Healthcare subsidiary announces intention to float

RNS Number : 9103B

Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC

12 October 2015

 



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London, 12 October 2015

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless the securities are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. The issuer of the securities has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the offering in the United States, and does not intend to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States.

These materials shall not constitute or form part of an offer or invitation to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Bank of Georgia's healthcare subsidiary announces intention to float

Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC's ("BGH" or the "Group") healthcare subsidiary Georgia Healthcare Group PLC ("GHG" or the "Company") has today announced its intention to make an initial public offering of its ordinary shares, which are expected to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc (the "IPO").  

GHG is the single largest scale healthcare services and medical insurance provider operating in the fast-growing, predominantly privately-owned, Georgian healthcare market, which is characterised by low utilisation and high fragmentation, leaving significant room for medium-to-long term growth. The healthcare services market (including hospitals and ambulatory clinics) is estimated at GEL 2.1 billion for 2015, with a strong compound growth momentum of 13.5% between 2011 and 2014, which is expected to continue growing at 13.3% during the period 2014-2018. Healthcare services spending per capita is currently at a very low base of only US$ 217, with annual outpatient encounters of only 2.7 per capita and hospital bed utilisation of only 50%, all significantly lower than many comparable countries. Supportive government reforms and the engagement of private players in the sector have resulted in significant improvements in the overall standard of infrastructure and greatly boosted demand for quality healthcare services. With GHG's scale, efficient operations, breadth and quality of service offering and proven management team, the management of GHG believes that GHG is ideally positioned to take advantage of the expected long-term macroeconomic and structural growth drivers favourably influencing the Georgian healthcare services market.

As previously announced, reflecting these long-term growth prospects, the management of GHG is targeting at least doubling of 2015 revenues by 2018 through a combination of:

·      Expanding through the further development of both existing and recently acquired hospitals, focusing predominantly on the higher revenue referral hospital segments in Tbilisi

The addressable hospital market is GEL 1.2 billion in 2015 and isforecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% during the period 2014 to 2018. GHG's market share was 14.0% and 22.1% by revenue and bed capacity, respectively, at 30 June 2015. Following the acquisition of High Technology Medical Centre University Clinic in August 2015, GHG's market share by beds grew to 26.6%, and (on a pro forma basis) market share by revenue increased to 17.6% 

·      Launching of a network of new ambulatory clinics across Tbilisi and in other major cities in Georgia

The addressable ambulatory clinic market is GEL 0.9 billion in 2015 and is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.9% during the period2014 to 2018. GHG's market share was under 1% at 30 June 2015, with the rest of the market similarly fragmented, with no single player having more than 1% market share and no other player having comparable access to capital and management, allowing GHG a unique first mover advantage in this highly fragmented and underpenetrated outpatient segment

·      Continuing to grow over the medium-term by developing new services and investing in medical technology to fill existing medical service gaps in the country and improve efficiencies 

Currently service gaps exist in a number of basic diagnostics areas and treatments, such as MRI, laparoscopic surgeries, oncology, pediatrics, neonatology, intensive care, cardiology, and rehabilitation services

·      Continued focus on improving operational efficiency and utilisation to further improve margins

GHG's healthcare services EBITDA margin was 25.3% in the first half of 2015, improving compared to 23.1% for the same period last year toward a target of  approximately 30%. GHG is in the process of integrating its newly acquired hospital facilities, and is targeting a second wave of integration which among other things will include the centralisation of engineering, archiving, and ERP roll-out

The planned IPO is an important transaction for BGH, as it represents the first realisation of BGH's investment in non-banking businesses, and demonstrates the potential to unlock the significant value described when the Group announced its new corporate strategy in December 2014. Shortly after the GHG IPO, BGH will hold an investor day in London, where the Group will update the market on its business strategy and capital management plans.

Nikoloz Gamkrelidze, CEO of Georgia Healthcare Group PLC, commented: "The IPO, premium listing and admission to trading of GHG's shares on the London Stock Exchange will enable us to finance our immediate growth plans and if necessary provide access to capital markets for our future growth. We are targeting to increase market share within the estimated GEL 2.1 billion Georgian healthcare services market in 2015 by accelerating revenue enhancement at our hospitals and replicating our hospital consolidation experience in the outpatient segment by expanding organically into ambulatory clinics where GHG's current market share is close to zero.

The IPO will enhance GHG's profile with investors, business partners and patients and will increase the ability of GHG to attract and retain key management, physicians and other employees, and diversify the shareholder base of the Company. Perhaps most importantly, it will also help to provide improved healthcare services to the Georgian population."

