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NMC Health PLC

nmc · LSE Healthcare
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Ticker nmc
Exchange LSE
Sector Healthcare
Industry Medical - Care Facilities
Employees 5001-10,000
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FY2014 Annual Report · NMC Health PLC
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 HOPE OF A 
HEALTHY  
AND HAPPY  
LIFE

NMC Health plc
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2014

VISION
At NMC Health, we guarantee personalized care, 
genuine concern and a sincere commitment to 
the overall well-being of the society. We believe 
that healthcare is simply not about detecting, 
diagnosing, informing or treating an individual 
but it is about helping people to lead a wholesome 
and healthy life. We are committed to serve  
the communities where we do business and 
pledge to provide our customers with hope  
– Hope of a Healthy and Happy Life.

10

Umm Al Quwain

Sharjah

09

H
H

G
G
087 08
07
06

F

E

05

Dubai

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

B

030

A

01

Abu Dhabi

04

02

OMAN

Al Ain

11

12 C D

Overview
1  Group Overview
2  Our Key Assets 
4  Chairman’s 2014 Report to Shareholders 
7  Financial Summary and Highlights

Group Strategic Report
10  Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Review 
12  Our Business Model 
14  Our Strategy 
18  Business Overview 
24  Financial Review   
26  Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
27  Corporate Social Responsibility

Governance
36  Board of Directors  
42  Senior Management
45  Directors’ Report   
49  Corporate Governance Report 
67  Directors’ Remuneration Report 2014 

Financial Statements
87   Independent Auditor’s Report to  

the members of NMC Health plc

91   Consolidated Statement of  
Comprehensive Income
92   Consolidated Statement of  

Financial Position

93   Consolidated Statement of Changes  

in Equity

94  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
95   Notes to the Consolidated Financial 

Statements

125  Statement of Financial Position
126  Statement of Changes in Equity
127  Statement of Cash Flows
128  Notes to the Financial Statements

Read the annual report  
and much more on our website:
www.nmchealth.com

HEALTHCARE SERVICES

PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION

(cid:83) 
Learn where we operate on p2.

(cid:83) 
Read about our hospitals throughout  
this report.

(cid:83) 
Read more about our business model on p12.

BR
Medical 
Suites

Dubai 
Investment
Park General
Hospital

n tr e

e

Al Ain Medical C
Al Ain Sp e ci a lt
ospit a l 

H

Dubai
General
Hospital

Sharjah
Medical 
Centre

Dub

ai 

S

H

o

s

p

e

y

Super 
Specialty 
Hospital
Khalifa 
City

p

i
t

c

i

a

a

l

l

t

y

al
al
y
pit
o

oint R
n’s Hos

M

o

D

h

a

a

y

a

l
t

D

h

y

m

S

m

u

r

g

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d

H

o

a

bi
spital

B r i g h t p
W o m e

S

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A

e

b

c

i

u

B

in

C

e

e
r
y 

 Z

a

y

e

ntre 
d City

Regional (UAE)

Local/City

Community

01
IMPORT OF  
PRODUCTS 
FROM AROUND 
THE WORLD

04
DISTRIBUTION TO:
GROCERIES
HYPERMARKETS
SUPERMARKETS
PHARMACIES
PETROL STATIONS

THE NMC
DISTRIBUTION 
VALUE CHAIN 

02
FLEET OF
DISTRIBUTION
VEHICLES 
COVERING
THE ENTIRE 
COUNTRY

03
500,000 SQFT OF 
WAREHOUSE SPACE

(cid:83) 
Discover our healthcare strategy on p14.

(cid:83) 
Learn about our Centres of Excellence on p15.

(cid:83) 
Read more about our distribution value chain  
on p17.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HEALTHCARE

Providing the UAE with  
a range of high quality 
outpatient and inpatient 
services through hospitals, 
day surgery centres, 
medical centres and 
pharmacies.

Our facilities range from the larger 
specialty hospitals to medical centres. 
In addition, we have retail pharmacies 
mainly selling pharmaceuticals 
prescribed by our doctors to our 
patients either within, or in the 
immediate vicinity of, our healthcare 
services facilities. Our comprehensive 
care approach maximises patient 
convenience and increases revenue 
contribution to our business. 

Healthcare Revenue 
(US$m)

Healthcare EBITDA 
(US$m) 

332.2

88.2

Doctors across the group 

603 

Healthcare Revenue 
Growth

Healthcare EBITDA  
Margin

Total number of Nurses 
across the group

14.8%

26.6%

1,266

DISTRIBUTION

Offering products across 
several wholesale 
segments including 
FMCG1, Pharmaceuticals,  
Scientific Equipment  
and Food. 

We supply our customers with  
a portfolio of globally and locally 
established brands and products with 
end-user demand in the UAE. Our 
distribution capabilities are supported 
by a network of strategically located 
warehouses and a fleet of vehicles.

1 Fast moving consumer goods

Distribution Revenue 
(US$m)

Distribution EBITDA 
(US$m) 

Absolute number of staff 

338.9

34.1

1,882 

Distribution Revenue 
Growth

Distribution EBITDA  
Margin

Warehouse space (Sqft) 

12.9%

10.1%

500,000

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

GROUP OVERVIEW

NMC Health is the largest private healthcare 
operator in the UAE and one of the largest 
product distribution and wholesale 
companies in the country. 

2 main lines  
of business:
HEALTHCARE: 
Owns and operates 
hospitals, day surgery 
centres, medical centres 
and pharmacies
DISTRIBUTION: 
Wholesale of 
pharmaceutical,  
scientific equipment,  
FMCG, food, veterinary  
and education products

TURNOVER 

2014

EBITDA 

2014

Revenue 
$643.9m

EBITDA  
(US$m) 
102.5

  Distribution 50% 

  Healthcare 50%

  Distribution 25% 

  Healthcare 75%

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

1

Overview

OUR KEY ASSETS 

Map of group assets

Healthcare

Distribution

01.  NMC Specialty Hospital

Abu Dhabi

02.  NMC Day Surgery

Mohammed Bin Zayed 
City

03.   Brightpoint Royal  
 Women’s Hospital
Abu Dhabi  
(Opened July 2014)

04.  NMC Specialty Hospital
Khalifa City (H1, 2015)

05.  NMC General Hospital

Dubai Investments Park 
(Opened July 2014)

06.  B R Medical Suites

DHCC

07.  NMC General Hospital

Deira, Dubai

A.  NMC Warehouse
Mina, Abu Dhabi

B.   NMC Sales and  
Marketing Office
Abu Dhabi

C.  NMC Warehouse

Al Ain

D. 

 NMC Sales and 
Marketing Office
Al Ain

E.  NMC Warehouse

DIP, Dubai

F.  NMC Warehouse
Al Quoz, Dubai

G.   NMC Sales and 
Marketing Office
Dubai and  
Northern Emirates

08.  NMC Specialty Hospital

H.  NMC Warehouse

DIC, Dubai

Dubai

09.  NMC Medical Centre

Sharjah

10.  Sheikh Khalifa

General Hospital (Operator) 
Umm al Quwain

11.  NMC Specialty Hospital

Al Ain

12.  NMC Medical Centre

Al Ain  
(Opened December 2014)

10

Umm Al Quwain

09

Sharjah

H

G
07 08
06

F

E

05

Dubai

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

B

03

A

01

04

02

Abu Dhabi

OMAN

Al Ain

11

12

C D

Healthcare division patients 

2.4m

2

Distribution Division  
SKU’s

83,635

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Selection of our assets

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

3

Overview

CHAIRMAN’S 2014 REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS 
A YEAR OF CONTINUED  
GOOD PROGRESS

Economic conditions, and the anticipated 
growth in private healthcare, in the UAE 
continue to be favourable.

Dear Shareholder,

I am delighted to be able to report to 
shareholders that good progress has 
again been made in 2014. The Company 
continues to perform well as we enter 
the final stages of implementation of our 
initial growth strategy set out at the time 
of our IPO in April 2012. Group Revenue 
increased from US$550.9m in 2013 to 
US$643.9m in 2014. Consolidated EBITDA 
also improved by 10.2% from US$92.9m to 
US$102.5m in the latest financial year.

CONTINUED GROWTH
I wrote last year that the Group had faced 
a number of challenges in relation to the 
Group’s capital development programme, 
with construction delays encountered  
in relation to both the Brightpoint Royal 
Women’s Hospital and NMC General 
Hospital in DIP. The Board are delighted 
that these problems have been resolved 
and that both facilities were opened in 
the first few days of H2, 2014. Work at our 
biggest development, the 250 bed 
hospital being built on a green field site  
in the expanding Abu Dhabi suburb of 
Khalifa City, has continued to progress 
well during the year and we expect to 
commence operations towards the end 
of H1, 2015, following receipt of required 
approvals. Our new medical centre  
in Al Ain opened on time in Q4, 2014.  
These facilities will be key to the Group’s 
continued growth in the UAE.

The roll-out of mandatory health 
insurance for all residents in Dubai  
which commenced in 2014 is expected  
to be a further catalyst for growth. The 
estimate by Dubai Health Authority that 
this will result in the addition of 2 million 
individuals to the population of insured 
residents in the emirate of Dubai confirms 
the case for continued investment in  
the UAE private healthcare market.  
Our existing presence providing 
healthcare services in Dubai for many 
years leaves the Group well placed to 
benefit from this anticipated growth.

FINANCIAL STABILITY
During any period of substantial growth 
and capital development, it is vital that this 
can be undertaken against a background 
of a strong financial base. In June 2013, 
the Company completed the replacement 
of its existing Syndicated Bank Loan which 
enabled the Company to restructure 
existing loans, reduce its cost of funds 

4

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

and create additional headroom to 
ensure that the Group was more 
conservatively financed. This financial 
planning benefited the Company in the 
year, with a significant positive effect on 
the Group’s net profit and EPS. 

On 16 February 2015, the Company 
announced a new US$825m financing 
facility which was made up of two 
elements, namely a US$350m facility 
which will be used to repay existing debt 
and for general corporate purposes 
reducing the Group’s cost of capital in the 
current financial year, and a US$475m 
facility to facilitate NMC’s next phase of 
growth by making phased acquisitions. 
This facility leaves the Company well 
financed to take advantage of 
improvements in global markets.

DIVIDEND
As a result of the continued good 
performance and financial stability of  
the Company, your Board plans to submit 
a resolution to shareholders at the 2015 
Annual General Meeting authorising 
payment of a cash dividend of 5.4 pence 
per share. For the third year running this 
is approximately 20% of profit after tax, 
within the range which the Board 
indicated at the time of the Company’s 
IPO would be their dividend target.

BOARD CHANGES
During the year there were a number  
of Board changes. H.E. Saeed Bin Butti 
and Mr Khalifa Bin Butti, two of the 
Company’s substantial shareholders, 
stepped down from the Board in 
February 2014 and March 2014 respectively. 
Both H.E. Saeed and Khalifa were integral 
to the Company’s growth plan and its 
successful IPO in London in April 2012.  
As previously reported, NMC Health plc,  
as a result of this flotation, became the 
first UAE business to list on the premium 
segment of the London Stock Exchange. 
Their leadership and focus during the 
Company’s first two years of growth on 
the public markets was invaluable.

The year also saw a number of additions 
to the Board. Mr Abdulrahman Basaddiq 
joined the Board as a Non-Executive 
Director in February 2014 and Dr Ayesha 
Abdullah, Mrs Salma Hareb, Dr Nandini 
Tandon, as Independent Non-Executive 
Directors, and Mr Keyur Nagori, as a 
Non-Executive Director, in June 2014.  
In addition, Mr Prasanth Manghat and  
Mr Binay Shetty were promoted from  
the Senior Management Team to 
become Executive Directors, also in  
June 2014. 

The structure of your Board has changed 
significantly in 2014. Your new Board  
now has:

•  A wider cultural and ethnic mix 

benefitting Board discussions given 
the Company’s listing in the UK and 
operations in the UAE;

•  Significant female representation (33%) 

on the Board;

•  More than half of its number resident 
in the UAE, the Company’s home 
market; and

•  A wide range of skills and experience, 
including more than half of the Board 
having significant operational or 
regulatory experience of healthcare 
services from different parts of  
the world.

Your Board is diverse in terms of experience, 
gender and culture and well-structured to 
oversee the achievement of the Company’s 
strategic objectives.

GOVERNANCE
The changes to the Board have also 
resulted in a restructure and diversification 
of the Company’s Board Committees. 
Each of the Board Committees have 
retained the same Chair Person, but now 
have a different membership structure  
to the other committees benefiting the 

Brightpoint Royal 
Women’s Hospital
www.brightpoint.ae

1st

Private mother and child 
hospital in Abu Dhabi

July 2014

First open to patients

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

5

Overview

CHAIRMAN’S 2014 REPORT TO 
SHAREHOLDERS CONTINUED

EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION
As the Group develops, the Remuneration 
Committee, under the chairmanship of 
Lord Clanwilliam, has continued to roll  
out its intended Executive remuneration 
structure; this is now complete within  
the parameters of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy which shareholders 
approved at the 2014 Annual General 
Meeting with 97.5% of votes in favour of 
the proposals. Long Term Incentive Plan 
awards were granted to the Executive 
Directors and Senior Management Team 
for the first time in 2014 which, alongside 
the existing Short Term Incentive Plan, 
focus and incentivise management  
on the long term value enhancement  
of your Company and align them with 
any value change experienced by 
shareholders in the Company over  
the longer term. 

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF
The Company’s human capital continues 
to be vital to the success of your 
Company, particularly during a period of 
significant change and growth. Dr Shetty, 
his management team and staff across 
the Group have worked extremely hard 
through the year to achieve strong 
results on your behalf. The Board greatly 
appreciates the continued commitment, 
energy and goodwill which they have 
shown in 2014 and would like to thank 
them all for their respective contributions. 

OUTLOOK
Economic conditions, and the anticipated 
growth in private healthcare, in the UAE 
continue to be favourable and your Board 
continues to view the outlook for the 
Group with confidence and enthusiasm.

H.J. Mark Tompkins
Non-Executive Chairman

work, focus and oversight of each 
Committee and therefore the Company’s 
overall governance structure. 

Work has continued during the year  
on the establishment of integrated IT 
systems; a new Hospital Information 
System and the Group’s new Enterprise 
Resources Planning (“ERP”) financial 
system. The implementation of new  
IT infrastructure is always a significant 
challenge to all organisations, and the 
Company’s experience in this respect  
is no different to that of others. The 
implementation of both new systems  
will continue on a phased basis to ensure 
that the new IT infrastructure is solid  
and relevant for the Company’s future. 
The HIS became operational in our new 
facilities in 2014 but implementation in  
the existing facilities is planned over the 
next two financial years; the ERP system 
implementation will be completed in 2015. 
Alongside new IT systems and controls, 
during the phasing in period the core 
internal controls under which the Group 
has been operating successfully for many 
years, will remain in place as an important 
part of the Group’s governance structure. 

MANAGEMENT CHANGES
The Company announced a number of 
senior management changes in October 
2014. The Board would like to express their 
appreciation to Binay Shetty for the very 
significant contribution that he has made 
to NMC Health in his Executive role over 
many years. We wish him well in his new 
role and are delighted that he remains on 
the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

The Board are also delighted that 
Prasanth Manghat and Suresh 
Krishnamoorthy have taken up positions 
as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer respectively. We 
wish them well in their new roles during 
the Company’s next phase of growth. 

Finally, subsequent to the year end,  
the Board appointed Dr B.R. Shetty to an 
enhanced role of Executive Vice Chairman 
and Chief Executive Officer. This new  
role reflects Dr Shetty’s position as a 
founder of the Group and his key role in 
the formulation of the Group’s strategic 
thinking and its operational performance.

6

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

FINANCIAL SUMMARY 
AND HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Summary 

US$m (unless stated)

Group
Revenue
Gross profit
Gross profit margin
EBITDA
EBITDA margin
Net Profit
Net Profit margin
Earnings per share (US$)
Dividend per share (GBP pence)
Net cash from operating activities
Total Capital Expenditure additions in the year
Capital Expenditure relating to four capital projects announced at IPO
Total cash and short term bank deposits
Total debt
Net Debt 

Divisional performances
Healthcare revenue
Healthcare EBITDA
Healthcare EBITDA margin
Healthcare net profit
Healthcare net profit margin
Healthcare occupancy

Distribution revenue
Distribution EBITDA
Distribution EBITDA margin
Distribution net profit
Distribution net profit margin

FY2014

FY2013

Growth 

643.9 
209.2 
32.5%
102.5 
15.9%
77.5
12.0%
0.412
5.4
85.7
112.3
86.4
263.2
376.1
113.0

332.2 
88.2 
26.6%
73.1
22.0%
71.3%

338.9 
34.1 
10.1%
28.4
8.4%

550.9 
185.5 
33.7%
92.9 
16.9%
69.1
12.6%
0.367
4.4
85.1
82.7
72.2
268.7
332.4
63.7

289.3 
81.7 
28.2%
74.3
25.7%
64.7%

300.2 
29.9 
10.0%
27.8
9.3%

16.9%
12.8%
-119bps
10.2%
-96bps
12.1%
-51bps
12.3%
22.7%
0.7%
35.8%
19.7%
-2.1%
13.2%
77.3%

14.8%
8.0%
-168bps
-1.7%
-14.4%
660bps

12.9%
14.1%
11bps
2.0%
-89bps

Notes: 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Net Profit is a non-IFRS term which is the same as profit before tax as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
EBITDA is the same as Profit from operations before depreciation and impairment as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
Net cash from operating activities is equivalent to Net cash from operating activities as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Total cash is represented by short term bank deposits and bank balances and cash. 
Total debt is a non-IFRS line item and includes term loans and bank overdrafts and other short term borrowings shown on the face of the Consolidated Statement  
of Financial Position. 
Net Debt is a non-IFRS line item and is total cash less total debt, both as defined above.

FY2014 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
•  Group revenues increased by 16.9%  

to US$643.9m 

•  Healthcare division revenue increased 

by 14.8% to US$332.2m1 

•  Distribution division revenue grew  

by 12.9% to US$338.9m2 
•  EBITDA increased by 10.2%  

to US$102.5m

•  EBITDA margin declined by 96bps  

to 15.9% 

•  Net profits increased by 12.1%  

to US$77.5m

•  Net profit margins declined by 51bps  

to 12.0%

•  Earnings per share (EPS) amounted  

to US$0.412

•  Proposed dividend pay-out ratio is 

maintained at 20% of profit after tax, 
amounting to GBP3 5.4 pence  
per share

•  Total capital expenditure for the year 
reached US$112.3m, 35.8% higher 
compared to FY20134 

•  Net debt reached US$113.0m as the 
Group continued to advance its 
on-going healthcare projects

FY2014 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS –  
A YEAR ON YEAR (YOY) COMPARISON
•  Healthcare division’s patients 
increased by 15.6% to 2.4m

•  Revenue per patient from healthcare 
services increased by 2.6% to reach 
US$114.5

•  Hospital bed occupancy rates reached 

71.3%, an improvement of 660bps, 
despite a 10.0% increase in operational 
beds to 287

•  Doctors’ employed reached 603,  

an increase of 19.9%

•  Distribution division increased  
its product portfolio by 17.4% to  
83,635 stock keeping units (SKU)
•  Sales and marketing personnel at  
the Distribution division grew 6.1%  
to 642

•  NMC General Hospital in Dubai 

Investment Park and Brightpoint Royal 
Women’s Hospital in Abu Dhabi 
commenced operations in July 2014

•  NMC Medical Centre in Al Ain 

commenced operations in Dec 2014

•  Dubai Emirate rolled out the first 
phase of mandatory healthcare 
insurance in October 2014 

1 Before inter-company elimination
2 Before inter-company elimination
3 British Pound 
4 Includes US$112.3m on capital projects

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

7

 
 
 
 
 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Group Strategic 
Report

In this section:
10  Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Review 
12  Our Business Model 
14  Our Strategy 
18  Business Overview 
24  Financial Review   
26  Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
27  Corporate Social Responsibility

2014 AT A GLANCE
REVENUE (US$M) AND ANNUAL GROWTH

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

643.9

16.9%

550.9

12.4%

490.1

10.4%

2012

2013

2014

20%

15%

10%

5%

  Revenue

  Growth

• 
• 
• 

NMC Health reports revenues of US$643.9m in 2014
Top-line growth was 16.9% in 2014 year on year
Both the healthcare and distribution divisions 
delivered double digit growth

EBITDA (US$M) AND MARGIN

SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (US$M)

NET DEBT (US$M)

120

100

80

60

40

20

16.9%

92.9

15.9%

102.5

16.2%

79.6

2012

2013

2014

20%

15%

10%

5%

500

450

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

449.0

386.2

329.7

120

100

80

60

40

20

113.0

63.7

46.2

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

  EBITDA

  EBITDA margin

• 

NMC shareholders equity increased by 16.3% year on 
year to close 2014 at US$449m

• 

• 

• 

• 

EBITDA reached US$102.5m in 2014, exceeding 2013 
by 10.2%
EBITDA margins dropped to 15.9%, mainly as a result 
of the initial financial impact from the Group’s three 
new healthcare assets 
Depending on a number of variables, it takes new 
healthcare assets between 12-24 months to reach 
EBITDA breakeven
NMC opened two hospitals in July 2014 and  
a medical centre in December 2014

• 

• 

Net debt as of 2014 year-end amounted  
to US$113.0m
Capital expenditure during the year reached 
US$112.3m

NET PROFIT (US$M) AND MARGIN

NET WORKING CAPITAL AS % OF SALES

ADJUSTED OPERATING CASH FLOW (US$M)

100

80

60

40

20

12.2%

12.6%

69.1

59.8

12.0%

77.5

2012

2013

2014

14%

40%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

30%

20%

10%

37.8

33.8

32.4

88.4

81.8

100

80

60

40

20

42.0

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

  Net profit

  Net profit margin

• 

• 

Net profit reached US$77.5m, representing  
a year on year increase of 12.1%
Net profit margin (NPM) declined to 12.0% from 12.6% 
in 2013, mainly due to the introduction of three new 
healthcare assets during the second half of 2014

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

•  More effective management of working capital 

reduced the net working capital to sales ratio by 
142bps in FY2014.

•  Group adjusted operating cash flow reached 
US$81.8m in 2014, slightly below last year on 
account of the increased working capital levels 
in-line with the increased business. Adjusted 
operating cash excludes changes in amounts  
due from/to related parties

9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Strategic Report

EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN & CEO REVIEW
STRONG PERFORMANCE  
CONTINUED IN 2014

We continued to make progress on the 
roll-out of new corporate and operations 
management tools to further enhance  
our planning and operational effectiveness 
for our growing company.

The past year proved to be a major 
milestone in our nearly forty year old  
UAE operations with progress delivered 
at several of our capital developments.  
I am particularly proud of the completion 
and opening of three healthcare assets; 
the Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital 
in Abu Dhabi, NMC General Hospital in 
Dubai Investment Park (DIP) and NMC 
Medical Centre in Al Ain. With these 
accomplishments we have increased our 
licensed bed capacity by 52% in the UAE, 
a strong foundation for our long-term 
growth prospects in our rapidly expanding 
country and a determined contribution 
from the NMC team towards the UAE’s 
vision of better availability and quality of 
healthcare for all its residents. 

With Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital, 
we introduced the first private sector 
women’s hospital in Abu Dhabi – focused 
on gynaecology and obstetrics 
specialities with a very strong patient 
demand outpacing expansion of 
specialist capacity. Opening the NMC 
General Hospital in DIP, was a pioneering 
healthcare investment in the area – with 
NMC being one of the first and largest 
investors in this strategic area of the 
Dubai market. The DIP hospital is located 
within the investment park surrounded 
by large corporates and growing 
residential areas and a short drive  
from the new Al Maktoum Airport,  
Jebel Ali Port and the Dubai Expo area. 

The Al Ain Medical Centre is a welcome 
addition to our capabilities in the strongly 
performing Al Ain market. It will expand 
our primary care services to a new 
community and act as a referral point 
back to the NMC Specialty Hospital in  
Al Ain City for secondary and tertiary care.

The Group’s healthcare division now 
manages and operates a total of  
11 healthcare services assets with  
11 in-hospital pharmacies including, the 
205 bed Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital  
in Umm Al Quwain which is operated  
by NMC on behalf of the UAE government 
in return for an annual management fee. 
We also made substantial progress on 
our largest project, the 250 bed NMC 
Super Specialty Hospital in the Khalifa  
City suburb of Abu Dhabi, with the 
completion of the building and external 
façade followed by commencement of 
work on the internal fit-out. We expect 
construction at this NMC flagship asset  
to be completed and commence 

10

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

operations towards the end of H1 2015, 
subject to receiving the required 
regulatory approvals. 

NMC Health received almost 2.4m patients  
in 2014, a year on year growth of 15.6%. Group 
hospital occupancy increased by 660bps  
to 71.3%. We continued to strengthen our 
human resources with the addition of 100 
new doctors in the past year.

In the Distribution division we made 
strong progress in terms of increasing  
the availability of our products across the 
fast expanding UAE retail market through 
our strengthened product portfolio and 
accomplished wholesale operations with 
the associated sourcing and logistics 
capabilities. The number of Stock Keeping 
Units (SKU’s) reached 83,635 in 2014,  
an increase of 17.4% compared to 2013. 
Meanwhile, we continued to strengthen 
the division with the recruitment of 
additional staff to grow this successful 
team of professionals. Divisional staff 
expansion during the period was 4.2%, 
with a particular focus on new personnel 
within our front-line sales, promotion and 
marketing capabilities.

We continued to make progress on the 
roll-out of new corporate and operations 
management tools to further enhance 
our planning and operational 
effectiveness for our growing company. 
Our new Hospital Information System 
(HIS) was implemented at the recently 
opened hospitals; however, the 
implementation across operational 
assets with legacy systems is more 

challenging and will be phased over the 
next two years to ensure a tested and 
seamless transition. The Enterprise 
Resource Planning (ERP) implementation 
is on-going and we expect implementation 
to be completed in 2015. 

Group financial performance in 2014 was 
good, with revenue growth amounting  
to 16.9% and EBITDA appreciating by  
10.2% despite the initial negative earning 
impact by the new healthcare asset 
additions. Revenues reached US$643.9m 
with an EBITDA of US$102.5m in 2014.  
We expect a considerable growth in both 
top-line and EBITDA contribution from 
Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital and 
NMC General Hospital in DIP in future 
periods. Excluding the impact from the 
new assets, the group EBITDA would 
have been US$108.2m. 

On 16 February 2015 we announced  
a new US$825m financing facility had 
been secured by NMC which will serve  
to improve our funding efficiency  
and strategic capabilities. This loan is 
comprised of two tranches, i) a US$350m 
facility used to replace existing debt with 
this lower cost loan, leading to expected 
annual savings of US$2.75-3.75m, ii)  
a US$475m delayed draw acquisition 
facility that will further enhance our ability 
to complement NMC’s growth through 
inorganic opportunities. 

During 2014 we also announced 
management changes effective from 
1 January 2015. Mr Binay Shetty, Chief 
Operating Officer (COO), decided to leave 

his executive role at NMC Health to 
pursue a role within the Shetty Family 
Investment Office. Binay has played  
a major role in advancing the Group’s 
operations and he was instrumental in 
the success of our expansion program 
including the above mentioned hospitals. 
He will stay on NMC Health’s Board, as  
a Non-Executive Director. Mr Prasanth 
Manghat was promoted from Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO) to the new role  
of Deputy CEO. His new role will include 
the responsibilities previously held by  
the COO and working closely with me  
on strategy and operations. Prasanth  
has been working within NMC related 
businesses for nearly 12 years and he 
was a key driving force behind our 
achievements to date and the successful 
initial public offering of NMC. Mr Suresh 
Krishnamoorthy was promoted from 
Deputy CFO to become the new CFO.

I would like to thank our shareholders  
and my fellow members of the Board  
of Directors for their continued support 
throughout the past year. 

Finally, NMC Health’s successful journey  
of growth and prosperity would not have 
been possible without the vision and 
drive of the founders and leaders of the 
United Arab Emirates (UAE). On behalf of 
the Board and management, I would like 
to extend our gratitude to the UAE.

Dr B.R. Shetty
Executive Vice Chairman and CEO

NMC HOSPITAL
Dubai Investment Park

60

Beds

US$96

Revenue per patient

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

11

Group Strategic Report

OUR BUSINESS MODEL

NMC Health plc is the leading private sector 
healthcare operator in the United Arab 
Emirates, with a nationwide network of 
hospitals and operations founded in 1975. 
The group also operates a UAE wide product 
distribution and wholesale business. 

HEALTHCARE SERVICES

PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION

12

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Only registered domestic distributors,  
a locally established company like NMC, 
are entitled by customs authorities  
to import products into the country. 
Principals (suppliers) contract NMC as  
their distributor to gain access to the  
UAE market through a reputable partner 
with a long track-record, established 
distribution channels and infrastructure 
and strong financial standing. Every 
individual brand and product has to go 
through an approval and registration 
process with local authorities before 
being allowed to be sold in the country. 
NMC facilitates this process and ensures 
local requirements are met. The majority 
of agreements with our Principals are  
on exclusive basis. All agreements  
are registered with the government.  

NMC procurement is on a principal basis. 
In the majority of cases, NMC takes the 
inventory and collection risk of the product 
that it buys and sells. Acting as a Principal 
rather than an agent enhances NMC’s 
margins at the expense of increasing  
the Group’s risk profile. Our agreements 
are almost exclusively operated on a 
credit basis, with the number credit days 
agreed with our Principals.

HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Through our healthcare services division 
we provide people in the UAE with  
a range of high quality outpatient and 
inpatient services across our facilities.  
Our facilities range from the larger 
specialty hospitals to medical centres.  
In addition, we have retail pharmacies 
mainly selling pharmaceuticals prescribed 
by our doctors to our patients either 
within, or in the immediate vicinity of,  
our healthcare services facilities.  
Our comprehensive care approach 
maximises patient convenience and 
increases revenue contribution to  
our business. 

While we serve both insured and 
self-paying patients, the overwhelming 
majority of our healthcare division’s 
revenue is generated through insured 
patients. In return for the services 
rendered to insured patients, we submit 
claims to insurance companies to collect 
the remainder of our fees (usually insured 
patients have some co-pay element, 
which is paid directly when services  
are delivered to them at our facilities). 

Pricing of our healthcare services is 
typically negotiated on an annual basis 
with the insurance companies we work 
with and may differ between the various 
insurance plans offered in the market.  
In contrast, prices of the majority of 
pharmaceutical products sold in our 
pharmacies are regulated and set by  
the UAE Ministry of Health.

NMC Hospitals are currently covered  
by the majority of the approximately  
40 insurance companies operating in  
the UAE, including the largest market 
participants. These companies have 
either a direct relationship with us or 
through the 13 Third Party Administrators 
(TPAs) who currently provide private medical 
insurance into the Abu Dhabi market.

Our Healthcare division also provides 
operational and management services  
to third party owned healthcare services 
assets. In return for our services, we 
receive a contracted management fee  
by the asset owner. Typically the fee 
received is partially tied to a set of 
pre-agreed performance metrics 
incorporating either qualitative and/or 
quantitative operational targets. We 
currently have one management 
contract with the UAE Ministry of 
Presidential Affairs pertaining to a  
general hospital in Umm al Quwain  
in the Northern Emirates. 

PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION  
AND WHOLESALE
NMC’s Distribution Division is now one  
of the largest in the UAE and it offers 
products across several segments 
including FMCG5, Pharmaceuticals, 
Scientific Equipment and Food. 

NMC counts among its clients UAE 
Government entities, the largest UAE 
retailers, pharmacies and hospital 
operators. We supply our customers  
with a portfolio of globally and locally 
established brands and products with 
end-user demand in the UAE. We ensure 
our customers receive quality products  
in a timely manner with the required 
support services. 

Our distribution capabilities are supported 
by a network of strategically located 
warehouses and a fleet of vehicles 
ensuring timely delivery to our customers 
across the country. Products are 
overwhelmingly sold on credit, with 
payments collected based on agreed 
terms. Our pricing of these products 
includes a mark-up over the product  
cost to generate a profit and to cover 
import costs and duties, registration 
administration and fees, distribution 
expenses, credit costs and, in certain 
cases, marketing costs. Pharmaceuticals 
are the only segment where pricing  
is widely regulated by the UAE Ministry  
of Health. 

5 Fast moving consumer goods

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

13

Group Strategic Report

OUR STRATEGY

Over the past 40 years we have grown 
from being a pharmacy and clinic 
combined in a very small space for the 
service of our patients, to be the largest 
private healthcare group and one of  
the leading product distribution and 
wholesale traders in our home market  
of the UAE.

The UAE and the gulf region as a whole, 
is one of the most attractive healthcare 
markets in the world for investments  
in high quality healthcare to the service  
of a growing and increasingly affluent 
population with unparalleled support 
from the leadership and local 
governments. Since our Initial Public 
Offering (IPO) in 2012 we have committed 
over US$320m to grow our network of 
healthcare assets and bring our services 
and capabilities closer to a growing 
number of the people of the UAE and 
eventually the region. 

In July 2014, we proudly entered into a 
new phase of growth with the addition  
of two hospitals to our growing portfolio 
of six. We start the 2015 financial year 
with a total of 470 licensed beds – a year 
on year growth of 52% in bed capacity. 
The hard work in recent years to bring 
this expansion to market and to the 
service of our country, people, patients 
and shareholders – has been tremendous. 
This dedication continues to manifest 
itself through the commitment to open 
our largest hospital in H1 2015 in Abu Dhabi 
– the 250 bed NMC Khalifa City Super 
Specialty Hospital, bringing the total 
licensed bed capacity available to the 
Group to 720 beds later this year. We also 
continue to successfully operate and 
manage the 205 bed Sheikh Khalifa 
General Hospital in Umm Al Quwain  
on behalf of the UAE government. In 
tandem with our hospital developments, 
we grew our network of day surgeries 
and medical centres to four from only 
one at the time of our IPO in 2012. The 
most recent addition was the medical 
centre in Al Ain’s industrial area which 
opened in December 2014. 

Despite large investments by both the 
public and private sectors over the past 
40 years in the local and regional 
healthcare infrastructure, the region, 
which has one of the fastest extended 
rates of population growth in the world, 
mainly due to the influx of expatriates, 
has considerable opportunities for further 
investments. At NMC Health we are 

committed to continue exploring organic 
and inorganic investment opportunities. 
While our priority is to expand within the 
UAE, we are also increasingly interested 
in expanding outside our current home 
market and into the wider gulf region  
by leveraging on our growing platform, 
experience and funding capabilities.  
NMC may also bolster its participation  
in local and regional growth by targeting 
top-in-class institutions outside the gulf 
region deemed capable of supporting  
its regional strategic objectives with 
transferable specialist medical know-how, 
long track-record and regionally scalable 
business models. 

The positive economics and demographics 
in the UAE and wider gulf region also 
serve as a favourable environment for 
growth in consumption and by extension 
in our strongly performing distribution 
and wholesale division. We continue to 
add new product ranges and brands to 
our line-up in key segments like FMCG, 
pharmaceutical and food. As of year-end 

2014 we have 83,635 (+17.4% YoY) Stock 
keeping units (SKUs) in our portfolio (71,215 
SKU’s as of 31 December 2013), making 
NMC one of the leading distributors in  
the UAE. We see potential in the UAE and 
the gulf region for organic and inorganic 
growth of our operations and product 
portfolio. Our distribution division is well 
positioned with its extensive human 
capital capabilities, substantial logistical 
platform of strategically located 
warehouses and vehicle fleet, established 
track-record and financial standing.

HEALTHCARE DIVISION
Since our IPO our strategic focus has 
been on advancing in the UAE through 
expanding our healthcare network and 
most specifically the core hubs, the 
hospitals, onto which we could eventually 
‘plug & play’ additional medical centres 
and day surgeries and thus expand  
our addressable market further through 
relatively lower per asset capital 
expenditure. With the opening of the 
Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital  

Our hub-and-spoke model consists of primary to tertiary care facilities across the UAE:

BR
Medical 
Suites

Dubai 
Investment
Park General
Hospital

n tr e

e

Al Ain Medical C
Al Ain Sp e ci a lt
ospit a l 

H

Dubai
General
Hospital

Sharjah
Medical 
Centre

Dub

ai 

S

H

o

s

p

e

y

Super 
Specialty 
Hospital
Khalifa 
City

p

i
t

c

i

a

a

l

l

t

y

al
al
y
pit
o

oint R
n’s Hos

M

o

D

h

a

a

y

a

l
t

D

h

y

m

S

m

u

r

g

e

d

H

o

a

bi
spital

B r i g h t p
W o m e

S

p

A

e

b

c

i

u

B

in

C

e

e
r
y 

 Z

a

y

e

ntre 
d City

Regional (UAE)

Local/City

Community

14

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

and the NMC General Hospital in DIP  
in July 2014 followed by the expected 
opening of the NMC Super Specialty 
Hospital in Khalifa City (Abu Dhabi) by  
the end of H1 2015 – we would have 
concluded our core organic investment 
program and delivered the largest and 
most challenging elements of our 
network. These core assets should serve 
as the platform for NMC’s future growth.

Hence the key strategic objective behind 
NMC’s organic expansion is to build an 
inter-connected, interacting and 
identifiable private healthcare network. 
The objective is to supply a continuously 
evolving and increasingly effective quality 
of care to our patients, in what remains  
a developing healthcare market with  
an overwhelmingly fragmented private 
sector dominated by single asset and 
mostly outpatient focused operators.

With all the key components of our core 
network expected to be in place by H1 
2015, we see considerable opportunities 
to elevate the level and complexity 
of care available within the UAE and 
eventually the regional healthcare sector. 
Going into the next phase of growth in 
the Healthcare Division, the Group intends 
to expand both organically and via 
acquisitions to achieve the objectives of 
the updated Group Strategy, which include: 

•  Accelerate the establishment of 

• 

Centres of Excellence in key specialties 
within its existing hospitals;
Increase its participation in the rapidly 
growing medical tourism industry 
within the UAE by establishing its 
facilities as a destination of choice  
for medical tourists;

•  Grow its medical specialty offering  
and clinic network within the UAE  
and maximising operational synergies 
in the region; 

•  Selectively establish a strategic 
presence outside the UAE via 
acquisitions of, or collaborations with, 
leading global medical institutions in 
order to further enhance and expand 
the technological know-how and 
medical expertise available across  
all of NMC’s facilities; and
Increase its footprint in Saudi Arabia 
and the broader Gulf Cooperation 
Council (GCC) region via organic 
initiatives and acquisitions.

• 

Centres of Excellence – Raising the bar
Outpatient services are by far the largest 
contributor to the UAE healthcare market 
by volume and total value. This is 
particularly evident in the private sector, 
which continues, with varying degrees of 
success to evolve from its primary care 
focused origins in the pre-mandatory 
insurance era, towards secondary, tertiary 
and to a lesser degree quaternary care.  
In general, the entry barriers to general 
outpatient services have always been 
lower than specialist inpatient services, 
which are by definition more complex 
and require even higher investments  
in both human capital and facilities. 

Both specialist out and inpatient services, 
in the UAE, historically originated in 
government owned healthcare facilities. 
To date the public sector remains the 
largest provider, especially on the 
inpatient side. However, a key objective of 
the insurance reform is to encourage the 
private sector’s increased participation

The current centres of 
excellence include:

Ophthalmology

www.nmceyecare.ae

Urology and Andrology

www.nmcurocare.ae

Orthopaedics

www.nmcorthocare.ae

Cardiology

www.heartcare.ae

Surgery

www.nmcsurgery.ae

and investment in these areas to allow 
the level, quality and capacity of care  
in the UAE to be advanced even  
further through the joint contribution  
of the private and public sectors – to the 
ultimate benefit of the patient.

Along with our large investment program 
and the growing network of state-of-the-
art healthcare facilities NMC offers today, 
we are also increasingly raising the level, 
quality and focus of our healthcare 
services – effectively seeking to advance 
our competitive advantage through 
offering better and more specialised 
services. To accumulate higher levels  
of clinical expertise and experience, our 
vision is to ensure that all service delivery 
is done around the specialties. 

More secondary and tertiary care surgeries 
will contribute to higher inpatient revenues. 
Successfully operated centres of 
excellence will attract and retain highly 
qualified physicians and surgeons, by 
offering: patient concentration, higher 
number of surgeries and a highly 
qualified and experienced peer group  
as colleagues. 

Our long term goal for each of the 
existing and prospective branded centres 
of excellence is to occupy the top slot in 
the UAE and eventually the gulf residents’ 
minds for the particular service line.  
By developing our core competitive 
advantages in quality healthcare around 
branded and highly identifiable centres, 
we are also allowing for enhanced 
scalability of the respective centres of 
excellence across the UAE and the  
gulf region. This specialisation driven 
expansion of the service offering at NMC 
may also be enhanced and strengthened 
by acquisition of specialist entities and/or 
formation of partnerships with top-in-
class international centres of excellence.

