One of the nation’s largest home health care providers and the largest senior living provider, Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD), is rumored to be in buyout talks after receiving an acquisition bid of $3 billion from a Chinese firm, according to a Tuesday report by Reuters. Brookdale has been rumored to be for sale for many months.
Financial Times then followed up with a Wednesday report that Brookdale could fetch more than $4 billion in a sale that could be agreed upon “in the coming days.” The publication cited unnamed sources.
China-based real estate and leisure group Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co Ltd, which purchased a stake in SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. last month, is in talks to acquire the senior housing giant for approximately $3 billion, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the situation.
Specifically, Brookdale entered into exclusive negotiations with Zhonghong after it fielded offers from other parties that valued the company at “substantially below” $3 billion, Reuters’ sources said.
No deal is certain and negotiations remain ongoing, the people told Reuters.
Brookdale Senior Living declined comment to Home Health Care News, saying it does not comment on market rumors or speculation.
In an additional wrinkle, Brookdale must be persuaded that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)—which examines corporate acquisitions for possible national security risks—would approve a deal with Zhonghong, Reuters reported. This is particularly relevant given the nature of Brookdale’s health care services provided to senior residents.
Analysts have reasoned it makes sense for a Chinese firm to purchase Brookdale, given the large amount of foreign capital that has been chasing U.S. real estate in recent years, and particularly China-based buyers that have been targeting senior housing in recent months, Jeffries analyst Brian Tanquilut told HHCN in May.
In March, the investment banking firm predicted the probability that Brookdale would be sold between then and the end of 2017 is greater than 50%.
Written by Mary Kate Nelson
Companies featured in this article:
Brookdale Senior Living, Reuters, Zhonghong Ahuoye Group Co Ltd
