Oxford Finance, a specialty finance firm that provides senior debt to life sciences and healthcare services companies, was acquired by an affiliate of Wafra Capital Partners.

The combined capital provided by Wafra through the acquisition, retirement of Oxford’s senior unsecured notes due 2018 and expected growth capital exceeds $1 billion. Oxford will use this new capital to support its origination and portfolio growth. Historically, Oxford has disbursed more than $4 billion in senior secured loans to nearly 500 life sciences and healthcare service companies.

“The entire Oxford team is very excited to launch our new relationship with Wafra which we believe will enhance our products, capacity and service to our market,” said J. Alden Philbrick, president and chief executive officer of Oxford. “Wafra has a 16-year track record of building long-lasting asset funding relationships with some of the premier privately owned lessors, specialty finance companies and asset owners in the United States and abroad. We believe that the expansion of our capital base from Wafra will give us the platform to grow our multi-billion-dollar enterprise into the next level in the healthcare lending marketplace.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Oxford’s management team in continuing to build the Oxford franchise,” said Michael Gontar, chief investment officer of Wafra.  “Oxford possesses tremendous potential that, combined with the growth capital we are able to provide to the platform, makes this transaction a compelling opportunity for our stakeholders and clients.”

Wells Fargo Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor to Wafra Capital Partners in connection with the transaction. Macquarie Capital and J.P. Morgan Securities acted as financial advisors to Oxford in connection with this transaction.

New York-based Wafra Capital Partners, a SEC-registered investment adviser, manages or advises funds and accounts that specialize in asset-based finance and real estate investments.