Irakli Gilauri, Group CEO of Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC and Chairman of Georgia Healthcare Group PLC said: "In 2010 we saw an attractive investment opportunity in the healthcare industry - it was larger than the banking sector when measured as a percentage of GDP. Georgia's healthcare reform had just started And even today, Georgia's current healthcare industry is in a very early stage of development, where capital and management resources are limited. It reminds me of the banking industry 10 years ago. Since 2010, we have created the single largest scale player in the Georgian healthcare market, with over four times the hospital beds of our nearest competitor. GHG is now institutionalising best practices in the Georgian healthcare industry, just as we have done in banking. However unlike in banking, competition in the Georgian healthcare industry is limited. We believe that GHG has significant upside through having a first mover advantage, first class management team and access to capital.

Whilst remaining absolutely committed to the development of GHG, we are now looking to crystallise our investment in GHG in the forthcoming IPO. BGH's strong corporate governance standards have been replicated in GHG and GHG's culture of transparency, its executive remuneration policy and its adherence to robust corporate governance policies strongly position GHG for its premium listing and expected FTSE All-Share Index inclusion. As far as possible, it is our firm intention to allow our shareholders to participate in the IPO. The Boards and management teams of BGH and GHG appreciate the growth potential that GHG has and I, along with many of my colleagues on the Board and management team, intend to invest in the IPO."

The contents of this communication, for which the Group is responsible, have been approved by Citgroup Global Markets Limited and Jefferies International Limited who are authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, solely for the purposes of Section 21 of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Citigroup Global Markets Limited,  Jefferies International Ltd, Numis Securities, Renaissance Securities (Cyprus) Limited and JSC Galt & Taggart are acting for the Group and GHG and no one else in relation to the proposed offer of GHG's securities and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Group and GHG for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for giving advice in relation to the proposed offer.

Notwithstanding the approval referred to above, this communication is only addressed to, and directed at, (a) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (b) high net worth entities, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order and (c) other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The proposed offering of GHG's securities will be made available only to selected relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

This communication is an advertisement and is not a prospectus for the purposes of EU Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (the "Directive") and/or Part VI of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. It is intended that a final form prospectus will be prepared and made available to the public by GHG in connection with the admission of its ordinary shares to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange plc and in accordance with the Directive. Investors should not subscribe for any securities referred to in this communication except on the basis of information contained in that final form prospectus. The final form prospectus, when published, will be available on the website of GHG.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements. A forward-looking statement is any statement that does not relate to historical facts and events, and can generally be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, such as "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "plans", predicts", "will", "would" or, in each case, the negative thereof or other similar expressions.. This applies, in particular, to statements containing information on future financial results, plans, or expectations regarding business and management, future growth or profitability and general economic and regulatory conditions and other matters affecting the Group and/or GHG.

Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of BGH's, or as applicable, GHG's, management on future events, which are based on the assumptions of BGH's, or as applicable, GHG's, management and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Group's and/or GHG's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The occurrence, or non-occurrence, of an assumption could cause the Group's and/or GHG's actual financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from, or fail to meet expectations expressed or implied by, such forward-looking statements.

Each of the Group's and GHG's business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could also cause a forward-looking statement, estimate or prediction to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as at its date and are subject to change without notice. Neither the Group nor GHG undertakes any obligation to review, update, confirm or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this communication.

About Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC

Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC is a UK incorporated holding company of a Georgia-based banking group with an investment arm. It's primary business is the leading Georgian bank JSC Bank of Georgia, which has a market share of 36.0% (based on total assets), 33.4% (based on total loans) and 31.6% (based on client deposits). The banking business offers a broad range of retail banking, corporate banking, investment management and P&C insurance services. As of 30 June 2015, the bank served approximately 1.9 million client accounts through one of the largest distribution networks in Georgia, with 246 branches, the country's largest ATM network, comprising 685 ATMs, 2,284 Express pay (self-service) terminals and a full-service remote banking platform and a modern call center. The investment business primarily consists of the largest healthcare group in Georgia (Georgia Healthcare Group), real estate business (m2) and utility business (Georgia Global Utilities).

JSC Bank of Georgia has, as of the date hereof, the following credit ratings:

Standard & Poor's	'BB-/B'
FitchRatings	'BB-/B'
Moody's	'B1/NP' (FC) & 'Ba3/NP' (LC)

For further information, please visit www.bgh.co.uk or contact: 

Irakli Gilauri	Michael Oliver	Ekaterina (Eka) Shavgulidze
Group CEO	Adviser to the CEO	Head of Investor Relations
[phone]	[phone]	[phone]
[e-mail]	[e-mail]	[e-mail]

This news report is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities

 

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