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LIFE HEALTHCARE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 2003/002733/06)
ISIN: ZAE000145892
Share Code: LHC ("Life Healthcare" or "the Group" or "the Company")
VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE FOR THE PERIOD 1 OCTOBER 2020 TO 31 DECEMBER 2020
The Group provides the following trading update for the quarter ended 31 December 2020 ("Q1 FY2021").
Group financial performance and balance sheet update
The Group's trading for the Q1 FY2021 period (1 October 2020 to 31 December 2020) exceeded
expectations, growing revenue by approximately 5% on a like-for-like basis compared with Q1 FY2020
and approximately 4% over Q4 FY2020 (1 July 2020 to 30 September 2020). Group normalised
EBITDA (1) continues to be impacted by the higher operational costs associated with COVID-19 resulting
in normalised EBITDA decreasing by approximately 15% against Q1 FY2020. Group normalised
EBITDA for Q1 FY2021 was approximately 32% better than Q4 FY2020 given improving activity across
the Group in October and November.
The Group's net debt remains similar to that at 30 September 2020 and the net debt to normalised
EBITDA ratio remains well within the Group's banking covenants. In addition, the Group continues to
have sufficient banking facilities available. The currently available but unutilised facilities remain
similar to the R6.3 billion reported at September 2020.
The Group has concluded the disposal of Scanmed in Poland although completion of the disposal
process remains contingent on final regulatory approvals. We expect the disposal process to be
finalised by the end of Q2 FY2021.
Southern African operations
Activities f or Q1 FY2021 have been impacted by the second COVID-19 wave but showed good
improvement on Q3 and Q4 FY2020. COVID-19 only started to impact the Group's southern African
operations during March 2020, and hence the Q1 FY2020 period was not affected by COVID-19.
Paid Patient Days ("PPDs") continued to increase with occupancies for October 2020 and November
2020 increasing to 58% and 60% respectively from 53% in September 2020. This was primarily driven
by an increase in elective surgical cases. Theatre minutes for October 2020 and November 2020 were
c.90% of prior year and up c.10% on September 2020 theatre minutes. Occupancies were negatively
impacted by the slow return of medical cases over this period.
December 2020 activities were impacted by the second COVID-19 wave with hospitals restricting and
then voluntarily stopping elective surgeries to cope with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients.
Occupancies for December 2020, which is traditionally a quiet period , were 55.2% (54.8% in December
2019) driven by the increased COVID-19 admissions.
Revenue growth in the southern Africa operations was approximately 1% below Q1 FY2020 and 6%
above Q4 FY2020. The increase in revenue was driven by the increase in elective cases in October
and November 2020, the increase in COVID-19 admissions in December 2020 and a higher revenue
per PPD due to the continued change in underlying case mix.
The increase in underlying activities and more efficient management of underlying costs within the
COVID-19 environment resulted in normalised EBITDA increasing by approximately 78% on Q4
FY2020. However, the higher operating costs associated with treating COVID-19 patients as well as
the lower occupancies compared to prior year continue to have a negative impact on normalised
EBITDA with normalised EBITDA decreasing by approximately 34% against Q1 FY2020.
International operations
The International operations (excluding the Polish operations which are now classified as discontinued
operations) had a strong Q1 FY2021 with revenue up approximately 13% (in GBP) versus Q1 FY2020,
and up approximately 6% versus Q4 FY2020. Normalised EBITDA was up by approximately 37% (in GBP)
versus Q1 FY2020 and up approximately 1% versus Q4 FY2020.
While the impact of COVID-19 on the Group's International operations was felt earlier in FY2020 than
the southern African operations, this impact only started after the Q1 FY2020 period.
Total scan volumes in our International operations improved by approximately 4% versus Q1 FY2020
and by 3% versus Q4 FY2020. PET CT volumes in the UK increased by approximately 7% versus Q1
FY2020 and by 6% versus Q4 FY2020.
This strong performance was driven by a number of factors during the period including:
- increased scan volumes compared with the prior year which can be attributed to some catch-
up of backlogs which developed during initial COVID-19 lock-downs in Q2 and Q3 FY2020;
- increased utilisation and reduced costs following the maintenance downtime and expenditure
on our cyclotrons in FY2020; and
- additional income streams resulting from COVID-19 initiatives, including blood tests in Italy and
timely mobilisation of additional mobile CT services across Europe (many of which are likely to
be temporary in duration).
