Healthcare M&A Continues to Lead the Way

by Mark on June 30, 2009

Despite the steep decline in overall merger and acquisition activity within the past eighteen months, the volume of transactions occuring within healthcare specifically has led the way in the capital markets’ turnaround (if you can call it that).  While I don’t believe we’ve actually reached a point of actual turnaround yet, it is nonetheless encouraging to see more deals happening, despite the overall markets continuing to struggle and the economy continuing to experience negative growth.  With that said, here is a snapshot of the deal activity in healthcare alone, over the past couple of weeks …

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Upgrades, Changes, and the Next Phase

by Mark on June 30, 2009

If you are a veteran at Mark to Market, then you will no doubt realize we have made some changes to the look, feel, and organization of some things around here.  I mentioned a few weeks ago that Mark to Market is entering a new phase of its life cycle and growth, and as such, we are proud to announce the first aspect of that, which is a design upgrade.  But that’s not all …

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Building our House on the Sand

June 30, 2009

I am excited to announce the completion and release of a new paper (click here to download), which addresses what I believe is one of the core fundamental aspects of the global financial crisis.  In this research, I argue how hubris and the reliance on poorly managed debt were major culprits in the crisis that has [...]

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Becker-Posner on US Healthcare

June 20, 2009

On their Becker-Posner Blog, University of Chicago faculty members Dr. Gary Becker and Richard Posner outline their views on the current discussion around policy affecting the US healthcare delivery system.  It is no surprise to me that both professors hit the nail on the head, addressing a number of common misconceptions that the public (and [...]

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Humility Through Execution

June 20, 2009

I’ve always maintained that if VC’s are the ultimate entrepreneurs, then private equity investors are the ultimate operators.  Starting a business is one thing, but turning a business around and finding value out distress, all the while carrying a hundred ton weight on your back is entirely another.  Perhaps it’s something akin to racing speed [...]

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Volcker on Bank Regulation

June 16, 2009

When I was in graduate school, one of the big highlights was having Paul Volcker give a guest lecture/interview for our main macro course.  In today’s Wall Street Journal the former chairman of the Federal Reserve chimes in on regulating banks and hedge funds …
We can, and we should, take steps to limit the need [...]

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More Nails in Krugman’s Reputation

June 15, 2009

I have received quite a bit of flack in the past for my negative comments towards Nobel laureate Paul Krugman.  In one post, I actually referred to him as becoming irrelevant; however, I eventually realized that this actually isn’t the case.  This doesn’t mean he is becoming more credible though.  Indeed, I believe Krugman is [...]

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Hospitals Brace for More Hits

June 15, 2009

The Wall Street Journal has a new article highlighting some of the most recent concerns coming out of the healthcare industry, which to no one’s surprise are related to the continued challenges facing hospitals and health systems.
Under pressure to amplify its payment plan, the White House on Saturday outlined $313 billion in additional spending cuts [...]

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South Rising Again?

June 14, 2009

That title does not mean to insinuate what it may sound like, but what it does mean is that the Southern US states are working harder than ever to compete with the rest of the country to emerge stronger out of these tough economic times.  From the Wall Street Journal …
Major companies have been relocating [...]

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Spend Now; Worry About Healthcare Later

June 14, 2009

Tyler Cowen writing in the New York Times on the Obama administration and healthcare spending …
Drawing upon the ideas of the Harvard economist David Cutler, the Obama administration talks of empowering an independent board of experts to judge the comparative effectiveness of health care expenditures; the goal is to limit or withdraw Medicare support for [...]

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