NMC Health announces proposed acquisition of Al Zahra Hospital for AED 2,058 million (approximately USD$560 million)

14 December 2016

UAE – NMC Health plc. (NMC), the leading integrated healthcare provider operating across the United Arab Emirates, is pleased to announce the proposed acquisition of Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah from Gulf Medical Projects Company (“GMPC”) for AED 2,058 million (approximately US$560 million).

Subject to shareholder approval, the acquisition is a strategic step forward for NMC Health and will reinforce the company’s position as a leading provider of healthcare services in the UAE private sector. Al Zahra Hospital will complement the Group’s existing network of seven out-patient medical centres in Sharjah.    

The Al Zahra Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the UAE, operating 137 active inpatient beds, serving approximately 400,000 outpatients and 23,000 inpatient bed days per year. It provides services of an international standard, supported by state-of-the-art facilities including cutting edge radiology and laboratory practices, as well as seven operating theatres, recovery room beds, more than 80 individual clinics, a maternity complex and emergency room beds, including triage.

The Al Zahra Hospital has demonstrated a strong track record of growth and for the year ended December 2015 achieved revenues of US$130.4 million, and net profit of US$38.8 million respectively. NMC has identified approximately AED23.7 million (US$6.5 million) of annual cost synergy benefits expected to be derived from the acquisition from the second year post completion onwards.

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Dr. B.R. Shetty, Chief Executive Officer of NMC, commented:

“Our expansion into the Sharjah healthcare market represents another major advance towards our objective of developing a leading integrated private healthcare operator in the UAE. We remain committed to further develop the local healthcare market by offering best in class services and facilities to our patients.

“The acquisition of Al Zahra Hospital is fully in line with our strategy and demonstrates our focus on delivering long-term growth of our strategic and competitive capabilities to expand sustainable shareholder returns.”

Prasanth Manghat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NMC, commented:

“The acquisition of Al Zahra Hospital, one of the leading and most reputable hospitals in the UAE, carries tremendous strategic significance for NMC and expands the Group’s reach within the region.”

In view of its size, the acquisition requires the approval of the Company’s Shareholders at a General Meeting which is taking place in London on December 29th.  As part of the financing of the Acquisition, the Company is undertaking a Placing of up to 9.99 per cent of the issued share capital of the company, as separately announced, and has also put in place new debt facilities.

According to sector research reports, the UAE continues to be an attractive market with only 1.3 hospital beds per one thousand capita compared to the world average of 2.9 and the European average of 6.4, despite the UAE demonstrating historically high population growth of 4.2 per cent from 2008 to 2015 vs the world average of 1.2 per cent and a flat European population.

For further information, please contact:

FTI Consulting, Gulf

Shane Dolan

+971 (0)4 437 2100

FTI Consulting, London

Matthew Cole

+44 (0)20 3727 1101

About NMC Health

NMC Health plc group is the leading private sector healthcare operator in the United Arab Emirates, with a nation-wide network of hospitals and operations in the country since 1975. The Group currently operates or manages eight hospitals, two day-care patient centres, nine medical centres and fifteen pharmacies. In addition, the Group owns and operates Clinica Eugin in Barcelona, Spain – one of the leading fertility treatment centres globally. NMC also owns 51 per cent. shareholding in Fakih IVF Group, the Middle East market leader for in-vitro fertilisation (”IVF”) services. Moreover, NMC also owns and operates Americare Group, the leading home care provider in the UAE as well as ProVita, the pioneering provider of long-term medical care, also in the UAE. The enlarged company received almost 3.2 million patients in 2015. The Group is also a leading UAE supplier of products and consumables across several key market segments, with the major contribution coming from healthcare related products. NMC Health plc group reported revenues of US$880.9 million for the year ended 31 December 2015.

In April 2012 NMC Health plc was listed on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange. NMC Health plc is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

© Press Release 2016