UnitedHealth Group agreed to acquire healthcare technology company Change Healthcare in a deal that values the latter at more than $13 billion.
As part of the deal, UnitedHealth will pay $25.75 a share in cash, which implies a 41% premium over Change Healthcare stock’s closing price Tuesday of $18.24. The valuation includes more than $5 billion of Change Healthcare debt. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2021.
The acquisition will see Change Healthcare combining with UnitedHealth’s OptumInsight unit to offer data analytics, software and other services to the health-care industry.
According to the two companies, the deal will help simplify services around medical care and lower costs.
Private-equity funds affiliated with Blackstone Group that own about 20% of Change Healthcare’s common stock have agreed to vote in favor of the deal. The deal is expected to increase UnitedHealth’s adjusted per-share earnings by 50 cents in 2022, the companies said.