Rebranding for the future
In 2014, NMC also undertook a rebranding 
exercise and now has a new logo,  
brand colours and brand guidelines.  
This exercise was undertaken with the 
objective of broadening the appeal of 
NMC among a wider section of the target 
audience, especially the Arab speaking 
residents and to an extent the gulf 
population, while at the same time not 
doing it at the cost of the NMC brand 
equity that has built up over the last four 
decades. The new brand guidelines have 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

15

Group Strategic Report

OUR STRATEGY
CONTINUED

been well received and are currently 
being implemented across all our assets, 
outdoor signage, uniforms, digital assets 
and other collateral.

DUBAI INSURANCE PENETRATION

Healthcare insurance reform  
– A key driver for growth
Abu Dhabi adopted mandatory healthcare 
insurance in 2007, leading to the coverage 
of nearly all of the Emirate’s residents and 
rapidly expanding the healthcare market 
size with strong encouragement by the 
government for increased private sector 
participation in the provision of care.  
The results have been very positive for 
residents and the private sector which 
increased investments in capacity.

Dubai adopted a mandatory healthcare 
insurance law in 2013 and started  
the implementation and roll-out to  
the uninsured part of the population  
in Q4 2014. Based on Dubai Healthcare 
Authority’s (DHA) communication,  
it is estimated that around 66% of  
the Emirate’s around three million  
residents were uninsured before the 
implementation. By 2016 all Dubai 
residents should have healthcare 
insurance. This would imply that two 
million additional people stand to benefit 
from the mandatory medical insurance 
and that the number of healthcare 
insurance members in Dubai could triple 
over the coming years. 

LOW MEDICAL INSURANCE PENETRATION 
IN DUBAI AND NORTHERN EMIRATES

MOST OF UAE POPULATION RESIDES IN 
DUBAI AND NORTHERN EMIRATES (M)

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

6.1

3.1

13

Abu Dhabi

0
Dubai & Northern Emirates

   Mostly  
insured

16

   Mostly  

uninsured

  Insured 33% 

  Uninsured 67%

Source: World Bank, DHA 

Discussions are also ongoing at the 
authority level to eventually adopt 
mandatory insurance in Sharjah the third 
largest Emirate in the UAE, where NMC 
today operates a medical centre, and 
eventually in the rest of the UAE.

This sector reform will have an 
undeniably positive effect on the size of 
the UAE healthcare market by increasing 
domestic healthcare revenue pool. This 
step is expected to spur investments in 
healthcare assets and elevate the quality 
of care in the country to make the UAE  
a more competitive medical services 
destination in the region. With the 
extensive growth of our hub and spoke 
healthcare network across the UAE and 
our experience from the roll-out in Abu 
Dhabi in 2007 to date, we believe we are 
well positioned to compete for a share  
of this market growth.

In Dubai, NMC already operates an 
extensive network of three hospitals with 
a total of 170 beds and a separate day 
surgery. The 100 bed NMC Specialty Hospital 
in Al Nahda being the prime asset, around 
which we own a connected land plot with 
capacity to house an additional building 
with up to 100 bed capacity. In short, we 
have the capacity to reap the rewards  
of the upcoming stepped growth in the 
Dubai healthcare market through our 
sizeable and scalable operations.

We expect the growing medical 
insurance penetration and the associated 
growth in demand for locally delivered 
healthcare services to promote 
advancement in the clinical services 
within our centres of excellence to the 
benefit of all market segments. 

Healthcare division staff
One of the most critical success factors 
through the years has been our 
consistent recruitment ability, without 
which we would have been unable to 
meet the growing demand for healthcare 
services in the UAE. As mentioned in 
previous sections, the UAE’s population 
growth has consistently been one of the 
highest in the world and, together with 
the stepped growth in per capita 
utilisation derived from healthcare 
insurance reform in Abu Dhabi and now 
commencing in Dubai, this has led to 
tremendous growth in demand. 

Over the past year we have continued  
to execute our recruitment strategy  
by focusing on the hiring of skilled and 
highly experienced healthcare personnel.  
We have increasingly prioritised the  
hiring of specialists to meet both general 
demand growth and introduce more 
sub-specialties as we increase the 
sophistication of our service offering to 
the growing number of patients visiting 
the expanding NMC Health network of 
assets across the UAE.

The number of doctors employed by the 
Group increased to 603 as at 31 December 
2014, a 19.9% increase year on year. The 
total number of nursing staff increased 
by 27.1% to reach 1,266 at 2014 year end.

Select medical staff employed

TOTAL DOCTORS AND ANNUAL GROWTH

800

600

400

200

420

9.9%

19.9%

603

19.8%

503

2012

2013

2014

   Doctors

   Growth

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

TOTAL NURSES AND ANNUAL GROWTH

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

27.1%

1,266

20.9%

996

2013

2014

824

6.6%
2012

  Nurses

   Growth

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) – 
Advancing business management
NMC’s pursuit of increased integration 
and efficiency in the use of our growing 
organisation’s business resources made 
us determined to pursue the set-up of  
a best-in-class Enterprise Resource 
Planning (ERP) system – we believe that 
this is an instrumental step in the growth 
of our company and the strengthening  
of management and institutionalisation 
of information, knowledge and resource 
planning. This objective is important  
in the planning and implementation  
of strategic, operational and financial 
initiatives, especially now that NMC  
has almost completed most of the 
investment program announced during 
IPO. On completion of our IPO investment 

program in 2015, the company’s hospital 
bed capacity would have increased by 
around 132%.

It was reported in the 2013 Annual Report 
that the Company planned to implement 
a new financial IT system in the first half 
of 2014. Implementation of the new 
system was delayed following challenges 
in the integration and customisation of 
the modules. The company has put in 
place a new project management team 
and now expects the implementation of 
the new ERP system to be completed  
in 2015.

DISTRIBUTION DIVISION STRATEGY
NMC Health’s product distribution and 
wholesale business is one of the largest 
in the UAE in terms of product portfolio 
and sales. This portfolio of international 
and regional brands, sold mainly on 
exclusive basis by NMC to local retailers, 
has been built over the past 40 years 
across diverse product areas, including 
key segments such as FMCG, 
Pharmaceuticals and Scientific 
Equipment. Today NMC has 83,635 SKU’s 
sold across the UAE through its over 1,800 
divisional staff, six warehouses with a 
total of over 500,000 sq feet and 207 
delivery vehicles. Around 98% of our SKU’s 
are imported and sold exclusively in the 
UAE by NMC to retailers.

This division has continued to perform 
well during the year on brand and  
product line expansions, positive macro 
environment and growth in the retail 
space across the UAE.

Our strategy in the distribution division 
continues to focus on investing in our 
people, logistical management 
capabilities and in existing and new 
relationships across the world with 
current and prospective principals. We 
aim to leverage on these assets within a 
market benefitting from strong economic 
and population growth coupled with high 
GDP per capita, growing consumption  
and rapidly expanding flow of tourists and 
last but not least the introduction of 
mandatory insurance with associated 
positive effect on pharmaceutical 
demand (previously in Abu Dhabi, starting 
now in Dubai and in the future it is likely 
that the rest of UAE will follow).

We also believe the business is well-
placed to expand its product range 
beyond its traditional healthcare 
spectrum and potentially beyond the 
UAE and into the gulf region, which is  
also benefitting from high consumption 
growth supported by positive macro-
economics. We are exploring potentially 
attractive organic and inorganic growth 
opportunities to accelerate growth in  
the Distribution division. A process of 
enhancing the division’s management 
capabilities and structure has been 
initiated to ensure that it is optimised  
for the opportunities ahead.

01
IMPORT OF  
PRODUCTS 
FROM AROUND 
THE WORLD

04
DISTRIBUTION TO:
GROCERIES
HYPERMARKETS
SUPERMARKETS
PHARMACIES
PETROL STATIONS

THE NMC
DISTRIBUTION 
VALUE CHAIN 

02
FLEET OF
DISTRIBUTION
VEHICLES 
COVERING
THE ENTIRE 
COUNTRY

03
500,000 SQFT OF 
WAREHOUSE SPACE

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

17

Group Strategic Report

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

OPERATIONAL REVIEW
NMC Health’s business spans across  
the UAE through its healthcare and 
distribution divisions. The Group reported 
consolidated revenues of US$643.9m  
in FY2014 (+16.9% YoY)) with approximately 
49.5% (49.1% FY2013) coming from its 
healthcare business and 50.5% (50.9% 
FY2013) from the wholesale product 
distribution. 

Consolidated group EBITDA reached 
US$102.5m with a year on year growth of 
10.2%. The group EBITDA margin retreated 
to 15.9% and was down by 96bps year on 
year due to the initial negative impact 
from new hospital openings. If we adjust 
group revenue and EBITDA by excluding 
the impact from recent healthcare asset 
openings, EBITDA growth would be 15.6% 
and the margin 17.1% (FY2013 margin: 17.1%).

NMC Health Group revenues 

REVENUE US$M AND ANNUAL GROWTH

EBITDA US$M AND MARGIN

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

643.9

16.9%

550.9

12.4%

490.1

10.4%

20%

120

15%

10%

5%

100

80

60

40

20

16.9%

92.9

15.9%

102.5

16.2%

79.6

20%

15%

10%

5%

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

HEALTHCARE DIVISION
Our healthcare division operates in the 
major emirates and cities of the UAE 
including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah 
and Umm Al Quwain. Together these 
Emirates and cities account for nearly 
85% of UAE residents. We operate six 
hospitals, two day surgeries, two medical 
centres and eleven in-hospital pharmacies. 
In addition, the Group operates a seventh 
hospital on behalf of the UAE Ministry  
of Presidential Affairs, the 205 bed  
Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital in Umm  
Al Quwain, under an operations and 
management contract initiated in Q4 2012 
with a five year duration.

This division reported revenues of 
US$332.2m in FY2014 (+14.8% YoY), 
including US$273.7m from healthcare 
services, US$52.8m from hospital 
pharmacies and US$5.7m from the 
operation and management of  
third-party healthcare assets. 

  Revenue

   Growth

  EBITDA

  EBITDA margin

Healthcare Revenue & Patients

2014 REVENUE CONTRIBUTION

2014 EBITDA CONTRIBUTION

HEALTHCARE REVENUE US$M  
AND YOY GROWTH

400

300

200

100

15.1%

251.6

289.3

15.0%

332.2

14.8%

2012

2013

2014

  Revenue

  Growth

  Distribution and Services 50%
  Healthcare 50%  

  Distribution and Services 28% 
  Healthcare 72% 

PATIENTS (‘000)

In contrast, the healthcare division 
accounted for 72% (73% FY2013) of Group 
EBITDA with the balance of 28% (27% 
FY2013) coming from the comparatively 
lower margin distribution business.  
With the expansion in NMC’s healthcare 
network, healthcare revenue growth  
will continue to outpace the distribution 
division to eventually exceed its top-line 
contribution, however, the short-to-
medium term effect of the new hospital 
openings will be negative on the 
divisional margin.

Depending on a number of variables, 
reaching EBITDA breakeven for the 
group’s new healthcare assets is 
estimated to take: 
• 

12-18 months for medical centres  
and day surgeries
18-24 months for hospitals 

• 

3000

2000

1000

15.6%

2,390

1,889

10.4%

2,069

9.5%

2012

2013

2014

  Total patients

  Growth

15.50%

15.25%

15.00%

14.75%

20%

15%

10%

5%

18

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

A total of 2.4m patients visited our 
healthcare network in FY2014, an increase 
of 15.6% compared to FY2013. 

The average revenue per patient from 
healthcare services amounted to 
US$114.5, 2.6% higher than FY2013 with 
growth derived from a combination of 

price increase and service mix. This figure 
was slightly subdued due to the initial 
out-patient only operations of Brightpoint 
Royal Women’s Hospital and the NMC 
General Hospital in DIP. A further factor 
was the relative exhaustion of inpatient 
capacity at Abu Dhabi Specialty Hospital 
due to the near full occupancy at the facility. 

We typically guide on full occupancy 
equivalent in the UAE of around 75%, Abu 
Dhabi Specialty reached 81% during 2014. 
We also highlight that NMC’s occupancy 
calculation is based on overnight stay 
only, in other words, day patient surgery 
without overnight stay is not accounted 
for in the occupancy rates.

Table with per asset indicators

NMC Al Ain

B. Point

NMC Sp. 
Dubai

NMC Dubai

DIP

BR Med. 

NMC Abu 
Dhabi

1975

Abu 
Dhabi

Abu 
Dhabi

City 
centre

2008

Abu 
Dhabi

Al Ain

City 
Centre

2014

2004

1999

2014

2011

Abu 
Dhabi

Abu 
Dhabi

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

MBZC 

2013

Abu 
Dhabi

Abu 
Dhabi

AAMC NMC Sharjah

2014

Abu 
Dhabi

1996

Sharjah

Al Ain

Sharjah

Muroor Al Nahda

Deira

DIP

DHCC

MBZC 

Saniya

City 
Centre

Detail

Established

Emirate

City

Location

Owned/
Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Owned

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Category

Specialty 
Hospital

Specialty 
Hospital

Specialty 
Hospital

Specialty 
Hospital

General 
Hospital

General 
Hospital

Day 
Surgery

Day 
Surgery

Day 
Surgery

Medical 
Centre

Accreditation

JCI

JCI

–

JCI

–

–

–

–

–

–

Revenue 
(USD ‘000)

 111,062 

 57,980 

 929 

 65,599 

 13,902 

 2,496 

 3,608 

 5,342 

 3 

 12,785 

 273,706 

Growth, YoY

10.1%

20.5%

N/A

17.3%

13.7%

N/A

40.0%

489.7%

N/A

24.2%

18.5%

Total

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

–

 175 

6.5%

 65 

4.7%

 96 

N/A

 262 

-2.5%

 65 

36.3%

 99 

N/A

 74.9 

11.0%

 115 

2.6%

Revenue/
patient

Growth, YoY

Capacity

Licensed 
beds

Operational 
beds

Growth, YoY

Spare 
capacity 
(beds %)

Staff

Patients

 109 

1.3%

 121 

3.2%

100

100

0%

100

83

38%

0%

 1,448 

17%

 808 

 122 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 83 

100

94

3%

10

10

0%

N/A

N/A

N/A

6%

 727 

0%

 269 

N/A

 322 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 47 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 191 

Inpatients

21,620

10,380

N/A

10,096

1,348

N/A

N/A

N/A

Outpatients

996,653

470,685

 7,636 

365,492

213,384

 26,044 

 13,760 

 82,372 

Total

1,018,273

481,065

7,636

375,588

214,732

26,044

Growth, YoY

8.7%

16.8%

N/A

10.1%

8.6%

Bed 
Occupancy

81%

69%

Change, YoY

170bps

876bps

N/A

N/A

66%

45%

1166bps

129bps

N/A

N/A

N/A

13,760

43.6%

82,372

332.6%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 60 

N/A

 27 

27

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

310

287

10.0%

N/A

 174 

7.4%

3,895

N/A

43,444

170,727 2,346,780

170,727 2,390,224

12.0%

15.6%

N/A

N/A

71.3%

660bps

Note: Revenue per patient is based on contribution from our healthcare services, excluding the contribution from the operation & management contract on the Sheikh Khalifa 
Hospital in UAQ. It also excludes the contribution from four out of our eleven pharmacies, specifically those located around the hospitals rather than within them..

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

19

Group Strategic Report

BUSINESS OVERVIEW 
CONTINUED

Abu Dhabi Emirate
NMC treated a total of 1.59m patients  
in 2014 (+16.2% YoY) within the Abu Dhabi 
Emirate across its facilities in both Abu 
Dhabi City and Al Ain City. As of year-end 
2014, the Group had a total licensed 
capacity of 300 hospital beds, a 50% 
increase year on year resulting from the 
addition of Brightpoint Royal Women’s 
Hospital during the period.

1.  Abu Dhabi Specialty Hospital
  Despite being the longest serving  
and most mature asset within  
our healthcare portfolio, Abu Dhabi 
Specialty Hospital had another strong 
year in 2014 – delivering relatively  
high growth in revenues, patients, 
occupancy and revenue per patient. 
This remains the largest patient 
recipient within the NMC network.  
The facility continues to provide a  
wide range of specialties and has 
Joint Commission International (JCI) 
accreditation for its service levels.  
It is located in the densely populated 
centre of Abu Dhabi City. 

  Revenues reached US$111.1m, with  

near full occupancy on the higher 
revenue inpatient services. The 
utilisation of this 100 bed facility, in 
terms of bed occupancy, amounted  
to 81% during the year compared  
to 79% in 2013. 

2.  Al Ain Specialty Hospital
  NMC Health inaugurated the Al Ain 
Specialty Hospital in the second 
largest city within the emirate of  
Abu Dhabi in 2008. This expansion  
was encouraged by the adoption  
of mandatory healthcare insurance in 
Abu Dhabi Emirate in the immediately 
preceding years. Al Ain Specialty 
Hospital had the JCI accreditation of its 
quality and service levels renewed for 
a further three year period in 2012.

  This hospital has 100 licensed beds, but 
started its inpatient operations in 2008 
with 12 operational beds. As of FY2014 
year end the number of operational 
beds had increased to 83 beds. Despite 
a 38% rise in operational beds YoY, 
occupancy increased by 876bps to  
69% in 2014.

a year on year growth of 10.1%, on 8.7% 
growth in patients compared to 2013 
and with the total number of patients 
received rising to 1.02m. The revenue 
per patient increased by 1.3% to reach 
US$109, with the growth diluted by the 

  Al Ain Specialty Hospital has continued 
to deliver strong growth since opening, 
with 2014 revenues reaching US$58.0m 
(+20.5% YoY) on 0.48m patients (+16.8% 
YoY). Revenue per patient amounted 
to US$121 (+3.2% YoY).

3.  Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital
  Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital 

opened its doors to the first patients  
in July 2014 with the intention to 
gradually introduce its service capacity 
to market. We commenced operations 
with outpatient services and plan to 
open our inpatient services in Q1 2015. 
In the first few months of ‘soft’ start 
outpatient operations, our focus was 
on ensuring the best possible patient 
experience with priority to initial 
patient feedback as opposed to 
volume and business ramp-up. This 
patient feedback has overwhelmingly 
confirmed our strategic direction and 
positioning of this premium women’s 
hospital, and as a result we have 
recently launched our marketing 
campaign and expect to commence  
a higher ramp-up in business and 
patient volumes from 2015 onwards. 

  During the same period we 

accelerated the hiring of medical 
professionals with international 
experience to meet the anticipated 
growth in demand from the Abu Dhabi 
market, which currently has only one 
maternity hospital. Brightpoint is the 
first private sector women’s hospital  
in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We also 
plan to seek JCI accreditation for 
Brightpoint and will commence 
preparations for this in 2015.

NMC Specialty 
Hospital
Abu Dhabi

100

Beds 

US$109

Revenue per patient

20

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

  Revenues from the initial months of 

operations reached US$0.93m on 7,636 
out patients. The revenue per patient 
was US$122. 

4.  Mohammad bin Zayed City  

Day Surgery

  NMC Day Surgery in Mohammad bin 
Zayed City is strategically located on 
the peripheries of Abu Dhabi City close 
to both the Mussafah industrial area 
and the Khalifa City suburb. In addition 
to serving the growing population  
in its surroundings it is also a strong 
referral base to existing and upcoming 
NMC hospitals.

  This day surgery opened in July 2013 
and subsequently gradually ramped 
up its operations, with FY2014 being 
the first full year of operations. 
Revenues reached US$5.3m, with a 
year on year growth of 490%, on 333% 
growth in patients compared to 2013 
and with the total number of patients 
received rising to 82,372. The revenue 
per patient increased by 36.3% to  
reach US$65.

5.  Al Ain Medical Centre
  Al Ain Medical Centre opened in 
December 2014, in line with our 
guidance, and received a few patients 
from the surrounding areas in the  
city. The centre is located in the 
Sanaiya area in Al Ain City, an area 
with considerable concentration  
of businesses and industries with 
surrounding residential areas.  
This facility will serve the primary 
healthcare needs of people working 
and living in the area and act as a 
referral point for secondary and tertiary 
care needs to the NMC Al Ain Specialty 
Hospital located in the city centre.

  While the revenue contribution of this 
facility was immaterial in 2014 given 
the opening in December, this facility  
is expected to deliver considerable 
growth in future periods on full year 
operations and as we ramp up  
patient flow to the facility from the 
surrounding area – where NMC is  
a highly recognised and reputable  
name in the minds of residents and 
the work force. 

Dubai Emirate
NMC treated a total of 0.63m patients  
in 2014 (+14.9% YoY) across its facilities in 
the Dubai Emirate. As of year-end 2014, 
the Group had a total licensed capacity  
of 170 hospital beds, a 55% increase year 
on year resulting from the addition of 
NMC General Hospital in DIP in July 2014.

6.  Dubai Specialty Hospital
  Opened in 2004, the 100 bed Dubai 
Specialty Hospital is located in the 
growing residential area of Al Nahda 
on the Dubai-Sharjah border, which 
enables the hospital to take 
advantage of referrals from NMC’s 
assets in Dubai and our Medical Centre 
in Sharjah. This location has helped  
the hospital grow significantly since 
opening. The facility continues to 
provide a wide range of specialties. 
Dubai Specialty Hospital had its JCI 
accreditation for its quality and service 
levels renewed for a further three year 
period in 2012.

and with the total number of patients 
received rising to 0.21m. The revenue 
per patient increased by 4.7% to reach 
US$65. The utilisation of this 10 bed 
facility, in terms of bed occupancy, 
amounted to 45% during the year 
compared to 44% in 2013.

8.  NMC General Hospital, DIP
  NMC General Hospital in DIP opened  
in July 2014 and has a licensed bed 
capacity of 60 beds. Initial operations 
started with outpatient services. The 
first phase of inpatient services will 
commence in Q1 2015 and it consists 
of 30 beds out of the total available 
capacity in the facility. We plan to 
roll-out the rest of the bed capacity 
over future periods along with the 
growth in demand for this hospital’s 
services from the surrounding area. 
We plan to seek JCI accreditation  
for NMC General Hospital, DIP, and  
will commence preparations for  
this in 2015.

  NMC owns a connected land plot  

  This asset is located in a strategic 

to this hospital which could house  
a building with up to 100 bed additional 
capacity. Should the growth in 
demand in Dubai from the mandatory 
insurance adoption require us to add 
further capacity in the Emirate we are 
well positioned to organically scale-up 
our capacity with limited exposure  
to the sharp rise in real estate prices  
in recent years.

  Revenues reached US$65.6m, with  

a year on year growth of 17.3%, on 10.1% 
growth in patients compared to 2013 
and with the total number of patients 
received rising to 0.38m. The revenue 
per patient increased by 6.5% to reach 
US$175. The utilisation of this 100 bed 
facility, in terms of bed occupancy, 
amounted to 66% during the year 
compared to 54% in 2013.

7.  Dubai General Hospital
  Dubai General Hospital was 

established in 1999, this 10 bed facility  
is located in the highly populated area 
of Deira. The hospital acts as a  
referral centre to the NMC Dubai 
Specialty Hospital which is a short 
distance away.

  Revenues reached US$13.9m, with  

a year on year growth of 13.7%, on 8.6% 
growth in patients compared to 2013 

region of Dubai within a key 
investment park with substantial 
presence of large companies, in the 
vicinity of Dubai’s new Al Maktoum 
Airport, the Dubai Expo area not too  
far from Jebel Ali Port and Freezone. 

  Revenues from the initial months of 

operations reached US$2.5m on 26,044 
patients. The revenue per patient  
was US$96. 

9.  BR Medical Suites
  BR Medical Suites is a high-end 

specialty day surgery, located in Dubai 
Healthcare City. It is specifically 
designed to attract highly experienced 
surgeons from around the world to 
carry out minimally invasive surgery 
and other highly specialised 
procedures with limited availability  
in the UAE. Increasingly over the past 
two years we have worked to diversify 
the business model of this facility  
to include NMC clinics and allow for 
improved utilisation of the facility.  
This has had a very positive impact on 
both the top-line and patients figures; 
however, this growth is partially offset 
by a decline in revenue per patient. 
The Group acquired BR Medical Suites 
for a consideration of US$9m paid in 
cash on 1 July 2012.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

21

 
 
Group Strategic Report

BUSINESS OVERVIEW 
CONTINUED

  Revenues reached US$3.6m, with a 

year on year growth of 40.0%, on 43.6% 
growth in patients compared to 2013 
and with the total number of patients 
received rising to 13,760. The revenue 
per patient decreased by 2.5% to 
become US$262.

  Unlike our healthcare assets, this day 
surgery is overwhelmingly focused on 
utilisation by external doctors. 
Consequently, its revenues are 
accounted for net of the external 
doctor’s share. 

Sharjah Emirate
10.  Sharjah Medical Centre
  This multi specialist medical centre 

was opened in 1996 and is located on 
the busy commuter route along the 
Corniche in Sharjah. Since the facility 
was upgraded in 2010 from a clinic to a 
medical centre offering increased 
specialities such as radiology and 
minor procedures, revenue has 
increased significantly. The Group also 
benefits from referrals made from this 
facility to the Dubai Specialty Hospital. 
Revenues reached US$12.8m, with a 
year on year growth of 24.2%. The 
number of patients reached 0.17m,  
12% higher than 2013. The revenue  
per patient increased by 11% to  
reach US$75. 

Umm Al Quwain Emirate
11.  Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital
  Since Q4 2012 NMC Health has 

operated and managed on behalf  
of the UAE Ministry of Presidential 
Affairs this 205-bed hospital in Umm  
Al Quwain. The agreement is based  
on a five year contract in return for an 
annual management fee based on 
qualitative metrics. We believe this  
is the first such contract to manage  
a large Government healthcare facility 
awarded by a Government 
Department to a local UAE business. 
This demonstrates confidence  
in NMC’s significant healthcare 
experience and capabilities.

DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
NMC has over the past 40 years amassed 
one of the largest product portfolios in 
the UAE with 83,635 SKU’s (+17.4% YoY).  
Our distribution division operates across 
the entire UAE through a network of  
five warehouses and three sales and 
marketing offices strategically located  

in the major cities and a fleet of 207 
vehicles ensuring timely distribution. 

Division revenues reached US$338.9m  
in 2014, 12.9% higher than the preceding 
year. Meanwhile, EBITDA increased by  
14.1% to US$34.1m with a resulting EBITDA 
margin of 10.1%.

The FMCG segment (+11.7% year on year) 
remained the largest contributor to the 
distribution division, however, the fastest 
growth came from the Food and Catering 
(+32.4% year on year) and Education 
material (+29.3% year on year) segments. 
Pharmaceutical revenue increased by 
15.7%, in contrast, Scientific Equipment 
sales declined by 7.3%.

Distribution Division’s revenue and  
EBITDA contribution

Distribution division segment  
contribution change

REVENUE US$M AND ANNUAL GROWTH

SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION 2014

400

300

200

100

271.1

7.0%

338.9

12.9%

300.2

10.7%

2012

2013

2014

  Revenue

   Growth

EBITDA US$M AND MARGIN

10.0%

29.9

10.1%

34.1

9.7%

26.2

40

30

20

10

2012

2013

2014

  EBITDA

  EBITDA margin

18%

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

  Scientific 
12.0%
  Re-Exports  0.0%
31.1%
  Pharma 
  Veterinary  0.4%

  Education 
  FMCG 
  Food 

4.1%
38.6%
13.8%

SEGMENT CONTRIBUTION 2013

  Scientific 
14.6%
  Re-Exports  0.4%
30.3%
  Pharma 
  Veterinary  0.4%

  Education  3.6%
39.0%
  FMCG 
11.8%
  Food 

Recent additions to our product portfolio 
include SuperMax, one of the leading 
disposable razor blade manufacturers 
in the world and a very well established 
brand in India, Everyuth fairness creams, 
Anchor toothpaste and Kuwait Danish 
Dairy (KDD) juices.

22

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

NMC Hospital
Deira, Dubai

10

Beds

US$65

Revenue per patient

IT
The Group has operated in recent  
years with legacy IT systems which,  
as a smaller private company, were 
appropriate for the needs of the Group. 
Following a review of the Group’s IT 
requirements, the Board agreed  
capital investment in two new primary 
Group systems:

  The new system requires 

customisation and integration of 
certain modules before being rolled 
out completely, which is expected  
to be completed by early 2016. The 
Company feels that the new system 
will be robust enough to deal with  
the demands of significant growth  
of the business. 

However, the management team and 
the Board realises the importance of 
implementing a new IT infrastructure as 
the Group prepares for significant growth 
in the coming years. This investment  
in new technology will help to reduce  
an element of manual intervention and 
improve reporting and therefore the 
company’s internal control environment.

The company has spent a total amount 
of US$3.2m as of 31 December 2014 on 
the Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) 
financial system and the Hospital 
Information System (HIS).

A.  Hospital Information System (HIS). 
  The current HIS system operating 

within NMC is a home-grown system 
which has been operating successfully 
over many years. Continuing 
developments in the regulatory 
framework in the UAE healthcare 
system, as well as additional 
monitoring and reporting requirements 
which the Group feels that it requires 
as the business grows, has resulted  
in a decision to implement a new HIS.

  The Group has chosen to implement  
a third party system which is already 
operating successfully within the UAE 
regulatory structure. The new system 
has been implemented in the three 
new facilities which commenced 
operations during the year as part of 
the plan for a phased implementation 
before rolling out in the major facilities. 

B.  Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) 

financial system  
It was reported in the 2013 Annual 
Report that the Company planned to 
implement a new financial IT system 
in the first half of 2014. Implementation 
of the new system was delayed 
following challenges in the integration 
and customisation of the modules. 
The company has put in place a new 
project management team and now 
expects the implementation of the 
new ERP system to be completed  
in 2015. 

The Company has been aware of the 
need to improve its IT infrastructure.  
The implementation of new IT systems 
always presents organisations with a 
significant challenge, and implementing 
two new primary systems within the 
Group, especially with two divergent 
business models, will be no different.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

23

 
Group Strategic Report

FINANCIAL REVIEW

NMC Health delivered a strong 
performance in 2014 at both the Group 
and divisional level. Consolidated Group 
Revenues increased from US$550.9m in 
FY2013 to US$643.9m in FY2014, a growth 
of 16.9%. After elimination of US$27.2m of 
intra-group trading revenue, Consolidated 
Group EBITDA improved from US$92.9m 
in FY2013 to US$102.5m in FY2014, a growth 
of 10.2%.

Group Net profit reached US$77.5m in 
FY2014, yielding Earnings per share (EPS) 
of US$0.412 compared to US$0.367 for the 
same period in 2013.

HEALTHCARE DIVISION
Revenue in the Healthcare division 
increased from US$289.3m in FY2013 to 
US$332.2m in FY2014, a growth of 14.8%. 
EBITDA increased from US$81.7m in 
FY2013 to US$88.2m in FY2014, a growth 
of 8.0%. EBITDA margin declined from 
28.2% in FY2013 to 26.6% in FY2014, as a 
result of the losses from the three new 
facilities opened during the year.

DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
Within the Distribution division, revenues 
increased from US$300.2m in FY2013 to 
US$338.9m in FY2014, a growth of 12.9%. 
EBITDA increased from US$29.9m in 
FY2013 to US$34.1m in FY2014, a growth  
of 14.1%. EBITDA margin was at 10.1% in 
FY2014 (10.0% during FY2013).

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Capital expenditure incurred for the year 
was US$112.3m (FY2013: US$82.7m). This 
encompassed US$96.0m on the Group’s 
capital projects. The Group also incurred 
US$13.5m on equipment required across 
the existing operations.

The Company was able to capitalise 
certain expenses, in accordance with 
IFRS and the Company’s accounting 
policies. We expect this to continue  
in relation to costs (for example lease 
costs) arising during the construction of 
future projects. Although pre-operating 
expenses were nil in the year to 
31 December 2014, we expect a small  
level of pre-operating costs which will  
be expensed in the 2015 financial year as  
a result of the opening of new facilities. 

The company has spent a total amount 
of US$3.2m as of 31 December 2014 on 
the Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) 
financial system and Hospital Information 
System (HIS).

The company has reviewed all significant 
capital expenditure projects including the 
delayed projects for impairments and 
have concluded that the projects have 
sufficient headroom and concluded that 
none of the assets are impaired.

As a result of the delays in the opening  
of certain facilities discussed in “Business 
overview”, additional costs in respect  
of loan interest and leases have been 
capitalised. Had these facilities opened in 
line with original plan these costs would 
have been expensed. Other than these 
items the delays have not resulted in an 
increase in budgeted capital costs..

CASH
Net cash inflow from operating activities 
for the 2014 financial year was US$85.7m, 
compared with US$85.1m for the 
comparative period in 2013. This was 
mainly due to the improved performance 
of the Group and effective management 
of working capital, despite an increase  
in the revenues. 

A table outlining original estimated capital 
expenditure and other budgeted costs for 
each of our current development projects 
is set out in table below.

Apart from the projects mentioned in the 
table below, the Group had spent US$9m 
on the acquisition of BR Medical Suites 
during 2012 as part of the projects 
announced during the IPO.

In addition to the above, the Group  
has spent US$7.7m from its internal 
funds towards the development of the  
Al Ain Medical Centre which commenced 
operations on 07 December 2014.

Including funds held on deposit, cash as 
at 31 December 2014 was at US$263.2m 
compared to US$268.7m at the end of 
FY2013. The company had allocated the 
funds raised through the IPO as well  
as through the JP Morgan syndicated 
loan against the capital cost of the five 
expansion projects announced during  
the IPO. As a result, together with positive 
operating cashflow, the Company is well 
financed to complete its capital 
expenditure program. 

(All US$m)

Project

Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital

Khalifa City Specialty Hospital

Day Surgery Centre LLC

Dubai Investment Park LLC

Total

Budget

Budgeted  

Capital Costs

70

200

15

30

315

Actuals

Capitalised  
Expenses1

Accounting  
adjustment for  
lease rentals

Total  

Capital Costs

6.1

6.8

1.1

2.5

16.5

25.5

–

2.8

5.8

34.1

107.4

101.9

14.3

35.3

258.9

Capital  
Costs

75.8

95.0

10.4

27.0

208.2

Notes:
1:   Prior to commencement of development of the existing four capital projects, management had an expectation that there would be an element of expense incurred before 

the new facilities were opened which would be written off through the Income Statement. Following a review certain of these costs have been capitalised in line with the 
Company’s accounting policies (for example lease rent paid and finance costs). The Group expects such costs will continue to be capitalised on these projects during the 
construction phase. 

2:   The lease in respect of Brightpoint contains a rent free period as well as specified rent increases. In line with IFRS and the Company’s accounting policies, the rental cost of 

the lease has been adjusted to appropriately account for these items over the length of the lease. Accounting policies stipulate that the total lease value for the full lease 
period is divided evenly over the years. 

24

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

As expected, the Group had a net debt 
position of US$113.0m at 31 December 
2014 compared with US$63.7m at 
31 December 2013. As the Group continues 
with its capital project development 
program, and the Company’s cash is 
committed to such projects, the level  
of net debt is expected to increase  
during FY2015.

MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
The movement in cash and the level of 
capital expenditure have had a significant 
effect on the movement in net debt 
during the 2014 financial year. A summary 
of the principal drivers is shown in the 
table below.

WORKING CAPITAL 
Working capital for our two operating 
business divisions is funded differently 
due to the nature of their business 
models. The Group is able to fund its 
working capital requirements for its 
Healthcare division from operational cash 
flow, and we do not expect this position 
to change in the 2015 financial year. 

In relation to our Distribution division, the 
working capital requirement is dependent 
on a number of factors including the 

timing of receipt of debtors and the 
timing of payment of creditors as well  
as inventory flow during the year and the 
timing of re-imbursement of promotional 
expenses agreed with our Principals  
in relation to the sale and marketing of 
their products. The Distribution division 
requires external working capital facilities 
throughout the year, the level of which  
is dependent on business seasonality. 
These working capital facilities are 
arranged through a number of banking 
providers and in general terms the level 
of working capital required is between 
30%-40% of the Group’s total debt facilities

LONG TERM DEBT FACILITIES
In 2013, the Group had raised a five year 
debt facility of up to US$300m through  
a syndicate of lenders led by J.P. Morgan 
Chase Bank, to refinance high interest 
bearing credit lines. A total of US$225m 
has been drawn down from this facility  
to date. The cost of funds for this facility  
is 3.0% over one month LIBOR. 

The total debt of the Group, excluding 
accounts payable and accruals, was 
US$376.1m as at 31 December 2014 
compared to US$332.4m as at 
31 December 2013.

FINANCE COSTS AND INCOME
Total finance costs for 2014 were 
US$14.4m compared to US$14.3m in 2013. 
This was mainly on account of the 
savings from the JP Morgan facility which 
carried a relatively lower finance charge 
as the LIBOR rate softened during the 
year. Apart from this the efficient 
utilization of working capital lines also 
contributed to the savings. 

As part of the Group’s capital expenditure 
programme, borrowing costs of US$4,068,000 
(2013: US$4,886,000) net of finance income 
of US$NIL (2013: US$54,000) have been 
capitalised during the year. The rate used 
to determine the amount of borrowing 
costs eligible for capitalisation was 3.15% 
(2013: 3.40%) which is the effective rate of 
the borrowings used to finance the 
capital expenditure. 

DIVIDEND
The Board is proposing to continue with 
its policy of annual dividend payments  
of between 20% and 30% of profit after tax, 
outlined in the Company’s IPO prospectus 
in 2012. The Board is therefore 
recommending that a final dividend of  
5.4 pence per share be paid in cash in 
respect of the year ended 31 December 
2014 (FY2013: 4.4 pence per share).

Movement of Net Debt (amounts in US$m)

Total Debt as at 1 January 2014

332.4

Total Cash as at 1 January 2014

268.7

Net Debt as at 1 January 2014

63.7

Add: 

Add: 

Other Bank facilities & refinancing 
(Net Movement)

93.7

Operational cash inflow

Finance Income

Other Bank facilities & refinancing 
(Net Movement)

Less:

Less:

JP Morgan Loan Repayments

50.0

JPM Loan Repayments

Additions & Disposals to Property

Finance Costs

Dividends Paid

85.7  

3.6  

93.7  

183.0  

50.0  

111.2  

13.6  

13.8  

188.6   

Total Debt as at 31 December 2014

376.1

Total Cash as at 31 December 2014

263.1

Net Debt as at 31 December 2014

113.0

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Strategic Report

PRINCIPAL RISKS 
AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Board consider the identification  
and mitigation of material risks and 
uncertainties faced by the Group as a key 
issue to be monitored at all levels of the 
organisation. The senior management 
team ensure that operational management 
consider risk as part of their day to day 
activities. This is considered to be 
particularly key for NMC as a Group 
working in a regulated environment.

In order to enhance the Group’s risk 
management process, towards the end 

of 2014 the management team, assisted 
by an independent third party, PwC, 
undertook a review the Group’s key  
risks alongside the macro-economic 
environment within which the Group 
operates to establish a Strategic  
Risk Register. 

The Strategic Risk Register, which is  
the basis for the list of principal risks  
and uncertainties will be reviewed and 
maintained on an on-going basis by 
management, with the Board retaining 

oversight over the Register and the risk 
management process.

These risks, the potential effect of these 
risks on the Group and the mitigation of 
those risks is analysed in the following 
table. It should be noted that the order 
that these risks are expressed in the 
table do not reflect an order of magnitude 
as regards their potential impact on 
the Group.

Risk Class

Description and Potential Impact 

Current Mitigations

Investments

Delays in completion, or errors in assessing the impact, of new strategic 
expansion projects may result in 
•  lower Return on Investment (ROI); 
•  lower revenue than expected;
•  decreased margins and market share;
•  potential for impairment of assets;
•  reputational issue leading to difficulty in raising future finance. 

•  Board oversight in approving and monitoring strategic projects
•  Project management controls
•  Detailed market and business appraisal processes

Competition

Increased competition due to high private and public investments in  
the UAE healthcare sector and to associated investments coming from 
new entrants or existing player partnerships would lead to market  
share loss and potential reduction in access to future growth in UAE 
healthcare spend.

•  Integrated Hub-Spoke model
•  Growing healthcare network
•  Government Partnership for managing Government hospitals
•  Diversification of patient base

Financial

Potential inability to improve NMC’s earnings due to medical related cost 
inflation and potential changes in insurance environment may directly 
impact the top line and profit margin.

•  Diversification of the revenue streams
•  Frequent monitoring of both fixed and variable cost
•  Insurance sector is highly regulated
•  Good relationships with insurance providers
•  Strategy to increase patient volumes and focus on  

clinical specialisms

Macro-
economic

Human 
Capital

Technology 
and  
Innovation

Compliance 
and 
Regulation

Product and 
Services Risk 

Potential instability in revenue impairing cash flow and working capital 
health as a result of demographic and geopolitical factors both globally 
and in the region will significantly impact NMC revenue.

