Qualitas Medical Said To Plan $310 Million Ipo In Malaysia


Qualitas Medical Group, a Malaysian health-care provider, plans to seek about 1 billion ringgit ($310 million) from an initial public offering in Kuala Lumpur, according to people familiar with the matter.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. and Credit Suisse Group AG are working on the share sale, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private. The company may pursue a listing as early as the fourth quarter, one of the people said.

Proceeds will help Qualitas expand in the Asia-Pacific region’s health-care market, which is projected to grow an average 13 percent annually to reach $752 billion by 2018, according to researcher Frost & Sullivan. Malaysian IPOs have raised $869 million this year, up from $569 million during the same period in 2013, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Qualitas, led by managing director Noorul Ameen, operates more than 250 clinics and medical centers, according to its website. It has locations in Malaysia, India, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia, the website shows.

The company listed on the Singapore exchange’s Catalist board in 2008. A group of investors led by Southern Capital Group Pte took the company private for $36 million in 2011 following low trading volumes, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Qualitas Executive Director Karim Dhala declined to comment in an e-mailed response to questions. A representative for Southern Capital Group didn’t immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

Source: Bloomberg