Manipal-TPG combine extends validity of revised offer for Fortis

New Delhi: Manipal-TPG combine has said it has extended the validity of its modified offer for Fortis Healthcare to June 6, 2018.

On May 17, Malaysian firm IHH Healthcare Berhard had extended the acceptance period of its enhanced revised proposal for Fortis to May 29.

In a letter to the directors of Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL), Manipal-TPG combine said it understands that the FHL board is still in the process of considering the modified new offer.

"As you are aware, our modified new offer is valid till May 29, 2018, and in order to provide the FHL board with sufficient time to consider our modified new offer, we propose to extend the validity of our modified new offer...," the letter added.

The modified new offer shall remain valid and binding in its entirety until June 6, 2018, for acceptance by FHL Board and for recommendation to the shareholders of FHL, Manipal-TPG combine said.

The offer shall stand automatically revoked and terminated if it is not accepted by the FHL Board or the company's shareholders within their acceptance period respectively, the letter said.

Earlier on May 14, Manipal-TPG combine had again sweetened its offer for Fortis at Rs 180 per share, thereby increasing the valuation of the healthcare company to Rs 9,403 crore.

The combine was the first to make a binding offer for the cash-strapped healthcare chain.

"For purposes of the merger, a value of Rs 9,403 crore shall be attributed to FHL and a value of Rs 6,070 crore shall be attributed to MHEPL as had been originally determined by the independent valuers for the purpose of the transaction," Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd (MHEPL) had said in a letter presenting the revised offer.

It further said: "The preferential allotment shall be undertaken at a price of Rs 180 per share."

MHEPL claimed that its modified new offer "is significantly better than any other offer/bid FHL has received to date, including the Hero-Burman offer".

There were five suitors in the race for Fortis, including TPG-Manipal combine, IHH Healthcare and KKR-backed Radiant Life Care, which gave binding offers.

China's Fosun Healthcare did not make a binding bid for the company.

IHH Healthcare has extended its revised offer for Fortis till May 29 after which it shall lapse. It had increased its offer to directly invest in Fortis at Rs 175 per share on May 1. It had initially made a non-binding offer to invest in Fortis at Rs 160 per share.