Take the Money and Run Seen as Allscripts’s Best Bet: Real M&A

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Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc.’s best hope for shareholders now lies in private equity after management turmoil and disappointing earnings erased half of the medical-software provider’s market value.

Allscripts has spoken in recent weeks with firms such as Blackstone Group LP about a potential leveraged buyout, people familiar with the matter said last week. The Chicago-based company is courting buyers after the stock traded on Sept. 27 at the lowest multiple to sales and net assets among U.S. application-software providers in health care, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Even after surging on the Bloomberg News report, the stock is down 40 percent from this year’s peak.