SouthStar Urgent Care Completes Strategic Investment in AHS Walk-In Clinic

On July 26, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that Southstar Urgent Care, a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners, has completed its investment in AHS Walk-In Clinic. The financial terms were not disclosed. Located in Youngsville, Louisiana, the AHS clinic is a walk-in facility catering to non-emergency medical needs. Southstar stated that it has opened another urgent care clinic following the completion of the AHS transaction.

SouthStar Urgent Care is a leading provider of urgent care services and clinics in Louisiana, and a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners (Shore Capital), a leading lower-middle-market healthcare private equity firm. SouthStar Urgent Care currently operates 11 clinics, delivering high-quality care to patients. The company boasts a 95% recommendation rate online and has received numerous positive reviews from patients.

The company plans to continue providing specialized care services in 2019, expanding into eight markets in Louisiana, including Minden, Gramercy, Winnsboro, Springhill, Many, Slidell, Farmerville, and Vidalia. This expansion is expected to create more than 120 jobs across the state. SouthStar plans to continue delivering more high-quality care services in 2020, with an additional 18 markets and 250 new jobs in Louisiana. The brand’s commitment to high-quality patient care sets it apart from other healthcare providers. SouthStar founders and Louisiana natives Clayt and Suzette Hulin have become true advocates of “Louisiana” culture, building significant relationships with the company’s clients.

“Our commitment to Louisiana is fueled by genuine passion, affirmed by our dedication to delivering exceptional customer experiences to our communities and cultivating leaders within our team,” said Laura Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer of SouthStar Urgent Care. “In 2019, SouthStar will expand into 11 new communities, serving a population of over 350,000 and welcoming more than 250 team members into the SouthStar family. With the leadership of SouthStar’s executive team and Shore Capital as a partner, we are confident in our success as SouthStar strives to become the leading urgent care provider along the Gulf Coast.”

SouthStar’s partnership with AHS will be completed in March 2019, during which the two companies will enhance their service offerings to provide a broader range of services to patients in Louisiana.

“This is a natural partnership, and we are delighted to begin with Hulin Health and Shore Capital Partners,” said Christy Dillane, Founder and President of AHS. “Having founded this clinic 26 years ago and expanded to our current scale, I recognize the same exceptional level of service at Hulin Health. We believe that our combined resources and scale will enable us to develop and deliver more innovative, transformative care for patients. At AHS, our staff and patients are like family, and we strive every day to provide them with the highest quality medical services to help them lead healthy lives.”

“SouthStar’s partnership with the AHS Walk-In Clinic team further advances our mission to provide Louisiana families with unparalleled convenience, compassionate care, and high-quality medical services,” said Ryan Kelley, Partner at Shore Capital Partners. “We look forward to SouthStar’s continued growth as a leading provider of urgent care and occupational medicine in Louisiana.”

Hulin Health is the parent company of SouthStar Urgent Care. Established in 2011, Hulin Health is a leading provider of urgent care services in Louisiana. SouthStar focuses on patient care and team culture, with clinic services including treatment for allergies, on-site X-rays, flu symptoms, suturing, and sports medicine. The clinics are open seven days a week and welcome patients of all ages.

Shore Capital Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on micro-investments in healthcare and food & beverage. Shore supports its management partners through capital, business development, and industry expertise, accelerating acquisition financing and creating value for shareholders. The firm specializes in investing in successful private companies with exceptional management teams, stable cash flows, and significant growth potential, including organic growth achieved through industry consolidation. Shore manages over $1 billion in equity capital across various investment vehicles.

AHS Walk-In Clinic (AHS) is a full-service walk-in clinic that meets all of patients’ non-emergency medical needs. The company also operates as an occupational health provider, offering a range of medical services to enhance corporate productivity and reduce accident rates.

(Compiled by: Xu Wenjuan)