What Private Equity Firms Are Buying in 2016

by | Dec 9, 2016 6:16 pm | Behavioral Health Care, Biotechnology, eHealth, Other Services, Physician Medical Groups, Private Equity

Private equity’s success relies upon forward-looking expectations about which firms are best positioned to capitalize on market conditions. The healthcare market poses unique challenges. Although healthcare targets may have the profit opportunities that appeal to PE firms, the volatile legislative and reimbursement environment can turn a “smart bet” into an albatross. A recent report from McKinsey & Company on private equity and healthcare showed that healthcare investments returned the highest global total returns to shareholders (15% between 2010 and 2015). The consumer staples category came closest to that return, with 13% in the same time period. Within the healthcare market,... Read More »

Universal Health Makes Another U.K. Purchase

by | Dec 8, 2016 4:57 pm | Behavioral Health Care

We’ve seen a lot of companies divesting non-core assets lately. Sometimes the reason is regulatory approval purposes, and other times the company simply wants to focus exclusively on a different business unit. In the latter case, Cambian Group plc (LSE: CMBN) is looking to expand its children services unit. Cambian Group provides specialist behavioral health services to adults and children in the United Kingdom. In December it announced it is divesting its adult services division, Cambian Adult Services Group. The division, which provides care to adults with mental health disorders, intellectual disabilities, autism, personality disorder and acquired brain conditions, consists of 81... Read More »

The Biggest Deals of 2016

by | Dec 8, 2016 4:29 pm | Behavioral Health Care, Long-Term Care, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Physician Medical Groups

It’s been a busy year for healthcare deal making. As of December 2, the combined total spending was $239.1 billion, going to finance 1,419 transactions. That’s 40% behind the $400 billion spent in all of 2015, but just 7% behind last year’s deal volume of 1,520 deals. Thirty-six deals of $1.0 billion or higher have been announced to date in 2016, with a current total of $184.2 billion. These deals comprise 77% of spending so far, and no doubt there will be a few more before New Year’s Eve. By comparison, 2015 ended with a combined total spending of $400.6 billion on 1,520 transactions. Fifty-two of those transactions reported spending of $1.0 billion or higher, for... Read More »

What Will the 115th Congress Do?

by | Dec 8, 2016 4:23 pm | Healthcare Market Updates

The ACA Will Be Repealed. It’s the Replacement That’s Tricky. Donald Trump has transitioned from presidential candidate to president-elect, and has nominated conservative Republican Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA) to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services. In the same announcement, healthcare consultant Seema Verma, with ties to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, was nominated to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The House and Senate each have Republican majorities, although the Senate’s is slim, at 52 to 48, and not filibuster-proof. The House is 241 to 194. “Repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the first order... Read More »