M&A Analysis: M&A Rises In 2017 As Market Set To Bounce Back In 2018

2017 proved to be a busy year for medtech M&A activity, with the number of deals rising from 174 in 2016, to 206 in 2017. The year also brought a number of notable acquisitions, including Becton Dickinson's blockbuster $24bn purchase of CR Bard and Dutch health-care giant Philips undertaking an ambitious acquisition spree. Medtech Insight takes a look at the highlights of 2017 and what's in store for 2018.

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December reeled in one final flow of medtech M&A activity as companies rushed to complete acquisitions before the end of the year. The 24 deals in December rounded off what proved to be a busy year for medtech M&A activity, with the deal count rising from 2016 but still not catching up with the high volume seen in previous years. (Also see "M&A Analysis: Underwhelming 2016, But Hope For 2017 US Market Boom" - Medtech Insight, 6 January, 2017.)

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