U.S. fund seeks $6.5 billion in damages in lawsuit against Malaysia's IHH

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian healthcare group IHH Healthcare Berhad said on Wednesday Emqore Envesecure Private Capital Trust is seeking in excess of $6.5 billion in damages from it and more than two dozen named defendants in a lawsuit.

IHH said in a stock exchange filing that U.S. fund Emqore's claim - in an amendment to the lawsuit filed in 2020- was in relation to the issuance of shares of Fortis Healthcare Ltd to IHH's subsidiary in 2018.

IHH, the largest private healthcare group in Asia, took control of India's Fortis Healthcare that year after a months-long bidding process competing with domestic and international firms.

Emqore is seeking "damages in excess of $6.5 billion comprising compensatory damages plus treble damages and attorneys' fees pursuant to the U.S. Racketeer, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act".

"Emqore broadly alleges that it has purportedly suffered losses as the defendants had allegedly conspired to frustrate a proposed share acquisition transaction between Fortis and Emqore's supposed predecessors," IHH said.

The group said it was not possible to determine the estimated potential liability to IHH arising from the suit, as it involved 28 named defendants and 20 non-party defendants.

"However ... the suit is not expected to have any business, operational or financial impact on IHH, as IHH believes that it has strong grounds for dismissal of the suit," it said.

IHH said it intends to file a motion to dismiss Emqore's amended complaint and defend vigorously against the claims.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)