July 5 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Carlyle Group ( CG ) is

in exclusive talks to acquire Baxter International's ( BAX )

kidney care spinoff Vantive for more than $4 billion, including

debt, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Shares of the Deerfield, Illinois-based firm rose more than

4%.

The parties had entered exclusive negotiations in late June,

the person said, adding that a deal could be announced in the

coming weeks.

Medical device maker Baxter said in March it had been in

discussions with select private equity investors to explore a

potential sale of the kidney care unit more than a year after it

announced plans to separate the unit amid supply-chain

challenges and weak demand for dialysis operations.

Baxter had said it plans to separate the unit in the second

half of the year.

Baxter declined to comment while Carlyle did not immediately

respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the matter.