•  UAE is a traditionally stable market
•  Diverse business and revenue streams
•  Long Term debt facilities and unutilised working capital limits 
•  Strong banking and supplier relationships

Shortage of medical staff due to talent acquisition challenges, scarcity in 
medical professionals and competitive market and any lack of depth and 
breadth in management structure during the period of significant growth 
could potentially lead to inability to deliver the Company’s strategy and 
required healthcare services and potential loss of reputation.

•  Partnership with education institutes
•  Effective sourcing strategies and
•  Recruitment campaigns 
•  Ongoing review of senior management resource.
•  Competitive salary packages, patient growth and good working 

conditions act as a good retention tool

Data Security breach or a lack of up to date integrated IT infrastructure 
may result in hindered operations and reputation damage.

•  ISO 27001 certified framework for IT policies  

and controls.

•  Strict measures towards clients’ data and records
•  Investment in new Hospital Information System and ERP financial 
system approved by the Board and implementation in progress 

Failure to comply with multi regulatory and standards bodies’ 
requirements could result in financial fines, inability to renew licences,  
as well as NMC reputation damage.

•  Quality & Standards Department monitoring regulatory changes
•  Partnership with government
•  Good relationships with regulators and accrediting organisations
•  Continuous focus on delivering high levels of service

Failure to comply with internationally recognised clinical care and quality 
standards, clinical negligence, the mis-diagnosis of medical conditions or 
pharmaceuticals and the supply of unfit products across both divisions 
could result in regulatory sanction, licence removal, significant reputational 
damage, loss of patient and customer confidence and potential criminal 
proceedings.

•  Doctors subject to rigorous licensing procedures which operate  

in the UAE

•  Healthcare division is a regulated business and the Group’s three 

principal hospitals have international quality standards accreditation
•  Many aspects of the operation of the Distribution division, including 

the sale of pharmaceuticals, is regulated in the UAE
•  Board oversight and integrated governance structure
•  Medical malpractice insurance to cover any awards of  

financial damages

26

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

CORPORATE SOCIAL  
RESPONSIBILITY

Caring for the health of UAE’s residents for nearly 40 years is 
an important responsibility that NMC takes very seriously. 
Equally important is our responsibility in utilizing the resources 
provided by the natural environment in a sustainable manner. 
Within this Corporate Social Responsibility report we focus  
on our responsibilities to both the environment and also the 
rights of individuals and the wider community with whom 
the Group comes into contact.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Protecting our Environment  
and using natural resources  
in a sustainable manner
We recognise the importance of 
environmental stewardship. The UAE is  
a country of extremes when it comes to 
natural resources. Being a country with  
a significant proportion of desert, there  
is a shortage of vegetation and water. 
However, there is a surplus of hydrocarbon 
resources. As a stakeholder in the long 
term future of the UAE, NMC believes  
it should be a steward of the UAE 
environment, achieving a balance 
between growth driven by energy 
consumption, while conserving resources 
that are scarce. Some of the initiatives 
undertaken by NMC towards the cause  
of a healthy environment are:

•  Delivery vehicles in NMC’s Distribution 
division have been equipped with an 
automated vehicle tracking system  

to enable central despatch to track  
the whereabouts of the fleet of 
almost 200 vehicles. This will enable 
more efficient route planning, 
optimizing routes and times based  
on traffic patterns and thus help the 
Distribution division reduce delivery 
time to the benefit of customers,  
save fuel and minimize CO2 emissions 
to the benefit of the company’s 
expenses and the environment 
respectively. Regular maintenance of 
the transport fleet is also done to keep 
vehicle engines running efficiently and 
curtail CO2 emissions. 

•  NMC purchases large volumes  
of medical consumables and 
pharmaceuticals including gloves, 
syringes, plastic bags, toilet rolls, 
tablets, syrups etc which come packed 
in cardboard cartons. Once the 
contents are unpacked, we are left 
with large quantities of these 

cardboard boxes. NMC has put in place 
a collection and disposal facility for 
recycling and re-use of cartons. 

•  NMC is fully in compliance with the 

Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) 
requirements of Health Authority  
of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), Dubai Health 
Authority (DHA), Ministry of Health 
(MOH) and local city municipalities  
in whose jurisdictions we operate 
including for the safe disposal of 
medical waste. 

•  NMC provides housing facilities to a 

significant number of its employees, 
usually very close to their place of 
work. This is advantageous to both the 
employees, who save on commute 
time and cost and the company, since 
our specialist doctors who are on call 
can respond to emergency patients 
very quickly. This results in NMC 
boasting some of the best response 

NMC Specialty 
Hospital
Al Ain

100

Beds

US$121

Revenue per patient

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

27

Group Strategic Report

CORPORATE SOCIAL  
RESPONSIBILITY
CONTINUED

time indicators, such as “Door to 
Balloon” time for primary angioplasty 
cases. Across our significant number 
of doctors, nurses and other clinicians, 
this adds up to a lot of fuel saved. 

•  Complementing the efforts in 

developing Environment, Health and 
Safety (EHS) policies and procedures, 
the quality teams in NMC Healthcare 
and NMC’s Distribution division conduct 
regular audits, inspections and incident 
investigations, ensuring continuous 
improvement of the NMC EHS 
management system and processes. 
The Distribution division has received 
the EHS certification (ISO 14001:2004), 
EMS certification and OHSAS 
(Occupational Health & Safety  
Advisory Services) certification. 

•  The implementation of e-claims for 
health insurance has significantly 
reduced the amount of printed paper 
submitted in our monthly invoices to 
insurance paying companies. We also 
encourage recycling of paper used 
internally to reduce consumption  
of paper. 

•  NMC has undertaken a company-wide 

survey and study to evaluate its 
greenhouse gas emission and energy 
consumption during business 
processes. The findings of this study, 
which has been conducted with the 
assistance of an independent third 
party, PwC, is published below. 
Commencing in 2014, this exercise will 
be carried out annually along with  
the company’s initiatives to become 
more efficient and a less intensive 
greenhouse gas emitter and  
energy consumer.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As a UK listed company, the Group is 
required to report its greenhouse gas 
(GHG) emissions under the Companies 
Act 2006 (Strategic and Directors’ Reports) 
Regulations 2013. For the first time during 
2014, we have gathered data on the GHG 
emissions of NMC Health plc. As this is the 
first year that the Company has collected 
all of the relevant information on GHG 
emissions, there is no comparative data 
for the previous financial year. Our data is 
set out in the table below.

The primary sources of our GHG 
emissions relate to the use of fuels in 
vehicles in our Distribution division and 
electricity consumption in our hospitals. 
We take our role as a corporate citizen 
seriously and therefore we continually 
review our operations and the impacts 
they have in the communities we 
operate. As we develop new facilities and 
re-design existing operations, we look for 
opportunities to increase the efficiency of 
the resources we consume and 
minimise the level of GHG emissions. 

RESPONSIBILITIES TO OUR EMPLOYEES, 
PATIENTS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY
NMC Health was initiated with the motto 
of ‘affordable quality healthcare for all’ 
and has been delivering the best medical 
care to UAE residents since 1975. We 
adhere to ethical human rights policies  
at all levels including our employees,  
our patients and our wider stakeholders. 
NMC employs without discrimination and 
offers world class medical treatment 
across varied specialists accessible to 
over 90% of the UAE’s population. We 
welcome patients from all segments of 
society, nationalities and income levels. 
We treat over two million patients a year 
across five cities and four Emirates of  
the UAE. 

We have prepared our GHG emissions 
reporting in line with the GHG Protocol 
developed by the World Business Council 
for Sustainable Development, and 
additional guidance issued by the UK 
Government Department for Energy, 
Food and Rural Affairs (“DEFRA”). The 
emissions have been calculated using 
carbon conversion factors published by 
DECC/Defra in May 2014. A conversion 
factor for Sevoflurane was not available 
from DEFRA so an epa.govghg reporting 
figure was used. Conversion factors 
applicable to the UAE for Scope 2 have 
been obtained from the publication IEA 
CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 
(2012 edition). 

We have applied an operational control 
approach in presenting our GHG emissions, 
and have reported on all material 
emission sources within scope 1 
(combustion of fuel and operation of 
facilities) and scope 2 (purchased 
electricity and cooling). Gas and electricity 
usage information has been obtained 
from purchase invoices. Vehicle fuel 
usage is based upon purchase invoices. 
Where NMC is not directly billed for the 
consumption of power and therefore 
does not have full visibility the data, an 
estimation using average consumption 
from other similar sites has been applied.

For the 12 months to 31 December 2014

GHG emissions (tonnes CO2e)

Healthcare

Distribution

Scope 1 emissions (fuel use in generators and vehicles)
Scope 2 emissions (purchased power, including electricity and cooling)
Total GHG emissions

GHG emissions intensity 

3,687
21,965
25,652

9.6
(tonnes 
CO2e/1,000 
patient)

4,634
4,859
9,493

Total

8.321
26,824
35,145

25.0
(tonnes 
CO2e/1,000 orders)

0.05 (tonnes 
CO2e/US$1,000)

Scope 1 = direct emissions from fuel combustion and industrial processes. At these sites, this takes the form of gas for heating, diesel and petrol for the fleet and diesel for generators.
Scope 2 = indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity.

28

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

RESPONSIBILITIES TO INDIVIDUALS
Employees
NMC’s employees are its greatest 
resource in serving its customers every 
day. Some of NMC’s doctors have been 
with the organization for over three 
decades and have treated different 
generations from the same family. We 
consider our employees as ambassadors 
of NMC and take great care in providing 
them with a healthy, safe and positive 
work environment. 

•  Benefits offered to NMC employees 

include:
-  Free company accommodation  
or an accommodation allowance. 
Employees can stay in the vicinity 
of their workplace and also spend 
less time commuting. Our patients 
also benefit from arrangement  
as on-call doctors can be at the 
patient’s side within minutes in 
case of an emergency.

Gender Comparision Study

-  All female employees over the age 
of 40 are offered free mammogram 
screening at all our hospitals during 
the breast cancer awareness 
month every year.

-  Employees are eligible for 

discounted rates for most services 
within our medical facilities, and can 
also take advantage of discounted 
prices for products that are distributed 
by the Distribution division.

•  Diversity and discrimination

-  Our commitment to diversity and 
anti-discrimination policies are 
reflected in the profile of our 
employees. As at 31 December 2014, 
the Group had grown its employee 
base across all its business 
operations to over 6,000 employees. 
We employed individuals of 54 
different nationalities. In addition  
41% of our workforce is female and 
59% male. 

-  NMC Health celebrates community 
events and festivals and conducts 
cultural and social gatherings for its 
employees including Eid, Onam, 
Diwali and Christmas celebrations 
as well as commemoration of 
International Nurses’ Day, NMC 
Annual Day and UAE National Day 
among many other such occasions.

-  NMC runs a number of fitness 

events and sports clubs including 
cricket and volleyball teams.

-  We have adopted an anti-

discrimination policy to ensure  
that there is no discrimination or 
harassment of any person 
employed or seeking employment 
on the basis of their race, colour, 
religion, gender, age or citizenship. 

-  A comparison of the split of 

employees by gender within  
the different business groups  
and different levels within the  
NMC Group is set out in the  
following table: 

 Facilities

 Categories

Total 

Male 

Female

Male 

Female

31 December 2014

Gender

Percentage

Board of Directors & Senior 
Management Team

NMC Board of Directors

Senior Management Team

12

6

8

5

4

1

Grand Total

6,388

3,757

2,631

Corporate Office

Reliance Infotech

Healthcare 

Distribution

Total – Corporate Office

Corporate Management*

Corporate Staff 

Total – Reliance Infotech

Reliance Management

Reliance Staff

Total – Healthcare

Healthcare Management

Doctors

Staff Nurse

Technicians & Pharmacist

Healthcare – Others

Total – Distribution

Distribution Management

Distribution Staff

186

44

142

64

7

57

4,320

45

603

1,266

547

1,859

1,818

122

1,696

143

39

104

56

6

50

1,997

12

394

218

277

1,096

1,561

109

1,452

43

5

38

8

1

7

2,323

33

209

1,048

270

763

257

13

244

67%

80%

59%

77%

89%

73%

88%

86%

88%

46%

27%

65%

17%

51%

59%

86%

89%

86%

* Corporate Management Staff includes six Senior Management Personnel, three of whom were Executive Directors also, but excludes Non-Executive Directors.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

33%

20%

41%

23%

11%

27%

13%

14%

12%

54%

73%

35%

83%

49%

41%

14%

11%

14%

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
Group Strategic Report

CORPORATE SOCIAL  
RESPONSIBILITY 
CONTINUED

PATIENTS
Patient base
NMC is one of the few large private 
hospital chains in the UAE that accepts 
patients from virtually all health insurance 
plans, from top end plans for higher 
income groups to the lowest end  
plans meant for blue collar workers. 

The UAE is a culturally diverse country 
with a significant expat resident 
population alongside Emirati nationals.  
As well as treating patients from all 
aspects of society, our patient profile 
confirms the wide breadth of our 
multi-cultural healthcare services offering.

QUALITY OF CARE AND STANDARDS
Healthcare division
NMC Healthcare is committed to providing 
quality healthcare and aspires to be 
regarded as the most respected and 
trusted provider of healthcare services  
by patients, families, doctors, nurses and 
other professional staff.

Our business is about improving the 
health and quality of life of individuals. 
The health and safety of our patients 
therefore is the core of our business. 

Desired best clinical outcomes can only 
be possible through infrastructure of the 
highest standard and care processes that 
are standardized, reliable and free of 
errors. To this end, our clinical governance 
and quality framework, oversight and 
initiatives are designed to ensure the 
highest possible international healthcare 
standards on quality of care. 

•  Clinical Governance and Quality
  Focus on quality healthcare is 
reflected in the robust clinical 
governance and oversight structures 
created for ensuring the delivery of 
safe and high quality of care 
consistently across the group facilities. 

  By focusing on a patient-centred team 
approach to improve quality of care, 
the Group has encouraged a culture  

of quality that permeates every 
aspect of care and encourages the 
group’s employees and clinical staff to 
continuously strive to improve patient 
care and patient safety. 

Our clinical operations are monitored  
in a number of ways:

• 

Internal oversight
The Group Medical Director, along 
with the Quality Management 
Team and Hospital and Nursing 
Administrators, provide internal 
oversight and direction to these 
efforts at each facility. A number  
of important hospital committees 
are in place with multidisciplinary 
team membership to review and 
recommend suitable guidelines  
in respect of patient safety and 
quality, medication management, 
infection prevention and control, 
medical record documentation  
and facility management.

Independent oversight

• 
  To ensure that there is independent 
oversight to the key area of clinical 
governance and safety, the Board 
created a Clinical Governance 
Committee which is constituted  
of Non-Executive Directors, the 
majority of whom are independent 
Non-Executive Directors. In addition 
to the internal and regulatory 
oversight which exists over our 
healthcare operations, we believe 
that this is a key additional control. 
Details of the work of the Clinical 
Governance Committee is set out 
on pages 59 to 60.

•  External oversight
  NMC Healthcare is a regulated 

business. Our facilities are regulated 
by the respective regulatory bodies 
in the UAE of:
-  Ministry of Health
-  Health Authority of Abu Dhabi
-  Dubai Health Authority
-  Dubai Healthcare City Authority

  Our approach to delivering high 

quality care to our patients is also 
enhanced by our voluntary 
accreditation to quality standards 
bodies such as Joint Commission 
International. Our three Specialty 
Hospitals are JCI accredited and  
it is our intention to seek JCI 
accreditation for our new hospital 
facilities also..

•  Quality framework
  NMC Healthcare’s quality framework  
is broadly based on the following key 
‘Principles’ of:
-  Patient safety
-  Clinical excellence
-  Current evidence based clinical 
practices, clinical pathways  
and protocols

-  Clinical care monitoring 
-  Patient experience

  The group has placed huge emphasis 
on patient safety as this is the basic 
tenet of healthcare quality. 

• 
International Patient safety goals
  Across the Group, facilities monitor  

the compliance with the International 
Patient Safety Standards such as 
correct patient identification, improved 
communication between care givers 
and preventing patient falls. Surgical 
safety standards to prevent wrong 
patient, wrong side and wrong surgery 
are diligently practised through right 
patient identification, surgical site 
marking and calling of “time out” 
before every procedure. The data on 
patient safety goals is regularly 
monitored and is consistently 
matching to best international 
benchmarks.

•  Medication errors
  As part of quality monitoring, 

important metrics on patient safety 
and quality are regularly monitored, 
reported, analyzed and improvements 
made. Standard protocols in terms of 
procurement, storage and usage are  

Emiratis

Indian sub-continent

Asia (excluding Indian sub-continent)

Arab Expats

Western Expats and others 

% of NMC patients  

in 2014

7.7

65.1

4.5

9.3

13.4

30

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

in place in terms of category of 
medications called “High Alert 
Medications”, as any errors in this area 
can lead to serious patient harm. 
Globally medication errors are a regular 
concern across healthcare 
organizations. NMC monitors them  
and they are lower than the globally 
recorded rate of approximately 2 per 
100 admissions. Staff are regularly 
trained and oriented to standard 
protocols and best practices in 
improving the medication safety  
such as the ordering, storage and 
administration of drugs. 

• 

Infection Prevention and Control
Infection prevention and control is a 
very high priority area for quality as  
this could result in serious patient 
safety issues with adverse outcomes. 
This activity is monitored by a team  
of multidisciplinary medical, nursing 
and other professionals at each  
facility. Active surveillance is in place  
to identify any developing risks of 
infections. Stringent norms and 
monitoring tools are in place for 
environmental sanitation and 
sterilization/disinfection of equipment. 
Hand hygiene in the form of 
appropriate hand wash is proved to 
prevent the majority of the Hospital 
Acquired Infections (HAI). Regular 
education and training apart, hand 
hygiene guidelines are part of an 

active infection control program.  
The result of all these is reflected in 
extremely low HAI rates across the 
group facilities. This ensures patients 
go home early after any surgery/
interventions and are free from  
any complications.

•  Clinical excellence
  Clinical excellence, through 

multidisciplinary team work and based 
on current evidence based clinical 
guidelines and pathways, is the 
foundation on which NMC has created 
its Healthcare provision. To reduce 
variation and increase standardization 
of care, clinical specialties of group 
facilities have adopted current 
evidence based clinical guidelines/
pathways, especially on the most 
commonly treated, complex and high 
risk procedures. This ensures patients 
are provided the most appropriate  
and safe care. The compliance with 
guidelines/pathways is audited 
quarterly and reported. The key 
performance indicators are regularly 
tracked, reported and monitored for 
improving clinical care and the 
outcomes of clinical care.

•  Patient experience
  Acknowledging that every patient  

visit is a high stake interaction which 
patients might perceive as a positive 
or negative experience, NMC consistently 

reviews the patient experience 
gathered through satisfaction surveys, 
feedback and complaints. This 
feedback is used to analyze and 
improve performance.

•  The Way Forward
  Going forward, our JCI Accreditation 
will certainly be a high focus area for 
consistent compliance on standards. 
This apart, to improve the quality of 
care further, NMC believes in the 
building of positive and productive 
relationships with clinical professionals 
and in developing an increased culture 
of quality and safety. We believe that 
to be really successful, quality has  
to be more of a cultural legacy and 
transformational rather than just a 
transactional activity.

Distribution division
NMC’s distribution division has a number 
of pharmaceutical medical representatives 
and medical equipment salespersons 
who remain in close contact with the 
doctors and bio-medical and 
administrative teams in hospitals, 
medical centres and pharmacies across 
the UAE. The business imports and 
distributes essential pharmaceuticals 
including controlled medicines, medical 
equipment and consumables of high 
quality and ensures they are readily 
available to healthcare institutions.

NMC Super  
Specialty Hospital
Khalifa City

250

Beds

H1 2015

Open 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

31

 
Group Strategic Report

CORPORATE SOCIAL  
RESPONSIBILITY 
CONTINUED

The Group has sufficient controls and 
processes over the stocking and 
distribution of medicines. Its warehouses 
are all compliant with the relevant 
regulatory standards stipulated by the 
respective authorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO COMMUNITY 
NMC Health is always at the forefront  
of building a healthier society and  
a safer future for generations to come. 
Community outreach programmes are 
one of the ways we contribute towards 
enhancing the health of the society and 
the nation. Quality medical care is always 
a priority but we also undertake hundreds 
of community initiatives over the year 
including the NMC Health Index, blood 
donation camps, health awareness 
programs, free health screenings and 
hygiene workshops among others. The 
following section will provide a few 
examples of our Community Health 
Awareness program.

NMC Health Index (April 2014)
NMC Healthcare launched the UAE’s first 
health index (www.healthindex.ae) in April 
2014. By evaluating the physical, social 
and emotional aspects of the overall 
health of UAE residents, NMC Health Index 
is aimed at strengthening NMC’s efforts 
to create a healthier society. 

NMC Health Index gives a deeper insight 
of the health conditions of the residents 
of UAE and raises awareness about the 
country’s health issues. NMC Health Index 
was launched at a press conference held 
in Dubai Healthcare City with an audience 
comprising of over 50 journalists from 
varied media outlets, including major daily 
newspapers, TV channels, radio stations 
and online publications. 

World Heart Day (September 2014)
NMC Healthcare conducted one of the 
largest public awareness and education 
drives in the UAE on heart diseases  
and cardiac care where almost 15,000 
people (a significant increase on 2013 
levels) received free health check-ups 
comprising of Blood Pressure, Body Mass 
Index (BMI), Blood glucose and cholesterol 
measurements. The week-long initiative 
from 22 -29 September 2014 was held at 
selected NMC Healthcare hospitals and 
centres across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah 
and Al Ain. 

NMC Healthcare also launched a ‘Dedicate 
a Beat’ campaign which allowed users  
to dedicate-a-beat on social media. For 
each dedication, NMC Healthcare pledged 
to offer free heart check-ups to people  
in need.

NMC also sent its teams to private 
companies and government ministries to 
perform health checks for their employees.

Blood Donation Camp 
NMC Healthcare organised a blood 
donation camp at NMC’s Distribution 
facilities in Al Ain on 2 August 2014 and 
Abu Dhabi on 3 August 2014 as part of 
the birthday celebrations of Dr B.R. Shetty 
– Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, NMC 
Health. NMC believes that there is no 
greater gift than the gift of life and such 
initiatives help in spreading awareness 
within the community on the importance 
of blood donation and how even a drop of 
blood can be instrumental in saving a life.

HalaBaby 
Brightpoint Royal Women’s Hospital has 
initiated the HalaBaby programme for 
educating, coaching and training of 
pregnant women. It is aimed at preparing 
the patient for their pregnancy journey, 
health education, safety and understanding 
how to deal with unexpected events.  
The initiative also includes interactive 
counselling sessions and group education 
with an opportunity to interact with other 
families as well as advice on a healthy 
diet provided by a specialised nutritionist.

BUSINESS ETHICS
The Group is proud of the values with 
which it conducts its business activities 
and encourages all of its employees to 
uphold these values and the highest 
levels of business ethics and personal 
integrity in all types of transactions and 
interactions. In this respect the Group has 
the following policies in place which all 
employees of the Group are subject to:

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
This Code sets out how employees 
should act in a range of different  
areas including:
•  potential conflicts of interest; 
•  dealing with matters fairly as regards 
competitors, suppliers, customers  
and colleagues; 

•  maintaining confidentiality in all areas 

of the business;

•  compliance with all laws and 

• 

regulations; and 
the protection and proper use of  
Group assets. 

(cid:83) 
NMC Healthcare launched the UAE’s first health 
index in April 2014. 
Source: The Gulf Today (23 April 2014)

(cid:83) 
World Heart Day – NMC Healthcare sent teams 
to perform health checks for employees.
Source: Khaleej Times (23 September 2014)

(cid:83) 
Blood Donation Camp – NMC Healthcare 
organised a blood donation camp at NMC’s 
Distribution facilities.

32

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Gifts  
and Entertainment Policy
This Policy sets out the rules and 
obligations of employees in relation to: 

• 

• 

the offer or acceptance, or the 
engagement in any activity that  
gives the appearance of accepting  
or accepting, a bribe; 
the offer or acceptance of gifts or 
entertainment;

Given the principal activities of the Group, 
NMC Healthcare employees are issued 
with specific guidance in relation to 
attendance at pharmaceutical conferences 
and clinical training events. Employees  
of NMC’s Distribution division are also 
specifically made aware, as part of their 
training activities, of the potential issues 
which may arise ethically in their dealings 
with the division’s Principals and Customers.

•  prohibition of facilitation payments;
•  any payment of charitable 

• 

contributions or political donations; and
the procedure for engaging any  
third parties.

The Group also has in place a 
Whistleblowing procedure which is made 
aware to all employees of the Group and 
is available on the Company’s Employee 
intranet site.

The Group Strategic Report set out  
on pages 9 to 33 has been approved 
by the Board and is signed on its 
behalf by:

Dr B.R. Shetty
Executive Vice Chairman & CEO

All employees have been provided with  
a copy of these policies, as well as 
guidelines relating to them, and are 
aware of the significance of these policies 
to the Group. The Company also ran  
a series of workshops to explain these 
policies to employees in more detail.  
New employees receive training on all 
company policies and procedures as part 
of their induction program. A copy of the 
policies is included on the Company’s 
employee intranet.

NMC Specialty 
Hospital
Dubai

100

Beds

US$175

Revenue per patient

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

33

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Governance

In this section:
36  Board of Directors  
42  Senior Management
45  Directors’ Report   
49  Corporate Governance Report 
67  Directors’ Remuneration Report 2014

The Board is responsible for, and committed to, ensuring that 
procedures are in place so that good standards of corporate 
governance are operated at all levels in the Group in accordance 
with the guidance and principles set out in the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. In this report, the Board reviews its 
compliance against the UK Corporate Governance Code 
published by the Financial Reporting Council in September 2012 
(the “Code”). The Code can be found on the Financial Reporting 
Council website, frc.org.uk.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE UK CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE
The Board has reviewed the Company’s compliance against the 
provisions of the Code. There is only one set of Code provisions 
with which the Company has not complied with in 2014, and one 
code provision which was not complied with for a short period 
of the 2014 Financial Year. This is significantly less than when 
compared with non-compliance experienced in the first full year 
following the Company’s IPO in April 2012. These provisions are 
stated and an explanation of non-compliance provided below.

The Board, supported by its Committees and the Senior 
Management team, have in place a governance and control 
environment which they believe is appropriate for the NMC 
Group and that would be expected of a FTSE 250 Company 
listed on the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange. 
The Board ensures that governance processes are documented 
and implemented and, where appropriate, continue to be 
improved. This Corporate Governance report describes how the 
Board has applied Corporate Governance principles during the 
2014 financial year. 

•  Provision A.4.1 of the Code. 

The Company did not have a Senior Independent Director for 
the period from 1 January 2014 to 20 January 2014. Jonathan 
Bomford was appointed as Senior Independent Director on 
21 January 2014 and continues to serve in that role. The 
Company was therefore compliant with this provision of  
the Code for the majority of the 2014 financial year.

•  Board appraisals and evaluation process.  

Provisions B.6, B.6.1 and B.6.3 of the Code. The Board has not 
to date undertaken a formal and rigorous annual evaluation 
of its own performance and that of its committees and 
individual directors. The Company therefore did not comply 
with provisions B.6, B.6.1 and B.6.3 of the Code during 2014.  
The Board will assess a preferred process for proceeding  
with such an appraisal and evaluation in 2015, but given the 
significant change in the membership of the Board during 
2014, such an evaluation was considered to be inappropriate 
in the year under review. 

Unless otherwise stated above or in the Corporate Governance 
Report, the Board believes that it has been compliant with the 
remaining provisions of the Code for the 2014 Financial Year.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

35

 
 
 
 
 
Governance

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

H.J. MARK TOMPKINS  
Independent Non-Executive Chairman, aged 74 (NC)

DR B.R. SHETTY 
Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, aged 72

Mr H.J. Mark Tompkins was appointed to the Board of NMC Health 
plc in March 2012 and is the Chairman of the Board and of the 
Nominations Committee. Mr Tompkins has significant public 
company experience having previously served on a total of 11 
publicly listed company boards, including five on NYSE, NASDAQ 
or junior market U.S. exchange boards and four London Stock 
Exchange Primary Market or AIM boards. A number of these listed 
companies operated in various aspects of the Healthcare sector.

Mr Tompkins was Non-Executive Chairman of Allied Healthcare 
International Inc, one of the UK’s leading providers of domiciliary 
care and healthcare staffing services, from 2007 to 2009, serving 
as a Director from 2005 to 2009. From 2005 to 2008 he also served 
as Non-Executive Chairman of Healthcare Enterprise Group Plc, 
an international healthcare products company which was listed 
on the AIM market in London. Mr Tompkins served as Conseiller 
Special aupres du Conseil D’Administration of Sodexo S.A. from 
November 2010 to August 2012 after serving as a Non-Executive 
Director from 2002 to 2010 and a member of its Audit Committee 
for six of those eight years. Other previous directorships have 
included Abbey Healthcare Group Inc., and Apria Healthcare Group 
Inc. Prior to his non-executive director roles, Mr Tompkins served as 
the Chief Executive Officer of Compagnie Financiere Haussmann, a 
publicly listed company in France involved in property development, 
investment and management. 

Mr Tompkins began his career in investment banking in 1964 with 
Samuel Montagu & Company (now HSBC). From 1965 to 1971, he 
was a Management Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., 
working on assignments in the UK, continental Europe and the U.S. 
Mr Tompkins returned to investment banking joining Slater Walker 
Securities group from 1972 to 1974. He subsequently entered into 
international real-estate development from 1974 to 1987 investing in 
both residential and commercial assets across the Middle East, the 
United States and Europe. 

Since 1987, he has been focussed on financing small and medium 
sized enterprises whilst also contributing at board level of a number 
of listed companies.

Dr B.R. Shetty is the founding partner of NMC and was appointed to 
the Board of NMC Health plc in July 2011. Dr Shetty has been involved 
in the private healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors since these 
were established in the UAE nearly 40 years ago. 

Born in India, Dr Shetty arrived in the UAE in 1973 shortly after the 
country’s formation. As a trained pharmacist, he opened his first 
pharmacy in 1975. In 1975 he established the New Medical Centre 
(NMC), which also included a dedicated dental department.

NMC has since grown to become the UAE’s largest private sector 
healthcare provider. Today, it has hospitals and clinics across the  
UAE and treats almost two million patients a year.

Dr Shetty’s other business activities include UAE Exchange, a leading 
global money transfer and foreign exchange provider, of which he is 
Managing Director and CEO, and investments in hospitality, food and 
beverage, pharmaceutical manufacturing and real estate.

Dr Shetty received the Order of Abu Dhabi in 2005, the country’s 
highest civilian award, for contribution to the development of the 
community and the cause of the Emirate, as well as the Padma Shri 
Award from the government of India in January 2009.

In addition to his business activities, Dr Shetty is involved in several 
philanthropic causes. He has supported the development of  
a medical institution in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal and  
is the founder and patron of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association  
in the UAE.

He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Dubai Economic 
Department’s Financial Sector, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Indian 
School, Founder and Vice President of the Swiss Business Council, 
and Founder of the Australian Business Council, the Canadian 
Business Council, the Netherlands Business Group and the Philippines 
Business Council.

Dr Shetty is also a member of the Executive Panel of Dubai’s 
Pharmaceutical and Health Equipment Trading Business Group under 
the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A passionate cricket 
fan, Dr Shetty is the former President of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council 
and was the Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club from  
its inception in 1989 until 2006.

Dr B.R. Shetty received a Doctorate from Georgia State University, 
Atlanta, USA and was invited by the Harvard Business School  
to attend its Owner/President Management program. He is also  
a member of the International Advisory Board of Boston  
University, USA.

36

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

DR AYESHA ABDULLAH 
Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 48 (AC, CGC)

ABDULRAHMAN BASADDIQ 
Non-Executive Director, aged 66 (RC, NC)

Mr Abdulrahman Basaddiq was appointed to the Board of NMC 
Health plc in February 2014 and is a member of the Remuneration 
Committee and Nominations Committee. He has significant 
business experience across a number of business sectors in the 
Middle East. 

Mr Basaddiq is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 
England & Wales (FCA) and a licensed auditor and consultant in the 
UAE. He trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst 
& Young (EY), London and spent over 25 years with EY in the UK and 
the GCC, 15 of those as an equity partner. During his period at EY,  
Mr Basaddiq served as the Managing Partner of their Riyadh and 
Abu Dhabi offices, in addition to responsibilities as UAE Country 
partner in charge.

During his tenure in Riyadh with EY, he oversaw the development 
and implementation of the only Saudisation program within 
the profession in the Kingdom at the time. He also served as an 
elected member of the firm’s executive committee for eight years, 
in addition to serving on the human resources committee for a 
number of years.

Mr Basaddiq spent over 12 years with a number of Gulf based 
diversified groups across multiple jurisdictions and sectors including 
healthcare, global public and private equities, venture capital, real 
estate investment, development and construction, steel trading  
and fabrication, in addition to food manufacturing, retail and 
packaging. He also spent over five years serving on two audit 
committees, chairing one of them, in addition to oversight 
responsibilities in the development of audit committees and the 
related internal audit functions of other entities, which have grown  
in size and complexity, to comply with the ever increasing 
governance and other regulatory demands.

Dr Ayesha Abdullah was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc 
in June 2014 and is a member of the Audit Committee and Clinical 
Governance Committee. Dr Abdullah is an industry professional  
with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. 

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah has recently been appointed the Executive 
Dean of Health Sciences and Business at Higher College of 
Technology. In her capacity as the Executive Dean, she is responsible 
for academic excellence and advancing linkage with industry.  
Dr Abdullah is also the Chief Executive Officer of Centre of Excellence 
for Applied Research and Training and her role is to advance Applied 
Research and technology innovations.

Prior to her current roles, she was responsible for overseeing an 
independent regulatory authority for all healthcare providers, 
medical educational and research institutions and other businesses 
operating within the Dubai Healthcare City Free Zone. 

Dr Abdullah previously held the position of the Managing Director 
of the Science Cluster. She was responsible for managing and 
formulating the strategic direction of the three major companies 
in Dubai for the development of the knowledge based economy- 
namely Dubai Healthcare City Cluster and its subsidiaries, Dubai 
Biotechnology & Research Park- Dubiotech and Enpark, a Business 
Park facilitating the growth of energy and environmental businesses. 

Prior to that Dr Abdullah held the position of CEO of Dubai Healthcare 
City (DHCC). Under her leadership, DHCC rapidly gained a status as  
an internationally recognised location of choice for quality healthcare 
and an integrated centre of excellence for clinical and wellness 
services, medical education and research. In 2008, DHCC won the 
Dubai Quality award and the ‘DHCC Out-Patient Quality Standards’ 
were the first Middle Eastern standards to be accredited by The 
International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQUa). 

Prior to this, as Chief Executive Officer at the Center for Healthcare 
Planning and Quality (CPQ), Dr Abdullah was responsible for setting 
up and upholding healthcare standards within DHCC. She also 
played a key role in establishing CPQ into a premier regulatory body 
in the industry.

In October 2009, Dr Abdullah received the prestigious ‘Leading 
Woman CEO’ Award, marking a milestone in her achievements and 
recognizing her strategic management and leadership acumen that 
significantly contributed to the healthcare cluster’s growth. She was 
also awarded the L’ Officiel Arab Women of the Year in 2010.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from 
Marquette University in Wisconsin, USA, an MBA with an emphasis 
on Finance and a PhD in Strategy Management & Planning Studies 
from Sheffield University in the UK.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

37

Governance

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUED

JONATHAN BOMFORD FCA  
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 66 (AC, RC)

LORD CLANWILLIAM  
Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 54 (RC, NC)

Mr Jonathan Bomford was appointed to the Board of NMC Health 
plc in June 2013 and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. He is a 
Chartered Accountant and has significant accounting, financial and 
audit experience gained principally in the Middle East and East Africa. 
Mr Bomford is the Company’s Senior Independent Director

Lord Clanwilliam was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc in 
March 2012 and is the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. 
He has significant business experience in the Middle East and  
on the Boards of overseas companies listed on the London  
Stock Exchange. 

Mr Bomford is a qualified Chartered Accountant who spent 24 years 
with EY in a number of roles in the Middle East and East Africa 
including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dubai and Jeddah. For his last 15 years 
with EY, he was a partner with a number of international clients 
across a range of sectors including healthcare, oil, banking and 
construction. 

In 2000, Mr Bomford retired from EY and since then has undertaken 
a number of roles including a Board Member of an Agricultural 
Trust funding agricultural projects and an Official Mentor providing 
Business Advice and Services to clients of the Prince’s Trust. 

Lord Clanwilliam is an international businessman and high-level 
government and financial communications specialist possessing 
over 30 years of business and political experience across a broad 
range of sectors, including mining, drilling, oilfield services and 
operational management and consultancy. During his career, Lord 
Clanwilliam has established an extensive network of senior level 
governmental and institutional contacts across the Middle East, 
the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. He is currently Chairman 
of Eurasia Drilling Company, a drilling and work-over company 
operating in Eurasia and listed on the Premium Segment of the 
London Stock Exchange. He is also a Non-Executive Director of 
Polyus Gold OJSC, a Russian gold mining company listed on the 
Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange. Lord Clanwilliam 
is the Founding Partner and Chairman of Gardant Communications 
Limited, a political, strategic, financial and litigation communications 
company based in London and Senior Advisor to Milio International 
Limited, a British owned and operated commodities and logistics 
company.

Lord Clanwilliam graduated from Eton College in 1978 and from  
The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1979 after which he  
served for four years with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

38

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

SALMA HAREB  
Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 49 (RC)

HEATHER LAWRENCE OBE   
Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 65 (AC, CGC)

Mrs Heather Lawrence OBE was appointed to the Board of 
NMC Health plc in March 2012 and is the Chairman of the Clinical 
Governance Committee. Mrs Lawrence has significant operational 
experience in the healthcare sector as well as operating on a 
number of UK Governmental Boards.

Mrs Lawrence has over 20 years’ experience as a Chief Executive 
Officer in the hospital and healthcare sector. From 2000 to July 2012 
she served as CEO of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, which 
gained NHS Foundation Trust status in 2006. Prior to 2000 she served 
as CEO of North Hertfordshire NHS trust from 1996 to 2000 and 
Hounslow and Spelthorne Community and Mental Health Trust from 
1989 to 1996.

Mrs Lawrence chaired the UK-wide negotiations for the Staff and 
Associate Specialists (SAS) Doctors contract during 2004 to 2006  
and chaired the “Agenda for Change” three-year pay deal for non-
medical staff on behalf of NHS employers during 2006 to 2009.  
She has also served as a Commissioner for the UK Prime Minister’s 
Commission for the Future of Nursing and Midwifery and was a 
Founding Member of the Dr Foster Global Comparators Founders 
Board, which is an initiative to share comparative health data with 
other leading medical institutions in various countries to improve 
clinical quality. Mrs Lawrence originally trained as a nurse at St 
Mary’s Hospital Paddington and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute 
of Personnel Management.

She was appointed, by Secretary of State for Health, as a Non-
Executive Director of Monitor, the NHS Regulator, in July 2012.  
Mrs Lawrence was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours 
List for her services to healthcare.

Mrs Salma Hareb was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc  
in June 2014 and is a member of the Remuneration Committee.  
She has significant business experience business and is a 
recognized leading businesswoman in the Middle East.

Mrs Salma Hareb, is the CEO of Economic Zones World (EZW) and 
spearheads innovative product development to provide greater 
value to EZW customers. She has been instrumental in the creation 
of the Dubai Logistics Corridor, which quadruples Dubai’s logistics 
efficiencies. 

Under her leadership, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) the flagship Free 
Zone of Economic Zones World, has been recognized as one of 
the most efficient Free Zones in the World, with a customer base 
of more than 7,300 companies, and 120 of the Global Fortune 500 
enterprises, with total non-oil trade of US$90.2 billion, contributing 
more than 20 percent to Dubai’s GDP. 

As head of Economic Zones World, she also leads Technopark, the 
company’s research and development initiative in core economic 
sectors including Water, Health, Energy, Engineering, e-Commerce 
and Logistics, as well as Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ), a comprehensive 
market place for the Auto Industry catering to buyers, sellers, service 
providers, principals and traders. 

Internationally, she is actively overseeing Economic Zones World’s 
development of a logistics park in South Carolina, USA, Special 
Economic Zones in India, and a Free Zone in Djibouti, Africa. 

Prior to her role as CEO, she worked as Jafza’s Chief Planning 
Officer, responsible for strategic planning, business development, 
finance, and human resources. Before that she worked as Chief 
Haematologist in the Department of Health and Medical Services. 
She completed her education in the UAE and the UK, in the fields of 
Medical Sciences, Information Technology and Business in addition 
to a one year post graduate study in Haematology at the University 
of Cardiff. 

Mrs Salma Hareb’s distinctive initiatives and achievements have 
been recognised with several awards over the years. 

Most recently, she received the Frost & Sullivan Growth, Innovation 
and Leadership Award 2014, and last year, she was named the 
“Overall Winner - Professional Category” in Emirates Women  
Awards 2013. 

