S’pore hospital chain interested in Lanka Hospitals
View(s):A Singapore hospital chain has shown interest in a majority stake in Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC (LHCL), should the government decide to divest these shares, officials said. ”This is a renowned chain and they want controlling ownership in LHCL,” an official told the Business Times. He said that a powerful state minister is negotiating this deal. The Singaporeans are due to come next month for further discussion, he added. Local hospital operators – Hemas and Softlogic Group are also interested.
A Softlogic official told the Business Times that it’s a lucrative opportunity for the group which owns Asiri Hospitals and is the largest listed private hospital group in Sri Lanka in terms of revenue and profits. Hemas in a recent announcement said, “We noted the interest expressed by the Government in disposing of shares in ventures such as LHCL. We have therefore, expressed our interest in pursuing this opportunity once the government initiates the official process”. LHCL, previously Apollo Hospitals Colombo is now indirectly owned by the government with the state owned Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation holding a 54.61 per cent stake.