A total of $114.4 billion was spent to fund the 377 transactions reported in Q4:17, based on disclosed prices. The Managed Care sector dominated the dollar side of deal making, accounting for 70% ($80.6 billion) of spending. A single deal accounted for 67% of the quarter’s total, as CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced its agreement to acquire Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) for $77.0 billion (including debt). If that deal doesn’t close, this chart will look very different.
The rest of the healthcare sectors were relegated to single-digit shares of the fourth quarter’s spending pie. The Pharmaceutical sector contributed 6% of the quarter’s total, with $6.9 billion, followed by Biotechnology (5% and $5.2 billion) and Home Health & Hospice (5% and $5.0 billion).
Dollar Volume by Share in Q4:17
Source: HealthCareMandA.com, January 2018
