Aster DM looking for M&As in West, North India: CEO

The company will fund its inorganic growth drive through internal accruals

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private healthcare service provider Aster DM Healthcare Ltd (India) is looking to strengthen its foothold in the northern and western regions of the country.

Nitish Shetty, chief executive of Aster Healthcare India, said in an interview that the company is exploring inorganic growth opportunities as the next means to grow.

Aster is looking to fund this growth path through internal accruals, which have been bolstered by the sale of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) business. The company is also in conversation with some private equity players to partner with.

"We find Maharashtra, and Pune, highly attractive, drawing parallels with our experience in Bengaluru.

Pune offers a promising opportunity due to its similar geography and demographics," said Shetty.

"While we have a modest presence in Hyderabad, there's a desire to expand. UP (Uttar Prades), with its burgeoning market, is attractive, considering the recent trend of north-based groups venturing into the region," he added.

Currently, Aster is present in five states in the south through 19 hospitals, 13 clinics, 226 pharmacies and 251 patient experience centres.

Its hospitals in India are in Kochi, Kolhapur, Kozhikode, Kottakkal, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.