MBF Healthcare Partners II, L.P. Acquires Austin Connect to Wellness, LLC d/b/a ABA Connect, A Regional Provider of Applied Behavior Analysis to Children with Autism

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MBF Healthcare Partners II, L.P. (“MBF”), a middle market healthcare focused private equity firm, is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of Austin Connect to Wellness, LLC d/b/a ABA Connect (“ABA Connect”).

ABA Connect, a Texas-based provider of high-quality applied behavior analysis (“ABA”) therapy to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”), was founded in 2013 by Kirsten Brooks. Since its founding, the company has expanded service offerings to six facilities across the Austin and Houston MSA’s.

“It was important for us to find a partner who has a successful track record of supporting high-growth healthcare companies, with specific experience navigating the ABA therapy space, and a commitment to putting patient care first,” said Kirsten Brooks and Tim Plachta, ABA Connect’s leadership team. “This partnership allows us to continue investing in our incredible staff and our systems while facilitating ABA Connect’s ability to expand throughout Texas and to other states. We are truly thrilled to be working with the MBF team."

“ABA Connect has been operating for nearly a decade and we are excited to partner with Kirsten Brooks and Tim Plachta and assist them in expanding ABA Connect,” said Miguel (“Mike”) B. Fernandez, Chairman of MBF. “We continue to see a huge demand for these services and a need for high-quality providers. Our investment solidifies our commitment to building an organization that provides much needed ABA services to children and families.”

This investment marks MBF’s re-entrance into the ABA therapy sector after selling Acorn Health in August of 2021 to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. MBF was a founding member of Acorn Health and at the time of sale, the company operated a network of 51 clinics across 7 U.S. states and served more than 1,300 families. The autism services sector remains an area of critical need and increasing autism prevalence rates (1 in 44 children) are driving awareness and demand for clinical interventions. Today, at least 49 U.S. states have mandated insurance coverage of ABA therapy providing a reimbursement tailwind for providers.

About ABA Connect:

ABA Connect is an early intervention focused ABA therapy provider committed to using evidence-based principles to help enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by ASD. Their emphasis on clinical quality paired with their center-based approach creates a collaborative work environment that promotes best practices and continued education on the latest advancements in ABA therapy. For more information, please visit www.abaconnect.com.

About MBF Healthcare Partners II, L.P.:

MBF Healthcare Partners II, L.P. is a leading middle market healthcare private equity fund based in Coral Gables, Florida. Their strategy is to partner with exceptional management teams while leveraging MBF's operating experience, domain segment knowledge, and tenured relationships to rapidly accelerate value creation. The partners of MBF have substantial operating experience in healthcare and have held senior management positions in both private and publicly traded healthcare companies. For more information, please visit www.mbfhp.com.