* National Hearing Care valued at $441 million
* Crescent Capital was considering IPO of the business
(adds details)
MILAN, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Hearing aid retailer Amplifon SA
NHC is a hearing aid distributor with 200 clinics in Australia, New Zealand and India, the statement said. [ID:nBIA283d6]
"This strategic acquisition allows the Amplifon Group to enter an important new geographic market with provides significant potential for growth," Amplifon said.
The owner of National Hearing Care, Australian private equity firm Crescent Capital Partners, had run a dual-track sales process and was heading towards a float of the audiology business, an industry source said earlier this month.
The prospectus for the planned IPO was due to be lodged on Sept. 30 and the shares were due to start trading Oct. 15.
IPOs above A$100 million have been extremely rare in the Australian market this year, with a number of private equity-owned businesses putting float plans on hold until 2011 in the hope that volatile markets will settle.
National Hearing Care runs the largest private audiology practice in Australia with 70 clinics. It expanded into New Zealand in 2008 and opened its first clinics in India this year.
Macquarie
The deal is subject to regulatory approval in Australia and New Zealand. (Reporting by Ian Simpson in Milan and Victoria Thieberger in Melbourne; Editing by Mike Nesbit/Ed Davies) ($1=1.042 Australian Dollar)