By Brad Smith, ATP + Tom Schramski, PhD, CM&AA
Volume 1 Issue 21, November 10, 2014
In today’s marketplace, we see the growing presence of private equity groups (PEGs) as buyers of lower middle market healthcare companies. PEGs have increasingly moved “downstream” to smaller companies with adjusted EBITDA as low as $500,000. This has increased the opportunities for smaller companies as long as they understand that the “buyer eyes” of PEGs can be quite different from those of more familiar strategic buyers.
While each PEG is unique, they often share much in common: a desire to keep existing management in place, a focus on creating a new platform for further acquisitions or a “tuck in” to complement an existing platform, and the intent to grow a business quickly to conform with a four- to seven-year investment timeline.
Given these parameters, here are some practical ways you can make your business more attractive to a PEG:
If you consider these practical steps apart from a potential PEG buyer, there is still huge value for you and your healthcare business. You are focusing on a strong foundation for the future and that is attractive to everyone.
For over 20 years, Brad has held a number of significant executive positions including founding Lone Star Scooters, which offered medical equipment and franchise opportunities across the country, Lone Star Bio Medical, a diversified DME, pharmacy, health IT, and home health care company, and BMS Consulting, where he has provided strategic analysis and M+A intermediary services to executives in the healthcare industry. In addition, he is a regular columnist for HomeCare magazine and HME News, where he focuses on healthcare marketplace trends and innovative business strategies for the principals of healthcare companies. At VERTESS, Brad is a Managing Director and Partner with considerable expertise in HME/DME, home health care, hospice, pharmacy, medical devices, health IT, and related healthcare verticals in the US and internationally.