April 1, 2019

Oklahoma City, OK – GlobalHealth, an Oklahoma-based health maintenance organization which is currently majority-owned by an affiliate of Kinderhook Industries, LLC (“Kinderhook”) announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to create a partnership in the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) marketplace with Evolent Health (“Evolent”), a company providing an integrated value-based care platform to the nation’s leading providers and payers. The company will partner with leading provider organizations to launch and scale MA health plans under the True Health brand in targeted geographies.

Consistent with Evolent’s focus on provider-driven value-based care, True Health’s MA product will target partnerships with high-performing providers that are prepared to take delegated risk for MA populations. The newly established joint venture will be anchored by GlobalHealth, a health plan founded in 2003 and based in Oklahoma City that provides insurance coverage to approximately 13,000 MA and approximately 18,000 government employees throughout the state of Oklahoma. True Health expansion markets will leverage GlobalHealth’s health plan management expertise and operating platform combined with Evolent’s clinical model, pharmacy expertise and provider network. The combined assets will support continued growth for GlobalHealth in Oklahoma, as well as the scalable launch and operations of several new MA health plans under the True Health brand for 2020, 2021 and beyond.

Under the terms of the agreement, the existing equity owners of GlobalHealth, including an affiliate of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, will contribute GlobalHealth and additional cash in exchange for a 55 percent ownership position in True Health. Evolent will own a 45 percent minority stake and is contributing $37.5 million of capital comprised of $15 million in cash and $22.5 million in stock, in addition to new provider agreements pertaining to its True Health MA line of business. These organizations bring a unique provider orientation and expert leadership in managing health plan operations, clinical innovation and consumer engagement. Furthermore, Evolent will support the growth of True Health with its clinical expertise and services, as well as the identification of provider partners in select markets where ideal conditions do not exist today for payer-delegated risk models.

“In select markets, we find that leading providers have a desire to enter the MA market but they are unable to access ‘value-based’ payer arrangements, and they don’t have the scale and capital base to launch their own plans,” said Evolent Chief Executive Officer Frank Williams. “The formation of the partnership with GlobalHealth will allow True Health to serve leading providers and power a highly differentiated clinical model for providers as well as MA beneficiaries. With GlobalHealth and Evolent’s infrastructure and expertise, provider organizations can now access a full suite of administrative and clinical capabilities as well as a financial partner in launching and scaling locally-based plans. While Evolent will continue to support traditional payer/provider value arrangements with ACOs and other value contracting models, True Health will serve a segment of providers that are seeking a clinically-driven, aligned model for launching and operating MA plans.”

“GlobalHealth was founded by a group of physicians committed to delivering the best health care coverage in the industry,” said GlobalHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Vaughn. “Today, our passion for working with providers to introduce innovative and affordable solutions to the market is stronger than ever. We are excited to partner with Evolent Health and their expansive network of providers to grow geographically beyond Oklahoma.”

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel and Moelis & Company LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to GlobalHealth and Kinderhook. Bass, Berry & Sims PLC served as legal counsel and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Evolent Health.

About Evolent Health

Evolent Health partners with leading provider and payer organizations to achieve superior clinical and financial results in value-based care and under full-risk arrangements. With a provider heritage and over 20 years of health plan administration experience, Evolent partners with more than 35 health care organizations to actively manage care across Medicare, Medicaid, commercial and self-funded adult and pediatric populations. With the experience to drive change, Evolent confidently stands by a commitment to achieve results.

For additional information about this transaction, please contact: 

Chris Michalik
Managing Director
+1 (212) 201-6782
[email protected]

Louis Aurelio
Principal
+1 (212) 201-6783
[email protected]