Verisk in Talks to Sell Health Data Unit to Carlyle Group: Reuters

Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP is in advanced talks to acquire the healthcare information technology division of U.S. data analytics company Verisk Analytics Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.

Carlyle has so far prevailed in an auction for the unit, called Verisk Health, that had also attracted interest from other buyout firms, including Veritas Capital Fund Management, the people said.

The exact price that Carlyle was offering could not be learned, but the sources said it was significantly lower than the $1 billion that Verisk was initially hoping to fetch for the business.

The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. Carlyle declined to comment, while Verisk and Veritas Capital did not respond to requests for comment.

Verisk Health provides a suite of data-based tools that are designed to help mitigate risk and reduce costs in the healthcare system.

Headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, it provides data analytics to the insurance, natural resources, healthcare, financial services, government, and risk management sectors.

Carlyle’s previous healthcare investments include Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, previously a unit of Johnson & Johnson, and Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD), a contract research organization.

(Reporting by Carl O’Donnell and Liana B. Baker in New York; Editing by Chris Reese)