The number of mergers and acquisitions in the Dutch care and life sciences sector which involve private equity rose for the fourth time in a row last year, according to research by Deloitte.

In particular companies specialising in medical aids and life sciences were popular targets, with complicated Dutch rules making it much harder to take over actual institutions such as clinics and hospitals, Deloitte said.

In addition, foreign private equity is also discovering the Dutch sector, the research shows. Foreign buyers were involved in 39 of the 106 mergers and acquisitions worth more than €5m last year.

That, Deloitte said, is a 44% increase on the previous year. The total value of the transactions was some €2.4bn.

‘The care sector is facing major challenges and will have to become more efficient to continue providing affordable care to all,’ Deloitte partner Dagmar Enklaar said. ‘Digitalisation and innovation play an essential role in this and the companies which are active in these areas are attractive to investors.’