(Adds background)
March 29 (Reuters) - Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby said on Wednesday it has not yet decided to divest its
Asia-focused healthcare joint venture with Australia's largest
private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care .
The development comes a day after Reuters reported, citing
sources, that the two parties were planning to revive the sale
of the venture Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care, in a deal that
could value the business at about 6 billion ringgit ($1.36
billion).
According to the sources, the companies were in talks with
financial advisors to explore a sale of the joint venture to
strategic investors.
Last March, Malaysia's IHH Healthcare , one of
Asia's biggest private hospital operators, had submitted an
indicative proposal to buy Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care.
The discussions were called off in early September,
weeks after a group led by private equity firm KKR & Co Inc withdrew
a near $15 billion all-cash buyout offer for
Australia-listed Ramsay Healthcare.
($1 = 4.4160 ringgit)
(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi
Aich and Dhanya Ann Thoppil)
