What does the market say about past and future ASC acquisitions?  

The HealthCare Appraisers, Inc. 2009 ASC Valuation Survey results have been released and provide insight into the ASC acquisition market for 2008 and trends in 2009. For the past six years, HealthCare Appraisers has surveyed the "Who's Who" in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry to determine trends in the value of ASC ownership interests and management fees charged to ASCs. This year's survey was the most comprehensive ever, both in terms of the number of participating ASC companies and the breadth of valuation issues addressed. Highlights of the 2009 ASC Valuation Survey include:

ASC acquisition activity declining but valuation multiples maintaining  

While slightly over half of the respondents reported that acquisition activity in the ASC market is declining, 45% of respondents perceive that valuation multiples in 2008 have stayed consistent with the prior year.. Prevailing multiples in 2008 for controlling interests continued to be 6.0 times EBITDA or higher for the majority of respondents.