Questions about Healthcare M&A

Dear all,

I will be joining a BB's healthcare team this summer as an analyst and was wondering if anyone in the industry could outline the following:

  • What resources, if any, did you use to prepare yourself for HC specific M&A?

  • How does HC M&A differ from other industries in terms of valuation?

  • What are the current trends and key drivers of this industry?

  • What are the exit opps for a HC analyst?

  • I understand the stronger banks in this field are JPM/GS/BARC for BBs and PJT/Centerview for EBs. Is this accurate?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 
Most Helpful

1) Look up sources like BioSpace, FiercePharma etc to familiarize yourself with what is happening in the market. These are comprehensive and free. Evaluate Pharma is a paid source that has a lot of information too but you don't need to spend this money 2) In terms of company valuations? For Big Pharma is can be similar to most companies but you have more components of intangible assets (IP and so on) whilst for small companies you're basing everything on future potential and will often be valuing pre-revenue companies 3) Gene therapies, companion diagnostics and inorganic growth are the large overarching themes of the industry currently. Perhaps a more specific question can help you more here 4) Healthcare PE is a big one but you can also go to healthcare-focused strategy roles (both in consulting and in corporates) as well as L/S funds 5) GS/JPM and MS are strong in HC from the BBs. Yes, CV and PJT are strong out of the EBs but don't sleep on PWP either...

 

In a similar position. Anyone have insight into what deal flow is looking like right now?

 

From a healthcare services PE guy 1. Modern Healthcare is a good read 2. Valuations are typically pretty high given the organic growth in the space. Very sector specific however. The regulatory piece is typically the most important part of each transaction in terms of diligence and reps in the purchase agreement 3. Large focus on outpatient type services vs. the typical in patient setting because the services / site of services are cheaper and typically yield better outcomes. Value based care is taking over a lot of fee for service (offering ancillary services is becoming a huge opportunity for providers). Commercial payors are reimbursing a lot more services that they hadn't previously in an effort to drive down long term costs. Think autism, MAT, etc. 4. Healthcare PE / Retail & Consumer PE (has a lot of parallels to healthcare) / Any Services Based PE as well 5. GS for sure. Moelis is very strong in the EB space. Sold one of my portcos

 

Worked in HC for four years now (2 in IBD, 2 in PE). Focused on HC Services.

:
* What resources, if any, did you use to prepare yourself for HC specific M&A?

Various email newsletters can be helpful (BRG EyeOnHealthcare, Daily Dose by Modern Healthcare, Term Sheet, PEHub had a newsletter too that I can't find). You'll learn everything you need to know on the job though.

:
* How does HC M&A differ from other industries in terms of valuation?

Valuations have been pretty high, especially in outpatient, multi-site businesses that have both strong organic growth (4-5% SS growth per year) and significant roll-up opportunities. Spaces such at PT, urgent care, vet health, etc. have been a huge focal point for sponsors and as result EBITDA multiples have been anywhere from mid to high teens. I haven't seen us move forward in a process with a bid less than 9x since I've joined, if that's helpful. Across the board, HC services multiples have gotten very frothy.

:
* What are the current trends and key drivers of this industry?

Working off the above, a shift to lower cost of care settings (outpatient PT, urgent care, etc.) has been one of the largest trends, as payors push more and more plan members into cheaper care settings and avoid the ER/higher cost settings at all costs. There is also an acute focus on providers offering quality care with better outcomes (so, PT locations that have a proven ability to nurse a patient back to health quickly and efficiently, thus saving the payor money). There also has been a big shift of health systems trying to integrate into outpatient and other offerings in order to improve their network and patient reach (so, a large hospital/health system acquiring urgent care clinics/providers, PT locations, etc. in order to expand their offering away from just acute care/ ER setting).

TPAs have also been really hot lately, again feeding off of the need for lower cost care, as companies have become acutely focused on finding efficient TPAs to help manage their health and other benefit plans.

:
* What are the exit opps for a HC analyst?

HC PE and HC focused hedge funds are probably the easiest exits. Have seen people move on to generalist funds, too. Corp dev/BD is another option. Majority of my analyst class moved on to HC PE/VC/GE.

:
* I understand the stronger banks in this field are JPM/GS/BARC for BBs and PJT/Centerview for EBs. Is this accurate?

Evercore has probably been the most impressive to me. Centerview is great too. Gugg also solid. Obviously, GS/MS/JPM are all great too.

"My name's Ralph Cox, and I'm from where ever's not gonna get me hit"
 

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