EQT Is Said to Near $5.3 Billion Deal for Partners Group’s Cerba

EQT AB is nearing an agreement to acquire Cerba HealthCare in a deal valuing the French laboratories firm at about 4.5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) including debt, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The European private equity firm could announce a deal as soon as this week to purchase Cerba from Swiss buyout firm Partners Group, according to the people. EQT beat out rival bidders including other investment funds, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Partners Group, which owns the business together with Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board, has ...