Her array of awards over the years includes the ‘Women CEO 
Excellence Award’ conferred at the 9th Middle East CEO of the  
Year Awards; the ‘Asian Business Leadership Award’ at the Asian 
Business Leadership Forum Awards; the ‘Woman CEO of the Year’ 
at the Women in Leadership (WIL) Forum and “Business Women 
Award 2006 for Leadership”. 

She was also recognized as the 2nd most influential Arab woman  
in Government in the Middle East and North Africa region by Forbes 
Middle East in 2013 and was also rated among the 100 most powerful 
Arab Women earlier by CEO Middle East as well as the Asian 
Business Magazine. She was declared one of the most influential 
business women in the region by MEED magazine in 2008. She also 
topped Forbes Arabia’s list of the 50 most powerful Arab business 
women in the same year. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

39

Governance

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUED

PRASANTH MANGHAT
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, aged 40

KEYUR NAGORI 
Non-Executive Director, aged 36

Mr Keyur Nagori was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc  
in June 2014 and is a Non-Executive Director.  

Mr Nagori has a background working in International audit firms 
including Deloitte and KPMG for 8 years. During this time he had 
significant experience in the audit of multinational and local 
companies in both India and Abu Dhabi.

For the last 10 years, he has been working within the finance 
department of KBBO Group based in Abu Dhabi and he is currently 
Chief Financial Officer of KBBO Group.

Mr Nagori was an Alternate Director to the Company’s previous 
Director, H.E. Saeed Bin Butti, from June 2013 to February 2014.

Mr Prasanth Manghat was appointed to the Board of NMC Health  
plc in June 2014 and to the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
in January 2015. 

Mr Manghat has had a number of roles within NMC related 
businesses for the last 12 years including, prior to his current role, 
as Chief Financial Officer of NMC Health for 5 years. As CFO, he was 
primarily responsible for running the Company’s finance function 
including treasury, corporate finance and accounting. Mr Manghat 
spearheaded NMC Healthcare’s successful listing on the Premium 
Segment of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in April 2012. This  
was a landmark transaction in many ways, being the first UAE 
company to list on the LSE and raising US$187 million in the  
process. Mr Manghat has played a major role in the growth of  
the NMC businesses both prior to and since the IPO.

Mr Manghat was honoured with the “CFO of the Year” award – 2012  
by ICAEW, Middle-East.

He was also conferred with the prestigious award for “Excellence 
in Finance” by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Abu 
Dhabi Chapter in Nov, 2012 and “Professional Excellence Award in the 
Healthcare Sector” by ICAI UAE (Dubai) Chapter in May 2013.

Prior to joining NMC, Mr Manghat has worked as Credit and 
Operations Head with Kotak Mahindra Finance, one of the leading 
non-banking financial institutions in India. A Fellow member of 
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (FCA), Bachelor of 
Science (1995), MG University, Kerala, India, CIA, ACCA from UK (2004) 
and pursuing CA (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and 
Wales), he has 14 years of experience in management of treasury 
and banking functions, corporate finance, accounting and financial 
reporting activities.

Mr Manghat assumed the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
of NMC Health plc with effect from 1 January 2015. In his new role,  
Mr Manghat’s responsibility will extend to cover strategic matters  
and to support the Chief Executive Officer with planning and  
strategy execution across both of NMC’s Divisions.

40

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

BINAY SHETTY 
Non-Executive Director, aged 31

DR NANDINI TANDON
Independent Non-Executive Director, aged 52 (CGC)

Mr Binay Shetty was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc  
in June 2014 and is a Non-Executive Director. Prior to January 2015  
he was Chief Operating Officer for the Group. 

Dr Nandini Tandon was appointed to the Board of NMC Health plc  
in June 2014 and is a member of the Clinical Governance 
Committee. She has significant experience in healthcare investment 
and innovation.

Since 2010, Mr Binay Shetty has been overseeing operations  
of NMC Health’s healthcare and distribution divisions. He is also  
closely involved with the HR, Marketing, IT and Projects units of  
the organisation. 

Prior to his current role, he was an Executive Director of NMC 
Healthcare LLC with responsibility for strategic planning and 
governance and the management of new projects. 

Prior to holding this position, from 2004-2010 he was an Executive 
Director of NMC with responsibility for strategic planning and 
governance and the management of new projects. From 2006  
to early 2011 he was also Head of Investments for BR Shetty  
Pvt Investments, and from 2004 to 2006 he was Business Co-
ordinator at Neopharma – Abu Dhabi’s premier pharmaceutical 
manufacturing company.

Mr Shetty is a director of UAE Exchange, a leading global remittance 
and foreign exchange provider.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with 
specialisations in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Boston 
University, Massachusetts, USA.

AC – member of the Audit Committee
RC – member of the Remuneration Committee
CGC - member of the Clinical Governance Committee 
NC - member of the Nominations Committee

Dr Tandon is presently engaged in investing in healthcare and 
healthcare/IT in USA, UAE and India. Dr Tandon has extensive 
board experience. She is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of El 
Camino Hospital, Silicon Valley, California and Chair of its Executive 
Compensation Committee and Vice-Chair of its Governance 
and Finance Committees. Additionally she has served on 12 high 
tech proprietary company boards in the USA. Dr Tandon’s past 
investments and Board roles include, IDUN (acquired by Pfizer), 
U-Systems (acquired by General Electric), KAI Pharmaceuticals 
(acquired by Amgen), Ception Therapeutics (acquired by Cephalon), 
Conforma Therapeutics (acquired by Biogen Idec), Corus Pharma 
(acquired by Gilead Sciences), Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR), 
Alexza (NASDAQ: ALXA), Guava Technologies (acquired by Millipore), 
Ambit Biosciences, Saegis Pharmaceuticals and Cell Biosciences. 
Dr Tandon has been a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley for over 10 
years and was Managing Director, Lumira/MDS Capital in Palo Alto 
with US$1.2bn under management and before was Partner, Royal 
Bank of Canada’s RBC Capital Partners, in San Francisco.

She is on multiple not for profit boards which are committed to 
global innovation, entrepreneurship and healthcare including MD 
Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and PD Board, Bay Area 
Council Economic Institute Board, University of California, Berkeley, 
Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases Board, Chair,”20/20”Vision: 
Investing in USA & Emerging Markets”, C21 BioVentures Board, TiE 
Global Board, Stanford University, School of Medicine Career Center’s 
Advisory Council and San Francisco-Bangalore Sister City initiative’s 
board and co-Chair for its SF-India focus.

Dr Tandon is a strong champion for global investments in 
healthcare, entrepreneurship and innovation. She was delegate for 
President Obama’s US State Department’s Global Entrepreneurship 
program to Turkey, delegate for Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Women 
and Economy Summit, moderator for Healthcare focus of US 
Senator’s Congressional delegation to India, spoke at Milken 
Conference for Obama-Care and spoke at Clinton Global Initiative for 
Women in Technology, chaired investment focus for Super Return 
Conference in Geneva, San Francisco and Dubai, spoke at Secretary 
Geithner for US Department of Treasury’s symposium on Women in 
Finance and recently co-chaired Healthcare delegation of Mayor of 
San Francisco to India. Dr Tandon has strong operational experience 
as Chief Business Officer of Zyomyx Inc., Vice President of BD, Hyseq 
Inc. and BD Mangaer at Chiron Corp. A White House Intern, Nandini 
received her Ph.D. in biochemistry, Phi Lambda Upsilon from Duke 
University, North Carolina and her B.A. cum laude, Sigma Xi, Phi Beta 
Kappa from Hollins University, Virginia.

In January 2015 Dr Tandon received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 
2015 award in Gandhinagar, India for her work in, life sciences and 
Healthcare and IT in USA and India along with other emerging markets. 

This award is conferred by the President of India and is the highest 
honour conferred on overseas Indians honoring exceptional and 
meritorious contribution in their chosen field. 

From 25 million global overseas Indian diaspora, 15 received this 
prestigious award including 3 American citizens, Dr.Nandini Tandon 
in life sciences and healthcare, Mr. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft  
in computers and Dr.Lulla, Chief scientist, Earth observation, NASA  
for aeronautics.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

41

Governance

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

DR B.R. SHETTY 
Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, aged 72

PRASANTH MANGHAT      
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, aged 40

Mr B.R. Shetty is the founding partner of NMC and was appointed to 
the Board of NMC Health plc in July 2011. Dr Shetty has been involved 
in the private healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors since these 
were established in the UAE nearly 40 years ago.  

Born in India, Dr Shetty arrived in the UAE in 1973 shortly after the 
country’s formation. As a trained pharmacist, he opened his first 
pharmacy in 1975. In 1975 he established the New Medical Centre 
(NMC), which also included a dedicated dental department. NMC has 
since grown to become the UAE’s largest private sector healthcare 
provider. Today, it has hospitals and clinics across the UAE and 
treats almost two million patients a year. Dr Shetty’s other business 
activities include UAE Exchange, a leading global money transfer and 
foreign exchange provider, of which he is Managing Director and CEO, 
and investments in hospitality, food and beverage, pharmaceutical 
manufacturing and real estate.

Dr Shetty received the Order of Abu Dhabi in 2005, the country’s 
highest civilian award, for contribution to the development of the 
community and the cause of the Emirate, as well as the Padma Shri 
Award from the government of India in January 2009. In addition to 
his business activities, Dr Shetty is involved in several philanthropic 
causes. He has supported the development of a medical institution 
in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal and is the founder and 
patron of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association in the UAE. He is a 
member of the Advisory Board of the Dubai Economic Department’s 
Financial Sector, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Indian School, Founder 
and Vice President of the Swiss Business Council, and Founder of 
the Australian Business Council, the Canadian Business Council, the 
Netherlands Business Group and the Philippines Business Council.

Dr Shetty is also a member of the Executive Panel of Dubai’s 
Pharmaceutical and Health Equipment Trading Business Group 
under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A passionate 
cricket fan, Dr Shetty is the former President of the Abu Dhabi Cricket 
Council and was the Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club 
from its inception in 1989 until 2006.

Dr B.R. Shetty received a Doctorate from Georgia State University, 
Atlanta, USA and was invited by the Harvard Business School  
to attend its Owner/President Management program. He is also  
a member of the International Advisory Board of Boston  
University, USA.

Mr Manghat has had a number of roles within NMC related 
businesses for the last 12 years including, prior to his current role,  
as Chief Financial Officer of NMC Health for 5 years. As CFO, he was 
primarily responsible for running the Company’s finance function 
including treasury, corporate finance and accounting. 

Mr Manghat spearheaded NMC Healthcare’s successful listing on 
the Premium Segment of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in April 
2012. This was a landmark transaction in many ways, being the first 
UAE company to list on the LSE and raising US$187 million in the 
process. Mr Manghat has played a major role in the growth of the 
NMC businesses both prior to and since the IPO.

Mr Manghat was honoured with the “CFO of the Year” award 
– 2012 by ICAEW, Middle-East. He was also conferred with the 
prestigious award for “Excellence in Finance” by the Institute of 
Chartered Accountants of India, Abu Dhabi Chapter in Nov, 2012 and 
“Professional Excellence Award in the Healthcare Sector” by ICAI UAE 
(Dubai) Chapter in May 2013.

Prior to joining NMC, Mr Manghat has worked as Credit and 
Operations Head with Kotak Mahindra Finance, one of the leading 
non-banking financial institutions in India. A Fellow member of 
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (FCA), Bachelor of 
Science (1995), MG University, Kerala, India, CIA, ACCA from UK (2004) 
and pursuing CA (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and 
Wales), he has 14 years of experience in management of treasury 
and banking functions, corporate finance, accounting and financial 
reporting activities.

Mr Manghat assumed the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
of NMC Health plc with effect from 1 January 2015. In his new role,  
Mr Manghat’s responsibility will extend to cover strategic matters 
and to support the Chief Executive Officer with planning and 
strategy execution across both of NMC’s Divisions.

42

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

DR CHANDRAKUMARI R. SHETTY  
Group Medical Director

ROY CHERRY 
Head of Strategy & Investor Relations

Dr Shetty is the Group Medical Director of NMC Health. Along with  
her husband, Dr B.R. Shetty, she has been a pioneer in establishing 
and developing the private healthcare sector in the UAE.

Mr Cherry works closely with the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO 
and Deputy CEO on NMC Health’s strategy. 

Dr Shetty has been instrumental in establishing Centres of 
Excellence in various units of NMC Healthcare.  She has been 
actively involved in the conception, planning, design, execution and 
management of various healthcare facilities besides driving critical 
healthcare initiatives.  Under her leadership, NMC Specialty Hospitals 
in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain have received accreditation from the 
Joint Commission International (JCI).  

Dr Shetty supervises a diversified multi-cultural workforce within 
NMC Health comprising of over 500 doctors and 3,000 medical staff. 
In her present role, Dr Shetty chairs various committees including 
Governance, Infection Control, Patient Rights, Care of Patients, 
Quality and Facility Management. 

Despite her wide ranging responsibilities, Dr Shetty remains rooted 
to the basic ethos of the healthcare profession of providing quality 
care with a human touch to all patients by continuing to remain as 
a practicing Physician for over three decades.  

He also leads the Group’s investor relations efforts. Mr Cherry played 
an instrumental role in the re-rating of NMC’s shares by investors 
and analysts, with the company’s shares being among the top-10 
best performing on the London Stock Exchange in 2013.

His career includes PwC Transaction Services where he advised on 
feasibilities and M&A transactions with a combined transaction value 
exceeding US$10bn across a variety of sectors including healthcare. 
He previously headed the Equity Research Department at SHUAA 
Capital in Dubai, one of the region’s first and most acclaimed equity 
research teams. Mr Cherry played an important role on several 
regional IPOs including, Saudi Catering, NMC Health, Deyaar, DP World 
and Royal Jordanian Airlines. 

Immediately prior to joining NMC Health, Mr Cherry was with Saudi 
Fransi Capital, where he was the Head of Research & Advisory 
Department. He holds a BSc in Management from the University of 
London. In addition to English, he is a fluent speaker of both Arabic 
and Swedish. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

43

Governance

SENIOR MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

SURESH KRISHNAMOORTHY 
Chief Financial Officer

SIMON WATKINS  
Group Company Secretary

Mr Krishnamoorthy was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the 
Company with effect from 1 January 2015. 

He joined NMC in December 2000 as an Internal Audit Manager 
and he continued in this role until March 2011. Since April 2011 Mr 
Krishnamoorthy has worked as a senior member of NMC’s finance 
team, having significant involvement in the Company’s IPO and in 
the Company’s major fund raising initiatives. Prior to be appointed  
as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in July 2014, he was responsible  
for the MIS and Corporate Planning portfolio including close 
involvement in the Group’s internal and external audits and other 
Audit Committee activities since its inception following IPO.

Prior to joining NMC, he worked as Assistant Finance Manager in 
Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (KINFRA), a Government 
agency involved in the development of infrastructure in the State  
of Kerala.

Mr Krishnamoorthy qualified as a Chartered Accountant from the 
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in Nov 1998. He has 
16 years of experience in the field of audits, corporate finance, 
accounting and financial reporting activities.

Mr Watkins is Group Company Secretary of NMC Health plc.  
Mr Watkins joined NMC Health in May 2012 shortly after the Group’s 
IPO and is responsible to the Board for the Group’s listing obligations, 
all Governance matters affecting the Group and, with the Chairman, 
for ensuring that the Board operates effectively. 

He has 25 years of experience as a Company Secretary, principally 
within UK companies having a London Stock Exchange Listing 
on either the Main Market or on AIM. Previous experience includes 
Deputy Group Secretary of Rank Group plc and four years as Group 
Company Secretary of lastminute.com plc. Mr Watkins’ primary 
experience in the last 14 years has been within businesses focussed 
on strategic and acquisitive growth

Mr Watkins is an Associate Member of the UK Institute of Chartered 
Secretaries and Administrators.

44

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors of NMC Health plc (the “Group” or the “Company”) are pleased to submit their Annual Report and audited financial 
statements of the Group and the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2014.

Information in the Group Strategic Report on pages 9 to 33, which constitutes a fair review of the business required by the 
Companies Act 2006, and in the Corporate Governance Report on pages 49 to 66, is incorporated into this Directors’ Report  
by reference.

The details of salaries, bonuses, benefits and share interests of directors are shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 
67 to 85.

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
The Group results are shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income on page 91. Profit after taxation for the  
year was US$77.5m (2013: US$69.1m). Factors influencing the results are discussed in the Business Overview and Financial review 
on pages 18 to 25. 

No interim dividend was declared during the year. Subject to shareholder approval, a final dividend of 5.4p per share (2013: 4.4p)  
is proposed, to be paid on 25 June 2015 to shareholders on the Company’s share register on 29 May 2015.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The Group’s strategy and potential future development are outlined in the Group Strategic Report on pages 9 to 33.

COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
The following have served as directors of the Company during the 2014 financial year:

Director

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Dr B.R. Shetty

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

Jonathan Bomford

Lord Clanwilliam

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence

Prasanth Manghat

Keyur Nagori

Binay Shetty

Dr Nandini Tandon

Position

Date of appointment

Date ceased to be  
a director (if applicable)

Non-Executive Chairman

7 March 2012

Executive Vice Chairman  
& Chief Executive Officer

20 July 2011

Non-Executive Director

26 June 2014

Non-Executive Director

24 February 2014

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

27 June 2013

7 March 2012

26 June 2014

Non-Executive Director

19 March 2012

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

26 June 2014

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

26 June 2014

26 June 2014

26 June 2014

20 July 2011

20 July 2011

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

24 February 2014

25 March 2014

His Excellency Saeed Bin Butti

Non-Executive Director

Khalifa Bin Butti

Executive Vice Chairman

No other directors have been appointed to serve during the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 or subsequently. 

SHARE CAPITAL
There have been no changes to the issued share capital of the Company during the year. The issued share capital as at 1 January 
2014 and at 31 December 2014 is £18,571,428 divided into 185,714,286 shares of 10p each. Options granted by the Company over its 
share capital are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 67 to 85.

Under the articles of association of the Company, all Ordinary shares have equal rights to dividends and capital and to vote at 
general meetings of the Company. There are no restrictions on the size of holding nor on the transfer of shares, which are both 
governed under the terms of the articles of association and relevant legislation. The directors are not aware of any agreements 
between holders of the Company’s shares that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or in voting rights. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

45

Governance

DIRECTORS’ REPORT CONTINUED

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As at 23 February 2015, the Company is aware of the following significant shareholdings in the Ordinary shares of the Company:

Shareholder

Dr B.R. Shetty

H.E. Saeed Bin Butti

Khalifa Bin Butti

Infinite Investment LLC

Number of shares

% of issued share capital held

Nature of holding

47,742,409

43,466,559

19,059,842

14,072,024

25.7

23.4

10.3

7.6

Direct

Direct

Direct

Direct

The Company has an agreement with Dr B.R. Shetty, H.E. Saeed Bin Butti and Khalifa Bin Butti (“Controlling Shareholders”) under 
which the Controlling Shareholders agree to comply with the independence provisions of the UKLA Listing Rules.

POLITICAL DONATIONS
Neither the Company nor any subsidiary company in the Group made any Political donations during the year ended 31 December 2014.

Whilst the Company has no intention of making formal political donations in the future, the Board acknowledge that given the  
wide interpretation of such donations, certain business events in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the Board, may 
wish to participate may be caught under the formal definition of political donations. The Company will therefore again be seeking 
approval from shareholders at this year’s annual general meeting, for a small approved limit for “political donations”, for use in such 
circumstances. If this is approved by shareholders, the Board will provide full details of any such payments made in the next  
annual report. 

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
The Company’s disclosure in relation to its greenhouse gas emissions is set out in the Corporate Social Responsibility section on 
pages 27 to 33.

CONTRACTS OF SIGNIFICANCE WITH DIRECTORS
Under UAE law and regulations, with the exception of certain specific areas designated by the Government as such, all land  
must be held legally by a UAE National. In addition, all healthcare facility and pharmacy operating licences may only be held legally 
by a UAE National, and not a body corporate. As a result, some of the property owned beneficially by the Group and all the Group’s 
medical facility and pharmacy licences, are held legally in the name of either H.E. Saeed Bin Butti or Mr Khalifa Bin Butti, both 
previous Directors and continuing significant shareholders of the Company.  

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Details of related party transactions are included in Note 27 of the Financial Statements on pages 117 and 118.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION UNDER LISTING RULE 9.8.4C
In accordance with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules (LR 9.8.4C), the information to be included in the Annual 
Report, where applicable, under LR 9.8.4, is set out in this Directors’ Report, with the exception of transactions with controlling 
shareholders which is set out on pages 117 and 118 (note 27 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and interest capitalised  
which is set out on page 112 (note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
New Financing Facility
On 16 February 2015, the Company announced that it has obtained underwriting commitments for a new US$825 million financing 
facility from a number of international and regional banks through its subsidiary, NMC Healthcare LLC. The New Facility has been 
structured as two separate tranches:

1)  an Amortizing Term Loan Facility of US$350 million equivalent to refinance existing indebtedness of NMC and its subsidiaries 

(including the existing JP Morgan syndicated term loan facility) and to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes; 
and 

2)  a Delayed Draw Acquisition Facility of US$475 million equivalent to facilitate NMC’s ongoing strategy of making phased 

acquisitions that will be accretive to the Company’s underlying business and profitability. 

The overall quantum of the New Facility, combined with the Company’s robust balance sheet, is expected to ensure adequate 
available liquidity to capitalize on growth opportunities as they are identified. 

46

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Acquisition of Clinica Eugin
On 23 February 2015, the Group acquired 86.4% of the issued share capital of Clinica Eugin, a leading global fertility treatment  
provider based in Barcelona, Spain, for a total enterprise value of €143m. Eugin is one of the largest fertility clinics in Europe and  
an established leader in cross-border fertility treatment with patients from the largest Western European countries, as well as the 
MENA region. 

Transfer of Title Deeds
Subsequent to year end US$5,177,000 of the land and buildings which were held in the name of a previous shareholder for the 
beneficial interest of the Group were transferred into the name of a current UAE national shareholder.

There were no other events which would have a material effect on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position between 
31 December 2014 and the date of this report.

GOING CONCERN
The Group has two diverse operating divisions, both of which operate in a growing market. The Board have undertaken an 
assessment of the future prospects of the Group and the wider risks that the Group is exposed to. In its assessment of whether 
the Group should adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements, the Board has considered:

Operating risk: The Board receives monthly management reports covering key operational matters, monthly comparison to  
budget and updated forecasts on a half yearly basis for the full financial year to ensure that the business is trading in line with its 
expectations. The management team prepare a Group budget for each financial year and a cashflow forecast for the following  
18 months which allows the Board to monitor the financial position of the Group and to consider appropriate risks which the 
business may face from a financial perspective.

Financing risk: The Company has worked to structure its debts for the medium and long term as well as utilising short term 
facilities to meet the Group’s working capital requirements. The funds raised as a result of the share issue undertaken at IPO in  
April 2012 and the US$300m five year syndicated term debt facility, of which US$225m has been drawn down to date, are more 
than sufficient to fund the Group’s material capital projects. The Group has banking arrangements through a spread of local and 
international banking groups. Debt covenants are reviewed by the board each month. The Board believes that the level of cash in 
the Group, the spread of bankers and the improved debt facility terms agreed during 2013 mitigates the financing risks that the 
Group faces from both its capital expenditure program and in relation to working capital requirements.

Customer and Supplier risk: Both the Healthcare and the Distribution divisions have continued their positive growth trends. All  
major financial and non-financial KPIs showed good improvement during 2014. In NMC Healthcare, trade receivables are monitored 
regularly, provisions made where necessary and the Group has no history of significant bad debts. In the Distribution division, the 
increase in revenue and product flow has an adverse effect on the Group’s working capital position. Trade receivables are monitored 
regularly and management maintain a close working relationship with all major suppliers to monitor performance as well as signs 
of financial risk The Board has reviewed a high level budget for 2015 as well as considered growth forecasts for the healthcare sector 
in UAE, and considers the Group’s future forecasts to be reasonable.

Impairment risk: The Board has considered the carrying value of inventories, accounts receivable and property and equipment and 
concluded that there are no indicators of material impairment of these items and therefore no material cash flow impact 
associated with any loss in those areas.

The Board has reviewed the cash flow forecast that has been prepared for the period to 30 June 2016 and this forecast indicates 
that the Group has positive cash flows with sufficient headroom.

In its review, the Board considered other areas of potential risk, including regulatory risk, insurance and legal risks and potential areas 
of material contingent liability and found no matters which are likely to affect the viability of the Group in the medium term. 

The Directors therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the financial statements. 

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES
The financial risk management objectives and policies of the Group are included in note 29 to the financial statements on pages 119 
to 121.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The annual general meeting of NMC Health plc will be held at Allen & Overy LLP, One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD on 16 June 2015 
at 2.00 pm. 

Further details of the resolutions to be proposed at the annual general meeting will be set out in the Notice of Annual General 
Meeting circular which will be circulated separately to shareholders in due course.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

47

Governance

DIRECTORS’ REPORT CONTINUED

AUDITORS
Directors’ statement as to disclosure of information to auditors:

The Directors who were members of the Board at the time of approving the Directors‘ Report are set out on page 45. Having made 
enquiries of fellow directors and of the Company‘s Auditor, each of these Directors confirms that: 

• 

to the best of each Director‘s knowledge and belief, there is no information (that is, information needed by the group‘s Auditor in 
connection with preparing their report) of which the Company‘s Auditor is unaware; and 

•  each Director has taken all the steps a Director might reasonably be expected to have taken to be aware of relevant audit 

information and to establish that the Company‘s Auditor is aware of that information.

EY have confirmed that they are willing to be reappointed as auditor for the financial year ending 31 December 2015.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report, the Directors’ Remuneration Report and the financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The Directors are required by Company Law to prepare financial statements for the Group and the Company in accordance  
with the International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“IFRS”). 

The financial statements are required to present fairly for each financial period the Company’s financial position, financial 
performance and cash flows. In preparing the Group and parent company financial statements the Directors are also required to:

•  Properly select and consistently apply accounting policies;
•  Present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable 

information;

•  Provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to enable users to 

understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the entity’s financial position and financial 
performance; and

•  Make an assessment of the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements. The Directors 
also confirm that they consider the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure 
that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets  
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and for the preparation of  
a Directors’ report and Directors’ remuneration report which comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements differs from legislation in other jurisdictions.

We confirm to the best of our knowledge:

•  The financial statements, prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU, 
give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the undertakings 
included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and

•  The Strategic Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the 

Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties they face.

The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board on 23 February 2015 and are signed on behalf of the Board by:

Simon Watkins
Group Company Secretary

NMC Health plc (registered in England and Wales, number 7712220)
23 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JB

48

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
The Company operates within a traditional governance framework

CHAIRMAN

Board

Executive Vice Chairman & 
CEO and senior management

Group Company 
Secretary

Board  
Committees

Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Audit Committee

Clinical Governance 
Committee 

Nominations 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

The roles and responsibilities of each of the individuals and groups above, and their role in the overall governance framework, are 
set out in the remainder of this Governance section.

HOW THE BOARD OPERATES

THE ROLE OF THE BOARD
The Board is responsible to shareholders for the overall conduct of the Group’s business and the performance of management and 
of the Group. The Board has the powers and duties as set out in the Company’s articles of association and the relevant regulations 
applicable to the Company as a registered public listed company registered in England and Wales. 

The Board is primarily responsible for:

•  determining the strategic direction of the Group;
•  approving major capital projects, acquisitions and divestments;
•  setting the annual budget;
•  monitoring the financial performance of the Group against its targets;
•  approving annual and half-year results and monitoring shareholder communications;
• 

reviewing the risk management process in place within the Group to ensure that significant risks are monitored and mitigated 
where possible;

•  promoting good governance within the Group, and seeking to ensure that the Company meets its responsibilities towards all 

stakeholders; and

•  demonstrating leadership and focussing on matters that affect shareholder value. 

The Board seeks at all times to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between short term and long term considerations and 
objectives of the Group. 

The Company has an agreed formal schedule of matters reserved for the Board which includes approval of strategic plans, financial 
statements, budgets, material investment decisions, acquisitions and divestments. The Board has overall responsibility for the 
effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal control and the mitigation of the Group’s significant risks and is assisted by the 
Audit Committee in this respect.

As part of the terms of their appointment, each director agreed that they will act collectively with the rest of the Board to ensure 
the success of the Group. The Board delegates authority in relation to matters which it has not reserved to the Executive Vice 
Chairman & CEO who is responsible for delivering the Company’s strategic objectives.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

49

      
Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

BOARD COMPOSITION 
The names of the directors and their biographical details are set out on pages 36 to 41. 

The Board of the Company comprises twelve directors, five of whom have served throughout the year:

the Non-Executive Chairman who is considered to be Independent
two Executive Directors

• 
• 
•  six Independent Non-Executive Directors
• 

three Non-Independent Non-Executive Directors

The Senior Independent Director is Jonathan Bomford, who is available to shareholders should they have any concerns that they 
do not wish to raise with the Company or the Chairman directly. The Senior Independent Director can be contacted through the 
registered office of the Company at 23 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JB. 

PROCESS UNDERTAKEN FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS DURING THE YEAR
Seven new Directors were appointed to the Board in 2014. Of these appointments, a formal Nominations Committee process was 
followed in relation to the appointment of three new Independent Non-Executive Directors and two additional Executive Directors, 
one of whom has subsequently become a Non-Executive Director. 

Given NMC’s desire to enhance the Board’s cultural, geographic and gender diversity, to reflect among other things, the Group’s 
home business market diversity, the Group’s search for the new Independent Non-Executive Directors revolved around informal 
discussions with a number of professional firms and individuals in the UAE from which a list of potential candidates, and 
subsequently proposals, were produced. This approach ensured that the highest calibre and experienced local professionals could 
be attracted to become Directors of the Company. These were considered by the Nominations Committee and recommendations 
for the appointment of Directors to the Board were approved.

The decision to appoint the other two non-Independent Non-Executive Directors during the year was considered by the Board as a 
whole, which included all members of the Nominations Committee. Both Mr Abdulrahman Basaddiq and Mr Keyur Nagori were 
appointed at the request of the Company’s Principal Shareholders under the terms of the Relationship Agreement in place with the 
Company.

BOARD DIVERSITY
In considering the structural change to the Board during 2014, the Board were keen to ensure that consideration was given to:

•  The cultural and racial mix of the Board considering the Company’s listing in the UK and operations in the UAE, as well as global 

drivers and practice in healthcare related services;

•  The conclusions of the Davis Report on Women on Boards and in particular the benefits of significant male and female 

representation on the Board; and

•  The new skills and experience that additional Directors could bring to complement the existing Board.

The constitution of the current Board is diverse in terms of gender and in relation to its experience and cultural and racial mix. 

•  Four of the Board Members (33%) are female;
•  Four of the Board Members (33%) reside and have significant experience in UK businesses;
•  Seven of the Board members (58%) are resident in the UAE, the Group’s home market, and have significant business experiences 

in the Middle East and Asian markets;

•  One member of the Board is resident in the USA and has experience of the US healthcare market and in relation to investment 

in healthcare assets;

•  Seven of the Board members (58%) have significant operational or regulatory experience of healthcare services, contributing 

experience from different parts of the World 

Individual Directors also bring a number of other attributes and experiences. 

The Board will continue to consider appropriate skills, gender and cultural balance when reviewing future Board appointments. 

50

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

The Board considers that the extensive and diverse business, cultural and operational experience of all the Directors, both 
Independent and non-Independent, ensures a good balance in all aspects of Group decision making and control. The above 
attributes also enable the Board to take account of diverse and independent judgement to bear on key issues of:

•  strategy, including constructively challenging the strategic direction of the Group;
•  scrutinising and challenging the performance of the Group;
•  assessing risk and controls operating within the Group and in its decision making; and
•  standards of conduct and governance and other matters presented to the Board. 

Similar practices to ensure a diverse employee base is also operated within the Group’s businesses and this is summarised in the 
Corporate Social Responsibility report on pages 27 to 33. 

BOARD INDEPENDENCE
The Board considers the following Directors to be independent:

•  Mark Tompkins
•  Dr Ayesha Abdullah
•  Jonathan Bomford 
•  Lord Clanwilliam
•  Heather Lawrence
•  Salma Hareb
•  Dr Nandini Tandon 

Independent Non-Executive Directors met separately to the other directors during the year. During their meetings the Independent 
Non-Executive Directors discussed various board related matters and other matters which, given their position as Independent 
Directors, they considered were of interest to them.

The Board does not, or in the case of previous Directors of the Company, did not, classify the following as Independent for the 
reasons stated:

•  His Excellency Saeed Bin Butti until his resignation from the Board on 24 February 2014 because of his significant shareholding in 

the Company. 

•  Khalifa Bin Butti until his resignation from the Board on 25 March 2014 because of his significant shareholding and his Executive 

role in the Company.

•  Dr B.R. Shetty because of his significant shareholding and his Executive role in the Company.
•  Abdulrahman Basaddiq, because he was nominated to be appointed a Director by one of the Company’s Principal Shareholders.
•  Keyur Nagori, because he was recommended for appointment as a Director by one of the Company’s Principal Shareholders and 

is an employee of a company in which that Principal Shareholder has a Controlling Interest.

•  Prasanth Manghat because of his Executive role in the Company.
•  Binay Shetty because of his previous Executive role in the Company.

The Board considers that it is Independent.

TENURE OF INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Provision B.1.1 of the Code suggests that length of tenure is a factor in determining the independence of non-executive directors. 
The table below therefore shows how long each of the Independent Non-Executive Directors have been members of the Board.

Date of appointment

Full Term years to 2015 AGM

Considered to be independent  
by the Board

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Jonathan Bomford

Lord Clanwilliam

Heather Lawrence

Salma Hareb

Dr Nandini Tandon

7 March 2012

26 June 2014

27 June 2013

7 March 2012

19 March 2012

26 June 2014

26 June 2014

3

1

2

3

3

1

1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

51

 
Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The roles of the Chairman and  Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) are separate.  

Chairman
The Chairman was appointed to the Board in March 2012 in anticipation of the Company’s IPO. He was independent at the time of 
his appointment and is considered to be independent by the Board. The Chairman is responsible for the proper functioning of the 
Company’s Board of directors who oversee the strategic direction of the Group including:

the effective operation and governance of the Board

• 
•  setting the agenda and coordinating the style and tone of Board discussions
•  ensuring the directors receive accurate and timely information

Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for identifying, with the senior management team, opportunities that are deemed 
appropriate and in line with the Board’s strategic objectives. He is also responsible for delivering the key strategic objectives set by 
the Board. The Chief Executive Officer is assisted in this task by the senior management team who meet regularly to review the 
performance of the business, the progress of key capital projects, new development opportunities as well as other material matters 
arising within the business. 

Senior Independent Director
The Senior Independent Director acts as a sounding board for the Chairman and serves as an intermediary for the other Directors 
as required. The Senior Independent Director is available to shareholders if they have concerns which they have not managed to 
resolve through the normal channels of the Chairman or the Executive Directors, or who feel that such contact is inappropriate for 
the concerns that they may have. 

Group Company Secretary
The Group Company Secretary acts as Secretary to the Board and to the Board Committees. He assists the Chairman in ensuring 
that all Directors have full and timely access to all relevant information and in organising induction programmes for new Directors. 
The Group Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that the correct Board procedures are followed and advises the Board on 
corporate governance matters. The appointment and removal of the Group Company Secretary is a matter for the Board as a 
whole.

The biographical details of the Chairman, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO and Senior Independent Director can be found on pages 
36 to 41. The biographical details of the Group Company Secretary can be found on page 44.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Given the previous history of the Group as a private business, the Board is aware of the interest that some Directors have in other 
businesses in which they have invested. Any conflicts of interest and related party transactions that may arise are monitored by:

•  A list of the other interests of each Executive Director being circulated to the Board at each of its Board Meetings;
•  Each of the Directors are asked to confirm that they have no other interests which would conflict them for the purposes of any 
item to be discussed at the meeting; where such conflict is reported, the respective Director is not permitted to take part in the 
consideration of that matter by the Board;

•  Each Director discloses to the Board any related party transactions in which they are connected, and such transactions are 

reported in the Group’s financial statements.

Whilst Directors on the Board have other business interests, the Board do not consider that these, nor the time commitment that 
they require, affect the ability of such Directors to undertake their role or comply with their statutory obligations. 

BOARD MEETINGS
The Group Company Secretary supports the Chairman in finalising an agenda for each Board meeting and ensuring that 
appropriate papers are provided from the management team in a timely manner for circulation in advance of Board and Board 
Committee meetings. This is to ensure that fully informed decisions can be reached. 

52

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

The Board considers the following standard matters at each of its Board meetings:

•  Operational performance through the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO’s report
•  Financial performance, including monitoring current and forecast trading, cash and debt levels against its expectations 

presented through the CFO report

•  Progress being made on the Group’s key capital development projects and other potential growth opportunities
•  Legal and regulatory matters
• 

Investor relations, including an update in relation to activity in the Company’s shares and principal movements of its 
shareholders

During the course of the 2014 financial year the Board has also considered, as appropriate:

the Group’s half-year and full-year results 
interim management statements

• 
• 
•  updates from the Chair of discussions held at each of the Board Committees
• 
• 
• 
•  Ongoing review of progress in relation to the implementation of the group’s new IT systems
•  Monitoring of progress in relation to the Group’s capital development projects
•  Risk Management and the Group’s approach to risk.

the proposed budget for the following financial year
the Group’s future strategy and potential developments and growth opportunities
the changes made in the Corporate Governance environment

BOARD EFFECTIVENESS
Director Induction
On appointment, directors have the benefit of a personalised induction programme which is undertaken during the first few 
months of their tenure as a director. Each induction programme covers a number of different areas including:

their legal and regulatory responsibilities as directors and the governance environment in which the Company operates

•  briefings and presentations from management to understand the business operations and financial drivers
• 
•  opportunities to visit the Group’s key facilities and new capital development project locations
•  meetings with the Company’s key advisors 

Board information and professional development
The Directors maintain an appropriate dialogue amongst themselves and with senior management, which ensures that Non-
Executive Directors are kept up to date with major developments in the Group’s business. 

Following an initial induction process, it is important that the Non-Executive Directors meet with management and undertake  
visits to operational facilities each year in order to further understand the way the business operates and any change within the 
business. Each of the Non-Executive Directors who have been in office for the full financial year have visited Company facilities  
a number of times in 2014, with particular emphasis on monitoring progress in relation to the Company’s key capital projects and  
to oversee the implementation of improving controls and governance within the Group. 

As part of their overall training and development needs, all of the non-executive directors who have served for the full year agreed  
a 2014 training and professional development plan with the Chairman and have attended externally provided seminars and 
discussion forums during the year relating to their general responsibilities as Directors or areas of specific responsibility, in particular 
in relation to the Board Committees on which they serve. The Directors appointed during the year have undertaken an induction 
program as outlined above. Development plans for all board members will be agreed for 2015.

Performance evaluation
As mentioned above, the Board did not undertake an evaluation of its own performance during the year to 31 December 2014. Given 
that the enhanced Board has been in office since mid-2014, the Board will consider appropriate processes to formally evaluate the 
performance of directors individually and collectively during 2015. 

Election and re-election of directors
All of the directors of the Company submit themselves for re-election at the annual general meeting of the Company to be held  
on 16 June 2015, with the exception of Mr Keyur Nagori, who will seek election at his first annual general meeting as required by the 
Company’s articles of association. Each resolution for re-election or election of a retiring director will be proposed as a separate 
resolution. Whilst a formal performance evaluation has not taken place, the Board confirms that the contribution made by each 
director to board deliberations continues to be effective and that the shareholders of the Company should support their re-election 
or election.  

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

53

Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Independent advice
Each of the directors is permitted to obtain independent legal advice at the Company’s expense in the performance of their duties 
as directors. This would normally be managed through the Group Company Secretary. 

All directors, and the Board as a whole, also have access to the advice and services of the Group Company Secretary who, under 
the Chairman’s direction, is responsible for ensuring that good Board procedures are followed. 

Indemnification of directors
The Company has put in place a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance policy which provides all Board members with insurance 
cover in respect of liabilities that may arise against the Directors collectively or individually. The Directors do not benefit from any 
form of qualifying third party indemnities made by the Company.

BOARD COMMITTEES
The Board has established an Audit Committee, a Clinical Governance Committee, a Nominations Committee and a Remuneration 
Committee. The terms of reference of each committee are available on our website at www.nmchealth.com. Further details in 
relation to these Committees are set out below.

Board and Board Committee attendance in the 2014 financial year
During the period under review, the Board met on nine occasions; six of these meetings were scheduled as full periodic board 
meetings and three meetings were either brief meetings on matters requiring board approval or ad-hoc matters which arise. 
Scheduled periodic Board Meetings are planned in each financial year to be split, where possible, evenly between London and Abu 
Dhabi.

