The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Circle Health’s acquisition of BMI Healthcare.
The Enterprise Act 2002 allows the Office of Fair Trading to investigate acquisitions and has powers to intervene where necessary.
Circle Health announced it had acquired BMI Healthcare from Hospital Topco Limited on 24 December.
Circle currently operates two private hospitals in the UK, provides musculoskeletal services to the NHS, and has begun international expansion, opening two clinics in China.
BMI Healthcare manages a network of hospitals and clinics throughout the UK, with more than two million patient visits a year.