“The third quarter’s deal volume didn’t end on the up-note we expected when the quarter began…Still, private equity has a lot of money sitting on the sidelines and some large national platforms are on the market. The fourth quarter could surprise us.”
NORWALK, Conn. (PRWEB)
October 18, 2019
Health care merger and acquisition activity slowed compared with the second quarter. The number of deals announced fell 13%, to 408, compared with the previous quarter and was 15% lower than the 478 deals announced in the same quarter in 2018. Combined spending in the third quarter totaled $51.5 billion, down 63% compared with the previous quarter’s extraordinary $139.1 billion. It was 65% greater than the $31.1 billion reported in the same quarter in 2018, according to HealthCareMandA.com.
Healthcare services transactions represented 67% of the third quarter’s deal volume, similar to the previous four quarters. The Long-Term Care sector once again ranked the busiest, with 101 deals and a 25% share of the quarter’s transaction total. Year-over-year, only two sectors posted gains—Hospitals (+17%) and Managed Care (+29%)—and Rehabilitation remained the same. Combined spending accounted for only 38% of the quarter’s total, approximately $19.6 billion, based on disclosed prices.
Healthcare technology deals accounted for 33% of the third quarter’s deal volume. The eHealth sector was the busiest, posting 53 deals and making up 13% of the quarter’s total. Year-over-year, eHealth was the only one of the technology sectors to post an increase in deal volume, up 43% compared with the second quarter of 2018. Combined spending among the technology sectors was more than $31.9 billion.
“The third quarter’s deal volume didn’t end on the up-note we expected when the quarter began,” said Lisa E. Phillips, editor of HealthCareMandA.com. “The two interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve didn’t offset the growing talk of a recession and slowing economic growth in the European Union and China. Still, private equity has a lot of money sitting on the sidelines and some large national platforms are on the market. The fourth quarter could surprise us.”
For more information on the HealthCareMandA.com investment research source, or for a membership to any of Irving Levin Associates’ services, please call 800-248-1668. Irving Levin Associates, Inc., established in 1948, is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut and is online at http://www.levinassociates.com. This privately held corporation publishes annual and quarterly research reports, monthly and weekly newsletters, and maintains merger and acquisition databases on the health care and senior housing markets. If you would like to receive future releases, please email pressreleases@levinassociates.com.
Share article on social media or email: