KPJ Healthcare Berhad

KPJ HEALTHCARE DECLARES 7% DIVIDEND

The Star - Hospital operator KPJ Healthcare Bhd has announced an interim dividend of 7% with an ex-date of Sept 4 and an entitlement date of Sept 8. It recorded a net profit for the second quarter en

PETALING JAYA: Hospital operator KPJ Healthcare Bhd has announced an interim dividend of 7% with an ex-date of Sept 4 and an entitlement date of Sept 8. It recorded a net profit for the second quarter ended June 30 (Q2) of RM20.17mil, up 40.82% from the same quarter last year while revenue came in at RM310.34mil, up 19.66%.

The company said in the notes to its financial results that profit before taxation for Q2has increased by 35.7% to RM28.93mil from RM21.27mil in the corresponding quarter mainly due o higher activities recorded by the hospitals under it as well as contributions from a newly acquired hospital.

Meanwhile, Al-Aqar' KPJ REIT (real estate investment trust) also declared a 4% interim dividend with an ex-date of Sept 4 and an entitlement date of Sept 8. The REIT owns hospitals operated by KPJ Healthcare.

The REIT recorded a net profit of RM8.79mil for Q2, which was 38.05% higher than the corresponding quarter last year while revenue at RM12.51mil was 40.19% higher.

It said in the notes attached to its results that the second acquisition of five hospitals that was completed in March brings to 11 the total number of hospitals its portfolio valued at RM651.51mil.

It said the new hospitals would have similar leasing arrangements to the current hospitals and would have step-up rental arrangements in future years that would provide better returns to unit holders.