NEW YORK, July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Berkery
Noyes, the leading independent investment bank specializing
in the information content and technology industries, today
released its Half Year Mergers and Acquisitions Trends Report for
the
Pharma and Healthcare Information and Technology Industry.
The report analyzes merger and acquisition activity in the
Pharma and Healthcare Information and Technology market over the
first half of 2011 and compares it with activity in the four
previous sixth-month periods. This market includes information and
technology companies servicing pharma, healthcare payor and
healthcare provider spaces.
Berkery Noyes data shows that while deal volume increased by
seven percent to 143 transactions announced this half year, total
aggregate deal value fell 28 percent to $3.4 billion from $4.8
billion in 2nd Half 2010. Despite this, both median deal
value and median EBITDA multiples rose over the same time
period.
“The data confirms what we are seeing in our deal flow,” said
Tom O’Connor, managing director at Berkery Noyes. “Strategic
buyers, including those with private equity backing, are looking to
acquire smaller, fast growing companies with unique solutions in
their current or related markets. We expected M&A activity in
Pharma and Healthcare Information and Technology sectors to be
robust for the next 18 to 24 months.”
Reed Elsevier and LLR Partners both announced three transactions
this half year, tying as the most acquisitive companies in the
Pharma and Healthcare space. Reed Elsevier purchased an
e-clinical reference solution and two medical media companies,
while LLR Partners focused their three purchases on medical record
management.
For the full two-and-a-half period covered by the report,
UnitedHealth Group was the most active acquirer covered
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