Executive Summary
The private equity landscape for healthcare exits has become increasingly challenging, with technology infrastructure serving as a critical make-or-break factor in successful transactions. Diligize, a specialist technology advisor, has emerged as a transformative force in this space, offering comprehensive pre-exit technology due diligence and value creation services that dramatically reduce deal friction while maximizing portfolio company valuations for healthcare exits.
The company’s expertise was recently demonstrated in the high-profile Optegra acquisition by EssilorLuxottica, where Diligize served as the lead technology advisor, conducting AI-readiness assessments across Optegra’s value chain and identifying multiple upside levers that contributed to the deal’s success.
The Technology Challenge in Healthcare Private Equity Exits
Healthcare private equity exits have faced substantial headwinds, with exit deal volume remaining down 41% from 2021 peaks and Q1 2025 showing a 2-year low in both deal volume and value. Beyond traditional market factors, technology infrastructure has emerged as a critical determinant of exit success, with 1 in 5 PE professionals reporting that technology issues have been deal breakers in M&A processes.
The healthcare sector’s unique technology challenges compound these difficulties:
- Regulatory complexity: Healthcare technology must navigate HIPAA, GDPR, and other stringent data protection frameworks while maintaining operational efficiency
- Interoperability requirements: Systems must seamlessly integrate with EMR, EHR, and other healthcare IT ecosystems
- Cybersecurity imperatives: Healthcare remains among the most targeted industries for cyberattacks, with patient data representing extraordinarily valuable targets
- Legacy system limitations: Outdated core systems create scalability barriers and impose security risks that can depress exit valuations
Diligize: A Strategic Technology Partner
Company Overview and Capabilities
Diligize positions itself as “a specialist technology advisor and partner to private equity and their portfolio companies, adding value through the investment cycle”. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in London, the company operates with a presence in Madrid, Milan, and Tallinn, providing access to over 800 technology subject matter experts.
The company’s comprehensive service portfolio spans the entire investment lifecycle:
Pre-Deal Services:
- Buy-side technology due diligence
- Acquisition synergy analysis
- Technology subject matter expertise
- Deal generation based on competitive technology advantage
Post-Acquisition Services:
- Technology operating model rationalization
- Post-merger integration solutions
- Interim management
- ERP recovery projects
Exit Preparation Services:
- Technology due diligence for exit readiness
- Value-add transformation implementation
- Independent operating model reviews
- Cybersecurity assessments
The Optegra Success Story
The Optegra transaction exemplifies Diligize’s transformative impact on healthcare exits. EssilorLuxottica’s acquisition of Optegra for an undisclosed sum represents a significant milestone in EssilorLuxottica’s med-tech strategy. The deal involved over 70 eye hospitals and diagnostic facilities across five European markets (UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Netherlands).
Diligize’s Role:
- Mandated for sell-side technology due diligence
- Conducted comprehensive AI-readiness assessments across Optegra’s value chain
- Identified multiple upside levers that enhanced the acquisition’s strategic value
- Applied their proprietary “alt.human” methodology to maximize technology-driven valuation
The transaction’s success demonstrates how sophisticated technology due diligence can transform a healthcare portfolio company into an irresistible acquisition target for strategic buyers.
The Diligize Advantage: Reducing Exit Friction
Comprehensive Technology Assessment
Diligize’s approach addresses the 93% of PE professionals who now proactively address technology challenges during exit planning. Their methodology encompasses:
Infrastructure and Systems Evaluation:
- Assessment of scalability, security, and performance optimization
- Analysis of cloud architecture, API integrations, and microservices
- Identification of technical debt and modernization requirements
Cybersecurity and Compliance:
- Evaluation of security vulnerabilities and encryption protocols
- HIPAA, GDPR, and regulatory compliance assessment
- Data protection and privacy framework analysis
AI and Digital Transformation Readiness:
- Assessment of artificial intelligence implementation potential
- Evaluation of data analytics capabilities
- Digital transformation roadmap development
Value Creation Through Technology Enhancement
The company’s “alt.human” service represents a revolutionary approach to exit preparation, combining AI-readiness scanning with concrete value-creation blueprints that buyers can trust. This methodology delivers:
Tangible Value Levers:
- Revenue engines and efficiency plays that are piloted, not just forecasted
- Evidence-backed upside that can add 1-2 turns to the exit multiple
- Operational improvements that enhance EBITDA performance
Risk Mitigation:
- Identification and resolution of technology-related red flags
- Preparation for intensive due diligence processes
- Elimination of potential deal-breaking technology issues
Making Healthcare Portfolio Companies “Sexy” to Acquirers
The Attractiveness Factor in M&A
