United Surgical agrees to buyout

United Surgical Partners International, which operates ambulatory surgery centers, generally in partnership with not-for-profit hospitals, agreed to a takeover offer worth about $1.8 billion, including assumed debt. The bidder, UNCN Acquisition Corp., is affiliated with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, which helped found United Surgical in 1998. United Surgical shareholders will receive $31.05 per share, a 13.4% premium over the company’s closing price Jan. 5. The companies expect the transaction to close in the second quarter, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. United Surgical has until Feb. 17 to consider other offers and, if it accepts another offer, would have to pay UNCN up to $42.5 million in termination fees. As of 2:17 p.m. EST, the stock was trading at $30.66. -- by the Associated Press