Private equity firm to acquire Heartland Dental

Private equity firm KKR has agreed to acquire majority ownership of Heartland Dental, the largest dental service organization (DSO) in the U.S.

KKR previously tried to acquire Heartland in 2012, but was outbid by the DSO's current owners, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTTP). The OTTP will retain an ownership portion, and the DSO's current executive leadership will remain with the company, according to Heartland Dental.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. Financial terms were not disclosed. Heartland supports more than 840 offices in 35 states.