Healthscope shareholders approve buyout

Healthscope shareholders have approved the hospital company's acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management.

Healthscope, the owner of 43 private hospitals in Australia, is being bought out by Brookfield. (AAP)

Healthscope shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the private hospital operator's $4.4 billion acquisition by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management.

More than 99.9 per cent of votes were cast in favour of Brookfield's $2.465 per share offer at a scheme meeting on Wednesday, with over one billion votes for it and just 771,401 against.

Healthscope shares could be delisted as soon as Friday, if the Federal Court approves the scheme at a hearing that morning.

Healthscope operates a network of 43 private hospitals in Australia - making it the second-largest private healthcare operator, behind Ramsay - and 24 pathology laboratories in New Zealand.

Under the deal Healthscope will sell 22 of its freehold hospitals to North American real estate groups MPW and NWH for a total of $2.5 billion, which will then lease them back to Healthscope.

Across Australia, Brookfield owns various infrastructure and property assets, as well as leading construction company Multiplex, whose industry experience it says it will seek to use under the ownership of Healthscope.