NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters) - Private equity groups Carlyle Group and TPG Capital are close to acquiring Healthscope Ltd, Australia's second largest private hospital operator, for at least $1.5 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
The report, on wsj.com, cited people familiar with the matter as saying an announcement could be made as soon as Monday, but a competing bid was still possible.
Reuters reported on Saturday that sources close to the deal in Sydney said that Healthscope had received final takeover bids from private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and the consortium of Carlyle and TPG .
Earlier indicative bids by the two parties valued Healthscope at $1.6 billion.
TPG and Carlyle continued with their bid even after private equity firm Blackstone Group pulled out of their consortium on Thursday.
(New York Equities desk +1-646-223-6000; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) Keywords: HEALTHSCOPE/
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The report, on wsj.com, cited people familiar with the matter as saying an announcement could be made as soon as Monday, but a competing bid was still possible.
Reuters reported on Saturday that sources close to the deal in Sydney said that Healthscope had received final takeover bids from private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and the consortium of Carlyle and TPG .
Earlier indicative bids by the two parties valued Healthscope at $1.6 billion.
TPG and Carlyle continued with their bid even after private equity firm Blackstone Group pulled out of their consortium on Thursday.
(New York Equities desk +1-646-223-6000; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) Keywords: HEALTHSCOPE/
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.