FHN Memorial Hospital affiliates with Mercyhealth

Overview

Deal Type Mergers & Acquisitions
Client & Transactional Partners FHN
Mercyhealth
Our Role Sell-Side Advisor

Summary

Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets, served as financial advisor to FHN in its affiliation with Mercyhealth. 

After years of discussion, FHN elected to pursue a change-of-control transaction with the goals of improving the organization’s cost structure and injecting outside capital. Cain Brothers led a competitive process, resulting in two fully negotiated letters of intent. The Board selected Mercyhealth, out of Rockford, Illinois, who committed to contribute a minimum of $100 million over five years. The transaction was signed on September 30, 2025, and closed on December 31, 2025.

FHN is a regional healthcare system serving northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. FHN is headquartered in Freeport, Illinois and consists of a 100-bed full-service hospital known as FHN Memorial Hospital, 16 outpatient sites that treat over 45 specialties, a comprehensive Cardiovascular Center and a leading Cancer Center. Over 1,500 people visit FHN each day, and FHN is one of the leading employers in northwest Illinois.

Mercyhealth is an Illinois not-for-profit system serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Mercyhealth operates five acute-care hospitals with over 500 beds, a large multi-specialty physician group, over 85 primary and specialty care clinics, a rehabilitation hospital, and a significant home health and hospice business. Mercyhealth was created after the merger of Mercy Health in Janesville, Wisconsin and Rockford Health System in Rockford, Illinois. Mercyhealth produced $1.3 billion in revenue in 2025.

FHN Memorial Hospital Mercyhealth

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, and KeyBank National Association ("KeyBank N.A.") are separate, but affiliated companies. Securities products and services are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and its licensed securities representatives.

Securities products and services: Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

Banking products and services are offered by KeyBank N.A. All credit, loan, and leasing products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval terms, conditions, and availability and subject to change.

Recent Deals

January 2026

nrad

acquired by

premier

Sell-Side Advisor

national-radiology-solutions-premier-radiology
January 2026

equipmentshare

$859.3 Million

Initial Public Offering

Joint Bookrunner

equipmentshare-inc
January 2026

Apex

$1.05 Billion

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

apex-clean-energy-holdings
December 2025

fhn

affiliated with

mercy health

Sell-Side Advisor

fhn-memorial-hospital-mercyhealth
December 2025

US Fertility

acquired

genetics IVF

and was recapitalized by

I Catterton

and

amulet

$1.07 Billion

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Joint Lead Arranger
Joint Bookrunner
Administrative Agent

us-fertility-completes-debt-refinancing
December 2025

gauge capital

acquired

reliable

Buy-Side Advisor

gauge-capital-reliable-medical
December 2025

greenbacker

has sold a portfolio of operating DG solar and storage assets to

altuspower

Exclusive Financial Advisor

greenbacker-renewable-energy-corporation
December 2025

sevita

a portfolio company of

centerbridge

mdp

vistria

$1.564 Billion

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

$1.275 Billion

Senior Secured Notes

Joint Lead Arranger
Joint Bookrunner

sevita
December 2025

wedgewood

a portfolio company of

partners group

$350 Million

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

wedgewood-senior-debt-refinancing
December 2025

wec

$300 Million

Debentures December 2025

$500 Million

Debentures September 2025

Active Joint Bookrunner

wisconsin-electric-power-company
December 2025

excel

a portfolio company of

rock island capital

acquired by

fusion

Exclusive Sell-Side Advisor

excel-engineering
December 2025

interact

received a majority investment from

castik

Sell-Side Advisor

interact
December 2025

cenergy

$66.5 Million

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Coordinating Lead Arranger
Depositary Agent
Collateral Agent
Administrative Agent

cenergy-power-il-grounded
December 2025

kingston

acquired by

american healthcare

along with its operating partner

trilogy

Exclusive Sell-Side Advisor

kingston-healthcare-company
December 2025

atscale

received a significant strategic investment from

snowflake

Exclusive Financial Advisor

atscale
December 2025

bessemer

acquired

xanitos

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

Exclusive Debt Advisor
Buy-Side Advisor

xanitos-inc
December 2025

fluenttream

a portfolio company of

psg

acquired by

ooma

Exclusive Financial Advisor

fluentstream-corp
November 2025

bcdsk

agreed to an affiliation agreement with

highmark

Financial Advisor

blue-cross-blue-shield-kansas-city
November 2025

campersinn

acquired

lazydays

$232 Million

Exclusive Buy-Side Advisor

campers-inn-inc
November 2025

jamul

$425 Million

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

jamul-indian-village
November 2025

warren

acquired

american roller company

Buy-Side Advisor

warren-equity-partners
November 2025

diversified

acquired

canvas

$550 Million

Exclusive Buy-Side Advisor

diversified-energy-company-plc-4
November 2025

seawestern

a portfolio company of

traction

acquired by

mes

a portfolio company of

platte river

Exclusive Sell-Side Advisor

seawestern-holdings-inc
November 2025

lendistry

$100 Million

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

Sole Lender
Administrative Agent

lendistry
November 2025

harvest midstream

$1.7 Billion

Senior Secured Credit Facility

Joint Lead Arranger
Joint Bookrunner
Co-Documentation Agent

harvest-midstream-i-lp
November 2025

centuriholdingsinc

$184 Million

Follow-On Offering

Active Bookrunner

centuri-holdings-inc
November 2025

retina vit

affiliated with

retina consultants

Sell-Side Advisor

la-retina-affiliated-with-rca
November 2025

New Hope Family Housing

New Hope Family Housing

$28 Million

Construction Loan

new-hope-family-housing
October 2025

scriptdrop

acquired by

goodrx health logo

Sell-Side Advisor

scriptdrop-acquired-by-goodrx
October 2025

tenor

agreed to acquire

commonwealth health

a subsidiary of

community health

Buy-Side Advisor

tenor-health-to-acquire-commonwealth-health
October 2025

Atlantic Civic Center

Atlanta Civic Center

$72.8 Million

Construction Loan, LIHTC Equity, Permanent Loan, and Bond Underwriting

atlanta-civic-center
October 2025

Foothill Family Apartments

Foothill Family Apartments

$66.3 Million

Construction Loan, LIHTC Equity, Permanent Loan, and Bond Underwriting

foothill-family-apartments

Connect With Us

Find an Expert