MedLife buys the majority stake in SAMA health care group

MedLife has initiated the acquisition of a majority stake of 55 percent in SAMA Health Care Center and Ultratest group, headquartered in Craiova, one of the major medical operators in the Oltenia region.

SAMA operates in five towns in southern Romania – Balcesti, Calafat, Craiova, Ramnicu Valcea and Slatina, through a network consisting of two multidisciplinary clinics including a day care medical facility, a physical therapy center, two occupational health centers, six laboratories and several services units. According to MedLife representatives, the group is the leader among medical laboratory services operators in the region and one of the major providers of outpatient services, with a turnover exceeding 800,000 euro in 2014.

“2015 is an important year for the expansion of MedLife, during which we anticipate investments of over 10 million euro by opening new units and/or by regional acquisitions. The Oltenia region is a new market for MedLife and by establishing operations there, be it by developing our network or by acquisitions, we take a new step toward achieving our goal to assure coverage in all historical regions”, said Mihai Marcu, President of MedLife’s Board, as per a press release.

MedLife concluded the first domestic acquisition in 2010 when it bought 80 percent of the Brasov-based Rapid Diagnostic Clinic group, the transaction amounting to more than 3 million euro being followed by other two: the acquisitions of Dyagnosys Arad and “Eve” Maternity in Brasov.

Apart from SAMA, the medical operator plans additional regional acquisitions this year, when it targets a turnover of 100 million euro.

“The accelerated development foreseen this year will be supported by our strategic shareholder and funder for over eight years, IFC – member of the World Bank, which has an important role”, added Mihai Marcu.

MedLife has been operating in Romania for 19 years, being the leading operator of private health services market, the company providing a variety of medical services, such as: hospitals, maternity hospitals, laboratories or drugstores. MedLife is controlled by the Marcu family, its major shareholder with a 51 percent stake, while IFC (the International Finance Corporation) and a private investment fund, SGMA Eastern Europe account for the rest of the shares.