Modern acquirers, particularly strategic buyers like EssilorLuxottica, seek technology-enabled platforms that can integrate seamlessly into their existing ecosystems. Diligize’s approach transforms healthcare portfolio companies into compelling acquisition targets through:
Technology Modernization:
- Upgrading legacy systems to modern, scalable platforms
- Implementing AI-powered diagnostic and operational capabilities
- Ensuring robust cybersecurity and compliance frameworks
Strategic Positioning:
- Demonstrating clear technology-driven competitive advantages
- Highlighting scalability and growth potential through technology
- Positioning the company as a platform for future innovation
Integration Readiness:
- Preparing systems for seamless integration with acquirer platforms
- Ensuring data compatibility and interoperability
- Minimizing post-acquisition technology integration costs
Enhanced Valuation Through Technology
Healthcare PE exits increasingly depend on technology-driven value creation rather than traditional financial engineering. Diligize’s methodology addresses this shift by:
Quantifying Technology Value:
- Providing concrete metrics on technology-driven efficiency improvements
- Demonstrating revenue enhancement potential through digital capabilities
- Offering evidence-based valuation uplifts
Future-Proofing Investments:
- Ensuring technology infrastructure can support post-acquisition growth
- Implementing scalable systems that support strategic buyer objectives
- Preparing for emerging healthcare technology trends
The Broader Healthcare Technology Landscape
Market Dynamics
As healthcare continues its digital transformation journey, with value-based care models and AI-powered diagnostics becoming mainstream, technology readiness will become even more critical for successful exits.
Key Market Drivers:
- Aging populations requiring more efficient healthcare delivery
- Workforce shortages necessitating technology-enabled solutions
- Regulatory requirements for digital health capabilities
- Strategic buyer focus on technology-enabled platforms
Investment Thesis Validation
Healthcare technology due diligence has become essential for confirming investment theses, with experts noting that companies with topical understanding of problems often mismatch their solutions to actual needs. Diligize’s comprehensive assessment approach ensures that technology investments align with market realities and strategic objectives.
Diligize’s Competitive Advantage and Market Position: Specialized Healthcare Expertise
Unlike generalist technology consultancies, Diligize brings deep healthcare sector knowledge combined with private equity investment cycle understanding. This specialized expertise enables:
Sector-Specific Insights:
- Understanding of healthcare regulatory requirements
- Knowledge of industry-specific technology challenges
- Expertise in healthcare data management and privacy
PE-Focused Approach:
- Alignment with private equity investment timelines
- Understanding of exit preparation requirements
- Experience with LP return expectations
Global Reach and Local Expertise
With operations across multiple European markets and access to over 800 technology experts, Diligize can support complex international healthcare transactions while providing local market insights.
Future Outlook and Strategic Implications
Technology as a Competitive Differentiator
The healthcare M&A landscape increasingly rewards technology-enabled platforms that can demonstrate clear competitive advantages. Diligize’s approach positions portfolio companies to capitalize on this trend by:
Creating Sustainable Competitive Advantages:
- Implementing technology solutions that are difficult to replicate
- Establishing data-driven operational excellence
- Building platforms for continuous innovation
Enabling Strategic Buyer Synergies:
- Preparing systems for integration with acquirer platforms
- Demonstrating technology-driven synergy potential
- Reducing post-acquisition integration risks
Conclusion
Diligize represents a fundamental shift in how private equity firms approach healthcare exits. By combining deep technology expertise with healthcare sector knowledge and PE investment cycle understanding, the company transforms potentially problematic technology infrastructures into strategic assets that drive valuation uplifts and reduce deal friction.
The Optegra transaction demonstrates this transformation in action, where Diligize’s technology due diligence and AI-readiness assessment contributed to a successful strategic exit to a global healthcare technology leader. This success story illustrates how comprehensive technology preparation can make healthcare portfolio companies irresistible to strategic acquirers while maximizing returns for private equity investors.
As the healthcare M&A landscape continues to evolve, with technology infrastructure becoming increasingly critical to transaction success, Diligize’s specialized approach offers private equity firms a strategic advantage in preparing portfolio companies for successful exits. The company’s ability to reduce deal friction while enhancing portfolio company attractiveness positions it as an essential partner for healthcare-focused private equity firms seeking to maximize exit value in an increasingly competitive market.
The future of healthcare private equity exits lies in technology-enabled transformation, and Diligize has positioned itself at the forefront of this evolution, helping private equity firms unlock the full potential of their healthcare portfolio companies while delivering superior returns to their limited partners.