Maybank Securities' Eric Ong has kept his " buy" call and $1.65 target price on Raffles Medical Group BSL -0.8% , following its latest move to acquire an undisclosed majority stake in a hospital in Vietnam.

 

The 120-bed American International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has been valued at US$45.6 million. Upon completion of the deal, Raffles Medical will be managing this hospital too.

 

According to Raffles Medical, AIH has seen steady growth in both outpatient and inpatient volumes since inception. " That said, we do not expect any near-term contribution from this proposed acquisition, which may take at least 6-9 months to complete, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions and relevant approvals," says Ong.

 

Nonetheless, the deal will enable Raffles Medical to ride on growing demand for private healthcare services in Vietnam and augment its clinic operations there.

 

" Leveraging on its strong balance sheet, we believe this is an integral part of Raffles Medical' s long-term strategy to expand its income stream, while diversifying the group&rsquo s hospital operations beyond Singapore and China," says Ong.

 

Separately, Raffles Medical has extended its contract to provide medical services at Connect@Changi until Feb 2025. 

 

See also: CPO prices to move up once the impact of El Nino starts to affect productivity: RHB

 

According to Ong, the contract at Conenct@Changi was won at $151,392 per month, which was 54% lower than the next closest bidder. 

 

Ong believes Raffles Medical is able to put in such a lower bid because it has already sunk in one-off set-up costs.

 

" Nevertheless, we expect margins to normalise given the higher opex of running the facility," says Ong, whose $1.65 target price is based on a discounted cash flow valuation model.

 

Maybank Securities' Eric Ong has kept his " buy" call and $1.65 target price on Raffles Medical Group BSL -0.8% , following its latest move to acquire an undisclosed majority stake in a hospital in Vietnam.

 

The 120-bed American International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has been valued at US$45.6 million. Upon completion of the deal, Raffles Medical will be managing this hospital too.

 

According to Raffles Medical, AIH has seen steady growth in both outpatient and inpatient volumes since inception. " That said, we do not expect any near-term contribution from this proposed acquisition, which may take at least 6-9 months to complete, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions and relevant approvals," says Ong.

 

Nonetheless, the deal will enable Raffles Medical to ride on growing demand for private healthcare services in Vietnam and augment its clinic operations there.

 

" Leveraging on its strong balance sheet, we believe this is an integral part of Raffles Medical' s long-term strategy to expand its income stream, while diversifying the group&rsquo s hospital operations beyond Singapore and China," says Ong.

 

Separately, Raffles Medical has extended its contract to provide medical services at Connect@Changi until Feb 2025. 

 

See also: CPO prices to move up once the impact of El Nino starts to affect productivity: RHB

 

According to Ong, the contract at Conenct@Changi was won at $151,392 per month, which was 54% lower than the next closest bidder. 

 

Ong believes Raffles Medical is able to put in such a lower bid because it has already sunk in one-off set-up costs.

 

" Nevertheless, we expect margins to normalise given the higher opex of running the facility," says Ong, whose $1.65 target price is based on a discounted cash flow valuation model.

HEALTHCARE provider Raffles Medical Group (RMG) on Monday (Oct 2) said it had acquired a majority interest in American International Hospital (AIH) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

This follows a strategic partnership agreement RMG entered into with My My Trading Services Company, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions and obtaining the relevant approvals, the group said in a bourse filing.

 

The valuation of AIH was arrived at on a &ldquo willing-buyer and willing-seller&rdquo basis, after taking into account the valuation of the hospital asset of US$45.6 million &ndash within range of a valuation by Savills Vietnam, said RMG, which commissioned the assessment in July.

 

The group expects to fund the cash consideration from &ldquo internally generated resources&rdquo , the company added, without disclosing the acquisition value.

 

Part of the agreement entails RMG entering into a management-service agreement to manage AIH&rsquo s operations.

 

The filing described AIH as a &ldquo purpose-built and fully equipped&rdquo 120-bed tertiary hospital with five operating theatres. The hospital, located in An Phu ward in Thu Duc City, has about 500 staff, including 60 doctors it offers &ldquo a full range of specialists and essential diagnostic capabilities&rdquo .

 

RMG added that AIH, which has been managed by its founders since its inception in 2018, is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), an international not-for-profit healthcare accreditation body.

 

RMG executive chairman Loo Choon Yong said: &ldquo The management of AIH has, in a few short years, completed important milestones, including the building up of a strong, positive reputation for its services and attaining JCI accreditation.&rdquo

 

He added: &ldquo We are delighted to work with AIH to further build on its achievements.&rdquo

 

The company said the partnership would enable RMG to augment its clinic operations in the city, while meeting the growing demand for private healthcare services in Vietnam. It would also enable the group to further diversify its hospital operations beyond Singapore and China, as part of its long-term strategy.

 

RMG added that the expansion will build &ldquo stronger resilience&rdquo in both its healthcare services and hospital services, with further geographical and revenue-mix diversification.