GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Quarz Capital Management, Ltd. (QCM), an investment manager, today issued a letter urging International Healthway Corporation to take immediate steps to address the severe undervaluation of up to 48% which its share price is trading at to its intrinsic book value.
QCM supports the new Board of Directors nominations at IHC's EGM on the 23rd of Jan 2017 as the nominees seem to demonstrate diverse skillsets which are highly relevant to IHC. The substantial shareholders backing these candidates also have significant experience and successful track records in real estate development and value creation for shareholders. QCM believes that the newly-energized IHC will be able to rebuild its reputation, regain the trust of investors and leverage on the vast contacts and expertise of the new board and shareholders to expedite on its forward strategy.
QCM recommends IHC to deleverage its balance sheet by REIT – ing and reducing its stake in its Japan nursing home asset to release capital and create a listed asset light platform to grow its management fee income. QCM proposes that the firm focuses its resources and onboards credible partners to expedite on its attractive healthcare development projects. Completed healthcare projects can be injected into the REIT to realize gains and recycle capital for further profit accretive projects.
QCM believes that its proposals can provide the required capital for IHC to commit to its core China and Malaysia healthcare development projects (hospitals, medical suites, service residences) which have the potential to become a multi-year profit growth generator for the company, supported by the strong structural demographic and increasing healthcare expenditure per capita drivers.
As these projects are executed, the valuation of IHC has the potential to rerate strongly to that in line with other established listed healthcare players in the region. Investors will additionally be rewarded by the payout of earnings and the unlocking of capital from IHC's development projects, asset management fees (REIT) and hospital services.
QCM has delivered the following letter to International Healthway Corporation's management team, board of directors and other stakeholders.
QUARZ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LTD. ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION
ALL RECIPIENTS ARE ADVISED TO READ
"IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION"
AT THE END OF THE ATTACHED LETTER
QUARZ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LTD.
CLIFTON HOUSE 75 FORT STREET
GEORGE TOWN I KY1-1108 I GRAND CAYMAN
CAYMAN ISLANDS
13 January 2017
TO ENGAGE ON THE PROPOSALS FOR THE SALE OF IHC'S NON-CORE ASSETS TO UNLOCK CAPITAL AND REFOCUS ON KEY MARKETS
- POTENTIAL TOTAL UPSIDE OF >40% IN IHC'S SHARE PRICE BY 2018 -
Dear Members of the Board,
Quarz Capital together with its affiliates have built up a position in International Healthway Corp (the "Company", "Firm"," "IHC SP" or "IHC"). We believe that IHC is deeply undervalued despite its plethora of valuable assets with significant upside opportunities. The firm's stock price has substantially underperformed its potential for a prolonged time period due to its overly aggressive asset acquisition strategy, lack of strategic focus and several execution issues.
IHC currently trades with a market cap of SGD 101.0 million[1], at a sharp 48% discount to its intrinsic NAV of SGD 195 million despite its high quality assets. Its flagship 12 nursing homes[2] with 1,458 rooms in Japan are master-leased to reputable operators under long term contracts in excess of 25 years. Rental rates are subjected to periodic reviews with 'up-only' rate adjustments allowed. This asset generates a combined resilient annual operating income of ~SGD 13 million[3] and has an estimated value in excess of SGD 362[4] million when conservatively valued at a 20% discount to listed healthcare REITs of similar size in Japan (implied cap rate of 3.6%).
IHC's Australia properties which have been either earmarked or contracted for sale will potentially deliver another SGD 70 million of net cash flow in the second half of 2017 post resolution of the Crest Fund lawsuit[5]. The company's Kuala Lumpur 4,725 square meters land bank which is 600 meters away from the sought after prime CBD and retail location of KLCC can be prudently valued at SGD 52 million[6]. IHC's centrally located Wuxi (China) 165-bed hospital generates an estimated annual operating profit of ~SGD 1 million[7]. The firm intends to develop this into an up to 1,300-bed Class 3A hospital together with the adjacent land bank. IHC has another land bank in Chengdu (China) which is next to a 1,000-bed public hospital. The firm plans to develop the land bank into a specialist rehabilitation and wellness hospital. We conservatively estimate the value of the China assets at a rock bottom price of SGD 30 million. This is in view of PWC's inability to ascertain IHC's contracted independent valuation[8] of the China land banks (ex-hospital) at SGD 88 million[9].
