Bain, Hellman & Friedman near deal to buy Athenahealth

- Proposed deal said to be worth about $17 billion including debt
Private-equity firms Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman LLC are close to a deal to acquire healthcare-technology firm Athenahealth Inc. for about $17 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter, in the latest in a string of large-scale leveraged buyouts.