Broadlane to Combine With AmeriNet

Broadlane Inc., a joint venture between hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. and online medical supplier Ventro Corp., will combine its product-purchasing business with that of AmeriNet Inc., the largest U.S. health-care group-buying business. As part of the agreement, Broadlane will own about 25% of closely held AmeriNet and AmeriNet will own an undetermined amount of Broadlane. The combined organization will have revenue of about $7 billion. Santa Barbara-based Tenet is the No. 2 U.S. hospital operator, but it has been giving attention to its Internet-based health businesses such as Broadlane, which was formed in December. The Broadlane-AmeriNet combination plans to sell to more than 15,000 medical sites, including 2,400 hospitals. St. Louis-based AmeriNet is the largest group-purchasing organization by membership, holding agreements with 14,750 customers. Tenet shares rose $1.25 to close at $26.75 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Mountain View, Calif.-based Ventro fell $6.94 to close at $31.38 on Nasdaq.