Primedex to explore strategic options

California imaging services provider Primedex announced last monththat it is exploring new options for the company, including possiblepartnerships or alliances.

The announcement came as no great surprise, given recent Primedexhistory and the general popularity of mergers and acquisitionsin the imaging service sector. Primedex nearly acquired San Diego'sMedical Imaging Centers of America in July, only to lose out toan 11th-hour bid by U.S. Diagnostic Labs. USDL has a deal pendingto acquire MICA's 17 centers for about $32 million (SCAN 7/31/96).

A merger in May with Diagnostic Imaging Services brought 10Southern California imaging centers, 15 ultrasound labs, and 13mobile ultrasound units into the Primedex fold. Before that deal,Los Angeles-based Primedex operated 19 California imaging centersthrough its RadNet subsidiary. Its Future Diagnostics subsidiaryarranges brokered imaging services for 180 imaging centers inthe state.

In a statement, Primedex president and CEO Dr. Howard Bergersaid that his company's board of directors had determined thatthe time is right to explore alternatives to enhance the company'svalue and position. He declined to elaborate on the announcementwhen contacted by SCAN.