Enhanced Equity Funds Announces Partnership with Bryan Gibson to join FirstMed EMS as CEO

NEW YORK, July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhanced Equity Funds ("EEF"), a leading healthcare services private equity firm, today announced it has entered into a partnership with Bryan Gibson to lead FirstMed EMS, LLC ("FirstMed") as its Chief Executive Officer.  FirstMed, headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, will be a platform for continued growth in the ambulance market and currently conducts over 500,000 medical transports in Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southern regions.

Throughout Mr. Gibson's impressive 25 year career, he has developed extensive experience within the emergency medical response industry.   He spent over 14 years with Rural/Metro Corporation ("Rural/Metro") where he rose to Chief Operating Officer after initially joining the company in 1997 when it purchased Memphis-based Priority Emergency Medical Services which he co-founded.   As COO, Mr. Gibson commanded operations over Rural/Metro's company-wide geographic footprint which included four hundred communities in twenty-six states with over 8,000 employees.  Subsequent to his departure from Rural/Metro in 2011, Mr. Gibson founded Shoals Ambulance, Inc. where he will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer.

"I'm very pleased to be joining the EEF family," said Mr. Gibson.  "EEF's proficiency in healthcare services, finance and acquisitions will allow our FirstMed team of ambulance industry professionals to take advantage of the many exciting opportunities in the current medical transportation industry space."

Under Mr. Gibson's leadership, FirstMed will continue to acquire ambulance companies and launch organic expansion efforts on a national basis while delivering superior patient and customer service.  EEF will support the FirstMed growth strategy with additional equity capital and acquisition expertise.

"Bryan has a tremendous track record and we are thrilled to partner with an executive of his caliber," said Andrew M. Paul, EEF's Founder and Managing Principal.  "We believe Bryan has a powerful combination of industry and operational expertise that will build FirstMed into a market leader."

"FirstMed is uniquely positioned to capitalize on changing dynamics in the ambulance industry," added Samarth Chandra, a Principal at EEF. "We see a number of compelling opportunities in the marketplace and will be swift in executing on them."

About FirstMed EMS, LLC

FirstMed, headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a provider of non-emergency and emergency medical transportation services.  The company, founded in 1988, operates 65 ambulance stations throughout seven states and conducts over 500,000 transports annually.  FirstMed combines its modern fleet of over 670 vehicles and a highly trained workforce of over 2,300 employees with proprietary dispatch and workflow management systems to ensure efficiency, timeliness and compliance on each transport while providing high quality care for every patient.

About Enhanced Equity Funds

Founded in 2005, EEF manages approximately $600 million of committed capital across two funds with the most recent raised in 2010. The Principals of EEF have over 100 years of combined experience investing in healthcare companies and possess strong relationships and knowledge within the industry. EEF specializes in working with growth companies and employs a creative approach to building value.  The firm employs a flexible, but disciplined investment strategy focused on value creation through organizational development, organic growth and acquisitions.  EEF seeks to invest $10 to $50 million or more over the life of a portfolio company in a variety of flexible structures.  For more information, please visit:  http://enhancedequity.com/

For any questions, please contact Sabrena Collins at 910-352-8506

SOURCE FirstMed EMS