News: RHC UPDATE 1-Ramsay sweetens bid for Sweden's Capio to more than $900 million

(Adds shares, background, detail)

STOCKHOLM, Oct 8 (Reuters) - French hospital operator Ramsay Générale de Santé GDSF.PA lifted its cash bid for Sweden's Capio CAPIO.ST to 58 Swedish crowns per share on Monday, valuing the company at around 8.19 billion crowns ($903 million).

Ramsay Generale, 50.9 percent owned by Australia's Ramsay Health Care (RHC) , made an initial 48.50 crown bid in July. That bid was quickly rebuffed by Capio's board and several of its largest investors.

Capio shares rose 12.2 percent to 57 crowns in early trading in Stockholm on Monday.

Several media groups, including Reuters, had reported Ramsay was considering revising its bid.

"Our revised offer is highly financially compelling for Capio's shareholders," Ramsay General CEO Pascal Roche said in a statement.

"It also provides Capio's shareholders with an attractive alternative to the disposal of Capio France with certainty on valuation as RGdS’(Ramsay Generale) offer is integrally in cash."

Since the initial bid Capio has announced plans to sell its French business to Ramsay Generale's rival Vivalto Sante, but that deal is partly subject to shareholder approval at a meeeting on Oct. 18.

Ramsay said on Monday it had decided to waive a bid condition regarding clearances from competition authorities, while adding they expected clearance from the French Competition Authority to be obtained by October 15.

Capio which operates in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France and Germany, has said it is planning to focus its business on its core markets in the Nordics. ($1 = 9.0710 Swedish crowns)