Each year I make a list of predictions — a dangerous habit to be sure, but one I can't seem to break. Here are my nine projections from six months ago, commentary on where we are today, and how I think I did.
1. Acquisitions will accelerate. We've seen an upsurge in the number of deals of late, with FairPay and One Call Medical the two biggest and most recent. I would expect this to continue. Bunch may be the next to go, but ownership's demand for a 9x + multiple is not likely to fly. If they manage their expectations and get a bit more realistic, it could happen.
Count this as a yes. On the vendor side, the Bunch deal is reportedly close to closing, OneCall acquired transportation/translation vendor STOPS earlier this month, and Stratacare's owners bought CS Stars' MedBillPro business. Payer deals included Sedgwick (rather equity in Sedgwick)'s sale and the acquisition of Zenith by Fairfax. I would expect a few more deals later this year, depending on how much the credit markets loosen up.
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