Apollo Hospitals has UK-based Abbey Hospitals on its radar

Indian healthcare major Apollo Hospitals may bid for Abbey Hospitals, a UK-based hospital chain. Abbey Hospitals has been put up for sale by its parent company, the British healthcare group Covenant. It operates a chain of six hospitals. Any sale would happen at an estimated deal size of $100-150 mn. JP Morgan’s private equity arm, One Equity Capital is likely to partner Apollo Hospitals in the buyout. The fund already has investments in the Apollo Group companies.

Covenant Group is controlled by the Cognetes Fund. Cognetes acquired Covenant from Phoenix Private Equity for about $170 mn in 2005. Capio, the other identified target is also controlled by private equity funds Apax Partners and Nordic Capital. Deloitte is managing the sale process of Abbey and is expected to kick off the procedure in the next few weeks.

Read The Economic Times article.

Apollo Hospitals to buy UK-based healthcare unit

Apollo Hospitals is looking at acquiring a UK-based hospital chain estimated to be valued upwards of £1.2 bn, in partnership with private equity players. Apollo will provide its management expertise in such deals.

Apollo Hospitals has already expressed an interest in the British unit of Swedish healthcare company Capio that is owned by private equity groups Apax and Nordic Capital. The private equity owners of Capio were considering the sale of Capio’s British unit in response to antitrust concerns.

Apollo has also been looking at other hospitals including The Priory Group, owner of the famous rehabilitation centre for pop stars and fashion models. Priory Healthcare’s major shareholder ABN-AMRO has appointed Morgan Stanley to conduct a strategic review.

Read the Moneycontrol.com and Reuters.co.uk articles.