Global investment firm KKR is in discussions with Veritas Capital to acquire a 50% stake in Cotiviti, a healthcare analytics company, for between $10 billion and $11 billion, Bloomberg reported Dec. 12.
To help seal the deal financially and repay existing borrowings, KKR and Veritas are reportedly in talks for debt of $5 billion to $6 billion with both Wall Street banks and private credit funds, the publication reported. If approved, this could make the direct loan the largest on record.
The two firms are seeking a private loan featuring a "payment-in-kind" structure, allowing for interest with more debt on the entire financing to be paid by KKR, according to Bloomberg. This is Veritas' second attempt to sell part of Cotiviti this year, after talks with the Carlyle Group ended for a planned $15 billion buyout April 12.
Discussions between the two firms come as the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and HHS plan to conduct a federal inquiry into "corporate greed in healthcare." The goal of the inquiry is to understand how private equity and corporations are affecting healthcare access and cost, with the information collected eventually planned for aiding the development of future regulations and enforcement prioritization.