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LIFE HEALTHCARE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED - Preliminary condensed group results for the year ended 30 September 2020

Release Date: 19/11/2020 07:05
Code(s): LHC     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Preliminary condensed group results for the year ended 30 September 2020

LIFE HEALTHCARE GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 2003/002733/06
Income tax number: 9387/307/15/1
ISIN: ZAE000145892
Share code: LHC
("Life Healthcare" or "the Company" or "the Group")

PRELIMINARY CONDENSED GROUP RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020

                                                    2020           %        2019    
Revenue (R'm)                                     25 386        -1.1      25 672    
Normalised EBITDA (R'm)                            4 346       -24.1       5 727    
Cash generated from operations (R'm)               4 562       -23.0       5 927    
Weighted average number of shares (million)        1 455        -0.1       1 456    
Earnings per share (EPS) (cents)                    -6.4       >-100       176.4    
Headline earnings per share (HEPS) (cents)          48.7       -45.1        88.7    
Normalised earnings per share (NEPS) (cents)        61.0       -47.6       116.4    
Final dividend per share (DPS) (cents)                 -        -100          53    

Life Healthcare's 2020 financial year was a year of vastly different halves. The Group delivered an
excellent performance during H1 FY2020 but trading was significantly impacted in H2 FY2020 by the COVID-19 
pandemic (the pandemic). The primary focus of the Group in H2 FY2020 was to manage the impact of the pandemic. 
A number of actions were taken over the period since the outbreak of the pandemic to ensure that we continued 
to deliver a safe environment providing quality care to our patients, protected the health, safety and job 
security of our employees in the short term and preserved liquidity. While there is still a high degree of 
uncertainty regarding the future progression of the pandemic, the Group is pleased with its response to the 
challenges that arose during H2 FY2020 and we are confident that the lessons learned will enable us to respond 
effectively to future COVID-19-related challenges.

Revenue for the year ended 30 September 2020 (year under review) decreased by 1.1% against last year and Group 
normalised EBITDA is 24.1% down against last year. The H2 FY2020 performance was significantly impacted by the 
pandemic. Normalised EBITDA was impacted to a greater extent, due to additional costs associated with the 
pandemic and lower activity levels, resulting in negative operational leverage. 

The H2 FY2020 attributable loss included the following items:
- Impairment of Scanmed investment of R793 million
- Deferred tax charge on the unrecognised exchange gain on a loan with Scanmed of R133 million
- Provision for additional expected credit losses of R186 million

The Group's efficiency programmes contributed R125 million in the year under review.

The Group successfully refinanced its term debt in the international operations during March 2020 and
thereby extended the debt maturities that were due in November 2020 out to 2023 and 2025. Given the significant
uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Group pre-emptively negotiated amended bank covenants for the period up 
to 31 March 2021. In addition, banking facilities have been increased and the Group's committed undrawn bank
facilities as at 30 September 2020 are R6.3 billion. 

EPS, HEPS and NEPS
EPS, HEPS and NEPS for the year ended 30 September 2020 include the impact of IFRS 16 (2019: no impact).

The impairment of R793 million relating to Scanmed reduced EPS by 54.5 cps.

Earnings in the prior year included a non-recurring profit on the disposal of our equity investment in Max
Healthcare (net profit on the disposal in FY2019 of 68.5 cps). The earnings in the year under review have been
positively impacted (+9.3 cps) by the reduction in post-tax interest cost of R135 million as a result of the
repayment of debt in Q4 FY2019, following the disposal.

Earnings were negatively impacted by the pandemic.

DISTRIBUTION POLICY
The Group agreed not to pay dividends without lender approval as part of the covenant amendment terms. 
The board of directors has decided, considering the current trading conditions and in order to preserve cash, 
not to pay a final dividend for the year. This position will be reviewed in the new financial year.

New accounting standards
The Group adopted IFRS 16 from 1 October 2019 and has changed its accounting policies accordingly. The Group 
has elected the modified retrospective approach, with no restatement to comparative periods. There was no impact 
on retained earnings on 1 October 2019.

Note regarding forward-looking statements: Any forward-looking statements or projections made by the
Company, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risk and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected, and have not been reviewed or reported on by the Group's 
external auditors.

Executive directors: PG Wharton-Hood (Group Chief Executive) and PP van der Westhuizen (Group 
Chief Financial Officer)
Non-executive directors: MA Brey (Chairman), PJ Golesworthy, ME Jacobs, VL Litlhakanyane, AM Mothupi, 
JK Netshitenzhe, MP Ngatane, M Sello, GC Solomon, RT Vice

Group Company secretary: A Parboosing

Registered office: Oxford Manor, 21 Chaplin Road, Illovo. Private Bag X13, Northlands 2116

Sponsor: Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)1 Merchant Place, Cnr Fredman Drive and
Rivonia Road, Sandton

Date: 19 November 2020

SHORT FORM ANNOUNCEMENT
Shareholders are advised that this short form announcement represents a summary of the information contained
in the reviewed full announcement but is itself not reviewed or audited by the Group's auditors. The full
announcement is available for viewing at https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2020/JSE/ISSE/LHC/Final20.pdf and on
Life Healthcare's website (www.lifehealthcare.co.za). This short form announcement does not contain full or
complete details. Any investment decision should be based on a consideration of the full announcement and
shareholders and/or investors are encouraged to review the full announcement. The full announcement is also
available for inspection, at no charge, at the registered office of Life Healthcare and at the offices of the
Company's sponsor, during office hours.
Copies of the full announcement may also be requested directly from the Group Company Secretary, Avanthi
Parboosing (avanthip@life.co.za). 
The contents of this short form announcement are the responsibility of the board of Life Healthcare.
Date: 19-11-2020 07:05:00
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