The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the M&A market at every stage of the deal-making process – from complicating on-site visits and intensifying the diligence process to introducing valuation gaps (relative to pre-COVID-19 expectations), complicating purchase agreement negotiations and limiting the availability of debt financing. Despite these hurdles, healthcare dealmakers have continued to pursue attractive acquisition opportunities throughout 2020, with the healthcare M&A market substantially rebounding in many sectors since July. We expect this trend and activity to continue at least through year-end.
This guidebook is intended to provide a deeper dive into COVID-19-related transactional matters for private equity buyers or platforms to consider, including in connection with the evaluation of a target’s receipt of stimulus funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) and the negotiation of key deal terms in the acquisition agreement. You can consult any of the authors listed in the guidebook for more information, as well as your regular Bass, Berry & Sims contacts.