Business
Health care mergers grow
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 29, 2007
During 2006 there were a total of 991 mergers and acquisitions in the health care industry, representing a 2% increase from 2005, according to a new report published by Irving Levin Associates, a Norwalk, Conn.-based research firm that maintains merger and acquisition databases.
The industry as a whole saw deals valued at more than $260 billion, up from $162 billion in 2005. According to Stephen M. Monroe, managing editor at Levin Associates Inc., which publishes The Health Care Acquisitions Report, the industry saw an "astonishing" average of one deal every 10 days. The study looked at 13 sectors of the health care industry. They saw a 6% increase in deals, to $34.9 billion. Physician groups saw a 9% decline in mergers and acquisitions compared with the previous year. Their deals were valued at $201 million.
The information technology sector registered the largest increase, with a 13% change over 2005.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/01/29/bibf0129.htm.
