NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION
THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE AND THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER MIGHT BE MADE
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 September 2025
Spire Healthcare Group plc ("Spire", the "Company")
Response to speculation
The Board of Spire notes the recent media speculation.
As announced at the Company's results for the six months ended 30 June 2025, the Board is pleased with the progress made in implementing strategic and efficiency initiatives but believes that these, together with Spire's freehold property and a well invested asset base, are not yet reflected by the market in full. The Board therefore continues to actively evaluate appropriate action that could drive long term shareholder value.
As part of this, the Company confirms that it is working actively with its lead financial adviser Rothschild & Co and has commenced a process to hold discussions with a number of parties in relation to a range of potential options, which may include (but is not limited to) a potential sale of the Company. This process is highly preliminary and no decision has been made regarding whether any such option will be pursued at this stage.
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. The Company is not in receipt of any approaches and is not in discussions with any parties in respect of a potential sale of the Company at the time of this announcement.
The Board will make a further announcement in due course.
Code dispensations
The Takeover Panel Executive has granted a dispensation from the requirements of Rules 2.4(a) and 2.4(b) of the Code such that Spire is not required to identify in this announcement any potential offeror with which the Company is in talks, or from which an approach has been received, unless that potential offeror is specifically identified in any rumour or speculation.
As a consequence of this announcement, Spire is now in an "offer period" as defined in the Code and the attention of Spire shareholders is drawn to the dealing disclosure requirements of Rule 8 of the Code, which are summarised below.
ENQUIRIES:
The person responsible for making this announcement is: Mantraraj Budhdev, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
For further information please contact:
Spire Healthcare Group plc Amie Gramlick, Director of Investor Relations and Commercial Finance |
0800 169 1777 |
Instinctif Partners Julian Walker Tim Pearson |
+44 (0) 20 7457 2020 |
Rothschild & Co (Lead financial adviser) Hedley Goldberg / Thibault Poirier |
+44 (0)20 7280 5000
|
About Spire
Spire is a leading independent healthcare group in the United Kingdom, running 38 hospitals and over 50 clinics, medical centres and consulting rooms across England, Wales and Scotland. It operates a network of private GPs and provides occupational health services to over 800 corporate clients.
Working in partnership with over 8,700 experienced consultants, Spire delivered tailored, personalised care to over 1 million inpatients, outpatients and daycase patients, and occupational health programme clients, and is the leading private provider, by volume, of knee and hip operations in the United Kingdom. It also delivers a range of private and NHS mental health, musculoskeletal and dermatological services under the Vita Health Group brand.
Spire's well-located and scalable hospitals have delivered successful and award-winning outcomes, positioning the group well with patients, consultants, the NHS, GPs and Private Medical Insurance ('PMI') providers. 98% of Spire's inspected locations are rated 'Good,' 'Outstanding' or the equivalent by health inspectors in England, Wales and Scotland.
Spire is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250.
Inside Information
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by Spire to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Notice related to financial advisers
N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Spire and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spire for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4). Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Rule 26.1 disclosure
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions) at www.spirehealthcare.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this announcement. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
Rule 2.9 information
In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Spire confirms that as at the close of business on 17 September 2025 its issued share capital consisted of 402,759,599 ordinary shares of 1 pence each. The International Securities Identification Number for Spire's ordinary shares is GB00BNLPYF73. Spire does not hold any ordinary shares in treasury.
Additional Information
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. Any offer, if made, will be made solely by certain offer documentation which will contain the full terms and conditions of any offer, including details of how it may be accepted. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of relevant jurisdictions. Therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom or shareholders of Spire who are not resident in the United Kingdom will need to inform themselves about, and observe any applicable requirements.
Forward looking statements
This announcement, oral statements made regarding potential strategic actions or initiatives, and other information published by Spire may contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Spire about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of potential strategic actions or initiatives on Spire, the expected timing and scope of potential strategic actions or initiatives and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although Spire believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Spire can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include uncertainties involved in the integration of acquisitions and new developments, changes in legislation and/or the regulatory regime governing healthcare in the UK, poor performance by consultants who practice at our facilities, unexpected regulatory actions or suspensions, competition in general, the impact of global economic changes, risks arising out of health crises and pandemics, changes in tax rates, future business combinations or dispositions, and Spire and its group undertakings' ability to obtain or maintain accreditation or approval for its facilities or service lines. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Spire, nor any of its respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA), Spire is under no obligation, and Spire expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or profit estimate.