Max Healthcare reports stronger performance in Q4

Hyderabad/Mumbai: Max Healthcare Institute Ltd (MHIL, ‘The Company’), one of the largest private sector healthcare services company in India, announced results for the three months and financial year ended March 31, 2021, today.
 
The Network gross revenues rose to INR 1,159 Cr during the fourth quarter reflecting a growth of 5% YoY and at similar levels QoQ. 
 
Operating EBITDA rose to INR 263 Cr versus INR 156 Cr in Q4 last year and INR 253 Cr in the previous quarter (Q3 FY21). This is the highest ever quarterly EBITDA achieved by the Network.
 
The Network also reported a significant improvement in operating EBITDA margin, which stood at 24.1% for the quarter, up from 15.5% in the corresponding quarter in FY20. The EBITDA margin for the previous quarter was 23.2%. The PAT grew to INR 109 Cr from INR 45 Cr, an increase of 141% YoY.
 
Financial performance improved over trailing quarter despite complete reinstatement of COVID-19 related transitory cost cuts and lower occupancies due to decline in COVID-19 cases leading to underutilization of COVID-19 reserved beds and farmer agitation in the early part of Q4, impacting upcountry non-COVID admissions. Margin expansion was driven by an increase in OPD footfalls, normalisation of IPD admissions in non-COVID specialties and improvement in surgical-medical mix. All these factors also contributed to increase in ARPOB. 
 
 
COVID-19 admissions dropped significantly in Q4 FY21 as compared to Q3 FY21. However, the network saw occupancy relating to COVID-19 increase towards the end of the quarter. The significant improvement in
EBITDA was also underpinned by long term structural cost savings program initiated in the previous financial year and followed up with additional initiatives in the current financial year.
 
The revenue from international medical value travel witnessed an uptick during the quarter and grew by 40% over Q3. However, this continued to be lower than last year due to air-travel related restrictions during Q4. 
 
The two SBUs of the Company namely Max@Home and Max Lab reported improved performance in
non-COVID segment with a QoQ revenue growth of 24% and 12% respectively. Max Lab continued to expand its footprint by adding 53 new B2B clients in Q4.  The Company earlier in April 2021 had received approval of its Board to incorporate a wholly owned subsidiary for non-captive Pathology Business and the same is expected to be made operational in Q1 of the ensuing financial year.
 
For the full year, the gross revenue de-grew by ~ 12% and stood at INR 3,861 Cr. Lower revenues were attributed to the country-wide lockdown and the state of pandemic in H1 FY21, which saw a drop in revenue by 29% YoY. Despite lower revenues, the Network Operating EBIDTA grew by 8% and stood at INR 636 Cr. The Operating margin for the year was 17.5%, an increase of ~290 bps YoY.
 
Consequent to the successful completion of equity fund raise of ~INR 1,200 Cr though Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) in Q4 FY21, the Company’s Net debt (including put option liabilities) improved significantly. Net Debt as on March 31, 2021, stood at INR 544 Cr as against INR 1,867 Cr on Dec 31st, 2020.  Net Debt to EBITDA ratio is thus below 1.
 
Announcing Q4 results, Abhay Soi, Chairman and MD, Max Healthcare Institute Ltd, commented, “Our Q4 results of INR 1,089 Cr of net revenue and INR 263 Cr of Operating EBITDA is an excellent performance for the second consecutive quarter with our best ever operating margin of 24.1%. With ample room to scale up existing occupancies and improved international revenue share post abatement of the second surge of COVID-19, Q4 results in a way indicate the trajectory our network is geared for in terms of future performance.
Overall, we closed FY21 with INR 3,629 Cr in net revenue and recorded the highest annual operating EBITDA of INR 636 crores, despite a challenging year due to COVID-19 pandemic. The QIP fortified our balance sheet for pursing inorganic growth.
Besides serving on the frontline on COVID-19, we operationalized one of the largest vaccination centers (at BLK-Max Hospital) in the country spread over 1.65 acres in a matter of 48 hours in the National Capital. This center alone has a capacity to administer ~10,000 vaccines daily.
As we enter into the new fiscal year, I am confident to continue our robust performance and gain further traction as one of the most trusted healthcare service providers in India.”