Our conservative valuation puts IHC's asset value at SGD 515 million, which represents an upside of 92% to IHC's current share price. We are convinced that the key reasons for IHC to trade at a substantial discount to its intrinsic value are:
In our view, the directors and management team supported by IHC's founding shareholders have been provided with an extended period of time since the IPO to create value for shareholders with little results. Immediate actions have to be taken to promote the long-term interest of IHC's shareholders and to address the undervaluation of IHC's share price.
We are in support of the new Board of Directors nominations at IHC's EGM on the 23rd of Jan 2017. The EGM is proposed by some of the recent large shareholders to replace the current board of IHC. These nominees seem to demonstrate diverse skillsets in corporate finance, audit, operations, business development, investment and corporate governance which are highly relevant to IHC. They are also backed by the substantial shareholders who have significant experience and a successful track record in the development of real estate projects internationally as well as value creation for shareholders. This expertise is exceptionally relevant to the successful execution of IHC greenfield healthcare asset development projects. We are confident that the newly re-energized IHC will be able to rebuild its reputation, regain the trust of investors and banks, as well as leverage on the vast contacts and expertise of the board and shareholders to expedite on its forward strategy.
We respectfully request the board to consider and implement the following recommendations in 2017- 1H 2018 which we believe will enhance the value of IHC:
We are also supportive of the alternative strategy for the full sale of the Japan nursing homes asset to unlock even more financial resources to expedite and focus on the development projects in China and Malaysia.
We are confident that our proposals can provide the required capital for IHC to commit to its core China and Malaysia healthcare development projects which have the potential to become a multi-year profit growth generator for the company, supported by the strong structural demographic and increasing healthcare expenditure per capita drivers. As these projects are executed, we believe that the valuation of IHC will rerate strongly to that in line with other established listed healthcare players in the region.
We are cognizant and will support IHC if the firm is to conduct a rights raising to strengthen its asset-rich but 'cash poor' balance sheet until the inflow of proceeds from the sale of its Australia properties and corporate actions.
We hope that the new board will remember the trust that shareholders have vested in them and communicate a transparent strategy for IHC with strong commitment and clear execution timeline as soon as possible.
We firmly believe that the nomination of new directors and the execution of our proposed strategy will provide a clear pathway to deliver a potential return of at least 40% for all IHC shareholders in the near and mid-term. As shareholders, we look forward in participating in IHC current business and future success.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Jan F. Moermann
Chief Investment Officer, Quarz Capital Management, Ltd.
Mr. Havard Chi, CFA
Portfolio Manager, Quarz Capital Management, Ltd.
For further information, please contact:
Havard Chi, CFA (hch@quarzcapital.com , +65 9433 3898)
About Quarz Capital Management
Quarz Capital Management, Ltd. is a value oriented and research driven investment advisory firm that seeks to earn above average, long-term returns by identifying value investments across the globe.
