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Spire Healthcare said it was in talks with investors including buyout firms Bridgepoint and Triton about a potential takeover deal for the UK’s largest private hospital group, sending its shares up by as much as 19 per cent.
London-listed Spire on Monday confirmed the discussions following reports over the weekend that a number of investors had expressed interest in buying it. The group runs 38 hospitals and more than 50 clinics, medical centres and consulting rooms across the UK for private and NHS patients.
Spire said the two UK-based private equity groups “are among the parties in discussions with the company in the context of the strategic review announced on September 18 2025. These discussions remain at a preliminary stage”.
The FTSE 250 company’s shares jumped as much as 19 per cent shortly after market open on Monday, before paring the gains to 15 per cent to £2.05 a share.
The deadline for the potential buyers to confirm a firm intention to acquire Spire was February 21, but this could be extended, the company said.
In September, the FT reported that Spire had appointed Rothschild to advise on a potential sale after pressure from shareholders including hedge fund Toscafund and investment manager Harwood Capital.
The shareholders urged the company to target a sale price of at least £3.40 a share, which would value the group at more than £1.4bn.
Spire, alongside rival healthcare providers, has benefited from longer NHS waiting lists, which have pushed more patients to seek private care.
