Private equity firms KKR and GK Investment have approached NMC Health, the largest private hospital operator in the United Arab Emirates, about a buyout, according to Bloomberg.
NMC Health said that the firms made "highly preliminary" approaches, but neither made an official offer or discussed terms.
News of the potential buyout offers lifted NMC Health's shares more than 6 percent Feb. 10.
NMC Health's shares have dropped significantly since short-seller Muddy Waters Capital questioned its balance sheet last year.
"What we found is likely just the tip of the iceberg," Muddy Waters founder Carson Block told Bloomberg. "As for the notion that NMC might receive private equity bids, it’s hard for us to believe they would survive due diligence."
NMC Health dismissed the Muddy Waters assessment and announced that it has removed its co-chair and founder, Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, from board discussions after he said he may have incorrectly reported the size of his stake in the company.
NMC Health said it is investigating the size of Mr. Shetty's stake.