ElderCare Confirms $4.1 Million Profit Forecast
ElderCare Confirms $4.1 Million Profit Forecast, Adds to Assets
ElderCare (NZSE: ELD) today confirmed that it was on track to achieve its full year earnings forecast and elaborated on its expansion programme.
Speaking at the company’s Annual Meeting, Chief Executive, David Lowry, told shareholders that ElderCare’s fee based earnings structure has put the company on track to achieve its net earnings forecast of $4.1 million for the year ending 31 May 2000.
“Fees from resident services provide an excellent
platform for sustained growth in the elderly care market,”
he said. “While earnings derived solely from property
development can be at times lucrative, they are susceptible
to volatile market fluctuations. On the other hand, earnings
derived from in-house hospital and care fees tend to be more
sustainable. In addition the margins associated with these
services are also relatively high and stable.”
Lowry
also confirmed that the company was in the process of
finalising arrangements for the purchase of two more
facilities, which will add another 100 beds to its
operations.
He also outlined progress on three of the company’s major developments: Regents Park, at Westgate in Auckland , Eldon Lodge in Paraparaumu, and Te Mata in Havelock North.
Regents Park Village is now well
underway: the prospectus and stage one villas have now been
completed. Stage two, comprising six villas, is expected to
be completed in mid-February. This village will ultimately
cater for 102 residents, plus the 40-bed nursing home on the
adjacent West Harbour Lodge.
Eldon Lodge Hospital in
Paraparaumu was opened last Monday, 22 November. The 46-bed
hospital has been added to the company’s current 54-bed
facility, and will allow residents to move into hospital
care as required.
Te Mata Residential Estate, at
Havelock North, is also underway with the prospectus
completed, and the show unit up. ElderCare is about to
commence with stage two of this village, which will
ultimately cater for 220 residents.
Last month ElderCare
settled purchase for the 4.2 hectare Chelsea Rosedale Road
site on Auckland’s North Shore for $2.5 million. The Chelsea
site will be used to build a 100-bed hospital and assisted
living units for elderly people.
“ElderCare is a growth company in a growth industry,” said Lowry. “It is operationally sound and on-track to a profitable first year following its change in direction. It has a management team who have the expertise and resolution to position it as the investment vehicle of choice for investors in the elderly care market.”
Company Background
ElderCare New Zealand
Limited (NZSE: ELD) is a retirement care provider. The
company owns a substantial portfolio of nursing homes and
assisted living facilities throughout New Zealand at which
they offer broad and varied services for the healthcare
needs of elderly
people.
ENDS