Amazon among bidders for Signify Health - report

Amazon is reportedly among the bidders for US healthcare company Signify Health.

The Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the matter as saying that Amazon is joining the likes of CVS Health Corp and UnitedHealth Group in an auction for the home-health-services provider.

Sources told the WSJ that Signify is for sale in an auction that could value it at more than $8bn. It was understood that bids are due around Labor Day, but the WSJ said it was always possible an eager bidder could strike a deal before then.

Signify has a market value of around $5bn, boosted since the WSJ first reported on the possibility of a deal early this month.

The WSJ said a deal would mark Amazon's latest foray into the healthcare sector, and the second time in recent months it faced off against CVS.

Signify shares surged in pre-market trade, trading up 34% at $28.48 at 1000 BST.