Health and Healthcare

Bidding Starts for Allscripts (MDRX, BX, CG)

Electronic health-records provider Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: MDRX) said late last month that it would explore a sale of the company. Bloomberg is reporting this morning that private equity firms Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX), Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ: CG) and privately held Silver Lake Management have all made first round bids on the company.

Allscripts has had a turbulent year. In April the company fired its chairman (and former CEO), the CFO resigned and three directors left — all on the same day. The impetus for the move came from a major shareholder, Healthcor Management, which placed three of its candidates on the board following the massacre.

Shares of Allscripts fell below $10 that day, and have managed to come back to north of $13 as of last Friday. At least one analyst put a target price of $15 on Allscripts the day it announced it would explore a sale of the company. Before the April disaster, the stock was trading at $16 and the 52-week high is over $21 a share. The trailing P/E is nearly 43, but the forward P/E is just over 14. The consensus target price is just $12.62.

The move to electronic health records under Obamacare makes Allscripts a valuable property. Just guessing here, but a buyout at $15 looks too cheap. And this company almost certainly will go to the highest bidder.

Shares of Allscripts closed at $13.33 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $8.84 to $21.66. Shares are up 5.8% in premarket trading this morning, at $14.10.

Paul Ausick

Travel Cards Are Getting Too Good To Ignore

Credit card companies are pulling out all the stops, with the issuers are offering insane travel rewards and perks.

We’re talking huge sign-up bonuses, points on every purchase, and benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and free hotel nights. For travelers, these rewards can add up to thousands of dollars in flights, upgrades, and luxury experiences every year.

It’s like getting paid to travel — and it’s available to qualified borrowers who know where to look.

We’ve rounded up some of the best travel credit cards on the market. Click here to see the list. Don’t miss these offers — they won’t be this good forever.

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