Q1 FY2021 financial summary showing the % change over prior Q1 FY2020 and Q4 FY2020 periods
% change % change
Q1 FY2021 Q1 FY2021
vs vs
Q1 FY2020 Q4 FY2020
Group (ZAR)
Revenue 5% 4%
Normalised EBITDA -15% 32%
Southern Africa (ZAR)
Revenue -1% 6%
Normalised EBITDA -34% 78%
International (GBP)
Revenue 13% 6%
Normalised EBITDA 37% 1%
COVID-19 Second Wave update
The emergence of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, around the world continues to pose a
significant challenge to the Group. Our International operations were affected first and by the end of
2020 there were already stringent lockdowns in many of the territories in which our International
business operates. While these restrictions have limited the movement of people around Europe, the
demand f or our scanning services has remained strong.
In our southern African operations the second wave emerged later in 2020, thus the impact of the
second wave on the southern African operations was only experienced towards the end of the quarter
and has continued into Q2 FY2021.
To date over 23,000 COVID-19 patients have been admitted into our facilities with higher volumes of
COVID-19 patients compared to wave 1.
The Group applied the detailed learnings from the first COVID-19 wave not only to the medical treatment
of patients in the second wave but also to the speed of internal decision making , detailed cost
management and the continued cash preservation programme initiated during FY2020.
Life Healthcare continues to provide support to Governments in the countries of its operations. Life
Healthcare has always been available and willing to assist in treating public patients during the
pandemic, but to date has only admitted c.20 public patients across the Group's hospital network. In
the UK, Alliance Medical has provided 16 Mobile CT Scanners to support the NHS's response to
COVID-19.
Group COVID-19 vaccination update
The Group set up a Life Healthcare Vaccine Task Team, that has delivered a detailed operational plan
for the vaccination of our staff , doctors, allied healthcare workers and other key individuals, within the
South African operations in anticipation of the arrival of vaccines. The Vaccine Task Team will continue
to work in close cooperation with all necessary external parties, stakeholders and authorities.
With the approval and roll out of a country-wide vaccination programme within the United Kingdom and
Europe, we are pleased to announce that to date over 450 (c25%) of our staff within Alliance Medical
have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Appreciation
The pandemic has put tremendous pressure on all the resources of the Group. The Group's employees
continue to perform extremely well under very stressful circumstances. We thank them for their ongoing
dedication, their courage, their empathy and their tireless work in the fight against this disease. We also
extend our deepest condolences to our staff , patients and their families who have lost loved ones as a
result of the pandemic.
Mustaq Brey steps down as Chairman and Board member on 27 January 2021. He has served the
Group since 2003 as a Board member and has led the Board from 2013. During his tenure as Chairman,
the Group has grown revenue f rom R11.8bn in 2013 to R25.4bn in 2020, the Group's operations have
expanded from 416 facilities in 3 countries, to 650 facilities across 14 countries, and the Group has paid
R7.0bn in distributions to shareholders. His vision, leadership, courage and passion for the business
will be sorely missed. The Board and the management team thank him and his family for his immense
contribution and dedication to the Group.
The Group will provide a further trading update at the end of April 2021 and will release interim results
for 6 month period ending 31 March 2021 on or about 27 May 2021.
The financial information on which this trading update is based has not been reviewed nor reported on
by the Group's external auditors
About Life Healthcare Group
Life Healthcare Group is a market-leading, international, diversified healthcare organisation and is listed
on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Life Healthcare has over 33 years' experience in the South African private healthcare sector, and
currently operates 66 healthcare facilities in southern Africa. Services include acute hospital care, acute
physical rehabilitation, acute mental healthcare, renal dialysis, and employee health and wellness
services.
The Group owns Alliance Medical Group, a leading independent provider of medical imaging services
operating across 10 countries within Europe.
1. Life Healthcare defines normalised EBITDA as operating profit before depreciation on property, plant and
equipment, amortisation of intangible assets and non-trading related costs and income
27 January 2021
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
Date: 27-01-2021 09:00:00
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