To sell or not to sell part of your surgery center to a corporate partner? That is the question. More corporate partners are throwing more money at more surgery centers than ever before, which should come as welcome news to surgeons looking to convert part of their investments to cash. Surgeons and investors say there has never been a better time to sell. This article describes the competition to acquire centers, the “seller’s market” environment, and soaring multiples of EBITDA being offered. Case studies are provided. A corporate partner’s contributions can be significant and can include: purchasing power, overhead sharing, benchmarking, buyback clauses, expansion and development. Various ownership models, including majority-owned and minority-owned, and management only models are examined. Corporate partners help create a more stable, mature business environment. Recommendations for selecting the right partner are provided.

Selling a portion of your ASC to a corporate partner may make good business sense, but it is a decision that needs to be considered carefully.  A partnership is a long-term relationship that will affect the way your center does business for many years to come.  Topics covered in this article  include:  Why would ASC owners want a corporate partner?  What is your ASC worth?  What are your choices for a corporate partner?  How to go about adding a corporate partner.  What questions should you ask?

Most gastroenterogists are either already partners in an ASC/Endoscopy center (center) or are seriously considering becoming a partner in a new or existing center.  The one topic that is almost never fully explored when planning a center is what is the exit strategy, and how will the senior partners benefit from the financial and other risks they took in starting up the center.  A competitive market for these facilities has developed that results in attractive valuations for ASC /Endoscopy Centers.  This article describes how the partners can extract value from the facility they have developed when they want to take some money off the table or retire.

If you are selling equity to a corporate partner, you can expect a financial windfall.  Multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers are routinely valued between $10 and $15 million, and you will get a chunk of that, often much larger than your initial investment.  But before you decide to sell a majority ownership in your facility, experts say you should ask yourself several questions.  This article explores the following questions:  Will a corporate partner improve financial performance?  Is a partner necessary for capital?  Do you need help dealing with non-productive physicians? Will you lose control of your center?  Do you really want to cash out?

Emboldened by their success in harassing physician-owned surgical hospitals, hospital lobbyists are now lining up physician-owned ASCs in their crosshairs.  Physician ownership is under an all-out attack in many towns and states that are passing laws prohibiting or curbing physician ownership at a feverish pace.  The legal context for physician ownership of ASCs is explored, as well as the hospital’s point of view and hospital-inspired rollback of protections for physician-owned surgery centers.

Physician-owners of outpatient facilities who have teamed up with managing partners will tell you that when it’s good, it’s really good.  But when it is bad, it is a nightmare.  In this article, physicians who have successfully teamed up with management firms share their advice on how to do it right.

Whether you want to make an important business decision, prepare for the future, or are just plain curious, here is expert advice on how to place a value on an ASC.

The market for ophthalmic surgery center acquisitions is extremely active.  More capital is available for acquisitions.  ASC owners are realizing valuable financial and operational benefits, including higher profits, by having a corporate partner.  Physicians are cautioned to pick the right partner and know the value of your ASC prior to negotiations.