Envision

Sard Verbinnen & Co. is working $5.6 B acquisition of Envision Healthcare’s by KKR, which is one of the biggest recent leveraged buyout deals.

The total transaction is worth $9.9B following the assumption of or repayment of debt.

Envision, which faced criticism over its billing practices, launched a review of strategic alternatives last fall in order to enhance shareholder value.

It says that process including outreach to 25 potential buyers, including financial sponsors and strategic entities, and it invited proposals for all or parts of its business.

The board determined that KKR’s proposal “presented the best opportunity to maximize value for shareholders.”

KKR’s Jim Momtazee, head of its healthcare investment team, said the private equity firm is eager to help build upon Envision’s network of 25K clinical professionals at thousands of hospitals, surgery centers and alternate sites of care throughout the US.

Nashville-based Envision will become a private company following a stockholder vote to approve the takeover. That tally is expected before Oct. 1.

SV&C’s Jared Levy, Jacob Crows and Warren Rizzi represent Envison.