VPS Healthcare will make Al Noor bid before takeover panel deadline -sources

ABU DHABI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - VPS Healthcare will make a bid for Al Noor Hospitals (LSE: ANH.L - news) before the Dec. 8 deadline set by the U.K. Takeover Panel, two sources aware of the matter told Reuters on Monday, as the battle for the London-listed healthcare firm intensifies.

The United Arab Emirates-based firm has already agreed a 1.4 billion pound deal with South Africa's Mediclinic Intl but other suitors have been circling: NMC Health (LSE: NMC.L - news) dropped out last week after making an initial offer.

The regulator said on Thursday that it had granted private healthcare firm VPS, also based in the UAE, an extension to make a firm offer or walk away.

"VPS will make a bid, there's still time," said one source familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the information is not public.

The source said Deutsche Bank (Other OTC: DBAGF - news) was advising VPS on the process.

A second source said a bid would be made, indicating it would be lodged "in the coming days".

VPS declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; writing by David French; editing by Jason Neely)