Overall healthcare merger and acquisition volume decreased 9 percent year-over-year to 281 deals in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a report from Irving Levin Associates.
During the last quarter of 2013, 21 hospital deals were announced, down 43 percent from 37 deals in the fourth quarter of 2012. That's also a 13 percent decrease from 24 deals in the third quarter of 2013.
Despite the decline in volume, overall healthcare M&A deal value increased 79 percent year-over-year to $43.6 billion. Pharmaceutical deals accounted for 44 percent ($19.3 billion) of that amount. For the entire year, deal value totaled about $163.5 billion, exceeding the 2012 total of $143.7 billion.
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