NMC Health PLC (LON:NMC) has hired advisers to sort out its debts and said its current main focus was “safeguarding operational liquidity” as new doubts emerged over its borrowing facilities after it was revealed that its key shareholders no longer own a controlling stake of the company.
At the end of last week, the United Arab Emirates’ largest private hospitals operator found out that founder BR Shetty and associates Khaleefa Bin Butti and Saeed Bin Butti now own less than a combined 30% of the company.
READ: NMC Health faces FCA probe as CEO sacked, "discrepancies" found
The lending agreement for FTSE 100 group’s main US$2bn banking facilities contain “change of control provisions” that the company said are triggered if the three principal shareholders hold less than 30% of NMC's shares.
In their combined stake falls below this level unused lending commitments are cancelled and outstanding borrowing become payable if requested by any of its individual lenders, which were reported by Reuters to include Standard Chartered and HSBC.
NMC, which last week was told by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority that a formal enforcement investigation had begun into its finances, said on Monday that it had hired Moelis & Co to support and advise on NMC's discussions with its lenders, with immediate effect.
PwC has also been hired to help with managing operational liquidity and other operational measures.
The company said it was asking for the continued support of its lenders and an “informal standstill” in relation to existing facilities from its lenders to achieve an immediate stabilisation of the group's financing.
Over the weekend, the Abu Dhabi government was said to be looking to a potential rescue by the US$229bn Mubadala national wealth fund, according to a Bloomberg report.
Shares in NMC have been suspended since last Thursday morning, having dropped by almost two thirds since the release of a report by short seller Muddy Waters in December.