Support services group Capita has bought two businesses from Healthcare Knowledge International (HKI), generating a "significant return" for HKI’s private equity shareholder Inflexion.

CHKS and CRC, the two UK-focused businesses of HKI, were acquired for £11.6 million, while IASIST, which provides its services to the Spanish-speaking world, remains part of the parent company.

Mark Humphries, a partner at corporate finance adviser Catalyst, which advised on the deal, says, "Despite the challenges of the current economic climate, this transaction highlights the fact that strong strategic buyers such as Capita are well placed to acquire high quality businesses which enhance their strategic position."

According to Catalyst, "a number of UK and international trade acquirers" were interested in acquiring the two businesses.

West Midlands-based CHKS has been engaged in hospital benchmarking since 1989 and has 90 NHS trusts as clients, while Cardiff-headquartered CRC helps pharmaceutical companies make decisions about new drug development based on trends in disease across primary and secondary care sectors.