Health company Amil is exploring the possibility of selling its operations in the Northeast region, with the aim of concentrating its activities in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the Federal District, according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by the column INSIGHT/ Exam.
Currently, Amil has three hospitals in the Northeast region: Monte Klinikum, located in Fortaleza and with 102 beds; Promater, in Natal, with 142 beds; and Santa Joana, in Recife, with 219 beds.
The company’s strategy involves not only selling the hospitals, but also the portfolio of health plans in the region. These sales can occur jointly or separately.
In recent weeks, Amil has been surveying possible interested parties for the assets, although still informally, without formally hiring a bank to conduct the sale.
This move represents the company’s first significant restructuring since businessman José Seripieri Junior acquired Amil at the end of last year for around R$11 billion, including R$2 billion in cash and the assumption of debt.
In addition to a portfolio with 5 million beneficiaries including health and dental plans, Amil also owns Rede Américas, which has 15 hospitals, the majority located in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Since the acquisition by Junior, the market has speculated about the businessman’s strategy for the company. Amil’s portfolio of individual health plans has faced challenges, with adjustments scheduled by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) and continuous losses in recent years.
The sale of hospitals and the health plan portfolio could strengthen other areas of the operation, especially at a time of high claims rates in health plans and challenges for hospital service providers, who are increasingly pressured by restrictive policies from insurance companies and health operators.
It is worth mentioning that Rede Américas operates independently, without vertical integration with Amil’s plans, although there is obviously commercial alignment between the two parts that are part of the same company.
However, the current scenario is not the most favorable for the sale of hospitals. There are several assets on the market, but few buyers are willing to close a deal. “It is a favorable market for buyers, at a time when there are few companies capitalized to make acquisitions”, says a source close to the sector. “And those who have capital are waiting for a more favorable moment in terms of price.”
According to sources consulted by the INSIGHT/Exame column, Amil hospitals have already been offered to local Unimed cooperatives. Unimed de Recife, for example, is one of the strongest cooperatives in the system and has a significant presence in the North and Northeast. Furthermore, Hapvida is also a strong competitor in the region, although it operates in a lower price range than Amil.
When contacted, Amil only informed that “it does not comment on market rumors”.
With information from INSIGHT/Exame/Natalia Viri
