Tim Bird
Timothy Bird

Next Fifteen Communications Group has acquired the US division of Health Unlimited.

Health Unlimited, along with its specialist consultancy Corkery Group, will be rebranded as M Booth Health and operate as a separate agency reporting to M Booth CEO Dale Bornstein. M Booth was acquired by Next 15 in 2009.

Timothy Bird, Health Unlimited global CEO, and his US-based management team will continue to lead the agency.

He called the deal a major milestone for both firms "We will continue our work at the forefront with clients in health and medicine with access to M Booth’s creative, digital and analytics expertise to advance progress," Bird told O'Dwyer's. "Bringing together M Booth’s strengths with our expertise in health-focused strategic communications will allow us to shape new offerings to better help clients and make both of our agencies even stronger."

Health Unlimited comes in at #5 on O’Dwyer’s list of top healthcare firms, reporting 2018 net fees of $24.3 million. For the year ending March 31, the agency reported adjusted before-tax profit of $5.2 million and net assets of $17 million. It is to be acquired debt-free.

“The acquisition is a major milestone for Next 15 as it adds another specialist business to the portfolio and greatly expands our international footprint in the healthcare sector. We see significant complementary opportunities for both businesses,” said Tim Dyson, CEO of Next 15.