Behind the Deal: Agenda Health Acts as Sell-Side Advisor in Magnolia Behavior Therapy Sale to Regency ABA

by | Mar 11, 2025

Agenda Health

Regency ABA, a Georgia-based provider of personalized one-on-one Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, announced that it acquired Magnolia Behavior Therapy in Seattle, Washington. The deal, which closed in Q1 2025, was facilitated by Agenda Health, an Austin, Texas-based healthcare-focused M&A advisory firm.

Regency ABA provides ABA therapy across multiple regions, focusing on autism care with a strategy that blends organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Magnolia Behavior Therapy, based on the West Coast, offers ABA services for children with autism, specializing in building independence and social skills through personalized therapy programs. 

We spoke with Dannie Klompsma, ABA Group Vice President at Regency ABA, and Ryan Lafferty, M&A Advisor at Agenda Health, to unpack what sparked this buyout and how it fits into the behavioral health market.

Agenda Health has been an active advisor for ABA providers across the West Coast in recent years. The firm connected with Ralph Pampino, the owner of Magnolia Behavior Therapy, after he decided to explore a sale.

“We met Ralph through the power of referrals. We helped a friend of his sell the year prior, and they had a great experience and sent Ralph our way,” said Lafferty.

In his hunt for a buyer, Pampino faced a field of interested companies before landing on Regency ABA. Agenda Health ran a process that let him weigh his options carefully.

“Agenda ran a competitive process for Ralph that allowed him to speak with multiple interested parties,” said Lafferty. “Through that process he identified Regency as the group he felt the greatest alignment with. Agenda managed the diligence process to close.”

For Regency ABA, the acquisition offered clear strategic gains. According to Klompsma, the deal delivers benefits by “adding a successful company to our portfolio, diversifying our geographics, establishing a stronghold on the West Coast, adding expertise and experience.”

Magnolia Behavior Therapy brings a profitable operation and seasoned expertise to Regency ABA. Klompsma saw its West Coast foothold as a chance to widen the company’s scope.

“We will first learn from Magnolia Behavior Therapy how they run their operations and clinical practice. We are open to learning from them and I am sure they could benefit from how we are running Regency ABA. We would like to create a best of both worlds,” said Klompsma.

Agenda Health said the deal came together without major hitches. Both sides stayed focused on getting it done.

According to Lafferty, the deal involved “two reasonable and motivated parties with a common goal.” 

Regency ABA’s move comes amid shifting M&A trends. Behavior Health Care (BHC) deal totals fell from 83 in 2023 to 70 in 2024, a 16% drop. Despite BHC’s annual decline, Autism M&A has been on the rise, from 11 deals announced in 2023 to 13 in 2024, an 18% gain. So far in 2025, both markets are surging. The first two months saw 17 BHC deals, more than double the eight announced in 2024, and five autism deals, up from zero announced last year. 

“The tailwinds in the ABA market are gaining serious momentum. We expect 2025 to be a great year for sellers,” said Lafferty.

Rising autism diagnoses and better insurance coverage are driving this 2025 surge in both markets. More families are seeking ABA therapy as awareness grows. Lafferty expects these trends to make 2025 a standout year for sellers.

Regency ABA aims to stay ahead in this shifting market. The company is focused on strengthening its autism services amid rising competition.

“The biggest challenge is to enhance the distinctive capacity, the competitive position and the attractiveness of our ABA practice in the development of the ABA industry,” said Klompsma.

Klompsma shared insights for others considering similar moves in the ABA space. The deal took months of talks, with Regency ABA focused on finding a partner that matched its goals.

“Take your time to know the target company. If the seller is in a hurry, he might not be the right match,” said Klompsma.

Agenda Health sees a big year ahead for behavioral health M&A. Rising values and eager buyers are setting the stage for more deals like this.

“We anticipate 2025 is going to be a great year for behavioral health transactions. Values are rising and buyers are active,” said Lafferty. “Agenda has been active with platform opportunities in the space that have been very competitive. As a team, Agenda Health is excited about doubling down in the behavioral health space this year as we continue to see strong traction – we look forward to continued success helping ABA owners achieve their target goals.”

For other news on the home health market, visit the LevinPro HC platform. Check out some of our recent interviews conducted with the Agenda Health team: