CVS Health Corp said on Wednesday it would buy Oak Street Health Inc for about USD 9.5 billion in cash, expanding its healthcare services by adding hundreds of primary care clinics mostly for older people.

CVS said the value of the deal was USD 10.6 billion, including debt. Its per share offer of USD 39 represents about 73 per cent premium to Oak Street's last closing price before talks of the deal were first reported in January and nearly 16 per cent to Tuesday's close. 

Shares of the primary care firm rose 5 per cent before the bell.The deal marks CVS' third largest deal in the last decade, closely following its nearly USD 13 billion buyout of pharmacy services provider Omnicare in 2015 and USD 69 billion acquisition of health insurer Aetna in 2017, according to Refinitiv data.

The Oak Street deal echoes similar moves by rivals into primary care. Walgreens Boots Alliance and Cigna have made investments in primary care provider VillageMD, and Amazon announced a USD 3.49 billion deal last year to buy One Medical to expand into the space.

UnitedHealth Group Inc also runs urgent care, primary care and surgical care centers. CVS has been in the market for a medical services acquisition since last year, as part of its strategy to mitigate the pressure on its health insurance unit from lower ratings on its Medicare Advantage insurance plans and the end of a major pharmacy benefit management contract.

Through Oak Street, CVS will get control over 160 primary care centers that typically offer routine health screenings and diagnosis to those insured under the U.S. government's Medicare program, which is for people aged 65 years and older or who qualify because they have a disability.CVS fell marginally on news of the deal, but reversed course to gain about 2 per cent before the bell, after reporting fourth-quarter profit above Wall Street estimates.

(Reuters)