developed with doctors and nurses to improve safety, ergonomics and care efficiency. This innovation approach is fully aligned with PHS Group’s mission: to deliver premium solutions that make caregivers’ work easier and improve patient pathways.
The combination strengthens the Group’s product offering and accelerates its international development: PHS Group will leverage a reinforced local presence in Europe to activate commercial synergies across its entities, building on the successful model already implemented between Praticima and IMS Medical.
Fabrice Léo, The President of PHS Group declares:
As Samarit’s distributor in France for nearly twenty years, acquiring this Swiss group – present in four European countries and internationally recognised for its premium products – is an important step in our international growth strategy. Synergies between our sales teams will help us accelerate in Europe, as well as in North America and Japan.
Adrien de La Bouillerie, Director at Sparring Capital adds
Anchored in a robust organisation, Samarit will enable the Group to accelerate its international expansion, with a local footprint now in six European countries and the rollout of global commercial synergies through a unified go-to-market. This transaction exemplifies Sparring Capital’s strategy: transforming national leaders into European reference players by supporting management teams in buy-and-build strategy and organisational structuring.
Deal participants
PHS Group
Fabrice Léo, Fabien Mazarico
Sparring Capital
Arnaud Leclercq, Adrien de La Bouillerie, Raphaël Campion
Seller
Jürg Schuster
Senior lenders
CIC Lyonnaise de Banque (Benoit Rol), BNP Paribas, Société Générale
Sell-side legal advisors
MME (Alex Enzler, Walter Frei, Martina Kim)
Senior lenders legal advisors
De Pardieu Brocas Maffei (Corentin Coatalem, Eryk Nowakowski, Oneda Durmishi)
Conseil juridique acquéreur
Mermoz Avocats (Virginie Florance, Laëtitia Ayoub)
Jacquemoud Stanislas (Philippe Jacquemoud, Alexandre Salem, Romain Giacobino)
TAX PARTNERS (Stephanie Eichenberge)
Ego Humrich Wyen (Achim Spengler, Jan-Henning Wyen, Maximilian Drexler)
Acquirer Financial due diligence
Forvis Mazars (Giray Tözalgan, Séverine Hervet, Matthieu Carrillo, Guillaume Jestin)