(Reuters) - New Zealand's Metlifecare Ltd (NZ:MET) said on Monday it had entered into an initial deal to be acquired for about NZ$1.49 billion ($996.07 million, 761 million pounds) by a fund managed by Swedish buyout firm EQT AB (ST:EQTAB)
The retirement village operator said its shareholders would get NZ$7 per share under the agreement from Asia Pacific Village Group Ltd, which is ultimately owned by EQT.
The offer price represents a premium of 9.7% to Metlifecare's closing price on Dec. 20, before its stock was placed on a trading halt, and a 38% premium to the closing price prior to the announcement of the initial offer on Nov. 19.
EQT first approached Metlifecare with an offer of NZ$6.50 per share, which was rejected. Further discussions led to the raised offer, Metlifecare said.
The board backed the deal, adding that it had received strong support from a number of institutional shareholders.
In a separate statement, EQT said it had also entered into a voting deed with Metlifecare's largest shareholder, New Zealand Superannuation Fund Nominees Limited (NZSF), to vote in favour of the deal.
NZSF holds about 19.9% of the New Zealand company's shares.
The fund manager said a few other Metlifecare shareholders collectively representing around 22% of the register had also indicated their intention to vote for the deal.
EQT added the transaction would be implemented by a scheme of arrangement, a court-supervised process in which shareholders meet to vote on the proposed deal.