UnitedHealth Group Inc. has joined the bidding for a unit of Envision Healthcare Corp., the health-services provider under pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, according to people familiar with the matter.
Envision has attracted interest from health insurer UnitedHealth for its ambulatory services unit, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the details aren’t public. Separate groups of private equity firms, including a consortium comprised of Hellman & Friedman, Onex Corp. and Clayton Dubilier & Rice, as well as one led by Carlyle Group LP, are still interested in buying the whole company but would also be open to acquiring parts, the people said. A deal could be announced in the coming weeks, they said.