The attendance of the Directors at each of the Board and Committee meetings during the period was as follows:

Board Meetings

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Clinical Governance 
Committee

Nominations Committee

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Dr B.R. Shetty

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Abdulrahman 
Basaddiq

Jonathan Bomford

Lord Clanwilliam

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence

Prasanth Manghat

Keyur Nagori

Binay Shetty

Dr Nandini Tandon

His Excellency Saeed 
Bin Butti

Khalifa Bin Butti

9(9)

8(9)

3(4)

6(7)

9(9)

8(9)

2(4)

7(9)

4(4)

3(4)

4(4)

3(4)

0(3)

0(3)

-

-

2(2)

-

5(5)

3(3)

-

5(5)

-

-

-

-

-

-

2(2)

-

-

3(3)

5(5)

5(5)

2(3)

2(2)

-

-

-

-

-

-

1(1)

-

2(2)

-

1(1)

1(1)

-

3(3)

-

-

2(2)

0(2)

-

-

4(4)

-

-

1(1)

3(3)

4(4)

-

3(3)

-

-

-

-

-

-

*  Note: The number of meetings that each director could have attended during the period under review is noted in brackets. 

Enhancement of Board Committee membership and structure
Prior to June 2014, all of the Board Committees, with the exception of the Audit Committee, had a similar structure with all of the 
Independent Non-Executive Directors being a member of each Board Committee, although each of the Committees had a different 
Chair Person. The Audit Committee was an exception as the Chairman of the Company had resigned as a member of that 
Committee in December 2013.

Following the increase in the number of Directors appointed to the Board, the Board decided that a change in the structure of each 
Board Committee be undertaken. Each of the Board Committees has retained the same Chair Person, but since June 2014 the 
constitution of each Committee has changed such that they have a different membership structure to the other Committees. The 
Board consider that the different experience and cultural diversity of each Committee benefit the work and oversight of each 
Committee and therefore the governance structure of the Board as a whole. 

54

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Audit Committee Chairman foreword
This is my second Audit Committee report since my appointment as Audit Committee Chairman in June 2013. 

2014 has seen further changes in various aspects of UK listed company reporting and governance requirements, and I am pleased 
to report that both management and the audit committee have been committed to ensuring that they have a good 
understanding of these new requirements as they arise. This report sets out the work of the Committee, significant matters 
addressed by the Committee during the year and the responsibilities of, and work undertaken by, the external and internal auditors.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Membership
The Audit Committee has consisted entirely of independent non-executive directors during the year under review. The Audit 
Committee members who have served during the year are:

Audit Committee Member

Position

Period of membership during 2014

Jonathan Bomford 

Audit Committee Chairman and financial 
expert 

Member and Chairman of Audit Committee 
throughout the year

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Independent Non-Executive Director

Heather Lawrence

Independent Non-Executive Director

Lord Clanwilliam

Independent Non-Executive Director

Member of Audit Committee since 26 June 
2014

Member of Audit Committee throughout the 
year

Member of Audit Committee until 26 June 
2014

During the 2014 financial year, the Chairman of the Committee and the Committee’s financial expert is Mr Jonathan Bomford.  
Mr Bomford is a Chartered Accountant and his biographical details and experience are set out on page 38 of the annual report. 

Key role and responsibilities
The key role of the Committee is to ensure that the integrity of published financial information by the Company, and the 
effectiveness of both external and internal audit processes, are appropriate to ensure that the interests of all shareholders are 
protected.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in:

reviewing the Company’s financial results announcements, Annual Report and audited financial statements;

•  discharging its responsibilities with regard to financial reporting, external and internal audits and controls;
• 
•  monitoring the independence and extent of the non-audit work undertaken by the external auditors;
•  making recommendations to the Board on the appointment of external auditors and the level of their remuneration;
• 
•  overseeing the Group’s compliance processes; and
•  undertaking reviews of the Group’s internal controls and risk management systems.

reviewing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal audit activities and internal policies;

The Audit Committee is required to report regularly to the Board of Directors in relation to its findings on the above. The ultimate 
responsibility for reviewing and approving the Company’s Annual Report and audited financial statements and the half yearly 
reports remains with the Directors of the Company.

Committee meetings
The Audit Committee met formally five times during the year. The Meetings are scheduled to align with the Group’s reporting 
timetable with planning meetings in advance of both the half-year review and full-year audit, and approving meetings shortly in 
advance of the announcement of the Group’s half-year and full-year results.

Meetings are normally attended by the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. 
The Chairman and some other Non-Executive Directors also attend some meetings. The Group Company Secretary acts as 
Secretary to the Committee. The Committee also meets separately with the external auditors, the internal auditors and 
management with the other parties not present.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

55

Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Main activities of the Committee during the year
During the year, the Committee has focussed significantly on areas of corporate governance and management of risk. Specific 
items which the Audit Committee discussed during the year included:

•  The implementation of the new ERP financial accounting system.  

The Group is in the process of implementing a new accounting IT system which is designed to ensure a less manual working 
environment than has previously been in existence when the Group was in private ownership. Implementation of the new 
system commenced in 2013 and has been delayed as a result of a number of technical issues arising which have had to be 
resolved. Implementation is now being progressed on a phased basis as regards the specific functions of the new system and 
also the facilities into which the system is being implemented. The Committee has monitored implementation progress and 
asked for the independent verification of certain aspects of the implementation plan for assurance. 

•  Capitalisation of Work-In-Progress 

The capital expenditure programs were reviewed by the Committee regularly. The Committee looked into the costs incurred, 
costs versus budgets, accounting of capitalisation of work in progress and finally the re-classification of such costs to the 
relevant asset category when the project is completed and its disclosure in the financials. During the current year, the Group had 
re-classified three of its projects under development based on the extent to which it was completed and commenced 
operations. The Committee also reviewed the technical paper on the impairment assessment on the capital projects. 

•  Risk Management 

In addition to the evolution of governance processes within the Group, the external focus and increasing Board responsibility in 
relation to risk has resulted in the Committee considering the Group’s approach to risk, its risk appetite and the process through 
which management mitigate the Group’s key risks and uncertainties. These considerations were in the form of either direct 
discussion on risk or indirectly whilst other matters were being discussed. The Committee, on behalf of the Board, will monitor 
the new strategic risk management process that the management team has implemented from 2015, further details of which 
are set out below.

•  The internal audit program.  

• 

Internal Audit Reports are presented at Committee meetings twice a year. During 2014, the internal audit plan has been more 
focussed and has been set to ensure that those areas of key and strategic risks are more closely and independently monitored. 
As part of their work during the year, and given its importance to the Group’s future Control Environment, the Committee 
instructed the Internal Auditors to undertake a review of the implementation plan for the Group’s new ERP Financial system and 
asked them to review and confirm that all principal manual business processes are fully reflected in the new system. 
Internal Control environment. 
Given the lack of robust IT systems in place fully across the Group, the Committee continues to monitor closely the Group’s 
Internal Control Environment and this, and connected issues, were therefore the subject of specific discussions during the year. 
In particular the Committee has been keen to understand the extent to which non-automated processes provide assurance to 
the Board that the Control Environment is effective. The Committee is also keen to ensure that management reflect all good 
and efficient business practices and processes which the businesses have operated under are fully reflected in the 
implementation of the Group’s new IT systems. During the 2015 financial year, the Audit Committee is intending to continue to 
closely monitor the roll-out of the Group’s new financial system, which the Committee sees as the one key element of the 
Group’s future internal control environment.

Other considerations in review of Financial Statements
In addition to the above main activities on which the Committee focussed during the year, the following matters were also 
reviewed as part of the Committee’s consideration, and approval, of the FY2014 Interim Results and this 2014 Annual Report:

•  Revenue recognition 

The Group has a number of revenue streams across both its Healthcare and Distribution businesses. Whilst the Group ordinarily 
acts as principal in relation to its sales, there are a number of areas within both businesses where the recognition of revenue 
has been reviewed to ensure that the correct treatment of principal versus agency revenue has been adopted in all business 
areas. There is a risk that incorrect accounting treatment could be adopted within a particular business unit, for example agency 
revenue being treated as principal revenue. Any error of this nature would affect the Revenue and not the EBITDA of the Group. 
The Committee has reviewed the different treatment adopted by management in each relevant business unit and is 
comfortable with the accounting for revenue across the Group.

•  Trade receivables and other receivables 

The time taken for payers to settle invoices in the UAE is generally longer than would normally be expected in other parts of the 
world. In addition, within the Healthcare division, the vast majority of healthcare customers settle their invoices through medical 
insurance claims. The Group therefore experiences delays in payment as a result of the time taken to process claims through 
insurance companies and to arrange settlement of the claim. In the distribution business, payment delays are experienced from 
bulk retail sales customers and delays in processing bulk discounts and rebates achieved from key suppliers have an additional 
effect on receivables and working capital. The level of both trade and other receivables has been improving following a number 
of actions undertaken by management, but this will continue to be a key focus for the Committee particularly to ensure that 
adequate bad debt provisioning is made.

56

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Internal control
The Committee has reviewed the process by which the Group evaluates its control environment. The CFO provides a report to the 
Audit Committee on the effectiveness of internal controls and confirms to the Committee whether or not he is aware of any 
significant fraud that may have occurred within the business. The internal auditors also undertake a review across a wide range of 
control areas to give the Audit Committee and the Board assurance on the internal control environment.

Risk Management
The Committee has previously reviewed and monitored a detailed register of risks which is produced by management and 
reviewed in conjunction with the Internal Auditors. This risk register is produced in discussions with the Group’s operating facilities. 
As detailed below in the section on risk mitigation, the Audit Committee has considered an enhanced risk management structure 
recommended by management under which the Group’s key risks are reviewed alongside the macro-economic environment 
within which the Group operates to establish a Strategic Risk Register. This register will be reviewed by the Audit Committee and 
the Board as part of their standard processes. Further details on strategic risks are set out on page 26.

Internal audit
A review of the work undertaken by the Group’s internal auditors is an agenda item for the majority of Audit Committee meetings. 
The internal auditors report to the Committee their findings together with action plans to resolve any matters which they believe 
require to be addressed. Action plans are graded with key high risk matters taking priority to be resolved. 

External audit and auditor independence
The Committee believes that the effectiveness of the external audit is dependent on the identification of key risks during the 
financial year under review. EY produces and discusses with the Committee a detailed audit plan identifying these key risks, the 
focus of audit procedures and the work to be done to test management’s assumptions and accounting treatment in these areas. 

The Committee meets separately with the External Auditors to ensure that an independent dialogue is maintained in relation to 
monitoring key business and financial risks and to ensure that management have not restricted the scope of their audit. The Audit 
Committee Chairman also meets with the lead audit partner on a number of occasions during the year outside the formality of 
Audit Committee meetings.

The Committee discusses separately with management matters arising from the audit process and also to assess their view of 
the effectiveness of the audit work being undertaken. 

The Committee did not undertake a formal review of the effectiveness of the external audit during the year although the Audit 
Committee and the external auditors discussed the audit process in detail, including matters which had worked well and areas of 
improvement in audit process for FY2014. 

Auditor fees and appointment
EY were appointed as auditor to the Company at the time of the Company’s IPO in April 2012. The Company agreed a basis for audit 
fees for the three year period of 2012, 2013 and 2014 and agreed that, subject to their annual re-appointment by shareholders, EY 
would remain as Auditors to the Group for those financial years. The level of audit fees paid in relation to the 2014 financial year is 
set out in note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Non-Audit fees
During FY2014, the level of non-audit fees, excluding the fees for the half-year review, amounted to a total of US$0.19m. 

The Audit Committee has adopted a non-audit fees policy whereby it will only permit such fees in circumstances where they feel 
that use of the auditor firm is necessary, appropriate or efficient, and has delegated authority to the CFO to agree such projects 
subject to a strict cap on fees in relation to each financial year.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

57

Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Auditor Independence
The Audit Committee formally reviewed the independence of the Company’s auditor, EY, during the period under review. The 
review took account of the relationship between management and the audit team, the processes that EY have in place internally 
to ensure objectivity and independence and also the level of non-audit fees incurred during the year. 

As part of this review the Committee reviewed the potential threats to auditor independence as a result of:

•  auditor self-interests, being those areas where the auditor may have a financial or other interest in the Company;
•  auditor self-review, being areas where the results of non-audit services are reflected in the amounts included or disclosed in the 

financial statements;

•  management threats, which may occur if partners or employees of the auditor take decision on behalf of management; and
•  Other threats, such as familiarity and intimidation.

The Audit Committee is satisfied that in all areas sufficient safeguards were adopted by the auditor and that the independence of 
EY and of the audit engagement partner had not been compromised. There is no limitation of liability in the terms of appointment 
of the Auditor for the audit of the Company’s financial statements.

Jonathan Bomford, FCA
On behalf of the Audit Committee

58

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Clinical Governance Committee Chair foreword
The Clinical Governance Committee was established in June 2013 and has met regularly to provide independent Board oversight in 
the key area of Clinical Governance. The Committee works with the Group Medical Director and Vice President – Quality and 
Standards to ensure that the governance structure within the healthcare business is appropriate to ensure that clinical care is 
enhanced and that clinical quality indicators are monitored. This oversight is designed to mitigate as far as possible the risks 
associated with operating a healthcare organisation.

Dr G.V.J. Prabhakar joined NMC Healthcare towards the end of 2013 and during 2014 he has focussed on enhancing the monitoring of 
quality and standards within the Healthcare Division. Good progress has been made during the year with the majority of key clinical 
care indicators improving, a wider range of clinical care indicators being monitored and a governance structure being implemented 
in each of the Group’s new healthcare facilities. The rate of progress in the evolution of healthcare regulation in the UAE has also 
increased and the Committee is delighted with the determination of management to keep up to date with regulatory change 
ensuring that the Group is well positioned in its compliance with all regulatory requirements. 

The Quality team and clinical care monitoring within the business is being further enhanced which will give further assurance to 
management and the Board in relation to clinical risk mitigation. I would like to thank my fellow Committee members for their 
contribution during the year and Dr C.R. Shetty, Dr G.V.J. Prabhakar and the NMC Quality and Standards team for the excellent work 
which they continue to do. 

Clinical Governance Committee 
The Committee was established by the Board to provide assurance to shareholders that the key risk of clinical care and quality 
associated with the Group’s healthcare business is independently monitored. 

The Committee consists of a majority of Independent Non-Executive Directors during the period under review. The Clinical 
Governance Committee members who have served during the year are:

Clinical Governance  Committee Member

Position

Period of membership during 2014

Heather Lawrence

Clinical Governance Committee Chair

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Independent Non-Executive Director

Binay Shetty

Non-Executive Director

Dr Nandini Tandon

Independent Non-Executive Director

Lord Clanwilliam

Independent Non-Executive Director

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Jonathan Bomford 

Independent Non-Executive Director

Member and Chair of Clinical Governance 
Committee for the full financial year

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
since 26 June 2014

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
since 26 June 2014

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
since 26 June 2014

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
until 26 June 2014

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
until 26 June 2014

Member of Clinical Governance Committee 
until 26 June 2014

Meetings of the Committee are scheduled three times per financial year. In addition to the Clinical Governance Committee 
members, the Group Medical Director and Vice President – Quality and Standards attend each meeting. The Group Company 
Secretary is Secretary to the Committee.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Key role and responsibilities
The key role of the Committee is to oversee governance structures, processes and controls in relation to Clinical matters in place 
within the Group healthcare operations. This is to ensure that the risks associated with clinical care are mitigated in the interests of 
the Company and its stakeholders, including shareholders.

Specific responsibilities of the Committee, and work undertaken by it during the year, include: 

•  Ensuring processes and controls are in place across the NMC Healthcare hospitals to promote safety and excellence in patient 

care and manage risks arising from clinical care on a continuing basis;

•  Review the systems of clinical governance, monitoring that they operate effectively and that action is being taken to address 

any areas of concern;

•  Review clinical performance indicators quarterly to gain assurance; 
•  Reviewing the governance structures and KPI monitoring put in place in the Group’s new healthcare facilities, Brightpoint Royal 

Women’s Hospital and NMC General Hospital in DIP, including KPIs and clinical guidelines used to monitor performance; 

•  Consideration of the procedures in place within NMC facilities and implemented by the Health Authorities in the UAE to deal with 

any incidence or outbreak of Ebola in the country; and

•  Review compliance to local Health Authority requirements and standards as well as reviewing the implications of any new 

regulations which are adopted from time to time.

An outline of the Clinical Governance and Quality framework in place within the Healthcare division, and the primary initiatives that 
the business has undertaken during the year to improve the level of quality and patient care are set out in the Corporate Social 
Responsibility Statement on pages 27 to 33.

The establishment of the Clinical Governance Committee was undertaken as a result of an appreciation of the clinical risks faced 
by the Group. As a result the Committee is a key aspect of the Group’s internal control environment. 

The Chair of the Clinical Governance Committee is also a member of the Audit Committee which assists in ensuring that the two 
committees interact providing an overall control and governance framework to manage the Group’s key clinical risks. 

Heather Lawrence, OBE
For and on behalf of the Clinical Governance Committee

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Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE 
Details of the Remuneration Committee, its membership and its role and responsibilities, is set out in the Remuneration Report on 
pages 67 to 85.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
The Nominations Committee has consisted of a majority of Independent Non-Executive Directors during the year under review.  
The Nominations Committee members who have served during the year are:

Nominations Committee Member

Position

Period of membership during 2013

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Nominations Committee Chairman

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

Non-Executive Director

Lord Clanwilliam

Independent Non-Executive Director

Heather Lawrence

Independent Non-Executive Director

Jonathan Bomford 

Independent Non-Executive Director

The Nominations Committee has a role to assist the Board in:

Member and Chairman of Nominations 
throughout the year

Member of Nominations Committee since 
26 June 2014

Member of Nominations Committee 
throughout the year

Member of Nominations Committee until 
26 June 2014

Member of Nominations Committee until 
26 June 2014

reviewing and making recommendations to the Board in relation to its structure, size and composition;
reviewing succession planning in place for senior management;

• 
• 
•  determining the appropriate skills and characteristics required of directors; identifying individuals qualified to become Board 

• 

members and recommending such individuals to the Board;
recommending individuals to be considered for election as Directors at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or to fill 
vacancies; and

•  preparing a description of the experience and capabilities required for a particular Board appointment.

The Committee will also undertake annual reviews of the composition of the Board and assess various attributes of each Board 
member. Whilst the composition of the Board was considered by the Committee during 2014, reviews have not yet been 
undertaken in relation to the attributes of each Board member. Such reviews will be part of the Board’s appraisal and effectiveness 
review program when this commences. 

The Nominations Committee met four times during 2014. The matters considered by the Committee included:

•  The recommendation for the appointment of new Directors to the Board in June 2014.
•  The change in the senior management structure announced by the Company in October 2014. 

Other than in relation to specific matters which the Nominations Committee will be required to discuss, it is expected that the 
Nominations Committee will meet at least once in each financial year, or otherwise as requested by any member of the 
Committee. The Committee would expect to meet to consider appropriate candidates to fill any vacancy created on the Board 
should such a vacancy arise or be considered appropriate given other skills and experience on the Board. The Committee will also 
meet to review progress on the implementation of a new board appraisal and effectiveness review and any effect the results of 
such review has on the structure of the Board.

The duties and activities of the Committee during the year will be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report and audited financial 
statements each year.

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Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Company is committed to communicating with shareholders and stakeholders and to be available to meet with shareholders 
who require additional explanation of any matter which is of concern to them.

The Chairman and Senior Independent Non-Executive Director are also available, either through contacting the Company Secretary 
or at the Company’s Annual General Meeting, to discuss any matters within their areas of responsibility or where individuals do not 
feel it is possible to discuss these matters with management. 

During 2014, the Company has continued to focus on its formal program of investor interaction including one-to-one meetings with 
institutional investors, investor days and attendance at investor conferences. Mr Roy Cherry, who is the Head of Strategy & Investor 
Relations and a member of the senior management team leads these efforts. 

In relation to the financial year ended 31 December 2014, the Company issued its half year unaudited results, two interim 
management statements and a pre-close trading update prior to entering the close period at the end of the first half of the 
financial year. 

Aside from direct shareholder meetings, the principal ongoing communication with shareholders will be through the publication of 
the Company’s Annual report and audited financial statements, Interim Results and Interim Management Statements, together 
with the opportunity to question the Board and Committees at the AGM. Financial Results presentations are made available on the 
Company’s Investor Relations website. Shareholders are encouraged to attend the AGM and if unable to do so are encouraged to 
vote by proxy. The Chairman and other board members meet regularly with the Company’s brokers and/or other healthcare sector 
specialists to remain up to date with shareholder views and sector developments. 

The Company has an investor relations section on its corporate website, www.nmchealth.com. This has been updated regularly 
with information that the Company considers relevant to its investors. Additionally, the number of analysts monitoring the 
Company and issuing notes in relation to their forecasts and expectations for the group continues to increase.

INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Financial and operational controls
The Group has for nearly 40 years grown into a substantial business and a leader in the provision of private healthcare, as well as 
operating a substantial distribution business, in the United Arab Emirates. The Group is a regulated business operating many clinical 
and quality controls processes. Not unusually for a Group which was until recent years a private business, the financial and 
operational performance was monitored closely by a senior management team prior to IPO without the benefit of formal written 
policies and governance procedures. 

Following the Company’s IPO in 2012, the management team has been progressively:

incorporating additional key internal controls into its financial and operational processes;
implementing new policies and procedures covering all aspects of the Group’s accounting policies and controls;

• 
• 
•  extending its Quality Team and the Group’s Quality and Clinical Governance processes; 
•  ensuring that Group’s Internal Audit function reviews and monitors key business processes; and
•  developing new financial and hospital management IT systems. 

All of these changes are part of an overall process to improve the Governance structure within the Group and to improve further 
the Group’s formal internal control processes. 

The key elements of the Groups’ internal controls are as follows:

•  An annual budget and updated long-term forecasts for the Group that identifies risks and opportunities which are reviewed and 

approved by the Board.

•  Monthly meetings at which the senior management team review Group financial and operational performance, progress on 

capital projects and other principal functional areas of the business.

•  A system of internal monthly operational and financial reporting which includes monthly comparison of results and against 
budget and forecast, a review of KPIs, each discussed with additional management commentary and the reporting of key 
matters arising within the business during the month under review. The Group has a very flat organisational hierarchy resulting 
in an easy flow of information throughout the organisational structure. Communication of exceptional items happens naturally.
•  A defined process for controlling capital expenditure, including appropriate authorisation levels, which is monitored and approved 

by the Board as appropriate.

•  Medical Directors’ meetings to monitor clinical governance procedures.
•  The production of quarterly and annual Quality reports. 

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Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

•  An effective externally provided internal audit programme which independently assists management in identifying key risks to 

the Group and monitors those risks through a programme agreed with both management and the Audit Committee.
•  The independent oversight provided by the Company’s Board Committees, in particular the Audit Committee in relation to 

financial related matters and the Clinical Governance Committee in relation to clinical matters.

•  An appropriate approach to decentralisation within the Group. Each healthcare facility has a Medical Director and Head of 

Administration who are accountable for the operation of the facility. Both Healthcare and Distribution divisions have Financial 
Controllers and a finance team and are managed through fundamental activities of planning, executing and checking. The 
strategic direction of all operations is governed by the corporate office. All banking, treasury, procurement and payment 
processing is centralised within Group functions, but accounting for payments is decentralised. The management team believes 
that these divisions of responsibility provide a natural check and balance across all internal control areas.

•  A delegation of authority which provides that very few individuals within the organisation have payment approval authority. 

Access to cash is also restricted to very few individuals. All material payments are restricted to the senior management team. 

Risk appetite
As there are multiple risks associated with the healthcare sector, the process of risk management is an essential mechanism to 
enable risk based decision making process. The Board of Directors at NMC recognizes that complete risk control/avoidance is 
impossible, but that risks can be reduced by putting the right controls and mitigations in place as well as agreeing on a threshold for 
risk taking (risk appetite). 

Risk appetite provides a structure within which opportunities can be pursued by setting out which, why and how much risk NMC is 
willing to take. The NMC leadership team has approved a set of risk appetite statements covering different views on the risk 
landscape surrounding NMC’s business environment whilst addressing various risk classes. For each risk class, Key Risk Indicators 
(KRIs) were articulated to alert against unacceptable loss events. 

The purpose of setting limits and triggers is to avoid concentrations of risk which would be out of line with internal or external 
expectations and to:

•  keep business activities aligned to the strategic goals of NMC;
•  ensure activities remain of an appropriate scale relative to the underlying risk andreward;
•  ensure risk-taking is supported by appropriate expertise and capabilities.

General Risk Appetite Statement
The Board of Directors will not accept any risks that would cause losses due to:

•  malpractice, 
•  significant decline in patient satisfaction rate, 
•  brand damages, 
•  hospital acquired infections, 
•  decrease in the utilization rate for outpatient clinics, 
•  uncontrolled discharge for inpatients,
•  downtime of life saving/ sustaining systems, 
• 
•  non-compliance with internal and/or external controls and standards/ regulatory bodies, 
•  sensitive information/ patient record confidentiality breach/ loss,
• 
• 
•  acquisitions, which are expected to be accretive and not dilutive.

loss of sole distribution partnership agreement,
loss of key staff/ key specialities in NMC,

inaccuracy of patients’ records, 

NMC Board of Directors has approved a set of thresholds which relates to multiple business dimensions in the Healthcare and 
Distribution divisions to protect shareholders’ value. Any areas falling short of the agreed indicators should be highlighted to 
management for action. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Approach to risk mitigation
As a regulated business, the Group operates within a framework of managing all elements of risk which arise within the Group. As a 
result there are a number of ways in which the Company monitors its keys risks and considers independent review of such risks to 
be beneficial to the Group.

Internal Audit
The Group have appointed Crowe Horwath as Internal Auditors to the Group. The Internal Auditors report directly to the Chairman of 
the Audit Committee but work in conjunction with the CFO. Their reports to the Audit Committee are received and discussed at 
Audit Committee meetings twice a year, in June and December.

Following the completion of each review, the internal auditors identify areas for remedial action and the required action plans are 
discussed and agreed with management. The internal auditors present the reviews and the agreed management action plans for 
any remedies to the Audit Committee and then monitor the implementation of any required changes on behalf of the Audit 
Committee. 

The consideration by the management team of the key risks faced by the Group is crucial to the work to be undertaken by the 
Internal Auditors. Management consider such risks before discussing with the internal auditors their planned areas of focus for 
reviews in each financial year. The Internal Audit plan for each year is agreed with the Audit Committee. 

Risk Management Process
The Group’s risk management process has primarily been driven by scrutiny of a register of significant risks which is produced by 
management and reviewed in conjunction with the Internal Auditors. This risk register is produced in discussions with the Group’s 
operating facilities. Towards the end of 2014, management decided to enhance the Group’s risk management process by engaging 
with PwC to independently review the Group’s key risks alongside the macro-economic environment within which the Group 
operates and to work with management and the Board in establishing a Strategic Risk Register. 

The Strategic Risk Register, which is the basis for the list of principal risks and uncertainties which are set out on page 26, will be 
reviewed and maintained on an ongoing basis by management, with the Board retaining oversight over the Register and the risk 
management process.

Quality and Regulatory oversight
Aside of financial risks, the Board is aware that as a significant healthcare business it is subject to a range of risks related to clinical 
care and quality. 

The Healthcare division, and elements of the Distribution division, are regulated by governmental and non-governmental 
organisations. The key regulatory framework is set out in the UAE Economy and Healthcare Market section of the Group Strategic 
Report. In summary:

•  Each Healthcare facility is licensed by one of four regulatory bodies which exist in the UAE. The regulatory bodies monitor 

performance and clinical procedures against its regulations, key metrics and guidelines;

•  Each of the Group’s three Specialty Hospitals is accredited by Joint Commission International, an internationally renowned 

organisation monitoring clinical metrics and quality of patient care;

•  The distribution of pharmaceuticals is controlled through the UAE Ministry of Health;
•  The majority of the Group’s healthcare revenue results from medical insurance arrangements. The Group’s contractual 

arrangements with insurance providers include the monitoring of claims processing and clinical outcomes.

The Group has a Quality Team which operates in both the Healthcare and Distribution divisions. Quarterly and annual Quality 
reports monitor performance against a range of key KPIs based on clinical quality and safety metrics. 

The Board has created a Clinical Governance Committee which independently monitors at Board level the work of the Quality 
Department and the clinical team within the Healthcare business. 

Further detail in relation to the approach of the Healthcare division in relation to Quality and Safety is set out in the Corporate Social 
Responsibility section on pages 27 to 33. The work of the Clinical Governance Committee is set out on pages 59 to 60.

Independent Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is an independent committee of the Board and reviews, directly and indirectly, key risk factors and how those 
risks are mitigated. The work of the Audit Committee is set out on pages 55 to 58.

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Effectiveness of Internal Controls
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s systems of internal control and on behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee has 
been engaged in the process of ensuring that management have established continuous processes for identifying, evaluating and 
managing the risks the Group faces. These processes include the reporting from the finance department on Group performance, 
the work of the internal auditors and issues identified by the external auditors to the extent covered by their audit work. The Board 
is responsible for monitoring the ongoing effectiveness of these systems and for conducting a formal annual review of the 
effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls. 

A system of internal controls is designed to manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure to meet business objectives and is 
designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

In reviewing the effectiveness of the internal controls in place during the year, the Audit Committee considered, amongst other 
matters, manual controls in place, the independence of the separate operating units, the delegation of authority, the balance of 
centralised and decentralised systems and the reporting process in relation to exceptional items.

The Audit Committee has noted that the Group does not operate under a fully integrated high end IT environment and therefore an 
element of manual intervention is prevalent within the Group. The Board has approved the implementation of a new Hospital 
Information System which, together with the implementation of the new ERP financial system, will result in a new integrated IT 
system becoming fully functional across the Group.

The Board notes that the implementation of new IT systems will not change the level of controls inherent in the business, but they 
will remove elements of manual intervention from financial and operational processes. Management have taken time to ensure 
that all previous business processes are captured within the new IT systems. The roll out of the new ERP system into the 
Healthcare division is progressing. There have been challenges in relation to the roll out of the ERP system into the Distribution 
division as a result of the volume and types of transactions to be captured, but these challenges are in the process of being 
resolved. The full roll-out of the new ERP system has therefore been delayed from its original target date in the interests of ensuring 
that the system is compatible with the best standards of assurance. The completion of the implementation of the ERP system is 
expected in 2015. 

The Group continues to enhance its Internal Control practices and environment and as part of that progression has also revised its 
Delegation of Authority matrix keeping in line with the current requirements. 

In November 2014, the group carried out a strategic risk management review with the assistance of a third party, PwC, the findings 
of which, including the mitigating factors and its ongoing review, were discussed and deliberated by the Board. The Group’s 
strategic risks are included in the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section on page 26 and the description of the Group’s risk 
appetite on page 63.

The Board has reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal controls for the 2014 financial year, in light of the key 
elements of the Group’s internal controls outlined above. Given the additional internal controls that have been incorporated into the 
Group’s financial and operational reporting process, such that sufficient internal controls were in place to monitor the Group’s key 
risks, the Board believes, having evaluated the effectiveness of the internal controls and procedures, that these were effective 
during the period covered by this report. The Board also believes that the process undertaken by the Board and its Committees to 
monitor the internal control environment, accords with the guidance provided in Internal Control: Revised Guidance for Directors on 
the Combined Code.

OTHER GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Whistleblowing Policy
A confidential whistleblowing procedure is in operation allow employees to raise concerns of possible improprieties in relation to 
either operational or financial conduct. 

Employees have been provided with a copy of this policy and are aware of the significance of it. New employees receive training on 
all company policies and procedures as part of their induction program. A copy of the policy is included on the Company’s 
employee intranet. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

65

 
 
Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
CONTINUED

Bribery Act 2010
The Group has an Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy which applies to all directors and employees of all Group Companies. The 
Policy, which has been communicated to all employees, includes clear statements setting out the Group’s Anti-Bribery measures 
and Anti-Corruption culture. Practical guidance has been issued in relation to specific circumstances considered to be most relevant 
to Group employees. These include guidance notes for clinical staff attending pharmaceutical and training and development 
conferences in relation to entertainment and other possible inducements, as well as guidance notes in relation to the receipt of free 
products and equipment and how such products and incentives may affect clinical judgement. Specific guidance has also been 
provided in relation to the provision of sales incentives to senior sales and marketing staff within our Distribution division. 

New employees receive training on all company policies and procedures as part of their induction program. A copy of the policy is 
included on the Company’s employee intranet.

The Corporate Governance Report set out on pages 49 to 66 has been approved by the Board and is signed on its behalf by:

H.J. Mark Tompkins
Chairman

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014
Letter from the Remuneration Committee Chairman

Dear Shareholder,

I am pleased to present to you our Directors’ Remuneration Report for the 2014 financial year.

In the Directors’ Remuneration Report for 2013, and in accordance with new regulations in relation to listed company disclosures on 
Directors’ remuneration, we set out the Company’s Directors’ Remuneration Policy.

The Directors’ Remuneration policy was submitted for approval at the Company’s Annual General Meeting held on 26 June 2014 and 
I was delighted that our policy was approved by shareholders, with 97.5% of votes validly cast were in favour of our proposals. I would 
like to thank all shareholders for their continuing support in this area. 

There are no proposed changes in our Directors’ Remuneration Policy for 2015 and therefore the Policy is not required to be set out  
in full and submitted for further approval at this year’s Annual General Meeting. However, to assist shareholders we have included  
a summary of our Directors’ Remuneration Policy within this Directors’ Remuneration Report as well as explaining how this policy 
will be implemented in 2015 and disclosing the remuneration earned by Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors in 2014.

INCENTIVE ARRANGEMENTS
Following the finalisation of our remuneration policy with the introduction of short and long-term incentive arrangements, the 
executive remuneration structure now fully reflects our philosophy which is to provide competitive remuneration packages which 
reward strong performance in line with our short and long term objectives. 

The use of performance based incentives, a significant part of which is delivered in shares, seeks to align the interests of 
management with those of our shareholders and reflects market practice in the listed environment in which we now operate. 

The operation of the Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP) was amended slightly in 2014 with a wider range of financial and operational 
measures being included, focussed on the Board’s key aims for the year. The Company’s strong growth in 2014, together with good 
progress in the opening of new facilities and our continued focus on clinical safety and patient care, has led to bonuses of between 
71.25% and 75.0% for the senior management team for the 2014 financial year.

We have also granted awards under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) for the first time in 2014. The LTIP is an  
integral part of the remuneration structure and ensures that Executive Directors and Senior Management work towards improved 
performance in the longer term and therefore become aligned with shareholders’ interests. The use of Earnings per share growth 
and comparative Total Shareholder Return targets will ensure management focus on longer term performance.

The operation of both the STIP and LTIP are detailed in this Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

ALIGNMENT OF BASE PAY
No base pay increases were awarded to any of the Executive Directors or Senior Management during the 2014 financial year. 
Towards the end of 2014, the Remuneration Committee (the Committee) undertook a detailed benchmarking exercise with its 
advisors. The benchmarking exercise for UAE based executives was undertaken by a Middle East consultancy firm and took 
account of base salaries and related remuneration packages for similar roles available in the UAE. The Committee concluded that 
base salaries were significantly behind the desired positioning taking into account market practice, the scope and responsibilities of 
the roles and the performance of the individuals. To address this, the Committee decided to increase base salary for the Executive 
Directors and Senior Management with effect from 1 January 2015. The Executive Vice Chairman & CEO’s base salary was increased 
from £255,000 to £300,000 (a 17.6% increase). The Deputy CEO’s salary was increased from £200,000 to £260,000 (a 30.0% increase) 
reflecting the increase in the scope of his role following his move from CFO to Deputy CEO. 

BOARD CHANGES
Both Mr Khalifa Bin Butti and Mr Binay Shetty decided to step down from their Executive roles during the year. Binay Shetty received 
an end of service benefit of US$58.8k. No additional payments were made to them as a result of their departure in line with the 
Company’s policy in such circumstances. However, both Mr Bin Butti and Mr Shetty relinquished their Executive roles with the 
Board’s very best wishes.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014
Letter from the Remuneration Committee Chairman
CONTINUED

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CHANGES
Finally, we have made a number of changes to the membership of the Remuneration Committee during the year made possible 
following the enlargement of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Committee is now structured with both UK and UAE 
representation providing a good geographic and cultural balance to discussions on Executive Remuneration matters. 

I would like to express my appreciation for the input of all my fellow Remuneration Committee members, both past and present, 
during the year and for their support and work in implementing a balanced and effective remuneration structure over the last two 
years.

Lord Clanwilliam
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014

INTRODUCTION 
This Directors’ Remuneration Report summarises the Company’s policy on Executive remuneration, the structure and role of the 
Remuneration Committee and, in the Annual Remuneration Report section, details of how our remuneration policy was 
implemented for the year ended 31 December 2014 and how we intend for the policy to apply for the year ending 31 December 2015. 
The Annual Remuneration Report will be subject to an advisory shareholder vote at the 2015 AGM.

Within the Directors’ Remuneration Report, there is reference to a number of incentive plans used by the Company within the 
Executive Remuneration structure. The plans used are as follows:

•  Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP) – used to deliver an annual bonus to Executive Directors and Senior Management based on 

performance for the financial year under review.

•  Deferred Share Bonus Plan – it is the Committee’s current policy that 50% of any bonus earned under the STIP is paid in shares 
which are retained and released after a period of three years. The Deferred Share Bonus Plan is therefore not an additional 
incentive arrangement, but the vehicle used to deliver the share portion of STIP bonuses earned.

•  Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – used to deliver rewards to Executive Directors and Senior Management based on performance 

over a three year period.

Where the information is subject to audit this is identified in the relevant heading.

THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
Membership
The Remuneration Committee consists of four Non-Executive Directors, three of whom are Independent Non-Executive Directors, 
with an Independent Non-Executive Director holding the chairmanship of the Committee. During the 2014 financial year, the 
following have served as members of the Committee:

Chairman:

Lord Clanwilliam

Committee members:

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

(from 26 June 2014)

Jonathan Bomford

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence

H.J. Mark Tompkins

(from 26 June 2014)

(until 26 June 2014)

(until 26 June 2014)

The Chairman of the Company is invited to attend Committee meetings. Whilst the Chief Executive Officer does not generally 
attend Remuneration Committee meetings, the Chairman of the Committee discussed proposed remuneration policies with him 
during their formulation. The Deputy CEO may attend Remuneration Committee meetings to discuss certain items at the request 
of the Committee but is not present when his own remuneration is discussed.

The Group Company Secretary acts as Secretary to the Remuneration Committee and provides advice to the Committee on 
Corporate Governance aspects relating to remuneration matters. He also provides assistance to the Chairman of the Committee 
as required in discussions with the Remuneration Committee advisers and on implementation of Committee decisions. The Group 
Company Secretary is not present when his own remuneration is discussed.

Role and responsibility
The Remuneration Committee assists the Board in

•  making recommendations to the Board on the Company’s framework of executive remuneration, including the use of incentive 

arrangements within that framework; and

•  determining on the Board’s behalf the entire individual remuneration packages for each Executive Director and the senior 

management team.

All other recommendations must be referred to the Board for approval. In setting remuneration for senior management, the 
Committee has considered market practice in the UAE and are aware of remuneration structures existing for employees who are 
below senior management level. The Committee understands the need to incentivise executives appropriately, whilst ensuring 
that higher rewards are only achieved for exceptional performance.

No Committee member is permitted to participate in any discussion or decision regarding his/her own remuneration. The 
remuneration of non-executive directors is a matter for consideration by the Chairman of the Company, assisted by the 
Remuneration Committee Chairman, and the Executive Directors. 

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

The Remuneration Committee terms of reference clearly set out its authority and duties and were approved by the Board prior to 
IPO. The terms of reference are available on the Investor Relations section of the Group’s website at www.nmchealth.com, or by 
contacting the Group Company Secretary. 

Support and External Advice
The Remuneration Committee seeks and considers advice from Deloitte LLP, independent remuneration advisers. Deloitte provides 
no other advisory role to the Group. Deloitte were appointed by the Remuneration Committee and have acted as advisors to the 
Company since 2012, specifically providing the Committee with objective and independent advice on executive remuneration 
matters. Deloitte is a founding member of the Remuneration Consultants’ Group and, as such, voluntarily operates under the code 
of conduct in relation to executive remuneration consulting in the UK. The Committee is satisfied that the advice they have 
received from Deloitte during the year has been objective and independent. The Committee is satisfied that the Deloitte LLP 
engagement partner and team, which provide remuneration advice to the Committee, do not have connections with NMC that 
might impair their independence. The Committee reviewed the potential for conflicts of interest and judged that there were 
appropriate safeguards against such conflicts.

The Chairman has direct access to Deloitte as and when required. The Group Company Secretary liaises with Deloitte as required to 
ensure that all Committee requests and decisions are dealt with and implemented, but does so under the guidance of the 
Remuneration Committee Chairman. Deloitte attend meetings of the Committee as required.

