Community Hospitals Group, the UK healthcare company, has pushed forward in its efforts to find a partner having received a recommended share cash offer from Sweden's Capio of 665p (€10.65).

Community Hospitals was originally to be bought by Bupa, another UK healthcare group, but in December last year Stephen Byers, the secretary of state for trade and industry, ruled against the deal. Then Community Hospitals entered talks with General Healthcare, also in the UK. That deal is currently being examined by the UK Competition Commission.