Healthscope gets new bids

Australia-based Healthscope Ltd. has become the target of a bidding war among U.S. private-equity firms, as it received new bids valuing the hospital operator at US$1.56 billion. Healthscope said it received two new takeover offers each at 5.80 Australian dollars (US$4.92) a share, valuing the company at about A$1.84 billion. The company didn't disclose the identity of the bidders, though one person familiar with the matter said one of the bidders was U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., the Wall Street Journal reports.