Mediclinic International is one of those exotic companies that millions of us suddenly have no choice but to own. Anyone with a tracker-style investment product is probably exposed to this hotchpotch of hospitals and clinics in southern Africa, the Middle East and Switzerland.
The South African-based Mediclinic’s reverse takeover of Al Noor Hospitals in February last year gave it a primary listing in London and pushed it into the FTSE 100 with a market value of close to £5.5 billion.
To add to the confusion, and the territorial mix, the company also owns a 29 per cent stake in Spire Healthcare, the separately listed UK private healthcare business. with many speculating it may bid for the whole business.
The group insists that there are synergies