News

Blackstone said April 13 that it agreed to buy the Center for Autism and Related Disorders LLC (CARD). Financial terms weren’t announced. CARD, of Woodland Hills, California, provides applied behavioral analysis treatment and assessment to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities. News of the auction was reported by Buyouts in January. Blackstone was advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Cain Brothers. CARD was advised by Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner PC and Berkery Noyes.

PRESS RELEASE

Blackstone to Acquire Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)

New York, April 13, 2018 – Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced today that private equity funds managed by Blackstone have agreed to acquire the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC (“CARD”), a leading provider of autism behavioral health services for children and adults affected by autism spectrum disorder. CARD Founder and CEO Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and CARD management will invest alongside Blackstone in the transaction.

CARD offers center, school, and home-based behavioral therapy nationwide to children and adults diagnosed with autism. The company delivers rigorous clinical quality and positive outcomes through a highly credentialed and well-trained workforce of behavior analysts and behavior technicians, high engagement with patients and their families, proprietary software for treatment planning and ongoing monitoring, and an evidence-based, individualized approach to treating each child or adult. Dr. Granpeesheh will continue to lead CARD along with members of her experienced management team.

Bruce McEvoy, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said, “Dr. Granpeesheh has built an industry-leading provider of behavioral therapies for autism.  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Dr. Granpeesheh and the rest of her visionary management team and look forward to supporting the company as it continues to expand access to treatment and services for those affected by autism.”

Dr. Granpeesheh, Founder and CEO of CARD, added, “We are proud of the high-quality services we provide and our commitment to helping individuals affected by autism achieve their full potential. Partnering with Blackstone will enable us to dramatically enhance our ability to serve the autism community through increased investments in people, clinics, technology, and research.”

The transaction is expected to close later this year. Blackstone was advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets. CARD was advised by Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC, and Berkery Noyes.

About Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
CARD treats individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at treatment centers around the globe. CARD was founded in 1990 by leading autism expert, licensed psychologist, and behavior analyst Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. CARD treats individuals with ASD using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. For more information, visit www.centerforautism.com or call (855) 345-2273.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our asset management businesses, with over $430 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.