MedAssets-Precyse Adds Equation

by | May 31, 2016 8:28 pm | eHealth, Private Equity

Pamplona Capital Management is building out its healthcare data services. In November 2015, the firm spent $2.7 billion to acquire publicly traded MedAssets, Inc., which served four out of every five hospitals in the United States with technology-enabled financial products and services. Once it spun off the Spend and Clinical Resource Management segment to VHA-UHC Alliance (now called Vizient), MedAssets’ Revenue Cycle Management segment with Precyse, another portfolio company, to offer end-to-end RCM and HIM solutions. Now MedAssets-Precyse, as it’s known, is adding Equation, a Utah-based financial and clinical healthcare analytics and consulting company. Now that... Read More »

CROs are back in style for M&A

by | May 31, 2016 8:00 am | Other Services, Private Equity

Contract research organizations (CROs) are changing hands again, all over the world. Since 2010, we’ve recorded 63 transactions in total, with six announced in 2016 already. That’s a strong showing compared with five CRO deals for all of 2015, but not nearly on pace to surpass the 19 deals posted in 2014. Total combined spending, based on the 14 deals with prices disclosed, was $6.5 billion. The largest by far, at $3.9 billion, was for Pharmaceutical Product Development, acquired by then-privately held The Carlyle Group (now NASDAQ: CG). A majority of the deals (63%) were made by other CROs, compared with 16% by private equity firms, the second largest acquirer category.... Read More »

eHealth Deals in Q1:16

by | May 27, 2016 1:14 pm | eHealth

Merger and acquisition activity edged up in the first quarter, up 17% to 35 transactions compared with the fourth quarter. The first quarter activity made up 27% of the 132 deals announced in the previous 12 months. Investor interest in this sector remains strong, particularly for revenue cycle management programs and data analytics technologies that help health care providers across the care continuum become more efficient and cut costs. Read More »

Arbor Pharma Targets ‘Alcohol Use Disorder’ Drug

by | May 26, 2016 8:00 am | Pharmaceuticals

Specialty pharma company Arbor Pharmaceuticals has acquired XenoPort, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNPT), maker of Horizant, a potential treatment for patients with “alcohol use disorder.” XenoPort develops and commercializes a portfolio of product candidates for the treatment of neurological and other disorders in the United States. The company has entered into a clinical trial agreement with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Arbor will pay $7.03 per share in cash, or a total equity value of approximately $467 million. Centerview Partners is serving as exclusive financial advisor to XenoPort, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal advisor to XenoPort.... Read More »

New MainStream Adds Constellation Behavioral

by | May 25, 2016 8:00 am | Behavioral Health Care, Private Equity

Constellation Behavioral Health, LLC became the fourth healthcare services company in New MainStream Capital’s portfolio on May 19. Constellation joins Anne Arundel Dermatology, MCCI Medical Group and Suncrest Home Health. Based in Mill Valley, California, Constellation offers specialized inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for addiction, mental health and co-occurring behavioral health disorders. Founder and CEO William Morrison will retain a minority stake. Constellation operates two facilities in California: Alta Mira and Bridges to Recovery. Alta Mira is a 30-bed facility in Sausalito, California with 30,000 square feet. Bridges to Recovery is a 12-bed facility in Los... Read More »