FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German generic drugs company Stada (DE:STAGn) said on Thursday it had received its third takeover approach, and at 58 euros ($61.89) per share, the latest offer was two euros higher than rival suitor Cinven Partners' offer.
The company said earlier this week that Cinven, a private equity investment firm, had offered 56 euros per share. Private equity firm Advent International was the second prospective bidder though a price has not been disclosed.
Stada did not identify the third suitor.
The bidding contest for 122-year-old Stada is intensifying as Advent is expected to submit a bid next week, two sources in the financial industry said. Advent declined comment.
Stada, based near Frankfurt, said earlier this week it had invited Cinven and Advent to the negotiating table after months of courtship.
The third investor is a major international private equity firm, a person familiar with the matter said. Its non-binding expression of interest valued Stada at 3.6 billion euros, 100 million euros more than Cinven's offer.
Seeking investments in stable healthcare businesses, cash-rich buyout firms - also including Permira (UL:PERM) and CVC (UL:CVC) - have been working on offers for months and approached Stada about a deal, people familiar with the situation told Reuters. Bain Capital is viewed by observers as another prospective acquirer.
Spokespeople for Permira, CVC and Bain declined comment.
A meeting of the supervisory board has been arranged for Friday at short notice, a source close to the board said, with the M&A process expected to be on the agenda.
Founded in 1895 in Dresden as a pharmacists' cooperative, Stada is seeking to expand its non-prescription consumer care business. Its generic drug business is under price pressure as medical insurers in Germany, its largest market, are seeking bulk procurement deals at low prices.
($1 = 0.9371 euros)