A family reunion.

In a deal that will combine two companies with familial links to Nashville's HCA-The Healthcare Co., Dallas-based Triad Hospitals last week agreed to acquire Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Group for $2.4 billion. The merger would create the nation's third-largest investor-owned hospital chain, behind HCA and Tenet Healthcare Corp. Analysts say sell-offs of some hospitals and Quorum's hospital management business are likely.