With roughly six months remaining until the U.S. presidential election, uncertainty looms amid a growing federal debt, battles around health reform legislation and tax rates.  Sentiment ranges regarding ideas, solutions and projections on federal spending levels and priorities, but all of the rhetoric will yield to the leader who emerges with the most credible vision.

The Supreme Court deliberation the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (PPACA) individual mandate provision will surely impact the political stage and the federal budget, but we’re also watching how healthcare organizations balance strategic planning around the legislation in its current form (which is law), and what it might become.  This uncertainty will create an overhang that will linger with emerging companies, their financial sponsors and large enterprises across the healthcare landscape for the balance of 2012.

Aside from the PPACA debate, the current tax rate on long term capital gains will increase to 20% in 2013 without a congressional extension of current levels.  We are watching the attitudes around taxation  in general as business owners and investors consider liquidity alternatives.  Our view is that the pace of M&A and other capital markets activity in healthcare should remain strong for the balance of the year.

This quarterly Market Analysis from TripleTree Research includes:

• MARKET SENTIMENT
• INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
• M&A SUMMARY
• DEAL ACTIVITY
• DEAL SPOTLIGHT
• PUBLIC COMPANY VALUATION SUMMARY
• TRIPLE TREE RESEARCH
• TRIPLE TREE BLOG ACTIVITY
• TRIPLE TREE TRANSACTIONS