During the year, Deloitte provided the following services and advice to the Committee:

•  Latest market practice and trends in relation to remuneration practices in FTSE250 companies;
•  An update of the governance structure and latest shareholder views in relation to remuneration policies and practice;
•  Assistance in reviewing and setting the targets used for the operation of the 2014 STIP and the initial award grants under the 

Deferred Bonus Plan in relation to the 2013 STIP; and

•  The setting of targets, composition of an appropriate comparator group for use in measuring Company performance and the 

granting of awards under the LTIP, used for the first time in 2014.

Deloitte received fees of £39.3k (charged on a time plus expenses basis) for advice received during the year.

The Committee also received market data from Hay Group, an independent third party organisation, in relation to the 
benchmarking of UAE Executive Director and Senior Management remuneration at a cost of $7.5k.

Meetings
The Remuneration Committee met formally five times during the period under review, in addition to a number of discussions held 
informally during the year whilst the structure and implementation of the new incentive arrangements were being discussed. 

The significant discussions in relation to the structure of Executive Director and Senior Management remuneration had taken place 
during 2013. Therefore the Committee’s primary discussions during the year related to the operation of each element of the 
Executive remuneration package and specifically in relation to:

•  A review of the STIP following the first year of operation which resulted in a number of amendments to the measures used to 

assess performance in the year, but not to the structure of the STIP;

•  Consideration of the structure of the LTIP which commenced in 2014, including the quantum of awards and the performance 

conditions to apply to LTIP awards made;

•  The granting of initial share awards under both the Deferred Bonus Plan and the LTIP; 
•  A benchmarking exercise undertaken towards the end of 2014 which led to salary reviews for all members of senior 

management, including the Executive Directors, with effect from 1 January 2015; and

•  Consideration of matters relating to the resignation of both Khalifa Bin Butti and Binay Shetty from their Executive roles during 

the year. 

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Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Assessment of risk and key priorities
The Committee is aware of the need to be mindful of potential risks associated with elements of executive remuneration. The 
Committee is keen to ensure that variable remuneration is not structured in such a way as to encourage the taking of undue 
business risks for the purposes of achieving higher remuneration. 

The remuneration structure ensures that an appropriate reward system is in place, but considers that the incentive structure 
mitigates key business risks as follows:

• 
• 
• 

the deferral of 50% of STIP awards into shares for a three year period; 
the initial share awards made under the LTIP in 2014 will encourage focus on long term share value enhancement;
the STIP includes both financial and operational measures, with differing targets for various individuals, which the Committee 
believe are key to the success of the Company in a particular financial year;

•  market practice malus provisions allow the Company to forfeit the delivery of share related benefits to plan participants.  

The Committee is reviewing the malus and clawback provisions for incentive arrangements in light of the recent changes  
to the UK Corporate Governance Code.

SUMMARY OF DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY 
The following provides a summary of the Company’s approved remuneration policy for Executive and Non-Executive Directors  
and is not subject to audit. The full Directors’ Remuneration Policy, as approved by shareholders at the 2014 AGM, can be found at 
www.nmchealth.com/shareholder-information/ 

Executive Director Remuneration 
The table below summarises the remuneration package provided to our Executive Directors.

Remuneration element

Base salary

Benefits

Purpose and link to 
remuneration strategy

To attract and retain 
management of the 
calibre required to deliver 
the Group’s strategy 
without paying more 
than is necessary. 

To reward executives for 
the performance of their 
role. 

To provide benefits that 
are competitive relative 
to the employee’s local 
market. 

Retirement benefits

To provide a market 
competitive retirement 
benefit. 

Operation 

Maximum opportunity 

Performance measures 

Salaries are reviewed 
annually. 

There is no maximum 
salary level. 

None, although an 
individual’s performance 
in the role will be 
considered when 
reviewing base salary 
levels. 

When setting base 
salaries, consideration is 
given to a number of 
factors including 
individual and 
performance and local 
market conditions.

The Group provides a 
range of benefits which 
reflect typical benefits 
offered in the UAE 
including family 
accommodation, Private 
Medical Insurance and 
Life and Permanent 
Health Insurance cover.

The Company currently 
does not operate any 
pension arrangements, 
but an end of service 
benefit, payable to the 
employee when he 
leaves the Group, is 
accrued annually in 
accordance with local 
UAE laws.

None. 

The cost of benefit 
provision will depend on 
the cost to the Company 
of providing individual 
items and the individual’s 
circumstances and 
therefore there is no 
maximum value.

None. 

The Committee will 
determine the level of 
benefit based on local 
market practice, 
individual’s circumstances 
and their role.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

Remuneration element

Purpose and link to 
remuneration strategy

Operation 

Maximum opportunity 

Performance measures 

STIP

LTIP

The maximum bonus 
opportunity is 100% of 
base salary.

Performance is based  
on a mix of key financial, 
operational/strategic 
metrics and individual 
KPIs measured over one 
financial year.

To provide an annual 
bonus to attract, retain 
and motivate senior 
executives of the calibre 
required to manage the 
business and to align  
the interests of senior 
executives with those  
of shareholders by linking 
a significant proportion  
of the potential 
remuneration to 
performance and delivery 
of strategic objectives.

Bonus measures and 
performance targets are 
set annually dependent 
on the deemed strategic 
priorities for that year. 

The annual bonus is 
normally paid 50% in cash 
and 50% is deferred into 
Company shares which 
vest three years from 
award subject to 
continued employment. 

Malus provisions apply.

To incentivise long-term 
value creation and 
exceptional business 
performance through  
the achievement of 
stretching Group  
financial targets. 

Awards vest based on 
performance measured 
over a three year period 
against set targets. 

Awards are subject to 
malus provisions. 

Maximum award is 
normally 150% of base 
salary. In exceptional 
circumstances the 
Committee may grant 
awards of up to 200%  
of base salary.

[It is intended that 2015 
awards will be based 50% 
on earnings per share 
growth and 50% on 
relative total shareholder 
return growth against our 
key healthcare peers].

Share option plan (“SOP”)

To incentivise executive 
directors to increase the 
share price and deliver 
value for shareholders.

It is intended that awards 
for 2015 will be 100% of 
base salary.

Maximum award would 
normally be 150% of base 
salary. In exceptional 
circumstances the 
Committee may grant 
awards of up to 200%  
of base salary.

In the event that an 
award was to be granted 
under this plan in 
exceptional 
circumstances the 
Committee would 
determine appropriate 
performance conditions 
at that time.

Awards under the plan 
are in the form of market 
value share options. 

It is intended that awards 
would only be made 
under this plan in 
exceptional 
circumstances.

SHAREHOLDING GUIDELINE
Executive directors are expected to build a shareholding of 200% of base salary over a period of 5 years. 

Committee discretion 
The Committee has retained some discretion in a number of areas of the remuneration policy approved by shareholders including:

•  where the terms of any payment was agreed before the policy came into effect; 
•  where arrangements were agreed at a time when the relevant individual was not a Director of the Company;
• 
the amendment of performance conditions applicable to the LTIP or Share Option Plan awards in certain circumstances;
•  any payment which is not explicitly provided in this policy which is it obliged to make under UAE other relevant local laws; or
•  minor amendments required for regulatory, exchange control, tax or administrative purposes or to take account of a change in 

legislation.

Remuneration policy on recruitment
The Policy includes a number of principles which the Committee would seek to apply for newly appointed Executive Directors. 
These are not summarised here but can be reviewed within the Directors’ Remuneration Policy document (http://nmchealth.com/
shareholder-information/).

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Overview

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Termination policy 
The policy includes a number of elements which the Committee will consider when individuals leave their Executive positions with 
the Company. These are not fully summarised here but can be reviewed within the Directors’ Remuneration Policy document 
(http://nmchealth.com/shareholder-information/).

In general terms, if an individual leaves as a result of ill health, injury, disability, death, sale of employing company or business from 
the Group or for any other reason at the Committee’s discretion, the Committee will normally pay contractual salary and retirement 
benefits and allow the retention of any incentive awards pro-rated to the date of cessation. For all other leavers, the contractual 
salary and benefits will be paid over any notice period to the date of cessation of employment, but unvested awards made under 
the Company’s incentive arrangements would normally lapse. In the event of termination, the Company would also make any 
payments which it is contractually obliged to do under UAE law.

Remuneration outcomes in different performance scenarios
The Committee has set a remuneration structure which ensures that a high proportion of the potential total reward available for 
Executive Directors and senior management is related to the performance of the Company, and specifically that significant rewards 
are only paid for exceptional performance.

To demonstrate this three scenarios have been illustrated below for each Executive Director. 

Chart label

Fixed Pay (US$)

Annual Bonus (US$)

Long-term incentive (US$)

Total compensation (US$)

Executive Vice 
Chairman & CEO

Minimum 
performance

Deputy CEO

Mid performance

Maximum 
performance

Minimum 
performance

Mid performance

Maximum 
performance

617,630

617,630

617,630

535,279

535,279

535,279

0

175,624

351,248

0

152,207

304,415

0

117,083

468,330

0

101,472

405,886

618

910

1,437

535

789

1,246

$1,600,000

$1,400,000

$1,200,000

$1,000,000

$800,000

$600,000

$400,000

$200,000

$0

Executive Vice Chairman & CEO
28%
$1,437k

Deputy CEO

$910k

13%

19%

68%

$618k

100%

33%

24%

43%

$1,246k

33%

24%

43%

$789k

13%
19%

68%

$535k

100%

Minimum
Performance

Mid
Performance

Maximum
Performance

Minimum
Performance

Mid
Performance

Maximum
Performance

Fixed Pay

Annual Bonus

Long-term Incentive

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

Fixed pay is comprised of the following:

Executive Vice Chairman & CEO

Deputy CEO

Salary

Benefits

Pension

Salary

Benefits

Pension

Minimum 
performance

Mid Performance

Maximum 
Performance

468,330

468,330

149,300

149,300

468,330

149,300

0

0

0

405,886

405,886

129,393

129,393

405,886

129,393

0

0

0

Non-Executive Director Remuneration

Chairman and Non-Executive 
Director fees

Purpose and link to remuneration 
strategy

To provide an appropriate reward 
to attract and retain high-calibre 
individuals

Operation 

Maximum opportunity 

The maximum level of Non-
Executive Director remuneration 
is set out in the Company’s 
articles of association. This may 
be amended from time to time 
subject to shareholder approval.

The remuneration of Non-
Executive Directors is approved 
by the Executive Directors 
following recommendations and 
discussions with the Chairman 
of the Company and the 
Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee. 

Non-Executive Directors do not 
currently receive any benefits. 
However, benefits may be 
provided in the future if this was 
considered appropriate. 

Details of Non-Executive Director fees with effect from 1 January 2015 are set out on page 81 .

DIRECTORS’ SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT
Executive Directors’ service agreement and employment contracts 
Each of the following served as Executive Directors for all or part of the 2014 financial year and for the period that they served as 
Executive Directors, were subject to service agreements entered into with NMC Healthcare LLC, one of the Company’s subsidiaries. 

Dr B.R. Shetty

Khalifa Bin Butti

Prasanth Manghat

Binay Shetty

Date of agreement

19 March 2012

19 March 2012

1 May 2011

1 May 2011

Dr B.R. Shetty is employed by NMC Healthcare LLC pursuant to a service agreement dated 19 March 2012. The service agreement 
provides for an indefinite term of employment unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the service agreement. 
The service agreement provided that, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, the service agreement can only be terminated 
on twelve months’ prior written notice given by either Dr B.R. Shetty or NMC Healthcare LLC. 

Until 25 March 2014, when he resigned as Executive Vice Chairman of the Company, Mr Khalifa Bin Butti was employed by NMC 
Healthcare LLC pursuant to a service agreement dated 19 March 2012. The service agreement provided for an indefinite term of 
employment unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the service agreement. The service agreement provided 
that, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, the service agreement was only able to be terminated on twelve months’ prior 
written notice given by either Khalifa Bin Butti or NMC Healthcare LLC.

Mr Prasanth Manghat is employed by NMC Healthcare LLC pursuant to an employment contract dated 1 May 2011. The contract 
provides for a renewable two year term of employment unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the contract. The 
Contract provides that, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, the contract can be terminated on one months’ prior written 
notice given by either Prasanth Manghat or NMC Healthcare LLC.

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Financial
Statements

Until 31 December 2014, when he resigned as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Mr Binay Shetty was employed by NMC 
Healthcare LLC pursuant to an employment contract dated 1 May 2011. The contract provided for a renewable two year term of 
employment unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the contract. The Contract provided that, unless otherwise 
agreed between the parties, the contract was only able to be terminated on one months’ prior written notice given by either  
Binay Shetty or NMC Healthcare LLC.

Copies of the Service Agreement for Dr B.R. Shetty and employment contract for Mr Prasanth Manghat are available for inspection 
during normal business hours at the Company’s Registered Office, and are available for inspection at the Company’s annual 
general meeting.

For future executives the Committee policy is that notice periods will not exceed 12 months. There are no matters for which the 
Company requires approval of shareholders for the purposes of Chapter 4A of Part 10 of the Companies Act 2006.

Letters of appointment for Non-Executive Directors 
The Non-Executive Directors do not have service agreements with the Company, but instead have letters of appointment. The 
appointment of each of the Non-Executive Directors is stated for an initial term until the next annual general meeting of the 
Company at which, and at subsequent annual general meetings, they need to submit themselves for re-election if they so wish. 
Each of the Non-Executive Directors have a minimum time commitment that they need to give to the Company in any year.

The letters of appointment for each Non-Executive Director are summarised below:

Director

Position

Date of appointment

Company and Director notice period

H.J. Mark Tompkins

Non-Executive Chairman

7 March 2012 

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

26 June 2014 

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

Non-Executive Director

24 February 2014

Jonathan Bomford

Senior Independent Director

27 June 2013

Lord Clanwilliam

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence

Keyur Nagori

Binay Shetty

Dr Nandini Tandon

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Non-Executive Director

7 March 2012

26 June 2014 

19 March 2012

26 June 2014 

Non-Executive Director

1 January 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

26 June 2014 

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

3 months

There is no compensation payable upon the early termination of a Non-Executive Directors’ appointment.

Copies of the above Non-Executive Directors’ Letters of Appointment are available for inspection during normal business hours at 
the Company’s Registered Office, and available for inspection at the Company’s annual general meeting.

REMUNERATION ARRANGEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE GROUP
The remuneration philosophy is the same throughout NMC – that individuals should be remunerated based on their role, 
responsibilities, experiences and local market practice. NMC has a variety of different roles from senior executives, to doctors to 
administrators and therefore remuneration levels and structures vary to reflect the different requirements and expectations of 
these roles. 

The Committee does consider that it is important, however, that senior executives are remunerated in a similar way to ensure that 
they are incentivised to collectively deliver the Group’s strategy and create value for shareholders. Executive Directors and senior 
managers will therefore all participate in the STIP and LTIP.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

The Committee has retained the existing benefits structure which applied to UAE based Executive Directors and Senior 
Management in previous years. The benefits included reflect the expatriate nature of senior management in the UAE and are 
similar in nature to the types of benefits which are available to other expatriate employees in the Group. The benefits include 
private medical insurance, which is mandatory for employees in Abu Dhabi, where the Group is based.

SHAREHOLDER VIEWS AND CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE GROUP 
Communication with our Shareholders 
The Committee maintains an open dialogue with our shareholders and seeks their views when any significant changes are made 
to remuneration arrangements. The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee met or spoke with several of our external 
shareholders to discuss the Committee’s new Remuneration arrangements prior to them being approved at the 2014 Annual 
General Meeting. 

Consideration of pay and conditions of employees
The Committee considers pay information in relation to senior management when determining executive pay, to ensure that pay 
structures are appropriately aligned. The Committee did not consult with employees when setting Executive Director pay.

THE APPLICATION OF EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION POLICY FOR 2015
Base salaries for 2015 
In reviewing base salaries for 2015, the Committee decided that it should take account of specific local market conditions where 
employees are based. Accordingly a benchmarking exercise was undertaken towards the end of 2014 which, together with changes 
required as a result of the new management structure implemented for the Group, has been reflected in the following new base 
salaries for Executive Directors with effect from 1 January 2015. 

Executive Vice Chairman & CEO

Deputy CEO

Current salary

£255,000

£200,000

Salary with effect from 1 January 2015

£300,000 (17.6% increase)

£260,000 (new role)

The benchmarking exercise was undertaken by the Middle East consultancy firm of Hay Group and took account of base salaries 
and related remuneration packages available for similar roles in the UAE in a large number of medium and large business 
organisations. The exercise also reviewed the level of cash and non-cash benefits available in such comparator organisations.

Operation of the STIP for 2015
The operation of the annual bonus for 2015 will be consistent with the Company’s Remuneration policy approved by Shareholders 
at the Company’s 2014 Annual General Meeting and similar in operation to the annual bonus plan for 2014. The maximum award 
level will be 100% of base salary.

The performance targets that will apply for the 2015 financial year have been set after considering the Group’s priorities for the year 
and will be as follows:

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Measure

Purpose and link to 
remuneration strategy Performance measure

Target

Financial Grow 

organizational 
revenues

Healthcare Revenues Achieve a minimum level of healthcare revenues set 
by the Committee (including revenues from existing 
facilities, new facilities to open in FY 2015, pharmacies and 
management fees).

Optimize cost of 
services

EBITDA Margin target 
and gateway hurdle

Corporate 
image

Strengthen and 
maintain NMC’s 
corporate image

JCI Accreditation

Achieve minimum levels of EBITDA and EBITDA margins 
set by the Committee (including EBITDA from existing 
facilities, new facilities to open in FY 2015, pharmacies and 
management fees). 

Additionally, a targeted level of EBITDA must be achieved 
before any STIP entitlement is earned in relation to FY2015.

Achievement of set targets in relation to the monitoring 
of those clinical and quality indicators which are required 
to reach a certain standard under the Group’s JCI 
accreditations.

Percentage Weighting 
for relevant individuals

33.3

33.3

33.3

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Purpose and link to 
remuneration strategy Performance measure

Target

Percentage Weighting 
for relevant individuals

Measure

Financial

Grow 
organizational 
revenues

Healthcare 
Revenues

Achieve a minimum level of healthcare revenues set  
by the Committee (including revenues from existing  
facilities, new facilities to open in FY 2015, pharmacies  
and management fees).

Revenue/Patient

Revenue/patient  to achieve minimum average levels  
set by the Committee.

Optimize cost of 
services

EBITDA Margin 
hurdle and target

Achieve minimum levels of EBITDA and EBITDA margins 
set by the Committee (including EBITDA from existing 
facilities, new facilities to open in FY 2015, pharmacies and 
management fees).

Additionally, a targeted level of EBITDA must be achieved 
before any STIP entitlement is earned in relation to FY2015

Organizational 
capability 

Build new patient 
serving facilities 
and implement 
state-of-the-art 
infrastructure

Attract and 
develop capable 
and motivated 
manpower

Patient Occupancy 
Levels

Patient occupancy to achieve minimum average levels  
set by the Committee

Specific targeted milestones set by the Committee for 
capital and technology enablement programs to be met

Milestones 
achieved for capital 
and technology 
enablement 
programs

Succession 
planning

Targets set by the Committee in relation to the 
enhancement of succession planning capabilities  
within the Group given the Company’s growth and 
acquisition plans for 2015.

20

10

35

10

15

10

Operation of the LTIP for 2015 
The operation of the LTIP for 2015 will be consistent with the Company’s Remuneration policy approved by Shareholders at the 
Company’s 2014 Annual General Meeting and similar in operation to the LTIP commenced in 2014. The maximum award level will be 
100% of base salary.

The performance targets that will apply for awards made under the plan in the 2015 financial year will be as follows:

Measure

Total shareholder 
return (TSR)

Purpose and link to 
remuneration strategy

To incentivise 
management 
to deliver long 
term returns to 
shareholders

Performance measure

Target

Percentage Weighting 
for relevant individuals

TSR growth compared 
to a comparator group 
of companies.

The comparator group 
for 2015 will be the same 
as for awards granted in 
2014 (see below).

50%

25% of this element of 
the award will vest for 
performance equal to the 
median of the comparator 
group with 100% vesting for 
upper quartile performance 
or better.

Earnings per share 
(EPS)

To incentivise 
management to 
deliver bottom line 
earnings growth

Annual compound 
growth in EPS between 
the base year (i.e. 2014) 
and the end of the 
performance period.

Vesting is on a straight 
line basis between these 
points.

50%

25% of this element of the 
award vests for compound 
EPS growth of 6% per 
annum with 100% vesting 
for EPS growth of 15% per 
annum.

Vesting is on a straight 
line basis between these 
points.

Individual subject to target

Executive Vice 
Chairman and CEO 
(Dr B.R. Shetty)

Deputy CEO 
(Prasanth Manghat)

Executive Vce 
Chairman and CEO 
(Dr B.R. Shetty)

Deputy CEO 
(Prasanth Manghat)

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Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

THE OUTCOME OF EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION IN 2014
Remuneration paid in 2014 (single pay figure) – subject to audit
The table below sets out the remuneration paid to or received by each Executive Directors of the Company who served during the 
financial year ended 31 December 2014.

Executive Director

Salary  
$’000

Benefits  
$’000

STIP 
$’000

LTIP awards 
$’000

Pension 
$’000

Total  
$’000

Dr B.R. Shetty

Khalifa Bin Butti

Prasanth Manghat

Binay Shetty

2014

2013

408.4

56.5

330.8

268.2

408.4

245.0

330.8

268.2

2014

157.9

0.0

20.2

5.4

2013

149.3

0.0

7.5

3.0

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

283.4

229.7

0.0

222.3

187.2

137.8

183.9

147.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

849.7

56.5

573.3

460.8

787.4

382.8

522.2

418.3

Benefits – subject to audit
Taxable benefits include the following items:

Executive Director

Dr B.R. Shetty 

Prasanth Manghat 

Binay Shetty

Provision of family  
accommodation 
$’000

Private  
medical insurance 
$’000

Life insurance cover 
$’000

Annual family return flights  
to home country 
$’000

2014

153.2

0.0

0.0

2013

145.9

0.0

0.0

2014

2.2

4.4

1.1

2013

0.9

1.8

0.5

2014

0.0

0.6

0.5

2013

0.0

0.0

0.0

2014

2.5

15.2

3.8

2013

2.5

5.7

2.5

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Financial
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STIP – subject to audit
A bonus, out of a potential maximum entitlement of 75% of base salary, was paid to Executive Directors in respect of the 2014 
financial year as follows:

•  Dr B R Shetty (71.25%) 
•  Mr Prasanth Manghat (71.25%) 
•  Mr Binay Shetty (75.0%)

Mr Khalifa Bin Butti did not receive any STIP entitlement in the 2014 financial year.
The bonus was based on the following performance measures:

Measure

EBITDA

Percentage Weighting 
for relevant individuals

Performance  
[this section to be reviewed further to assess whether 
additional information in relation to targets can be disclosed]

Individual subject to 
target

60%

EBITDA performance for the year was US$•m 
representing a growth of •% on 2013. This strong 
performance exceeded the relevant EBITDA 
targets set by the Committee and therefore this 
portion of the bonus paid out in full.

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Mr Prasanth 
Manghat 
Mr Binay Shetty

Outcome

60%

Progress on capital 
development projects

10%

Doctor/nurse 
recruitment targets

Clinical Safety

Staff Safety

Succession Planning

HR function

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

Share Price

10%

Investor Profile

10%

The Committee considered that sufficient 
progress on capital development projects was 
achieved, with a number of new facilities opening 
during the period under review.

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Mr Binay Shetty

10%

Targets set for the recruitment of new Doctors 
and nurses to the Group was met in 2014.

Mr Binay Shetty

10%

Mr Binay Shetty

10%

Targets were set to ensure that achievement 
averages in relation to KPIs monitored under the 
terms of each Specialty Hospital JCI accreditation 
were well above the levels required for such 
accreditation. Group performance was well in 
excess of this target. The other measure under 
this target was to ensure that there were no 
disputed mortalities in Group Healthcare facilities 
during the period. 

No staff fatalities occurred in any Group facilities. 

Dr B.R. Shetty

A new management structure was put in place 
taking effect from 1 January 2015.

Recognised Listed Company HR practices and 
capabilities to be implemented during the year. 
Sufficient progress was not made in relation to 
this measure during the period. A plan has been 
put in place to achieve this objective during 2015.

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Mr Prasanth 
Manghat

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Mr Prasanth 
Manghat

A target was set in relation to share price 
performance of the Company against a 
comparator group. This target was not met.

Mr Prasanth 
Manghat

The measure was set to ensure that external 
investors in the Company were not concentrated 
within one geographic region and the target was 
met.

Mr Prasanth 
Manghat 
Mr Binay Shetty

10%

10%

5%

10%

10%

Half of the bonus paid to the Executive Directors is deferred into shares for a period of three years under the terms of the Deferred 
Share Bonus Plan, for which additional performance conditions or other conditions, with exception of continued employment, do  
not apply.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

79

Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

LTIP – subject to audit
Awards for Executive Directors under the LTIP were granted for the first time in 2014 and are subject to performance targets 
measured over a three financial years. The performance targets set for the 2014 LTIP Awards, and our assessment of performance 
against these targets over the 2014 financial year, are as follows:

Target 1. Company’s Earnings Per Share (EPS) growth
This measures the Company’s annual compound growth in EPS and represents 50% of the total award. The table below sets out 
the EPS targets for the 2014 award and the corresponding level of vesting: 

Annual compound growth in EPS over the Performance Period

Vesting percentage of target

15% or more

Between 6% and 15%

6%

Less than 6%

100%

On a straight-line basis between 25% and 100%

25%

0%

Target 2. Total Shareholder Return (TSR) growth
This measures the Company’s TSR compared against a comparator group of companies and represents 50% of the total award. 
The table below sets out the TSR targets for the 2014 award and the corresponding level of vesting:

Company’s TSR compared to the comparator group

Vesting percentage of target 

Upper quartile or above

Between median and upper quartile

Median

Below median

100%

Pro rata between 25% and 100% on a ranking basis

25%

0%

The Remuneration Committee has chosen a comparator group of international companies that are of a ‘similar’ size and business 
scope to the Company. The table below sets out our comparator group: 

Company

Korian Medica

Al Noor Hospitals GP

Spire Healthcare GP

Raffles Medical GP

Banmedica

Synergy Health

KPJ Healthcare

NIB Holdings

Al-Maidan DNL. Clinic

Country of listing 

France

UK

UK

Singapore

Chile

UK

Malaysia

Australia

Kuwait

80

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Pension – subject to audit
There were no pension contributions in 2013 or 2014.

Executive Director cessation arrangements – subject to audit
Two Executive Directors of the Company stepped down from their positions during the 2014 financial year and the following 
summarises terms which the Remuneration Committee have agreed in relation to their respective resignations:

•  Mr Khalifa Bin Butti
  Mr Bin Butti resigned from his Executive role and as a Director of the Company with effect from 25 March 2014. The Base salary 

payable to Mr Bin Butti ended on that date and no payment was made in relation to his notice period. Mr Bin Butti had earned a 
bonus in relation to the STIP for the 2013 Financial Year which, in accordance with the Company’s normal remuneration policy, 
would ordinarily have been paid 50% in cash and 50% in deferred shares. In recognition of Mr Bin Butti’s significant contribution to 
the IPO of the Company and in its growth over a number of years, the Remuneration Committee decided to pay Mr Bin Butti’s 
earned bonus for the 2013 financial year fully in cash. Mr Khalifa Bin Butti did not receive any STIP entitlement in the 2014  
financial year due to his resignation. 

•  Mr Binay Shetty
  Mr Shetty resigned from his Executive role with the Company on 31 December 2014 but remains on the Board as a Non-Executive 
Director with effect from 1 January 2015. As a result, Mr Shetty’s base salary and benefits as an Executive Director ceased with 
effect from 31 December 2014 and no payment was due in relation to any notice period under his contract of employment.  
End of Service benefit of US$58.8k was paid to Mr Shetty. 

There were no payments for loss of office during the year. There were no payments made to any past Directors during the year.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REMUNERATION 
How remuneration policy will be applied for 2015
For 2015, the fees payable to the non-executive directors effective as at 1 January 2015 are as follows:

Chairman

Senior Independent Director

Non-executive director

(£’000)

180

70

60

Additional fees may be also payable to non-executive directors from time to time for additional board responsibilities (this may 
include fees for additional time commitments).

No additional fees are payable in relation to the Chairmanship or membership of any Board Committees. 

Details of the remuneration paid to each of the non-executive directors who served during the year are included in the table on 
page 82.

Non-executive directors do not participate in any bonus or incentive plan or other form or performance-related remuneration.  
The Company does not provide any contribution to their pension arrangements.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

81

 
Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

What remuneration was paid in 2014 (single pay figure) – subject to audit
The fee paid in cash to each Non-Executive Director during the year ended 31 December 2014 is set out in the following table:

Director

Position

H.J. Mark Tompkins  
(see note 1 below)

Independent  
Non-Executive Chairman

H.E. Saeed Bin Butti

Non-Executive Director

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

Non-Executive Director

Jonathan Bomford

Lord Clanwilliam 
(see note 1 below)

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence  
(see note 1 below)

Keyur Nagori

Dr Nandini Tandon

Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

FY2014 
(£’000)

170.0

7.6

25.2

42.3

59.5

50.0

25.2

50.0

25.2

25.2

FY2013
(£’000)

224.5

50.0

N/A

N/A

25.4

104.5

n/a

104.5

n/a

n/a

Notes:
1.  The fees to Mr Mark Tompkins, Lord Clanwilliam and Mrs Heather Lawrence for the year ended 31 December 2013 includes additional payments for each of the 2012 and 2013 

financial years, both of which were made in the 2013 financial year. Details of these payments were set out in the 2013 Annual Report. 

DIRECTORS’ SHAREHOLDINGS AND SHARE INTERESTS – SUBJECT TO AUDIT
Directors shareholdings
The table below shows details of the Directors’ holdings of Ordinary Shares in the Company as at 1 January 2014 (or date of 
appointment if later) and at 31 December 2014 (or at date of cessation of appointment if earlier).

Director

H.J. Mark Tompkins

H.E. Saeed Bin Butti

Khalifa Bin Butti

Dr B.R. Shetty

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Abdulrahman Basaddiq

Jonathan Bomford

Lord Clanwilliam

Salma Hareb

Heather Lawrence

Prasanth Manghat

Keyur Nagori

Binay Shetty

Dr Nandini Tandon

(or at date of appointment if later)

1 January 2014  

31 December 2014
(or at date of cessation of appointment if earlier)

Ordinary shares of 10p each

17,083

53,466,559

19,059,842

37,742,409

0

0

0

0

0

0

8,308

0

6,842

0

17,083

53,466,559

19,059,842

47,742,409

0

0

10,000

0

0

4,557

8,308

0

6,842

0

Note:  In addition to the above holdings, during their period in office, H.E. Saeed Bin Butti and Mr Khalifa Bin Butti also held an interest over 14,072,024 Ordinary shares of the 
Company (14,072,024 Ordinary shares as at 1 January 2014) held by Infinite Investment LLC, a company owned jointly by H.E. Saeed Bin Butti and Mr Khalifa Bin Butti.

82

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

  
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

H.E. Saeed Bin Butti resigned as a Director of the company on 24 February 2014. Mr Khalifa Bin Butti resigned as a Director of the 
company on 25 March 2014.

None of the Directors received any loans, advances or other form of credit granted by the Company, nor were any guarantees of 
any kind provided by the Company on behalf of any Directors during the year ended 31 December 2014.

Except as stated above, none of the Directors who held office during the year held any Ordinary Shares or options over Ordinary 
Shares of the Company during their period in office in the year. There have been no changes in the above shareholdings between 
31 December 2014 and the date of this Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

Executive directors are expected to build a shareholding of 200% of base salary over a period of 5 years. The Executive Vice 
Chairman & CEO is a significant shareholder in the Company and therefore already meets this requirement. The Deputy CEO holds 
shares valued at £38,217 (based on the share price at 31 December 2014). These have a value of c.19% of salary (based on salary at 
31 December 2014).

Directors’ options awarded during the year
The tables below shows that share awards made to Executive Directors that have not yet vested.

Long Term Incentive Plan

Type of  
interest

LTIP award 
subject to 
performance

LTIP award 
subject to 
performance

Dr B.R.  
Shetty

Mr Prasanth 
Manghat

Performance 
period  
ending

31  
December 
2016

31  
December 
2016

Award  
Date

Market Price  
at Date  

of Award

Exercise 
price

Shares 
Awarded

Face value of 
award

% vesting for 
minimum 
performance

29  
October  
2014

29  
October  
2014

494.9p

0p

50,923

£252,018

494.9p

0p

40,738

£202,834

25% of  
award

25% of  
award

Vesting  
Date 

29  
October  
2017

29  
October 
2017

For details of the performance measures attached to awards see page 77.

Deferred Share Bonus Plan

Type of 
 interest

Deferred 
shares subject 
to continued 
employment

Deferred 
shares subject 
to continued 
employment

Deferred 
shares subject 
to continued 
employment

Dr B.R.  
Shetty

Mr Prasanth 
Manghat

Mr Binay 
Shetty

Financial Year 
Share Award 
made in 
 respect of

Award Date

Market Price at 
Date of Award

Exercise price

Shares Awarded

Face value of 
award

Vesting Date

29  
October  
2014

29  
October  
2014

29  
October  
2014

2013

2013

2013

494.9p

0p

15,510

£76,759

494.9p

0p

12,408

£61,407

494.9p

0p

9,926

£49,123

29  
October  
2017

29  
October  
2017

29  
October  
2017

No options vested or were exercised during the year. 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

83

Governance

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 2014 
CONTINUED

PERFORMANCE GRAPH AND HISTORIC EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN & CEO REMUNERATION OUTCOMES
The following graph shows the Total Shareholder Return performance of NMC Health plc shares against the FTSE 250. 

300

250

200

150

100

50

Mar
12

May
12

Jul
12

Sep
12

Nov
12

Jan
13

Mar
13

May
13

Jul
13

Sep
13

Nov
13

Jan
14

Mar
14

May
14

Jul
14

Sep
14

Nov
14

NMC Health

FTSE 250

Note: The performance graph shows the Total Shareholder Return performance of the Company from the date of the Company’s IPO in April 2012.

The Committee believes that the FTSE 250 Index is an appropriate comparator index used to compare performance given that the 
Company is a constituent of this Index and the lack of direct competitor comparators available in the London market.

The table below summarises the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO’s single figure for total remuneration since listing. This table is also 
required to show the long-term incentive vesting as a percentage of the maximum for each year, however LTIP grants were made 
for the first time in 2014 and none have yet vested. 

Executive Vice Chairman  & CEO - Dr B.R. Shetty

2012 (US$’000)

2013 (US$’000)

2014 (US$’000)

Single remuneration figure

STIP payout (% of maximum)

LTI vesting (% of maximum)

The Company did not operate the STIP in respect of 2012. 

550.6

n/a

n/a

787.4

75%

n/a

849.7

95%

n/a

PAY ACROSS THE GROUP
The table below sets out the increase in total remuneration of the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO and that of all employees during 
the 2014 financial year:

%

Executive Vice Chairman & CEO 

All-employees

*note: the Company does not operate bonus plans for all employees.

Salary 

Annual bonus 

Benefits 

0%

10.0%

23.4%

n/a*

5.8%

9.0%

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NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY
The graph below shows the total group-wide remuneration expenditure and dividends for the last two years. 

148.4

128.9

150

100

50

76.6

68.2

11.6

13.8

Distributions to 
shareholders ($m)

Total employee 
pay ($m)

Profit for the 
financial year 
attributable 
to equity 
shareholders ($m)

RESULTS OF VOTING ON REMUNERATION MATTERS AT THE COMPANY’S 2014 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The following summarises voting at the 2014 AGM in respect of the two resolutions proposed in relation to the 2013 Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

Resolution

To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy

To approve the Annual Remuneration Report

For

97.51%

99.9%

Against

votes withheld

Number of  

2.49%

0.01%

0

0

It is my pleasure to submit this report to shareholders. The Directors’ Remuneration Report has been approved by the Board and is 
signed on its behalf by: 

Lord Clanwilliam 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

85

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

In this section:
87   Independent Auditor’s Report to  

the members of NMC Health plc

91   Consolidated Statement of  
Comprehensive Income
92   Consolidated Statement of  

Financial Position

93   Consolidated Statement of Changes  

in Equity

94  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
95   Notes to the Consolidated Financial 

Statements

125  Statement of Financial Position
126  Statement of Changes in Equity
127  Statement of Cash Flows
128  Notes to the Financial Statements

SCOPE OF THE AUDIT OF THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
An audit involves obtaining evidence 
about the amounts and disclosures in 
the financial statements sufficient to give 
reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud 
or error. This includes an assessment of: 
whether the accounting policies are 
appropriate to the group’s and the parent 
company’s circumstances and have 
been consistently applied and adequately 
disclosed; the reasonableness of 
significant accounting estimates made 
by the directors; and the overall 
presentation of the financial statements. 
In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the Annual 
Report to identify material inconsistencies 
with the audited financial statements 
and to identify any information that is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, 
or materially inconsistent with, the 
knowledge acquired by us in the course 
of performing the audit. If we become 
aware of any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we 
consider the implications for our report.

Financial 
Statements

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO  
THE MEMBERS OF NMC HEALTH PLC

OPINION ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In our opinion:
• 

the financial statements give a true 
and fair view of the state of the 
group’s and of the parent company’s 
affairs as at 31 December 2014 and of 
the group’s profit for the year then 
ended;
the group financial statements have 
been properly prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the 
European Union; and 
the parent company financial 
statements have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union and as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006; and
the financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 
2006 and, as regards the group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation.

• 

• 

• 

WHAT WE HAVE AUDITED
We have audited the financial 
statements of NMC Health plc for the  
year ended 31 December 2014 which 
comprise in respect of the group financial 
statements: the consolidated statement  
of comprehensive income, the 
consolidated statement of financial 
position, the consolidated statement of 
changes in equity, the consolidated 
statement of cash flows  and the related 
notes 1 to 34, and which comprise in 
respect of the parent company financial 
statements: the Statement of Financial 
Position, the Statement of Changes in 
Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows, 

and the related notes 1 to 15. The financial 
reporting framework that has been 
applied in their preparation is applicable 
law and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union and, as regards the 
parent company financial statements, as 
applied in accordance with the provisions 
of the Companies Act 2006.

This report is made solely to the 
company’s members, as a body, in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006.  Our audit work 
has been undertaken so that we might 
state to the company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them 
in an auditor’s report and for no other 
purpose.  To the fullest extent permitted 
by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the 
company and the company’s members 
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, 
or for the opinions we have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES  
OF DIRECTORS AND AUDITOR
As explained more fully in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities Statement set out on 
page 48, the directors are responsible  
for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view. Our 
responsibility is to audit and express  
an opinion on the financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing  
(UK and Ireland). Those standards require 
us to comply with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

87

Financial Statements

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
CONTINUED

Our assessment of risk of material misstatement and response to that risk
The table below shows the risks we identified that have had the greatest effect on the overall audit strategy; the allocation  
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team, together with our audit response to the risk:

Risk

How the scope of our audit addressed the risk

The valuation of trade receivables (as described on page 56 of  
the Report of the Audit Committee)

We performed the following audit procedures around the 
valuation of trade receivables:

The most significant revenue streams of the Group are 
healthcare services and distribution sales.  The vast majority 
of healthcare customers settle their invoices through medical 
insurance claims, therefore payments to the Group can be 
delayed due to the time taken to process claims through the 
insurance companies. Furthermore, the Group experiences 
delays in payment for bulk retail sales from key customers.  
This can result in a high level of aged outstanding receivables 
balances and therefore an increased risk of non-recoverability 
and inadequate bad debt provisioning.

Revenue recognition, including the timing of revenue  
recognition and the determination of whether the Group is  
acting in the capacity of an agent rather than principal (as 
described on page 56 of the Report of the Audit Committee).

The Group has a number of revenue streams relating to its 
Healthcare and Distribution segments including clinic revenues, 
insurance claims, over-the-counter sales, pharmacy sales and 
sales of goods. There is a risk of improper revenue recognition 
given the diversity of the Group’s healthcare operations, 
particularly with regard to cut-off at period end dates. There  
is also a risk of improper revenue recognition in the distribution 
business with regard to cut-off at period end dates.  
Furthermore, there is a risk that distribution agreements with  
key suppliers indicate that the Group may be acting in the 
capacity of an agent rather than principal. 

We challenged management on the significant estimation 
and subjectivity involved in the appropriateness of provisions 
for bad debts which included obtaining evidence to support the 
recoverability of the older un-provided debts. 

We obtained direct external confirmations for a sample of 
customer receivable balances and we vouched post year end 
cash receipts for a sample of year-end trade receivable balances. 

No significant issues were noted from our work.

We performed the following audit procedures around revenue 
recognition:

We relied upon testing performed by internal audit relating to 
controls over revenue recognition, including the timing of revenue 
recognition. 

We performed analytical review procedures and performed 
cut-off testing procedures (by selecting a sample of transactions 
either side of year-end) to check that revenue had been 
recognised in the appropriate accounting period. 

