Internationally recognised fertility clinic Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM), which earlier this year celebrated 40 years of ‘Made in Bristol’ babies, has been acquired by a leading pan-European provider of fertility, IVF and genetics services.
Prague-headquartered FutureLife, which performs more than 55,000 IVF cycles annually, said the deal would enable it to offer its services to more individuals and families. 
BCRM has been a cornerstone of fertility services in the Bristol region for more than four decades.
Originally established as a joint research project between the University of Bristol and the city’s Southmead Hospital, BCRM became an independent clinic in 2018.
Today it offers private and NHS-funded treatments to around 1,000-plus patients each year from its state-of-the-art facility in at Aztec West, pictured, with additional satellite clinics in Bath and Cardiff.
Its 40th anniversary celebrations in June were attended by more than 150 people, including current and retired practitioners, patients who underwent the then ground-breaking fertility treatment and many of their IVF babies.
FutureLife Group, which is backed by Jersey-headquartered private equity and investment advisory firm CVC Capital Partners and Prague-based Hartenberg Holding, is pursuing a growth strategy to provide best-in-class, patient-centric reproductive care to more people.
It already has 40-plus clinics in eight countries and employs more than 1,500 specialists, as well as a chain of gynaecological and surgical treatments.
In the UK it operates two fertility clinics in London under the CRGH brand, which it bought in 2022.
As part of its expansion it is focusing on acquisitions in a number of key European geographies.
FutureLife CEO Francisco Lobbosco said BCRM’s strong reputation for advanced fertility care and its holistic, compassionate approach aligned seamlessly with its mission statement.
“Together, we are committed to delivering exceptional success rates and helping more individuals realize their dream of parenthood,” he added.
“The UK is a key market for us, and BCRM’s addition perfectly complements our presence at CRGH in central London, extending our reach into the West Country.
“Our approach focuses on harmonising best practices across our clinics, while preserving each clinic’s clinical autonomy and strong local identity.” 
BCRM director Dr Valentine Akande, pictured at the 40th anniversary party, said joining the FutureLife Group was a pivotal moment for BCRM, enabling it to tap into the strategic resources and expertise of a leading international network.
“This partnership will allow us to enhance our services and expand our reach while continuing to deliver the exceptional, patient-centred care that has defined us for over 40 years,” he added.
“Our alignment with FutureLife’s values of medical excellence and innovation reassures us that this collaboration will support the clinic’s growth while maintaining our focus on personalized treatment.
“We are excited about the future and confident this move will further strengthen our ability to help more people achieve their dream of starting or growing their families.”
Accountants Grant Thornton acted as advisors to BCRM on the transaction, financial details of which have not been disclosed.
In addition to its fertility clinic portfolio, FutureLife operates two hospitals in the Czech Republic and the GNT Lab, one of the largest and most modern genetic laboratories in Europe.
