A Plymouth medical tech company has been bought by a major global software firm headquartered in Canada.
N Harris Computer Corporation (Harris), an Ottawa-based vertical market software provider and acquirer, has snapped up K2 Medical Systems Holdings Limited, which makes specialised maternity ward software for international markets.
K2 Medical Systems is a multi-award winning innovation and technology company, dedicated to improving maternity care. It offers support at each stage of pregnancy with a suite of software, including electronic health records, labour and delivery risk reduction, fetal and blood pressure monitoring systems, and interactive e-learning perinatal training programs.
Initially starting as a perinatal research group within a busy maternity department in 1989 and formed a decade later, it is now a global organisation with offices in the UK, Australia, and the USA, and agents based in the Middle East.
The research, which began more than 29 years ago, continues today to provide an ever-increasing and comprehensive portfolio of innovative and pioneering solutions to support clinicians, improve care, and reduce poor birth outcomes.
The company was incorporated in 1999 and moved from Plymouth Science Park into newly-built bespoke premises on Plymouth International Business Park, Derriford, in 2015. Its most recent accounts, for the year to the end of June 2019, showed K2 made a profit that year of £3,633,623.
Harris acquires vertical market software businesses, manages them using industry best practices, and builds them. Through acquisitions, Harris has grown extensively from its roots in the utilities, local government, education, and healthcare sectors to operate more than 130 businesses globally across more than 20 industries.
Harris is an operating group of Constellation Software Inc, one of North America’s most active acquirers of software businesses.
This acquisition adds a significant international foundation to the Harris healthcare group and its expansion into the maternity sector, building upon its recent acquisition of Meridian Health Informatics in Australia.
Jerry Canada, Harris Healthcare Group President, said: “K2 Medical Systems has expanded considerably since its inception over 20 years ago, and we look forward to entering a new stage of growth together.”
K2 Medical Systems will maintain its autonomy and Dr Robert Keith will continue to lead the business as executive vice president.
He said: “K2 has always been passionate and dedicated to improving maternity care and Harris respected our vision and goals for the company. Through collaboration and sharing of best practices, we look forward to growing with Harris.”
K2 Medical Systems was advised by Tim Spooner and Tom Simmonds from KPMG’s corporate finance team during the transaction. Duncan Sykes and Tim Young from Foot Anstey acted as K2’s legal advisors.
