Spire Healthcare Group Plc (LSE:SPI) rose 7% after the private hospital group confirmed it is weighing a range of options, including a possible sale, following media speculation.
The board said that despite progress on efficiency drives and the strength of its property and asset base, this value was “not yet reflected by the market in full”.
Spire has appointed Rothschild & Co as lead financial adviser and has begun preliminary talks with a number of parties.
The company stressed that no decision has been made and that it has not received any approaches. “There can be no certainty either that any offer will be made for the company nor as to the terms of any offer, if made,” it said.
The announcement places Spire in an official “offer period” under takeover rules. Spire operates 38 hospitals and more than 50 clinics across the UK and is a FTSE 250 member.
The shares rose 15p to 231.5p.