The group, with headquarters in London, runs more than 200 care homes and seven registered hospitals, and was put up for sale last July with a price tag of £2.5 billion (€2.9 billion).
It is understood that, while the Australian banking group has emerged as the most advanced suitor, it has not yet been granted preferred bidder status, which would give it a period of exclusivity to finalise a deal. It is not clear what value the bidding process has put on the business.