Ascension

Ascension operates the U.S.'s third-largest health system. The Edmundson, MO based holding company oversees a network of 114 nonprofit hospitals, about 225 tax-exempt subsidiaries, and more than 125 for-profit subsidiaries, including a venture capital fund to invest in startup companies. It's also participating in a for-profit joint venure with an India-based hospital chain to establish a $2 billion "health city" in the Cayman Islands. Ascension's parent, Ascension Health Ministries, is a "public jurdic person"--or corporation--within the Catholic Church. Ascension, whose revenue in 2013 totaled $17 billion, reports to the Vatican regarding key transactions.