In Corums "Forecast 2012: Global Tech M&A - Review and Predictions" webinar we discussed the dramatic increase of private equity activity in 2011. We saw PE spending big money in the Healthcare and Education spaces.
One of the more recent private equity deals in the healthcare space was Vista Equity Partners acquiring the Sage Healthcare Division from The Sage Group plc in Q4 in a transaction valued at $360M. Another example was also the largest healthcare deal we saw in 2011: Blackstone Capital Partners acquired Emdeon for approximately $3B.
Private equity also did some big spending in education with Datatel, a Hellman & Friedman portfolio company, acquiring SunGard Higher Education for $1.8B. Around the same time, Renaissance Learning was taken private by Permira in a deal valued at $455M. Finally, the other big PE deal in the space was Providence Equitys approximately $1.64B acquisition of Blackboard.
We may very well see this trend continue into 2012. Be sure to join us for our Tech M&A Monthly webinar in March, where well be spotlighting private equity and venture capital firms.