Business

Tuesday July 10, 2012

Lippo stake lures private equity to Indonesia


JAKARTA: Indonesia's PT Lippo Karawaci may sell as much as 49% of its unit Siloam Hospitals in a deal that would value the firm at more than US$1bil, drawing a slew of private equity firms to the sale as they bet on growth in healthcare spending in South-East Asia's biggest economy, sources said.

Indonesia has one of the world's lowest healthcare spending-to-GDP ratios, but its rising middle class which represents more than half of its population of 240 million is expected to sharply increase its medical spending and drive growth in the sector over the coming years.

The country, which has Asia's thirdl argest population, is also starting to attract more private equity firms such as Blackstone Group L.P. and KKR & Co LP as they seek chances to invest in the region's fastgrowing economies.

Lippo Karawaci, a property firm controlled by the billionaire Riady family via its global conglomerate Lippo Group, plans to sell a minimum of 20% of unit Siloam for between US$200mil and US$300mil, and has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to run the auction, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. First round bids are due on July 16, two of the sources said.

Lippo could sell as much as 49% of Siloam, Indonesia's largest private healthcare operator, if the bids match its target valuation of over US$1bil, one of the sources said.

The stake in Siloam is attracting early interest from Bain Capital, Blackstone and KKR, banking sources told Reuters.

Other private equity funds showing an interest in bidding include Carlyle Group and TPG Capital with its affiliate Northstar, the sources said.

Sources declined to be named as the discussions were private. Bain and Carlyle declined to comment. Lippo Karawaci spokesman Danang Kemayan Jati declined to comment.

BofA, Blackstone, KKR, TPG did not respond to requests for comment.

The Riadys, who are looking to raise money to expand their business, have previously looked at an IPO for Siloam, and it is not certain they will proceed with a sale if valuations do not meet their expectations.

The Siloam Hospitals group, which represents around 30% of Lippo Karawaci's asset value, operates nine hospitals and is currently building four new ones. - Reuters

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