85% Of Autism Market Sector Mergers & Acquisitions Involve Private Equity Investment

Between 2017 and 2022, private equity investors were involved in 85% of mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. autism treatment sector. Based on an analysis of 12 large chain investor-owned provider organizations that have 1,300 locations that provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) across the United States, on average, the acquired autism treatment provider organizations changed hands every four years.

These 12 chains provide ABA and other services to treat autism. In 2022, they employed about 30,000 autism specialists. According to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, as of the end of 2022 it had certified 59,976 . . .