BUPA hospital sale still underway

BUPA, the largest private health group in the UK, are still in negotiations over the sale of their 26 private hospitals throughout the UK. BUPA, who also sell private medical insurance and health insurance policies, looked after 800,000 patients last year.

A number of potential buyers have emerged in the race to purchase the hospital businesses off BUPA. These include private- equity firms Cinven and Blackstone, not to mention the Australian investment bank Macquarie. Asian and Middle East investors are also rumoured to have expressed an interest.

Following a sale, it is uncertain over the future of the hospitals. It is expected that BUPA will expand their care home business, or perhaps expand their overseas business. BUPA re-invest surpluses of profit back into their business, as BUPA is not a mutual. The value of the group is phenomenal, and exceeds £5 billion.