We tested a sample of new distribution agreements entered into 
during the year to verify that the Group’s determination that they 
are acting as a principal rather than an agent is appropriate. 

We checked the Group’s adherence to their revenue recognition 
policies, including their determination of whether the Group is acting 
as an agent rather than as a principal, to agree that these policies 
are in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union.

No significant issues were noted from our work.

88

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

 
Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

Risk

How the scope of our audit addressed the risk

The capitalisation of costs into capital work in progress (as 
described on page 56 of the Report of the Audit Committee)

We performed the following audit procedures around the 
capitalisation of costs into capital work in progress (CWIP):

Given the quantum of costs being incurred on capital work in 
progress (CWIP) there is a risk that incorrect cost capitalisation 
may occur and that, consequently, CWIP may be overstated.

We verified that the Group’s capitalisation policies, including 
relating to the capitalisation of internal salary costs, lease costs 
and interest costs, are in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union and applied appropriately.

We vouched the majority of additions to CWIP in the year to 
supporting documentation to check that the costs met the 
criteria for capitalisation into work in progress in accordance  
with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. 

We obtain evidence of independent third party surveyors’ 
approval of construction costs incurred to date on capital projects. 

We undertook site visits of major capital projects completed  
in the year or still in progress as at 31 December 2014. 

We also held discussions with the project managers on major 
capital projects and undertook a comparison of actual capital 
work in progress spend to budget. 

We also performed audit procedures to verify that completed 
capital projects were transferred to the appropriate property, plant 
and equipment category and depreciation commenced at the 
correct point in time.

No significant issues were noted from our work.

million (2013: $1.80 million). Our objective  
in adopting this approach was to ensure 
that total detected and undetected audit 
differences in all accounts did not exceed 
our materiality level.

Audit work at individual components  
is undertaken based on a percentage  
of our total performance materiality.  
The performance materiality set for each 
component is based on the relative size 
of the component and our view of the 
risk of misstatement at that component. 
In the current year the range of performance 
materiality allocated to components was 
$0.34 million to $1.18 million.

Our application of materiality  
We apply the concept of materiality  
both in planning and performing our 
audit, and in evaluating the effect of 
misstatements on our audit and on the 
financial statements. For the purposes  
of determining whether the financial 
statements are free from material 
misstatement, we define materiality  
as the magnitude of an omission or 
misstatement that, individually or in the 
aggregate, in light of the surrounding 
circumstances, could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic 
decisions of the users of the financial 
statements. We also determine a level of 
performance materiality which we use to 
determine the extent of testing needed 
to reduce to an appropriately low level 
the probability that the aggregate  
of uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements exceeds materiality for 
the financial statements as a whole.

When establishing our overall audit 
strategy, we determined a magnitude  
of uncorrected misstatements that we 
judged would be material for the financial 
statements as a whole. We initially 

determined materiality for the Group to 
be $3.35 million (2013: $3.60 million), which 
was approximately 5% of profit before tax 
(2013: 5% of adjusted profit before tax). Last 
year we used adjusted profit before tax  
to exclude the non-recurring write-off of 
unamortised finance fees resulting from 
the refinance of loan facilities in that year. 
This provided a basis for determining  
the nature, timing and extent of risk 
assessment procedures, identifying  
and assessing the risk of material 
misstatement and determining the 
nature, timing and extent of further audit 
procedures. During the course of our 
audit, the actual profit before tax figure 
was higher than that which we had used  
as the basis for determining materiality 
and as a result we revised our materiality 
threshold to $3.88 million, which is 
approximately 5% of profit before tax. 
On the basis of our risk assessments, 
together with our assessment of the 
Group’s overall control environment, our 
judgement was that overall performance 
materiality (ie: our tolerance for 
misstatement in an individual account  
or balance) for the Group should be 50% 
(2013: 50%) of materiality, namely $1.94 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

89

Financial Statements

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
CONTINUED

We agreed with the Audit Committee 
that we would report to the Audit 
Committee all audit differences in excess 
of $0.17 million (2013: $0.16 million) as well 
as differences below that threshold that, 
in our view, warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

An overview of the scope of our audit 
Following our assessment of the risk  
of material misstatement to the Group 
financial statements we selected ten 
components which represent the 
principal business units within the Group’s 
two reportable segments and which 
account for 100% of the group’s profit 
before tax and 95% of the group’s total 
assets. Six of these components were 
subject to a full audit, whilst four 
components were subject to a partial 
audit where the extent of audit work  
was based on our assessment of the 
risks of material misstatement and  
the materiality of the Group’s business 
operations at those components.  
They were also selected to provide an 
appropriate basis for undertaking audit 
work to address the risks of material 
misstatement identified above. For  
the remaining five components, we 
performed other procedures to confirm 
there were no significant risks of  
material misstatement in the Group 
financial statements.

The audit work at the ten components 
and the statutory audits were executed 
at levels of materiality applicable to each 
individual entity which were much lower 
than Group materiality.

Given that the Group operates solely  
in the United Arab Emirates the Senior 
Statutory Auditor or members of the 
Group audit team visited the United Arab 
Emirates four times during the current 
year audit process. The Group audit team 
interacted regularly with the component 
team in the United Arab Emirates where 
appropriate during the various stages of 
the audit, reviewed key working papers 
and took responsibility for the scope and 
direction of the audit process.

OPINION ON OTHER MATTERS 
PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES  
ACT 2006
In our opinion:
• 

the part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report to be audited 
has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 
2006; and
the information given in the Strategic 
Report and the Directors’ Report for the 
financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent 
with the financial statements.

• 

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED 
TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION
We have nothing to report in respect  
of the following: 

Under the ISAs (UK and Ireland), we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, 
information in the annual report is: 
•  materially inconsistent with the 

information in the audited financial 
statements; or 

•  apparently materially incorrect based 
on, or materially inconsistent with, our 
knowledge of the Group acquired in 
the course of performing our audit; or 
is otherwise misleading. 

• 

In particular, we are required to consider 
whether we have identified any 
inconsistencies between our knowledge 
acquired during the audit and the 
directors’ statement that they consider 
the annual report is fair, balanced and 
understandable and whether the annual 
report appropriately discloses those 
matters that we communicated to the 
audit committee which we consider 
should have been disclosed. 

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion:
•  adequate accounting records have not 
been kept by the parent company, or 
returns adequate for our audit have 
not been received from branches not 
visited by us; or
the parent company financial 
statements and the part of the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report to be 
audited are not in agreement with the 
accounting records and returns; or

• 

•  certain disclosures of directors’ 
remuneration specified by law  
are not made; or

•  we have not received all the 

information and explanations  
we require for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required 
to review:
• 

the directors’ statement, set out on 
page 47, in relation to going concern; 
and
the part of the Corporate Governance 
Statement relating to the company’s 
compliance with the nine provisions  
of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
specified for our review.

• 

Cameron Cartmell  
(Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, 
Statutory Auditor
London
23 February 2015

Notes:
1.  The maintenance and integrity of the NMC Health 

plc web site is the responsibility of the directors; the 
work carried out by the auditors does not involve 
consideration  
of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors 
accept no responsibility for any changes that may 
have occurred to the financial statements since 
they were initially presented on the web site.
2.  Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the 

preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in other 
jurisdictions.

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT 
OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Revenue
Direct costs

GROSS PROFIT

General and administrative expenses
Other income

PROFIT FROM OPERATION BEFORE DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENT
Depreciation
Impairment of property and equipment

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS 
Finance costs
Finance income
Unamortised finance fees written off

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR BEFORE TAX

Tax

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

Other comprehensive income

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Total profit and comprehensive income attributable to:

Equity holders of the Parent
Non-controlling interests

Total profit and comprehensive income for the year

Notes

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

5
6

6
7

15
15

8
9
24

10

13

643,931
(434,725)

550,878
(365,336)

209,206

185,542

(137,188)
30,440

102,458
(14,050)
–

88,408
(14,497)
3,623
–

(119,562) 
26,960

92,940
(9,663)
(210)

83,067
(14,344)
3,814
(3,394)

77,534

69,143

–

 –

77,534

69,143

–

 – 

77,534

69,143

76,566
968

77,534

 68,165 
 978 

 69,143 

Earnings per share for profit attributable to the equity holders of the Parent:
Basic and diluted (US$)

14

0.412

0.367

These results relate to continuing operations of the Group. There are no discontinued operations in the current and prior year.

The attached notes 1 to 34 form part of the consolidated financial statements.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Financial Statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 31 December 2014

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property and equipment
Intangible assets

Current assets
Inventories
Accounts receivable and prepayments
Amounts due from related parties
Bank deposits
Bank balances and cash

TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Group restructuring reserve
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Term loans
Employees’ end of service benefits
Other payable

Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accruals
Amounts due to related parties
Bank overdrafts and other short term borrowings
Term loans
Employees’ end of service benefits

Total liabilities

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Notes

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

15
16

368,357
4,236

273,792
1,016

372,593

274,808

17
18
27
19
19

20

21
22

24
25

26
27
19
24
25

110,209
196,569
7,985
183,577
79,592

94,123
168,382
9,254
193,366
75,329

577,932

540,454

950,525

815,262

29,566
179,152
(10,001)
250,306

29,566
179,152
(10,001)
187,519

449,023

386,236

4,004

2,915

453,027

389,151

114,457
12,450
21

161,845
10,036
408

126,928

172,289

98,044
8,380
169,607
92,055
2,484

76,087
5,079
82,238
88,355
2,063

370,570

253,822

497,498

426,111

950,525

815,262

The consolidated financial statements were authorised for issue by the board of directors on 23 February 2015 and were signed on 
its behalf by

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

Mr Suresh Krishnamoorthy
Chief Financial Officer

The attached notes 1 to 34 form part of the consolidated financial statements.

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Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT 
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Balance as at 1 January 2013
Total comprehensive income for the year
Dividend (note 23)
Contribution by non-controlling interest

Balance as at 31 December 2013

Total comprehensive income for the year
Dividend (note 23)
Contribution by non-controlling interest
Share based payments (note 28)

Share capital 
US$ ‘000

Share 
premium 
US$ ‘000

Group 
restructuring 
reserve 
US$ ‘000

29,566
–
–
–

29,566

179,152
–
–
–

179,152

(10,001)
–
–
–

Retained 
earnings 
US$ ‘000

130,952
68,165
(11,598)
–

Total 
US$ ‘000

329,669
68,165
(11,598)
–

(10,001)

187,519

386,236

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

76,566
(13,846)
–
67

76,566
(13,846)
–
67

Non- 
controlling 
interests 
US$ ‘000

1,934
978
–
3

2,915

968
–
121
–

Total 
US$ ‘000

331,603
69,143
(11,598)
3

389,151

77,534
(13,846)
121
67

Balance as at 31 December 2014

29,566

179,152

(10,001)

250,306

449,023

4,004

453,027

The attached notes 1 to 34 form part of the consolidated financial statements.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Financial Statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT 
OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 December 2014

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Profit for the year before tax
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Impairment of property and equipment
Employees’ end of service benefits
Finance income
Finance costs
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
Unamortised finance fees written off
Share based payments expense

Working capital changes:

Inventories
Accounts receivable and prepayments
Amounts due from related parties
Accounts payable and accruals
Amounts due to related parties

Net cash from operations
Employees’ end of service benefits paid

Net cash from operating activities

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets 
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
Bank deposits maturing in over 3 months
Restricted cash
Finance income received

Net cash (used in) investing activities

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
New term loans and draw-downs
Repayment of term loans
Receipts of short term borrowings
Repayment of short term borrowings
Finance costs paid
Dividend paid to shareholders

Net cash (used in) / from financing activities

INCREASE / (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT 31 DECEMBER

The attached notes 1 to 34 form part of the consolidated financial statements.

Notes

2014 
US$ ‘000

2013 
US$ ‘000

15
15
25
9
8

24
28

25

16

23

77,534

69,143

14,050
–
3,492
(3,623)
14,497
224
–
88

9,663
210
2,362
(3,814)
14,344
383
3,394
–

106,262

95,685

(16,086)
(28,080)
1,269
19,673
3,301

86,339
(657)

85,682

(111,245)
(22)
256
66,171
14,150
3,637

(21,665)
11,582
(7,653)
2,809
4,956

85,714
(643)

85,071

(78,616)
–
257
(12,251)
(22,732)
5,255

(27,053)

(108,087)

263,594
(307,282)
383,705
(314,013)
(13,669)
(13,846)

524,465
(500,627)
275,347
(252,768)
(14,532)
(11,598)

(1,511)

20,287

57,118
79,201

19

136,319

(2,729)
81,930

79,201

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At 31 December 2014

1  CORPORATE INFORMATION
NMC Health plc (the “Company” or “Parent’’) is a Company which was incorporated in England and Wales on 20 July 2011. The 
Company is a public limited company operating solely in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”). The address of the registered office  
of the Company is 23 Hanover Square London, W1S 1JB. The registered number of the Company is 7712220. The Company’s 
immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of three individuals (H.E. Saeed Bin Butti, Dr B.R. Shetty and Mr Khalifa Bin Butti) 
who are all shareholders and of whom one is a director of the company and who together have the ability to control the company.

The Parent and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group”) are engaged in providing professional medical services, wholesale  
of pharmaceutical goods, medical equipment, cosmetics, food and IT products and services in the United Arab Emirates.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2014 were authorised for issue by the board  
of directors on 23 February 2015 and the consolidated statement of financial position was signed on the Board’s behalf by  
Dr B.R. Shetty and Mr Suresh Krishnamoorthy.

2.1  BASIS OF PREPARATION
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the European Union as they apply to the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2014 and 
applied in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, except for derivative financial instrument 
that have been measured at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial 
statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all periods presented.

Functional and reporting currency
The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is UAE Dirham. The reporting currency of the Group is United States  
of America Dollar (US$) as this is a more globally recognised currency. The UAE Dirham is pegged against the US Dollar at a rate  
of 3.673 per US Dollar.

All values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($000) except when otherwise indicated.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position are set 
out in the Strategic Review on pages 9 to 33. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing 
facilities are described in the Financial Review on pages 24 to 25.

The Group has two diverse operating divisions, Healthcare and Distribution, both of which operate in a growing market.

The directors have undertaken an assessment of the future prospects of the Group and the wider risks that the Group is exposed 
to. In its assessment of whether the Group should adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements, the directors 
have considered the adequacy of financial resources in order to manage its business risks successfully, together with other areas 
of potential risk such as regulatory, insurance and legal risks.

The Group has considerable financial resources including banking arrangements through a spread of local and international 
banking groups and utilizes short and medium term working capital facilities to optimise business funding. Debt covenants are 
reviewed by the board each month. The Board believes that the level of cash in the Group, the spread of bankers and debt 
facilities mitigates the financing risks that the Group faces from both its capital expenditure program and in relation to working 
capital requirements.

Group delivered a strong performance in 2014. Both the Healthcare and Distribution divisions have continued their positive growth  
in revenue during 2014. Net profit and EBITDA of both healthcare and distribution divisions have increased in 2014. EBITDA margin of 
Distribution is almost same as last year whereas for Healthcare it decreased slightly which is due to opening of new facilities during 
the year. The directors have reviewed the business plan for 2015 and the five year cash flow, together with growth forecasts for the 
healthcare sector in UAE. The directors consider the Group’s future forecasts to be reasonable. 

The directors have not identified any other matters that may impact the viability of the Group in the medium term and therefore 
they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

95

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

2.2 BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Group and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 2014. 
Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has  
the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Specifically, the Group controls an investee if, and only if, the 
Group has:

•  Power over the investee (i.e., existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee). 
•  Exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee. 
•  The ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns.

Generally, there is a presumption that a majority of voting rights result in control. To support this presumption and when the Group 
has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant facts and circumstances in 
assessing whether it has power over an investee, including: 

•  The contractual arrangement with the other vote holders of the investee. 
•  Rights arising from other contractual arrangements. 
•  The Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights. 

The Group re-assesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or 
more of the three elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains control over the subsidiary and 
ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary. Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed 
of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date the Group gains control until the date the 
Group ceases to control the subsidiary. 

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income (OCI) are attributed to the equity holders of the parent of  
the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. When 
necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with the 
Group’s accounting policies. All intra-group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions 
between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation. 

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. 

If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises the related assets (including goodwill), liabilities, non-controlling interest 
and other components of equity while any resultant gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss. Any investment retained is 
recognised at fair value.

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its principal subsidiaries listed below:

Direct subsidiaries:

NMC Holding Co LLC
NMC Health Holdco Limited

Indirect subsidiaries:

NMC Healthcare LLC
New Pharmacy Company Limited
New Medical Centre Hospital LLC-Dubai
NMC Specialty Hospital LLC-Abu Dhabi
NMC Specialty Hospital LLC-Dubai
New Medical Centre Trading LLC
Bait Al Shifaa Pharmacy LLC-Dubai
New Medical Centre LLC-Sharjah
New Medical Centre Specialty Hospital LLC-Al Ain
Reliance Information Technology LLC
BR Medical Suites FZ LLC
Brightpoint Hospital LLC
NMC Day Surgery Centre LLC
NMC Dubai Investment Park LLC

Percentage of holdings

31 December
2014

31 December
2013

100%
100%

100%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
100%
99%
99%
99%

100%
100%

100%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
100%
99%
99%
99%

All the above subsidiaries are incorporated in the UAE except for NMC Health Holdco Limited, which is incorporated in England 
and Wales.

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
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2.3 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
The key assumptions concerning the future, key sources of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements at the reporting date 
that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year are discussed below:

Significant estimates
Impairment of inventories
Inventories are held at the lower of cost and net realisable value. When inventories become old or obsolete, an estimate is made  
of their net realisable value. For individually significant amounts this estimation is performed on an individual basis. Amounts which 
are not individually significant, but which are old or obsolete, are assessed collectively and a provision applied according to the 
inventory type and the Group’s policy for inventory provisioning. The gross carrying amount of inventories at 31 December 2014  
was US$111,597,000 (2013: US$94,839,000) and the provision for old and obsolete items at 31 December 2014 was US$1,388,000  
(2013: US$716,000). 

Impairment of accounts receivable 
An estimate of the collectible amount of trade accounts receivable is made when collection of the full amount is no longer 
probable. For individually significant amounts, this estimation is performed on an individual basis. Amounts which are not 
individually significant, but which are past due, are assessed collectively and a provision applied according to the length of time  
past due, based on historical recovery rates.

A majority of the receivables that are past due but not impaired are from insurance companies and government-linked entities  
in the United Arab Emirates which are inherently slow payers due to their long invoice verification and approval of payment 
procedures. Payments continue to be received from these customers and accordingly the risk of non-recoverability is considered  
to be low.

Gross trade accounts receivable at 31 December 2014 were US$177,203,000 (2013: US$ 154,234,000) and the provision for doubtful debts 
at 31 December 2014 was US$8,996,000 (2013: US$8,241,000). Any difference between the amounts actually collected in future periods 
and the amounts expected will be recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Significant judgements
Functional currency
The UAE Dirham is determined to be the functional currency of the Company.

Judgement has been used to determine the functional currency of the Company that most appropriately represents the economic 
effects of the Company’s transactions, events and conditions. 

The primary economic environment influencing the Company’s income (dividends) is the UAE and the effect of the local 
environment is limited to expenses incurred within the UK. The ability of the Company to meet its obligations and pay dividends  
to its shareholders is dependent on the economy of, and the operation of its subsidiaries in, the UAE. 

Assets held in the name of the previous shareholder
In accordance with local laws, except in some specific locations in the UAE the registered title of land and buildings must be held  
in the name of a UAE national. As a result, land and buildings of the Group are legally registered in the name of shareholders or 
previous shareholders of the Group. As at 31 December 2014 certain land and buildings with a carrying amount of US$9,321,000  
(2013: US$9,648,000) are held in the name of a previous shareholder for the beneficial interest of the Group. As the beneficial interest 
of such land and buildings resides with the Group, these assets are recorded within land and buildings in the Group consolidated 
financial statements. The directors take into account this local legal registration requirement, the Group’s entitlement to the 
beneficial interest arising from these assets, as well as other general business factors, when considering whether such assets are 
impaired. Subsequent to year end US$5,177,000 of the land and buildings which were held in the name of a previous shareholder  
for the beneficial interest of the Group were transferred into the name of a current UAE national shareholder.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

97

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

2.3 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES (CONTINUED)
Leases for buildings and land
Generally our hospitals, day patient medical centres and hospital projects under development are located on land and in buildings 
which are leased. As at 31 December 2014, the majority of the lease periods range from five to twenty seven years apart from the 
leases for New Medical Centre Hospital LLC-Dubai (‘Dubai General Hospital) and the warehouse facilities, which had leases which are 
renewable on an annual basis with a total value of US$1,015,000 included within property, and equipment as at 31 December 2014. If 
any such leases are terminated or expire and are not renewed, the Group could lose the investment, including the hospital buildings 
and the warehouses on the leased sites which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results 
of operations. The directors have considered the following facts in determining the likelihood that these leases will be renewed:

•  Whilst some leases can be for long term durations, it is not unusual and can often be common practice throughout all of the 
emirates in the United Arab Emirates for landlords to lease land and buildings to companies on annually renewable leases  
of one year terms and for these leases to be renewed automatically. Throughout the Group’s 41 year history it has never had  
a lease cancelled or not renewed, and the Group enjoys a high degree of respect in the region and believes that it maintains 
strong relationships with the landlords.

•  Both the Dubai General Hospital and the warehouse facilities have been occupied by the Group on annually renewable leases, 

for a period of more than 14 years and each year these leases have been automatically renewed.

•  The warehouse facilities have been built by the Group on land leased from government bodies in the Emirates of Dubai and 

Abu Dhabi on the back of the policies of these governments to attract investment in warehousing in the United Arab Emirates.

2.4 CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
New and amended standards and interpretations:
The Group applied for the first time certain standards and amendments which are effective for annual periods beginning on  
or after 1 January 2014.

The amendments to IFRS, which are effective as of 1 January 2014 and are described in more detail below, have no impact on 
the Group. 

Investment Entities (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27) 
These amendments provide an exception to the consolidation requirement for entities that meet the definition of an investment 
entity under IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements. The exception to consolidation requires investment entities to account for 
subsidiaries at fair value through profit or loss. These amendments have no impact on the Group, since none of the entities in the 
Group qualifies to be an investment entity under IFRS 10. 

Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Amendments to IAS 32 
These amendments clarify the meaning of ’currently has a legally enforceable right to set-off’ and the criteria for non-simultaneous 
settlement mechanisms of clearing houses to qualify for offsetting. These amendments have no impact on the Group, since none 
of the entities in the Group has any offsetting arrangements. 

Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting – Amendments to IAS 39 
These amendments provide relief from discontinuing hedge accounting when novation of a derivative designated as a hedging 
instrument meets certain criteria and retrospective application is required. These amendments have no impact on the Group as 
the Group has no derivatives as of 31 December 2014. 

Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets-Amendments to IAS 36
These amendments remove the unintended consequences of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement on the disclosures required under 
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. In addition, these amendments require disclosure of the recoverable amounts for the assets or 
cash–generating units (CGUs) for which an impairment loss has been recognised or reversed during the period. These amendments 
have no impact on the Group as the Group has not recognised or reversed any impairment loss during the period.

IFRIC 21 Levies 
IFRIC 21 clarifies that an entity recognises a liability for a levy when the activity that triggers payment, as identified by the relevant 
legislation, occurs. For a levy that is triggered upon reaching a minimum threshold, the interpretation clarifies that no liability should 
be anticipated before the specified minimum threshold is reached. This interpretation has no impact on the Group. 

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

2.4 CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle 
In the 2010-2012 annual improvements cycle, the IASB issued seven amendments to six standards, which included an amendment 
to IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The amendment to IFRS 13 is effective immediately and, thus, for periods beginning at 1 January 
2014, and it clarifies in the Basis for Conclusions that short-term receivables and payables with no stated interest rates can be 
measured at invoice amounts when the effect of discounting is immaterial. This amendment is relevant to the Group as the Group 
has determined that the effect of discounting is immaterial and so short term receivables and payables have been measured at 
invoiced amounts. 

Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle 
In the 2011-2013 annual improvements cycle, the IASB issued four amendments to four standards, which included an amendment 
to IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. This amendment to IFRS 1 has no impact on the Group, 
since the Group is an existing IFRS preparer.

3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue can be 
reliably measured, regardless of when the payment is being made. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration 
received or receivable, less discounts and rebates and taking into account contractually defined terms of payment and excluding 
taxes or duties.

Revenue streams include clinic service revenues, sale of goods – Pharmacy, sale of goods –Distribution, Healthcare management 
fees and revenue from BR Medical Suites. 

The Group assesses its revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine if it is acting as principal or agent. The 
Group determines it is acting as principal when it has exposure to the significant risks and rewards associated with the transaction 
and measures revenue as the gross amount received or receivable. When the Group does not retain the significant risks and 
rewards, it deems that it is acting as an agent and measures revenue as the amount received or receivable in return for its 
performance under the contract and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of a third party. 

Clinic service revenues:
Clinic service revenues represent the revenue which NMC generates from the provision of either inpatient or outpatient medical 
services. The group primarily receives clinic service revenues from patients’ private /medical insurance schemes. Clinic revenues  
are recognised when, and to the extent that, performance of a medical service occurs, and is measured at the fair value of the 
consideration received or receivable. NMC has determined that it is acting as Principal in these arrangements as it has the responsibility 
for providing the medical services to the patient, it sets the prices for the clinic services which are provided, it bears the credit risk 
and it bears the risk of providing the medical service. 

Sale of Goods – Pharmacy:
The sales of goods from pharmacy relates to the sale of pharmaceutical and other products from hospitals and pharmacies.  
Whilst the Group does not establish the prices for the pharmaceutical products sold as both the purchase and selling prices for all 
pharmaceutical products are fixed by the Ministry of Health, NMC has determined that it is acting as Principal in respect of these 
sales as it provides the goods for sale, it bears the inventory risk, and it bears the credit risk from customers. Revenue from the sale 
of goods – Pharmacy is therefore recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the 
buyer. Significant risk for retail goods is passed to the buyer at the point of sale.

Sale of Goods – Distribution:
Where the Group bears the inventory risk and the customer credit risk and has the ability to set the prices for the products sold 
then the Group has determined that it is acting as Principal. Revenue from the sale of goods is therefore recognised when the 
significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer. Significant risk for retail goods is passed to the 
buyer for wholesale goods at the time of delivery.

For agency relationships, the revenue earned is measured as the Group’s share of the revenue, as specified in the contract. Any 
amounts collected on behalf of the third party are excluded from revenue and are recorded as a payable. There are currently no 
material agency relationships.

Healthcare Management fees:
Management fees represent fees earned for managing a hospital. Management fees are recognised when the services under  
the contract are performed, and the service level criteria have been met, and are measured at the fair value of the consideration 
received or receivable, in line with the terms of the management contract.

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Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Revenue from BR Medical Suites:
BR Medical Suites enters into contracts with doctors whereby these doctors are employed to perform certain procedures or run 
outpatient services using the facilities at BR Medical Suites. In return the doctors obtain a share of the revenues that are generated 
from these facilities. Each contractual arrangement with individual doctors is assessed against specific criteria to determine 
whether the Group is acting as principal or agent in the arrangement with these doctors.

Other income
Other income comprises revenue from suppliers for the reimbursement of advertising and promotion costs incurred by the Group. 
Revenue is recognised following formal acceptance of the Group’s reimbursement claims by suppliers and is measured at the 
confirmed amount receivable.

Interest income
For all financial instruments measured at amortised cost, interest income or expense is recorded using the effective interest rate 
(EIR), which is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the 
financial instrument or a shorter period, where appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or liability. Interest 
income is included in finance income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Rebates from Suppliers 
The Distribution business receives rebates in the ordinary course of business from a number of its suppliers of pharmaceutical 
products, in accordance with contractual arrangements in place with specific suppliers. Rebates are accounted for once approval 
has been received from the supplier following the negotiations which have taken place with them. Rebates receivable are accounted 
for as a deduction from the cost of purchasing pharmaceutical goods, once the rebate has been approved by the supplier on the 
basis under IAS 18 that the probability of inflow is not sufficiently certain and the amounts cannot be reliably measured until that 
point. When rebates have been agreed in advance, for example when it has been agreed that a certain rebate will be applied to 
the purchase of specific goods for a set period of time rather than just to a specific one off purchase, then the rebate is recognised 
as a reduction in the purchase price as soon as the goods are purchased. When rebates are offered based upon the volume 
purchased and it is probable that the rebate will be earned and the amount can be estimated reliably, then the discount is 
recognised as a reduction in the purchase price when the goods are purchased and the assessment is reviewed on an ongoing 
basis. Rebates receivable are accounted for on a net basis, being set off against the trade payables to which they relate, as they  
are a reduction in the amount we owe to our suppliers in respect of pharmaceutical products purchased.

Business combinations and goodwill
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition  
of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the  
equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from  
a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business 
combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in 
the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the 
recognised amounts of acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date fair value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest  
in the acquiree is remeasured to fair value at the acquisition date through profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes 
to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognised in accordance with IAS 39 
either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not 
remeasured, and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the amount 
recognised for non-controlling interest over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the fair value of the  
net assets acquired is in excess of the aggregate consideration transferred, the gain is recognised in profit or loss. 

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment 
testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating 
units that are expected to benefit from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquire are 
assigned to those units. 

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3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Where goodwill has been allocated to a cash-generating unit and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill 
associated with the disposed operation is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on 
disposal. Goodwill disposed in these circumstances is measured based on the relative values of the disposed operation and the 
portion of the cash-generating unit retained. 

Business combinations involving entities under common control
Business combinations involving entities under common control do not fall under the scope of IFRS 3 Revised ‘Business Combinations’. 
The transfer of companies under common control is therefore accounted for using the pooling of interests method. Under this 
method there is no requirement to fair value the assets and liabilities of the transferred entities and hence no goodwill is created 
upon transfer of ownership as the balances remain at book value. The consolidated income statement, consolidated balance sheet 
and the consolidated statement of cash flows comparative figures are also presented as if the Company had been the parent 
undertaking of the Group throughout the current and previous year. The consolidated financial statements are therefore presented 
as though the Group had always existed in its current form.

Restructuring reserve
The group restructuring reserve arises on consolidation under the pooling of interests method used for the group restructuring 
which took place on 1 April 2012. This represents the difference between the share capital of NMC Healthcare LLC, the previous 
parent company of the Group, and the carrying amount of the investment in that company at the date of the restructure. This 
reserve is non-distributable.

Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value.

Depreciation is calculated on all property and equipment other than land and capital work in progress, at the following rates 
calculated to write off the cost of each asset on a straight line basis over its expected useful life:

Hospital building
Buildings
Leasehold improvements
Motor vehicles
Furniture, fixtures and fittings
Medical equipment

6%
6%
20%
20%
12.5% – 20%
10% – 25%

The carrying amounts of property and equipment are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate 
the carrying value may not be recoverable. If any such indication exists and where the carrying values exceed the estimated 
recoverable amount, the assets are written down to their recoverable amount, being the higher of their fair value less cost to sell 
and their value in use.

Capital work in progress is stated at cost and is not depreciated. Lease costs in respect of capital work in progress are capitalised 
within capital work in progress during the period up until it is commissioned. When commissioned, capital work in progress is 
transferred to the appropriate property and equipment asset category and depreciated in accordance with the Group’s policies.  
The carrying amounts of capital work in progress are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate 
the carrying value may not be recoverable. If any such indication exists and where the carrying values exceed the estimated 
recoverable amount, the assets are written down to their recoverable amount.

Expenditure incurred to replace a component of an item of property and equipment that is accounted for separately is capitalised 
and the carrying amount of the component that is replaced is written off. Other subsequent expenditure is capitalised only when  
it increases future economic benefits of the related item of property and equipment. All other expenditure is recognised in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income as the expense is incurred.

Intangible assets 
Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business 
combination is their fair value at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any 
accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Internally generated intangibles, excluding capitalised development 
costs, are not capitalised and the related expenditure is reflected in consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the period 
in which the expenditure is incurred. 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as either finite or indefinite. 

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over the useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an 
indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortisation period and the amortisation method for an intangible asset 
with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the expected useful life or the expected 
pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are considered to modify the amortisation period or 
method, as appropriate, and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. The amortisation expense on intangible assets with 
finite lives is recognised in the statement of consolidated comprehensive income in the expense category that is consistent with 
the function of the intangible assets. 

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortised, but are tested for impairment annually, either individually or at the 
cash-generating unit level. The assessment of indefinite life is reviewed annually to determine whether the indefinite life continues 
to be supportable. If not, the change in useful life from indefinite to finite is made on a prospective basis. 

Gains or losses arising from derecognition of an intangible asset are measured as the difference between the net disposal 
proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and are recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income when 
the asset is derecognised. 

Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or construction of an asset are capitalised as part of the cost of  
the asset until the asset is commissioned for use. Borrowing costs in respect of completed assets or not attributable to assets  
are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Pre-operating expenses
Pre-operating expenses are the expenses incurred prior to start of operations of a new business unit. These are recognised in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the year in which they occur.

Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for any obsolete or slow moving 
items. Costs are those expenses incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition and are determined on  
a weighted average basis. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less any further costs expected to be incurred  
to disposal.

Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable are stated at original invoice amount less a provision for any uncollectible amounts. Accounts receivable with no 
stated interest rates are measured at invoiced amounts when the effect of discounting is immaterial. An estimate of doubtful debts 
is made when collection of the full amount is no longer probable. Bad debts are written off when there is no possibility of recovery.

Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in hand, bank balances 
and short term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

Equity
The Group has issued ordinary shares that are classified as equity. The difference between the issue price and the par value  
of ordinary share capital is allocated to share premium. The transaction costs incurred for the share issue are accounted for  
as a deduction from share premium, net of any related income tax benefit, to the extent they are incremental costs directly 
attributable to the share issue that would otherwise have been avoided.

Accounts payable and accruals
Liabilities are recognised for amounts to be paid in the future for goods and services received whether billed by the supplier or not. 
Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of  
the business if longer). If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Accounts payable are recognised initially at fair value and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has an obligation (legal or constructive) arising from a past event, and the costs to settle 
the obligation are both probable and able to be reliably measured.

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Financial
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3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax 
rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the obligation. Increases in provisions 
due to the passage of time are recognised in the consolidated income statement within ‘Finance costs’.

Term loans
Term loans are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received less directly attributable transaction costs. After 
initial recognition, term loans are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest on term 
loans is charged as an expense as it accrues, with unpaid amounts included in “accounts payable and accruals”.

When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms  
of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original 
liability and the recognition of a new liability. The difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

Employees’ end of service benefits 
The Group operates an un-funded post-employment benefit plan (employees’ end of service benefits) for its expatriate employees 
in UAE, in accordance with the labour laws of the UAE. The entitlement to these benefits is based upon the employees’ final salary 
and length of service, subject to the completion of a minimum service period. Payment for employees’ end of service benefits is 
made when an employee leaves, resigns or completes his service. 

The cost of providing benefits under the post-employment benefit plan is determined using the projected unit credit method. 
Re-measurements, comprising of actuarial gains and losses, are recognized immediately in the statement of financial position 
with a corresponding debit or credit to retained earnings through other comprehensive income in the period in which they occur. 
Re-measurements are not reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods.

Interest is calculated by applying the discount rate to the defined benefit liability. The rate used to discount the end of service 
benefit obligation is determined by reference to market yields at the balance sheet date on high quality corporate bonds. The 
current and non-current portions of the provision relating to employees’ end of service benefits are separately disclosed in the 
consolidated statement of financial position. 

The Group recognises the following changes in the employees’ end of service benefits under ‘direct costs’ and ‘general and 
administrative expenses’ in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income:

•  Service costs comprising current service costs.
• 

Interest expense.

With respect to its UAE national employees, the Group makes contributions to the relevant UAE Government pension scheme 
calculated as a percentage of the employees’ salaries. The obligations under these schemes are limited to these contributions, 
which are expensed when due.

Share based payments
Equity-settled share-based payments to employees (including executive directors) are measured at the fair value of the equity 
instruments at the grant date. The fair value excludes the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. Details regarding the 
determination of the fair value of equity-settled share-based transactions are set out in note 28.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis  
over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of equity instruments that will eventually vest. At each reporting date,  
the Group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based 
vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to 
equity reserves/other payables.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for equity-settled transactions for which vesting is 
conditional upon a market or non-vesting condition. These are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market  
or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.

The dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings per share 
(see note 14). 

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Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in UAE Dirhams at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.  
All differences are taken to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Translation of foreign operations
On consolidation the assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into US Dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at 
the reporting date and their income statements are translated at exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Since 
the UAE Dirham is pegged against the US Dollar a single rate of 3.673 per US Dollar is used to translate assets and liabilities and 
balances in the income statement.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group used derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps and caps to hedge its interest rate risks. Such 
derivative financial instruments were initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a contract is entered into and were 
subsequently remeasured at fair value. The fair value of interest rate swaps were determined by reference to market values for 
similar instruments. Derivatives with positive market values (unrealised gains) were included in other assets and derivatives with 
negative market values (unrealised losses) were included in other liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position.  
Any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value on derivatives during the year were taken directly to profit or loss. Whilst the 
policy of the Group is not to apply hedge accounting, the derivatives were economic hedges of liabilities in issue and it is therefore 
considered appropriate to show the changes in fair value of derivatives in finance costs in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income.

Fair value measurement
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the 
asset or transfer the liability takes place either:

• 
• 

In the principal market for the asset or liability, or
In the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible to by the Group.

The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the 
asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits 
by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest 
and best use.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure 
fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorised within the fair value 
hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole: 

•  Level 1 — Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•  Level 2 — Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or 

indirectly observable

•  Level 3 — Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable

For assets and liabilities that are recognised in the financial statements on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether 
transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that  
is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period. 

Impairment of financial assets
An assessment is made at each consolidated statement of financial position date to determine whether there is objective 
evidence that a specific financial asset may be impaired. If such evidence exists, any impairment loss is recognised in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Impairment is determined as the difference between carrying value and  
the present value of future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset.

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Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

3  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception 
date, whether fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys  
a right to use the asset, even if that right is not explicitly specified in an arrangement. Operating leases are recognised as an 
operating expense in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis.

4  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS ISSUED BUT NOT EFFECTIVE
The standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the Group’s financial 
statements are listed below. The Group intends to adopt these standards, if applicable, when they become effective.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 15 was issued in May 2014 and establishes a new five-step model that will apply to revenue arising from contracts with customers. 
Under IFRS 15 revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange 
for transferring goods or services to a customer. The principles in IFRS 15 provide a more structured approach to measuring and 
recognising revenue. The new revenue standard is applicable to all entities and will supersede all current revenue recognition 
requirements under IFRS. Either a full or modified retrospective application is required for annual periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2017 with early adoption permitted. The Group is currently assessing the impact of IFRS 15 and plans to adopt the new 
standard on the required effective date.

The standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the Group’s financial 
statements and not expected to have any impact on the Group are as follows:

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts

• 
• 
•  Amendments to IAS 19 Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions
•  Annual improvements 2010-2012 Cycle:

• 
• 
• 
• 

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
IFRS 8 Operating Segments
IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible Assets
IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures

•  Annual improvements 2011-2013 Cycle:

• 
• 
• 

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
IAS 40 Investment Property

•  Amendments to IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements: Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests.
•  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38: Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation.
•  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 Agriculture: Bearer Plants.
•  Amendments to IAS 27: Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements.

5  SEGMENT INFORMATION
For management purposes, the Group is organised into business units based on their products and services and has two 
reportable segments as follows:

•  The healthcare segment is engaged in providing professional medical services, comprising diagnostic services, in and outpatient 

clinics and retailing of pharmaceutical goods. It also includes the provision of management services in respect of a hospital. 
•  The distribution & services segment is engaged in wholesale trading of pharmaceutical goods, medical equipment, cosmetics 

and food.

No operating segments have been aggregated to form the above reportable operating segments.

Management monitors the operating results of its business units separately for the purpose of making decisions about resource 
allocation and performance assessment. Segment performance is evaluated based on EBITDA and profit or loss. These are 
measured consistently with EBITDA and profit or loss excluding finance income and group administrative expenses, unallocated 
depreciation and unallocated other income, in the consolidated financial statements. From the current year, the Group has started 
allocating its finance costs and IT costs to its segments.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

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Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

5  SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Group financing and investments (including finance costs and finance income) are managed on a group basis and are not 
allocated to operating segments. 

Transfer prices between operating segments are on an arm’s length basis in a manner similar to transactions with third parties.

The following tables present revenue and profit and certain asset and liability information regarding the Group‘s business segments 
for the years ended 31 December 2014 and 2013.

