Jan 24 (Reuters) - British private hospital group Spire Healthcare is in early-stage talks with several buyout firms including Bridgepoint and Triton Partners to "explore strategic options", it said on Saturday.
Sky News reported earlier in the day that Spire was in talks with several buyout firms including Bridgepoint and Triton over a potential takeover that could see the hospital operator taken private.
Advent International and Bain Capital have also contacted Rothschild, which is running the process, although they are not expected to advance further, the report added.
"There can be no certainty that any offer will be made for the company nor as to the terms of any offer, if made," the company said in its statement.
According to the Sky News report, Spire's board, chaired by Sir Ian Cheshire, is said to be keen to progress discussions with prospective bidders in the coming weeks, adding that if talks move forward, a deal is expected to be agreed upon within the next few months.
The hospital operator said in September that it had begun early-stage talks to review strategic options, including a possible sale.
Spire operates 38 hospitals along with more than 50 clinics, medical centres and consulting rooms across England, Wales and Scotland.
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey, Anusha Shah and Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Joe Bavier, Tomasz Janowski and Jan Harvey)
