Expectations for Healthcare Mergers During the Pandemic

The authors consider likely developments in healthcare mergers and challenges particular to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trends in merger investigations related to the current COVID-19-induced downturn may be too new to fully assess, yet it seems likely that antitrust economists and counsel will reprise several of the challenges faced during the Great Recession.

Looking to that period for guidance, authors Andrew Elzinga, Avigail Kifer and Arthur Corea-Smith consider likely developments in healthcare mergers as well as challenges particular to the current pandemic. The article discusses three important areas in which the pandemic may affect healthcare mergers:

  • Potential Increase in M&A Activity Involving Distressed Firms
  • Potential Increase in Canceled Mergers
  • Potential for Heightened Scrutiny of Competitive Effects

This article was originally published by Competition Policy International in July 2020.


The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Cornerstone Research.