Mednax buys East Tennessee physician group

Friday, July 27, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 30

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Mednax Inc. said Monday it has acquired a Knoxville-based physician group that provides anesthesia services across the eastern portion of Tennessee.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based national physician group did not disclose terms of the deal. It said Anesthesia Medical Alliance of East Tennessee includes 45 anesthesiologists and 158 anesthetists and will become part of its American Anesthesiology division.

Jefferies analyst Arthur I. Henderson said in a research note that the price for the deal may be around $100 million, depending on the premium Mednax will pay. He said the alliance is a large and well-respected physician group.

Mednax specializes in neonatal, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology and anesthesia services. Its affiliated practices employ more than 1,900 physicians in 34 states and Puerto Rico.

Company shares were flat in Monday afternoon trading, while broader indexes edged down slightly.