Important Disclosure Information
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THIS LETTER
THIS LETTER CONTAINS OUR CURRENT VIEWS ON THE VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION'S SECURITIES AND ACTION THAT INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION'S BOARD MAY TAKE TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF ITS SECURITIES. OUR VIEWS ARE BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND ASSUMPTIONS WE BELIEVE TO BE REASONABLE. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE INFORMATION WE CONSIDERED IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE, NOR CAN THERE BE ANY ASSURANCE THAT OUR ASSUMPTIONS ARE CORRECT. INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION ACTUAL PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND ANALYSIS. WE HAVE NOT SOUGHT, NOR HAVE WE RECEIVED, PERMISSION FROM ANY THIRD-PARTY TO INCLUDE THEIR INFORMATION IN THIS LETTER. ANY SUCH INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS INDICATING THE SUPPORT OF SUCH THIRD PARTY FOR THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND OR ADVISE, NOR DO WE INTEND TO RECOMMEND OR ADVISE, ANY PERSON TO PURCHASE OR SELL SECURITIES AND NO ONE SHOULD RELY ON THIS LETTER OR ANY ASPECT OF THIS LETTER TO PURCHASE OR SELL SECURITIES OR CONSIDER PURCHASING OR SELLING SECURITIES. ALTHOUGH WE STATE IN THIS LETTER WHAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION'S SECURITIES, THIS LETTER DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE READ, AS AN EXPRESSION OF ANY OPINION OR PREDICTION AS TO THE PRICE AT WHICH INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION's SECURITIES MAY TRADE AT ANY TIME. AS NOTED, THIS LETTER EXPRESSES OUR CURRENT VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION. IT ALSO DISCLOSES OUR CURRENT HOLDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION SECURITIES. OUR VIEWS AND OUR HOLDINGS COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME. WE MAY SELL ANY OR ALL OF OUR HOLDINGS OR INCREASE OUR HOLDINGS BY PURCHASING ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. WE MAY TAKE ANY OF THESE OR OTHER ACTIONS REGARDING INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION WITHOUT UPDATING THIS LETTER OR PROVIDING ANY NOTICE WHATSOEVER OF ANY SUCH CHANGES. INVESTORS SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS REGARDING INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION AND ITS PROSPECTS WITHOUT RELYING ON, OR EVEN CONSIDERING, ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS LETTER.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CERTAIN STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS LETTER ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, STATEMENTS THAT ARE PREDICATIONS OF OR INDICATE FUTURE EVENTS, TRENDS, PLANS OR OBJECTIVES. UNDUE RELIANCE SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON SUCH STATEMENTS BECAUSE, BY THEIR NATURE, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE OR ACTIVITIES AND ARE SUBJECT TO MANY RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. DUE TO SUCH RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, ACTUAL EVENTS OR RESULTS OR ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE REFLECTED OR CONTEMPLATED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF THE FUTURE TENSE OR OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING WORDS SUCH AS "VIEW," "BELIEVE," "CONVINCED," "EXPECT," "ANTICIPATE," "INTEND," "PLAN," "ESTIMATE," "SHOULD," "MAY," "WILL," "OBJECTIVE," "PROJECT," "FORECAST," "MANAGEMENT BELIEVES," "CONTINUE," "STRATEGY," "PROMISING," "POTENTIAL," "POSITION" OR THE NEGATIVE OF THOSE TERMS OR OTHER VARIATIONS OF THEM OR BY COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY.
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE EXPECTATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LETTER INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE FACTORS IDENTIFIED IN THE RISK SECTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTHWAY CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC, 2015, PROSPECTUS AND INFORMATION MEMORANDUM FOR ITS MULTICURRENCY MEDIUM TERM NOTE PROGRAMME DATED JAN 2015. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SHOULD THEREFORE BE CONSTRUCTED IN LIGHT OF SUCH FACTORS, AND QUARZ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY INTENTION OR OBLIGATION, TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
[1] Share Price of SGD 0.061 (12th Jan 2017)
[2] With 1 building annex
[3] Including property operating expenses, tax and implied asset management fees
[4] SGD/YEN rate of 80.2
[5] IHC disputes that there is no basis to the extra SGD 29 million of loan claimed by the Crest Funds and is defending its position in court. Only IHC's Australia properties are involved in the lawsuit
[6] Lowest price psf of the last 4 land bank transactions in the vicinity (since 2013), SGD/MYR rate of 3.12
[7] In FY2015
[8] Valuation performed by Savills, Colliers and Jiangsu Zhongda
[9] IHC's 2015 Annual Report
