News: HLS UPDATE 1-Australian Clinical Labs offers to buy Healius for $1 billion

(Updates with further details and background)

March 20 (Reuters) - Australian Clinical Labs (ACL) said on Monday it will acquire Healius (HLS) through an all-share takeover, valuing the medical center operator at A$1.52 billion ($1.02 billion).

The pathology firm said it will offer 0.74 share for every Healius share. The offer price represents a discount of about 4.2% to Healius' last close.

If the deal is successful, Healius' shareholder will own 68% of the merged entity, the company said in a statement.

In 2020, Healius rejected a $1.3 billion buyout offer from Partners Group, saying at the time it undervalued the medical center operator.

($1 = 1.4896 Australian dollars)