U.S. healthcare, biotech and pharmaceutical mergers and acquisitions picked up speed in the first three months of the year, posting its strongest first quarter since 2012, according to a Norwalk-based business intelligence firm.
There were 355 M&A transactions from January to March, with a total value of $104.9 billion, according to Health Care M&A News, a publication of Irving Levin Associates.
That deal volume was up from 285 transactions in the first quarter of 2014, when deals were valued at $49.6 billion, the publication said.
“The growth in deal volume in the first quarter of 2015 was largely driven by momentum carried over from 2014,” Lisa E. Phillips, editor of Health Care M&A News, said in a statement. “With Big Pharma companies pursuing so many clinical-stage biotechnology companies, and selling off non-core businesses, we may see this momentum continue through the second quarter.”
She added that some companies may try to close deals ahead of an anticipated rise in interest rates in the next few months.
