SPOTLIGHT: Bear deal gives JPMorgan big healthcare stake

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:59:52 -0400

If JPMorgan manages to close its bargain-basement rate acquisition of Bear Stearns, JP Morgan will be picking up a big piece of healthcare business. The question is, what to do with it? Bear Stearns has a meaningful healthcare group in place within its investment banking unit, but it comes with some baggage. This includes a recent whistle-blower lawsuit filed by execs at an Illinois hospital who claimed that a Bear exec tried to force them to use both Bear and a particular construction company when looking for CON approval. Makes one wonder how well the rumored "cowboy" culture at Bear will mix with JPMorgan's folks. Article