Jan 20 2010
LONDON PACIFIC & PARTNERS, INC. (PINK SHEETS:LDPP) (FRANKFURT:EGU)
(“London Pacific” or the “Company”), the international advisory and
investment firm, today announced that LP Healthcare Group, LLC (“LPHC”),
a joint venture between London Pacific and Incite Financial, LLC, has
signed an agreement to acquire Santos Administraçāo e Participações S.A.
(“Santos”) — a regional healthcare system including a 125,000-member
health maintenance organization (HMO) , three hospitals with a total of
290-beds, three full-service primary care centers and other related
interests in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The three hospitals include
a 250-bed comprehensive regional hospital and two local hospitals.
LPHC has agreed to acquire a 100% controlling interest in Santos which
owns 100% of the HMO and a 57.4% controlling interest in the hospitals
and primary care centers and other related interests for $50 million in
cash.
London Pacific presently owns 30% of LPHC with an option to acquire an
additional 20% ownership and will manage the healthcare system via a
long-term contract.
Santos, a 53 year old healthcare system headquartered in a rapidly
growing coastal region of the state of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil,
generated approximately $173 million in revenues and $23 million in
EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and rentals) for
the year ended December 31, 2009. The system is currently undergoing an
aggressive expansion and modernization program.
In addition to providing advisory and management services, London
Pacific also participates as a principal in acquisitive transactions
such as the purchase of Santos. The Company utilizes its own cash and
securities to facilitate such transactions or secures investment capital
from strategic partners or financial institutions. LPHC was organized by
London Pacific as a special-purpose acquisition vehicle to acquire
Santos.
Closing of the acquisition is expected in the first quarter of 2010. The
Company intends to maintain Santos’ current operational management team.
Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman of the Company, stated: “The
acquisition of Santos will represent a watershed in the development of
London Pacific. Our experience in healthcare services, development and
management should help Santos achieve greater long term growth and
profitability. In addition, we intend to leverage our presence in Brazil
to acquire additional healthcare properties in the region, as well as
look for strategic opportunities for hospitality and natural resources
investments and projects which fit our Company profile.”