Spire Healthcare to extend deadline for takeover talks - report

(Sharecast News) - Private hospital operator Spire Healthcare said on Wednesday that the deadline for takeover talks with private equity firms Bridgepoint and Triton has been extended as discussions are ongoing.

Spire confirmed last month that the two PE firms were among the parties in discussions with the company about a potential takeover offer.

Under UK takeover rules, the two firms originally had until 21 February to either announce a firm offer or walk away. However, Spire requested and was granted an extension of the 'put up or shut up' deadline to 1700 GMT on 21 March.

It said the extension was requested as "discussions between the company and each of Bridgepoint and Triton are ongoing" and "to allow further time for these discussions to continue to take place".

Spire said there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any offer will be made. Further announcements will be made in due course as appropriate, it added.

Spire did not provide any financial details in its announcement in January, but Sky News suggested at the time that a deal could be worth as much as £1.5bn.

Spire Healthcare