Year ended 31 December 2014
Revenue
External customers
Inter segment

Total

(Expenses)/Income
Depreciation
Finance costs

Segment EBITDA

Segment profit

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Other disclosures
Capital expenditure

Year ended 31 December 2013
Revenue
External customers
Inter segment

Total

(Expenses)/Income
Depreciation
Finance costs

Segment EBITDA

Segment profit

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Other disclosures
Capital expenditure

Distribution 
and 
services
US$ ‘000

Total 
segments
US$ ‘000

Adjustments 
and 
eliminations
US$ ‘000

Consolidated
US$ ‘000

Healthcare
US$ ‘000

327,714
4,484

316,217
22,675

643,931
27,159

–
(27,159)

643,931
–

332,198

338,892

671,090

(27,159)

643,931

(11,215)
(3,927)

(2,349)
(3,396)

(13,564)
(7,323)

(486)
(7,174)

(14,050)
(14,497)

88,211

73,070

34,121

122,332

(19,874)

102,458

28,376

101,446

(23,912)

77,534

459,745

208,935

668,680

281,845

950,525

50,497

58,300

108,797

388,701

497,498

108,809

3,005

111,814

501

112,315

285,043
4,252

265,835
34,341

550,878
38,593

–
(38,593)

550,878
–

289,295

300,176

589,471

(38,593)

550,878

(7,120)
–

(2,092)
–

(9,212)
–

(451)
(14,344)

(9,663)
(14,344)

81,668

74,339

29,908

27,815

111,576

102,154

(18,636)

92,940

(33,011)

69,143

338,341

190,407

528,748

286,514

815,262

33,818

47,028

80,846

345,265

426,111

80,845

1,220

82,065

587

82,652

Inter-segment revenues are eliminated upon consolidation and reflected in the ‘adjustments and eliminations’ column. All other 
adjustments and eliminations are part of detailed reconciliations presented further below.

Adjustments and eliminations
Finance income and group overheads are not allocated to individual segments as they are managed on a group basis.

Term loans, bank overdraft and other short term borrowings and certain other assets and liabilities are substantially not allocated  
to segments as they are also managed on a group basis.

Capital expenditure consists of additions to property and equipment. 

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Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

5  SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
From current year the Group started allocating finance cost and IT cost to its subsidiaries. Prior period comparatives have not been 
restated, however, segment EBITDA and segment profit for the current period, had these costs not been allocated, are presented  
in the table below:

Year ended 31 December 2014
(Expenses)/Income
Depreciation
Finance costs

Segment EBITDA

Segment profit

Reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to Group profit

Segment EBITDA

Unallocated group administrative expenses
Unallocated other income
Unallocated finance income
Unallocated unamortised finance fees written off 
Impairment of property and equipment
Finance costs
Depreciation

Group Profit before tax

Reconciliation of Segment profit to Group profit

Segment profit

Unallocated finance income
Unallocated finance costs
Unallocated group administrative expenses
Unallocated unamortised finance fees written off 
Unallocated depreciation
Unallocated other income

Group Profit before tax

Reconciliation of Group assets

Segment assets

Unallocated property and equipment 
Unallocated inventory
Unallocated accounts receivable and prepayments
Unallocated amounts due from related parties
Unallocated bank balances and cash
Unallocated bank deposits
Unallocated intangible assets

Group assets

Healthcare
US$ ‘000

Distribution 
and services
US$ ‘000

Total 
segments
US$ ‘000

Adjustments
and
eliminations
US$ ‘000

Consolidated
US$ ‘000

(11,215)
–

(2,349)
–

(13,564)
–

(486)
(14,497)

(14,050)
(14,497)

89,138

77,924

34,416

123,554

(21,096)

102,458

32,067

109,991

(32,457)

77,534

2014
US$ ‘000

122,332
(20,010)
136
3,623
–
–
(14,497)
(14,050)

2013
US$ ‘000

111,576
(18,654)
18
3,814
(3,394)
(210)
(14,344)
(9,663)

77,534

69,143

2014
US$ ‘000

101,446
3,623
(7,175)
(20,010)
–
(486)
136

77,534

2013
US$ ‘000

102,154
3,814
(14,344)
(18,654)
(3,394)
(451)
18

69,143

2014
US$ ‘000

668,680
9,341
26
7,253
–
78,633
183,577
3,015

2013
US$ ‘000

528,748
12,365
36
5,526
267
74,954
193,366
–

 950,525

815,262

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

107

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

5  SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Reconciliation of Group liabilities

Segment liabilities

Unallocated term loans
Unallocated employees’ end of service benefits
Unallocated accounts payable and accruals
Unallocated bank overdraft and other short term borrowings
Unallocated amounts due to related parties

Group liabilities

2014
US$ ‘000

108,797
206,512
1,101
11,335
169,607
146

2013
US$ ‘000

80,846
250,200
219
12,547
82,238
61

497,498

426,111

Other information
The following table provides information relating to Group’s major customers who contribute more than 10% towards the Group’s revenues:

Year ended 31 December 2014

Customer 1
Customer 2

Year ended 31 December 2013

Customer 1
Customer 2

Healthcare
US$ ‘000

Distribution 
and services
US$ ‘000

92,246
35,005

127,251

75,802
32,715

108,517

–
–

–

–
–

–

Total
US$ ‘000

92,246
35,005

127,251

75,802
32,715

108,517

Geographical information
The Group has only one geographical segment – United Arab Emirates. All revenues from external customers are generated in the 
United Arab Emirates and all non-current assets are located in the United Arab Emirates.

Analysis of revenue by category:

Revenue from services:

Healthcare – clinic
Healthcare – management fees

Sale of goods:
 Distribution
 Healthcare

Total

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

260,938
5,717

207,532
5,445

266,655

212,977

316,217
61,059

265,835
72,066

377,276

337,901

643,931

550,878

108

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

6  EXPENSES BY NATURE

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense
Salary expenses
Rent expenses
Sales promotion expenses
Repair & maintenance expenses
Others

Allocated to :
Direct costs
General and administrative expenses

2014
US$ ‘000

314,408
157,990
27,728
35,174
7,630
28,983

2013
US$ ‘000

265,852
136,668
21,518
29,533
5,796
25,531

571,913

484,898

434,725
137,188

365,336
119,562

571,913

484,898

The classifications of the remaining expenses by nature recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income are:

Depreciation 
Impairment of property and equipment 
Finance costs
Unamortised finance fees written off

2014
US$ ‘000

14,050
–
14,497
–

28,547

2013
US$ ‘000

9,663
210
14,344
3,394

27,611

7  OTHER INCOME
Other income includes US$30,180,000 (2013: US$26,771,000) relating to reimbursement of advertisement and promotional expenses 
incurred by the Group. Revenue is recognised following the formal acceptance of the Group’s reimbursement claims by suppliers 
and is measured at the confirmed amount receivable.

8  FINANCE COSTS

Bank interest
Bank charges
Change in fair value of derivative financial instrument

9  FINANCE INCOME

Bank and other interest income

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

12,324
2,173
–

14,497

12,788
2,258
(702)

14,344

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

3,623

3,623

3,814

3,814

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

109

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

10  PROFIT FOR THE YEAR BEFORE TAX
The profit for the year before tax is stated after charging:

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense (note 6)

Cost of inventories written off and provided 

Minimum lease payments recognised as operating lease expense

Depreciation (note 15)

Net Impairment of accounts receivable (note 18)

Employees’ end of service benefits (note 25)

Net foreign exchange loss 

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

Share based payments expense (note 28)

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

314,408

265,852

2,318

27,728

14,050

2,498

3,492

1,490

224

88

2,381

21,518

9,663

2,462

2,362

3,841

383

–

11  AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION
The Group paid the following amounts to its auditor and its associates in respect of the audit of the financial statements and for 
other services provided to the Group.

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:

– the audit of the company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
– audit related assurance services
– other assurance services
– Tax compliances services
– Tax advisory services
– non audit services

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

593

149
130
–
12
8
41

933

615

142
155
15
25
25
19

996

Included in the fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts is US$NIL (2013: US$100,000) 
which was under-accrued in respect of the prior year audit of the Company’s annual accounts.

The fees paid to the auditor includes US$92,000 (2013: US$85,000) in respect of out of pocket expenses. There were no benefits in 
kind provided to the auditor or its associates in either 2014 or 2013.

12  STAFF COSTS AND DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS
(a) Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Employees’ end of service benefits (note 26)
Share based payments expense  (note 28)
Others 

2014
US$ ‘000

144,942
3,492
88
9,468

2013
US$ ‘000

126,580
2,362
–
7,726

157,990

136,668

110

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

12  STAFF COSTS AND DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS (CONTINUED)
Staff costs include amounts paid to directors, disclosed in part (b) below. The average number of monthly employees during the 
year was made up as follows:

Healthcare
Distribution & services
Administration

(b) Directors’ remuneration

Directors’ remuneration

2014

3,874
1,846
174

5,894

2013

3,169
1,726
151

5,046

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

2,141

1,746

Some of the executive directors are entitled to end of service benefits and to participate in share option plans as disclosed in  
note 28. Further information in respect of this compensation paid to directors is disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

13  TAX
The Group operates solely in the United Arab Emirates and as there is no corporation tax in the United Arab Emirates, no taxes  
are recognised or payable on the operations in the UAE. It is the opinion of management that there are sufficient expenses in  
the Company to offset taxable income arising in the UK and accordingly any tax liability that could arise is likely to be immaterial.  
The unused tax losses amount to US$5,155,000 as at 31 December 2014 (2013: US $nil).

14  EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) 
Basic EPS amounts are calculated by dividing net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company 
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would 
be issued on conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.

The following reflects the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

Profit attributable to equity holders of the Parent (US$ ‘000)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (‘000) for basic EPS
Effect of dilution from share based payments (‘000)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (‘000) for diluted EPS

Basic earnings per share (US$)
Diluted earnings per share (US$)

15  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consists of the following:

Property and equipment

2014

2013

76,566

185,714
56

185,770

0.412
0.412

68,165

185,714
–

185,714

0.367
0.367

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

368,357

273,792 

368,357

 273,792

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

111

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

15  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (CONTINUED)

Freehold 
land
US$ ‘000

Hospital 
building
US$ ‘000

Buildings
US$ ‘000

Leasehold 
improve-
ments
US$ ‘000

Motor 
vehicles 
US$ ‘000

Furniture, 
fixtures 
fittings and 
medical 
equipment
US$ ‘000

Capital work 
in progress
US$ ‘000

Total
US$ ‘000 
Total
US$ ‘000

31 December 2014
Cost:

At 1 January 2014
Additions
Disposals
Transfer from CWIP
Transfer to intangible assets

At 31 December 2014

Depreciation:

 At 1 January 2014
 Charge for the year
 Relating to disposals

At 31 December 2014

19,206 
– 
–
–
–

19,206

– 
– 
–

–

Net carrying amount: At 31 December 2014

19,206

31 December 2013
Cost:

 At 1 January 2013
 Additions
 Disposals
 Transfer from CWIP progress
 Impairment of property and equipment

At 31 December 2013

Depreciation:

 At 1 January 2013
 Charge for the year
 Relating to disposals

At 31 December 2013

19,206 
– 
– 
 – 
 – 

19,206 

– 
– 
– 

– 

Net carrying amount: At 31 December 2013

19,206 

12,343 
–
–
–
–

12,343

7,804
310
–

8,114

4,229

12,343 
– 
– 
 – 
 –

12,343 

7,494
310
 – 

7,804

4,539

26,300
–
–
–
–

26,300

4,501
1,419
–

5,920

17,388
1,064
–
33,407
–

51,859

10,279
3,451
–

13,730

20,380

38,129

26,269
31 
– 
–
–

12,722
907
–
3,759
–

5,887
1,576
(42)
 –
–

114,074
14,967
(1,265)
15,712
–

171,389
94,686
–
(49,119)
(3,198)

366,587
112,293
(1,307)
–
(3,198)

7,421

143,488

213,758

474,375

4,868
359
(42)

5,185

2,236

5,544
83
(47)
307
–

65,343
8,511
(785)

73,069

– 
–
–

–

92,795
14,050
(827)

106,018

70,419

213,758

368,357

110,594
8,791
(6,553)
1,242
–

104,067
72,840
–
(5,308)
(210)

290,745
 82,652
(6,600)
–
(210)

26,300

17,388

5,887

114,074

171,389

366,587

3,083
1,418
 – 

4,501

21,799

8,932
1,347
–

10,279

7,109

4,701
214
(47)

4,868

1,019

64,882
6,374
(5,913)

65,343

48,731

–
–
–

 –

89,092
9,663
(5,960)

92,795

171,389

273,792

As part of the Group’s capital expenditure programme, borrowing costs of US$4,068,000 (2013: US$4,886,000) net of finance income  
of US$NIL (2013: US$54,000) have been capitalised during the year. The rate used to determine the amount of borrowing costs 
eligible for capitalisation was 3.15% (2013: 3.40%) which is the effective rate of the borrowings used to finance the capital expenditure. 
Companies in UAE are not subject to taxation and as such there is no tax relief in respect of capitalised interest. 

Total capital expenditure during the year ended 31 December 2014 was US$112,293,000 (2013: US$82,652,000). Of the total capital 
expenditure spend during the year, US$94,686,000 (2013: US$72,840,000) related to new capital projects and US$17,607,000 (2013: 
US$9,812,000) related to further capital investment in our existing facilities.

Generally hospital and distribution operations are carried out on land and buildings which are leased from Government authorities 
or certain private parties. The majority of the lease periods range from five to twenty seven years apart from New Medical Centre 
Hospital LLC-Dubai (“Dubai General Hospital”), and the warehouse facilities which had leases renewable on an annual basis (note 2.3). 
As at 31 December 2014 US$1,015,000 (2013: US$50,245,000) of the amounts included in property and equipment related to assets  
with annually renewable leases. During the current year, the lease for the land on which Khalifa City Specialty Hospital is being 
constructed (which as at 31 December 2013 was an annually renewable lease) has been renewed so that it is now a 27 year lease 
expiring in the year 2040.

112

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

15  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (CONTINUED)
In accordance with the local laws, except in some specific locations in the UAE the registered title of land and buildings must be 
held in the name of a UAE national. As a result, land and buildings of the Group are legally registered in the name of shareholders  
or previous shareholders of the Group. Certain land and buildings with a carrying amount of US$9,321,000 (31 December 2013: 
US$9,648,000) are held in the name of a previous shareholder for the beneficial interest of the Group. As the beneficial interest of 
such land and buildings resides with the Group, these assets are recorded within land and buildings in the Group’s consolidated 
financial statements. The directors take into account this local legal registration requirement, the Group’s entitlement to 
the beneficial interest arising from these assets, as well as other general business factors, when considering whether such assets 
are impaired. Subsequent to year end US$5,177,000 of the land and buildings which were held in the name of a previous shareholder 
for the beneficial interest of the Group were transferred into the name of a current UAE national shareholder.

16  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As at 1 January
Transfer from Capital work in progress (note 15)
Addition during the year

As at 31 December

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

Software

Goodwill

Total

Software

Goodwill

–
3,198
22

3,220

1,016
–
–

1,016

1,016
3,198
22

4,236

–
–
–

–

1,016
–
–

1,016

Total

1,016
–
–

1,016

Software represents work-in-progress on the ERP system of the Group. During the year, an amount of US$3,198,000 in respect of 
ERP software has been transferred from capital work in progress within property and equipment to intangible assets. Management 
is currently in the process of estimating the useful economic life of the software and is still determining the amortization method 
to be applied. Amortization of the software will commence once it is implemented and goes live.

Management has performed an impairment assessment of ERP software and believes that no impairment is required.

Goodwill arose on the acquisition of BR Medical Suites FZ LLC on 1 July 2012. 

17  INVENTORIES

Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
Scientific equipment
Consumer products
Food
Telecommunication equipment
Consumables
Opticals
Goods in transit
Other

Less: provisions for slow moving and obsolete inventories

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

58,444
11,295
32,719
6,041
231
211
333
1,750
573

44,959
11,899
27,915
6,796
569
290
358
1,594
459

111,597
(1,388)

94,839
(716)

110,209

94,123

The amount of write down of inventories recognised as an expense for the year ended 31 December 2014 is US$1,646,000  
(2013: US$1,781,000). This is recognised in direct costs.

Charge for the year in respect of provision provided for slow moving and obsolete inventories is US$672,000 (2013: US$600,000).

Trust receipts issued by banks amounting to US$25,059,000 (2013: US$3,100,000) are secured against the inventories.

18  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAYMENTS

Accounts receivable
Receivable from suppliers for promotional expenses 
Other receivables
Prepayments

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

2014
US$ ‘000

168,207
9,349
6,262
12,751

2013
US$ ‘000

145,993
9,696
6,845
5,848

196,569

168,382

113

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

18  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAYMENTS (CONTINUED)
Receivables from suppliers relate to advertising and promotional expenses incurred by the Group. Accounts receivable are stated 
net of provision for doubtful debts of US$8,996,000 (2013: US$8,241,000). Movements in the provision for doubtful debts are as follows:

At 1 January
Written off
Written back (note 10)
Charge for the year (note 10)

At 31 December

The ageing of unimpaired accounts receivable is as follows:

31 December 2014

Accounts receivable

31 December 2013

Accounts receivable

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

8,241
(1,743)
(471)
2,969

8,996

6,444
(665)
(472)
2,934

8,241

Past due but not impaired

Neither past 
due nor 
impaired
US$ ‘000

Total 
US$ ‘000

< 90 days
US$ ‘000

91-180 days
US$ ‘000

181-365 days
US$ ‘000

>365 days
US$ ‘000

168,207

115,379

37,884

9,985

3,777

145,993

104,028

31,658

6,053

2,774

1,182

1,480

Unimpaired receivables are expected, on the basis of past experience, to be fully recoverable. It is not the practice of Group to obtain 
collateral over receivables and they are therefore unsecured. As at 31 December 2014 trade receivables of US$8,996,000 (2013: 
US$8,241,000) were impaired and fully provided for.

Credit risk is managed through the Group’s established policy, procedures and controls relating to credit risk management (note 29). 
A majority of the receivables that are past due but not impaired are from insurance companies and government-linked entities in 
the United Arab Emirates which are inherently slow payers due to their long invoice verification and approval of payment procedures. 
Payments continue to be received from these customers and accordingly the risk of non-recoverability is considered to be low.

Of the net trade receivables balance of US$168,207,000 (2013: US$145,993,000) amount of US$73,069,000 is against five customers 
(2013: US$61,353,000 is against five customers). 

The Group’s terms require receivables to be repaid within 90-120 days depending on the type of customer, which is in line with local 
practice in the UAE. Due to the long credit period offered to customers, a significant amount of trade accounts receivable are 
neither past due nor impaired. 

Amounts due from related parties amounting to US$7,985,000 (31 December 2013: US$9,254,000) as disclosed on the face of the 
consolidated statement of financial position are trading in nature and arise in the normal course of business.

19  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents included in the consolidated statement of cash flows comprise of the following:

Bank deposits
Bank balances and cash
Bank overdrafts and other short term borrowings

Adjustments for:
Short term borrowings
Bank deposits maturing in over 3 months
Restricted cash

Cash and cash equivalents

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

183,577
79,592
(169,607)

193,366
75,329
(82,238)

93,562

186,457

143,875
(82,209)
(18,909)

74,183
(148,380)
(33,059)

136,619

79,201

114

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

Overview

Group  
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial
Statements

19  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (CONTINUED)
Bank deposits of US$183,577,000 (2013: US$193,366,000) are with commercial banks in the United Arab Emirates. These are mainly 
denominated in the UAE Dirhams and earn interest at the respective deposit rates. These deposits have original maturity between 
3 to 12 months (2013: 3 to 12 months). 

Short term borrowings include trust receipts and invoice discounting facilities which mature between 90 and 180 days. Trust receipts 
are short term borrowings to finance imports. The bank overdrafts and short term borrowings are secured by assets of the Group 
up to the amount of the respective borrowings and personal guarantees of the shareholders (H.E. Saeed Mohamed Butti Mohamed 
Al Qebaisi, Dr B.R. Shetty and Khalifa Butti Omair Yousif Ahmad Al Muhairi) and carry interest at EIBOR plus margin rates ranging 
from 1% to 4% (2013: 3% to 4%) per annum.

At 31 December 2014, the Group had US$19,474,000 (2013: US$18,323,000) of undrawn bank overdraft facilities, which are 
renewable annually.

Restricted cash mainly represents funds held by a bank in respect of upcoming loan repayment instalments.

20 SHARE CAPITAL
As at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013:

Issued and fully paid
(nominal value 10 pence sterling each)

Number of 
shares
(thousands)

Ordinary 
shares
US$ ‘000

Share 
premium
US$ ‘000

Total
US$ ‘000

185,714

29,566

179,152

208,718

21  GROUP RESTRUCTURING RESERVE
The Group restructuring reserve arises on consolidation under the pooling of interests method used for group restructuring, which 
took place on 28 March 2012 when the Company became the holding company of NMC Healthcare LLC through its wholly owned 
subsidiaries, NMC Holding LLC and NMC Health Holdco Limited .Under this method, the group is treated as a continuation of the NMC 
Healthcare LLC group. The difference between the share capital of NMC Healthcare LLC (US$27,226,000) and the carrying amount of 
the investment in that company (US$37,227,000), which equates to the net assets of NMC Healthcare LLC at the date of reorganisation 
(28 March 2012), amounting to US$10,001,000 (debit), is recorded on consolidation as a group restructuring reserve. This reserve is 
non-distributable. 

22 RETAINED EARNINGS
As at 31 December 2014, retained earnings of US$16,101,000 (2013: US$14,333,000) are not distributable. This relates to a UAE Companies 
Law requirement to set aside 10% of annual profit of all UAE subsidiaries until their respective reserves equal 50% of their paid up 
share capital. The subsidiaries discontinue such annual transfers once this requirement has been met. 

23 DIVIDEND 
In the AGM on 26 June 2014 the shareholders approved a dividend of 4.4 pence per share, amounting to GBP 8,212,700 (US$13,846,000) 
to be paid to shareholders on the Company’s share register on 31 May 2014. The dividend amount was paid to the shareholders on 
4 July 2014 (2013: a dividend of GBP 7,614,286 equivalent to US$11,598,326 was approved on 25 June 2013 and paid on 4 July 2013).  
No interim dividend was declared during the year. Subject to shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting on 16 June 2015, 
a final dividend of 5.4 pence per share, GBP10,028,600 (US$15,444,000) will be paid to shareholders on the Company’s share register on 
29 May 2015.

24 TERM LOANS

Current portion
Non-current portion

Amounts are repayable as follows:
Within 1 year
Between 1 – 2 years
Between 2 – 5 years

2014
US$ ‘000

92,055
114,457

2013
US$ ‘000

88,355
161,845

206,512

250,200

92,055
49,129
65,328

88,355
50,871
110,974

206,512

250,200

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

115

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

24 TERM LOANS (CONTINUED)
During the year ended 31 December 2014, the Group drew down term loans of US$263,594,000 (Year ended 31 December 2013: 
US$ 524,465,000) and repaid term loans of US$307,282,000 (Year ended 31 December 2013: US$500,627,000).

During the year ended 31 December 2013, the Group agreed a new syndicated loan facility, led by JP Morgan Chase Bank, of 
US$ 225,000,000 (with an additional available facility of US$75,000,000 which the group has not drawn down to date). The loan facility 
is repayable over 54 monthly instalments with a grace period of six months and carries interest at the rate of 1 month US$ LIBOR + 
3% + mandatory costs; if any, per annum. The new syndicated loan facility was utilised to repay some of the existing debts including 
the debt with JP Morgan Chase Bank against the facility of US$150,000,000 obtained in 2012 and is also being utilised for capital 
expenditures. The Group has utilised an amount of US$ 225,000,000 against the new syndicated loan facility as of 31 December 2014 
(31 December 2013: US$225,000,000).

This new syndicated loan is guaranteed by corporate guarantees provided by NMC Health plc and operating subsidiaries of  
the Group. The new syndicated loan is secured against a collateral package which includes an assignment of some insurance 
company receivables and their proceeds by the Group and a pledge over certain bank accounts within the Group.

In addition to the JP Morgan loan facility, term loans also include other short term revolving loans which get drawn down and repaid 
over the year and carry interest at varying rates  which include EIBOR + margins ranging from 3% to 3.75% per annum, except for one 
of the loans which carries interest at a fixed rate of 7.5% per annum.

The Group charged an amount of US$3,394,000 in the previous year to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income with 
respect to unamortised transaction costs of previously existing debts which were settled during the year ended 31 December 2013 
using the proceeds of the new syndicated loan led by JP Morgan Chase Bank.

25 EMPLOYEES’ END OF SERVICE BENEFITS
Movements in the provision recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

Balance at 1 January
Charge for the year
Employees’ end of service benefits paid

Balance at 31 December

Current
Non–current 

Balance at 31 December

Charge for the year comprise of the following
Current service cost
Interest cost

Balance at 31 December

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

12,099
3,492
(657)

14,934

2,484
12,450

14,934

2,991
501

3,492

   10,380
2,362
(643)

12,099

2,063
10,036

12,099

1,909
453

2,362

In accordance with the provisions of IAS 19 – ‘Employee Benefits’, management has carried out an exercise to assess the present 
value of its obligation at 31 December 2014 and 2013, using the projected unit credit method, in respect of employees’ end of service 
benefits payable under the UAE Labour Law. The impact of the actuarial valuation is not material to the Group, accordingly no 
actuarial gain or losses are recognised in other comprehensive income. Management has assumed an average length of service  
of 5 years (2013: 5 years) and increment/promotion costs of 3.0% (2013: 3.0%). The expected liability at the date of employees’ leaving 
service has been discounted to its net present value using a discount rate of 4.0% (2013: 4.5%). Management also performed a 
sensitivity analysis for changes in discount rate and increment costs; the results of this analysis showed that none of the factors 
had any material impact on the actuarial valuation.

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Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

26 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUALS

Trade accounts payable
Other payables 
Accrued interest
Accrued expenses

2014
US$ ‘000

77,906
16,178
1,532
2,428

98,044

2013
US$ ‘000

57,565
13,416
705
4,401

76,087

Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 50-60 day terms. 

27 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 
These represent transactions with related parties, including major shareholders and senior management of the Group, and entities 
controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced by such parties, or where such parties are members of the key management 
personnel of the entities. Pricing policies and terms of all transactions are approved by the management of the Group. 

The Company’s immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of three individuals (H.E. Saeed Bin Butti, Dr B.R. Shetty and  
Mr Khalifa Bin Butti) who are all shareholders and of whom one is a director of the Company and who together have the ability to 
control the company. As the immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of individuals, it does not produce consolidated 
financial statements.

Relationship agreement
The Controlling Shareholders and the Company have entered into a relationship agreement, the principal purpose of which  
is to ensure that the Company is capable of carrying out its business independently of the Controlling Shareholders and that 
transactions and relationships with the Controlling Shareholders are at arm’s length and on a normal commercial basis. 

In accordance with the terms of the relationship agreement, the Controlling Shareholders have a collective right to appoint  
a number of Directors to the Board depending upon the level of their respective shareholdings. This entitlement reduces  
or is removed as the collective shareholdings reduce. The relationship agreement includes provisions to ensure that the Board 
remains independent.

Transactions with related parties included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income are as follows:

Entities significantly influenced by a shareholder who is a key management personnel in NMC

Sales
Purchases
Rent charged
Other Income

Entities where a shareholder of NMC is a key member of management personnel of such entity

Management fees received from such entity by NMC
Sales

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

9,775
32,336
422
970

5,717
2,015

8,828
30,040
418
582

5,445
2,608

Amounts due from and due to related parties disclosed in the consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

Entities significantly influenced by a shareholder who is a key management personnel in NMC

Amounts due from related parties
Amounts due to related parties

Entities where a shareholder of NMC is a key member of management personnel of such entity

Amounts due from related parties

Shareholder:

Amounts due to related parties

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

3,603
8,380

3,619
5,018

4,382

5,635

–

61

Outstanding balances with related parties at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013 were unsecured, payable on 50-60 days term 
and carried interest at 0% (31 December 2013: 0%) per annum. Settlement occurs in cash. As at 31 December 2014 US$1,998,000 of the 
amounts due from related parties were past due but not impaired (31 December 2013: US$3,249,000).

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

117

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

27 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
The Group has incurred expenses and recharged back an amount of US$3,018,000 (31 December 2013: US$12,340,000) made on behalf 
of a related party where a shareholder who has significant influence over the Group is a key management personnel of that entity.

With the exception of the JP Morgan Chase syndicated loan facility of US$225,000,000, all credit facilities provided by the bankers  
to the Group are secured by joint and several personal/corporate guarantees of the shareholders (H.E. Saeed Mohamed Butti  
Al Qebaisi, Dr B.R. Shetty and Khalifa Butti Omair Yousif Ahmad Al Muhairi).

Pharmacy licenses, under which the Group sells its products, are granted to the shareholders or directors of the Company, who are 
UAE nationals. No payments are made in respect of these licenses to shareholders or directors. 

Compensation of key management personnel

Short term benefits
Employees’ end of service benefits

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

3,074
20

3,094

4,065
19

4,084

The key management personnel include all the Non-Executive Directors, the three Executive Directors (31 December 2013: two)  
and three (31 December 2013: five) senior management personnel.

Two individuals who are related parties of one of the shareholders are employed by the Group. The total compensation for 
employment received by those related parties in the year ended 31 December 2014 amounts to US$572,000 (2013: US$541,000).

28 SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
The Group currently operates two share option schemes:

Long term incentive plan (LTIP)
Options awarded under the LTIP are made annually to Executive Directors and other senior management. The exercise prices are 
nil. Options have a life of ten years and a vesting period of three years. The LTIP is subject to performance conditions which can be 
found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 67 to 85. 

Short term incentive plan (STIP)
Options awarded under the STIP are made annually to Executive Directors and other senior management. The exercise prices are 
nil. Options have a life of ten years and a vesting period of three years. 

Fair values are determined using the Black-Scholes model. Expected volatility has been based on historical volatility over the period 
since the Company’s shares have been publically traded. 

Administrative expenses include a charge of US$88,000 (2013: US$nil) in respect of the cost of providing share options. The cost  
is calculated by estimating the fair value of the option at grant date and spreading that amount over the vesting period after 
adjusting for an expectation of non-vesting.

For options granted in the year ended 31 December 2014, the fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation 
are as follows:

Share price at grant date
Fair value at measurement date
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected option life
Expected dividend yield
Risk free interest rate

2014 
LTIP
£4.949
£4.769
£nil
35%
3 years
1.23%
0.98%

2014 
STIP
£4.570
£4.403
£nil
35%
3 years
1.23%
0.98%

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Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

28 SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)
The options existing at the year-end were as follows:

Long term incentive plan (LTIP)
October 2014
Short term incentive plan (STIP)
October 2014

Total options subsisting on existing ordinary shares

Percentage of issued share capital

Movement of share options during the year is as follows:

Granted during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Number of 
shares

2014 
Exercise 
price

Period when exercisable

2013 
Number of 
shares

£nil

£nil

29/10/17 to 28/10/24 

29/10/17 to 28/10/24

160,778

55,527

216,305

0.1%

–

–

–

–

2014

2013

216,305

216,305

–

–

No options expired, were exercised or forfeited during the year (2013: nil).

29 FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The Group’s principal financial liabilities comprise loans and borrowings and trade and other payables. In addition of these financial 
liabilities the Group had an interest rate swap as of 31 December 2013 which matured during the current year. The main purpose  
of these financial liabilities is to finance the Group’s operations. The Group has accounts and other receivables, and cash and 
short-term deposits that arise directly from its operations. 

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and foreign currency risk. 

The Group’s senior management oversees the management of these risks. The Board of Directors reviews and agrees policies for 
managing each of these risks which are summarised below.

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in 
market interest rates. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on its interest bearing assets and liabilities (bank deposits, bank 
overdrafts and other short term borrowings and term loans). Management is of the opinion that the Group’s exposure to interest 
rate risk is limited.

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity of the statement of comprehensive income to reasonably possible changes  
in interest rates, with all other variables held constant. The sensitivity of the statement of comprehensive income is the effect of 
the assumed changes in interest rates on the Group’s profit for the year based on the floating rate financial assets and financial 
liabilities as of the respective year end. Sensitivity impact as of 31 December 2013 has been calculated after taking into account 
interest rate swap arrangement held at 31 December 2013. 

Increase/(decrease) in basis points

100 
 (100)

Effect on profit at  
31 December 2014
US$ ‘000

(1,925)
1,925

Effect on profit at  
31 December 2013
US$ ‘000

(1,105)
1,105

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer contract, leading to a 
financial loss. The Group limits its credit risk with respect to customers due to the nature of the customers that it has dealings with. 
Within the Healthcare business the majority of the Group’s customers are Insurance Companies. The largest insurance company  
is fully backed by Sovereign wealth funding from Abu Dhabi. All other insurance companies are required to be listed on a stock 
exchange and therefore are governed by the regulations of their respective markets. Within the distribution business the Group 
deals primarily with large reputable multinational retail companies. The Group further seeks to limit its credit risk by setting credit 
limits for individual customers and monitoring outstanding receivables.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

119

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

29 FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES (CONTINUED)
The Group limits its credit risk with regard to bank deposits by only dealing with reputable banks. The external credit ratings for the 
banks at which the bank deposits and cash at bank are held are as follows:

B2
AA-/A-1/Aa3
A+/A1
A/A2
A+/A-1
A3/A-
Baa2
Baa3
BBB-
BBB+/Baa1/Baa1/P-2
Without external credit rating

Total bank deposit and cash at bank

2014
US$ ‘000

229
812
4,345
267
–
599
16,224
208,694
30,229
280
1,149

2013
US$ ‘000

–
498
701
32,352
1,762
1,188
789
–
187,822
13,099
30,167

262,828

268,378

With respect to credit risk arising from cash and cash equivalents, the Group’s exposure to credit risk arises from default of the 
counterparty, with a maximum exposure equal to the carrying amount of these instruments.

Liquidity risk
The Group’s objective is to maintain a balance between continuity of funding and flexibility through the use of banking facilities.  
The Group limits its liquidity risk by raising funds from its operations and ensuring bank facilities are available. Trade payables are 
normally settled within 50-60 days of the date of purchase.

The table below summarises the maturities of the Group’s undiscounted financial liabilities, based on contractual payment dates 
and current market interest rates.

At 31 December 2014
Trade accounts payable
Amounts due to related parties
Other payables
Terms loans
Bank overdrafts and other short term borrowings
Financial guarantees

Total

At 31 December 2013
Trade accounts payable
Amounts due to related parties
Other payables
Terms loans
Bank overdrafts and other short term borrowings
Financial guarantees

On demand
US$ ‘000

Less than 
3 months 
US$ ‘000

3 to 12 
months 
US$ ‘000

1 to 5 years 
US$ ‘000

Total 
US$ ‘000

–
–
–
–
26,180
8,311

34,491

–
–
–
–
8,178
7,067

77,906
8,380
16,178
21,847
60,136
–

–
–
–
78,342
87,982
–

184,447

166,324

57,565
5,079
13,416
21,128
42,090
–

–
–
–
75,603
34,048
–

–
–
21
121,135
–
–

121,156

–
–
408
175,803
 – 
–

77,906
8,380
16,199
221,324
174,298
8,311

506,418

57,565
5,079
13,824
272,534
84,316
7,067

Total

15,245

139,278

109,651

176,211

440,385

The Group also has future capital commitments for the completion of ongoing capital projects of US$25,012,000 (2013: US$76,402,000) 
(note 31). These are to be financed from the fixed deposits held by the Group.

Foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes  
in foreign exchange rates. Foreign currency risk comprises of transaction and statement of financial position risk. Transaction risk 
relates to the Group’s cash flow being adversely affected by a change in the exchange rates of foreign currencies against the UAE 
Dirham. Statement of financial position risk relates to the risk of the Group’s monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies 
acquiring a lower or higher value, when translated into UAE Dirhams, as a result of currency movements.

120

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Financial
Statements

29 FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES (CONTINUED)
The Group is exposed to currency risk on its trade accounts payable denominated in foreign currencies, mainly in Euros and Swiss 
Francs. Management believes that the foreign currency risk is not significant for any possible movement in foreign currency rates.

Capital management
The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to ensure that it maintains healthy capital ratios in order to support  
its business and maximise shareholders’ value.

The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in business conditions. Capital comprises 
share capital, share premium, Group restructuring reserve and retained earnings and is measured at US$449,023,000 as at 
31 December 2014 (2013: US$ 386,236,000). In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the group may adjust the amount of 
dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. Certain banking 
facilities may also impose covenant requirements on the Group with respect to capital management.

The Group monitors capital using a gearing ratio, which is net debt divided by capital plus net debt. The Group includes within net 
debt, interest bearing loans and borrowings, accounts payable and accruals and other payables less bank deposits and bank 
balances and cash.

Interest bearing loans and borrowings
Accounts payable and accruals
Less: bank deposits, bank balances and cash

Net debt
Capital

Capital and net debt

Gearing ratio

2014 
US$ ‘000

2013 
US$ ‘000

376,119
98,065
(263,169)

211,015
449,023

332,438
76,495
(268,695)

140,238
386,236

660,038

526,474

32%

27%

30 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Group had contingent liabilities in respect of bank and other guarantees and other matters arising in the ordinary course of 
business from which it is anticipated that no material liabilities will arise at 31 December 2014 of US$8,311,000 (2013: US$7,067,000).

31  COMMITMENTS
Capital commitments
The Group had future capital commitments of US$25,012,000 at 31 December 2014 (2013: US$76,402,000) principally relating to the 
completion of ongoing capital projects.

Other commitments

Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases

Within one year
After one year but not more than five years
More than five years

32 DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT
The Group entered into the following interest rate swap to manage its interest rate exposure:

At 31 December 2014

 Interest rate swap US$

At 31 December 2013

 Interest rate swap US$

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

10,816
44,947
91,003

10,491
43,984
102,782

146,766

157,257

Negative 
fair value
US$ ‘000

Notional 
amount
US$ ‘000

Maturity 
profile

–

–

–

(179)

24,503

Feb-14

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

121

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS CONTINUED

32 DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT (CONTINUED)
The interest rate swaps were contracted to hedge the interest cash flows on term loans. As these swaps do not qualify for  
hedge accounting in accordance with IAS 39, the movement in fair value gain/loss of US$ NIL for the year ended 31 December 2014 
(2013: gain of US$ 702,000) has been charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

During the year the interest rate swap reached maturity and so as at 31 December 2014 the Group no longer had any interest rate swaps.

The notional amounts indicate the volume of transactions outstanding at year end and are neither indicative of the market risk  
nor credit risk.

The negative fair value of interest rate swaps was included within accounts payable and accruals as “other payables” as at 
31 December 2013.

33 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair values of the Group’s financial instruments are not materially different from their carrying values at the statement of 
financial position date.

The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:

Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either directly 
or indirectly.

Level 3: techniques which use inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable 
market data.

For financial instruments that are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have 
occurred between Levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorization (bases on the lowest level input that is significant to the 
fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period. 

Liabilities measured at fair value

31 December 2014

Interest rate swaps

31 December 2013

Interest rate swaps 

Level 1
US$ ‘000

Level 2
US$ ‘000

Level 3
US$ ‘000

–

– 

–

(179)

–

– 

Total fair 
value
US$ ‘000

–

(179)

During the years ended 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value 
measurements, and no transfers into or out of Level 3 fair value measurements. 

During the year the interest rate swap reached maturity and so as at 31 December 2014 the Group no longer had any interest rate swaps.

The fair value of the interest rate swap is determined by reference to market values for similar instruments. It is measured using 
the Forward Price Method; under this method a forward rate or value is determined based on the current market price or value of 
the interest rate and an appropriate rate curve and assuming that the forward price, rate or value will be realized in future periods.

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Group  
Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

34 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
New financing facility
On 16 February 2015, the Company announced that it has obtained underwriting commitments for a new US$825 million financing 
facility from a number of international and regional banks through its subsidiary, NMC Healthcare LLC. The new facility has been 
structured as two separate tranches:
1)   an Amortizing Term Loan Facility of US$350 million equivalent to refinance existing indebtedness of NMC and its subsidiaries 

(including the existing JP Morgan syndicated term loan facility) and to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes; 
and 

2)  a Delayed Draw Acquisition Facility of US$475 million equivalent to facilitate NMC’s ongoing strategy of making phased 

acquisitions that will be accretive to the Company’s underlying business and profitability.

The overall quantum of the new facility, combined with the Group’s robust statement of financial position, is expected to ensure 
adequate available liquidity to capitalize on growth opportunities as they are identified. 

Acquisition of Clinica Eugin
On 23 February 2015 the Group acquired 86.4% of the issued share capital of Clinica Eugin, a leading global fertility treatment  
provider based in Barcelona, Spain, for a total consideration of €143m which was settled in cash, thereby obtaining control of Clinica 
Eugin. The primary reasons for this acquisition include; Eugin is a leading global IVF centre of excellence, bringing technologies in 
fertility services to NMC’s network in the UAE, accelerating the development of NMC into a centre of clinical excellence for women’s 
health and allowing NMC to establish a foothold in the UAE medical tourism market.

As this acquisition took place on 23 February 2015 which is the same day that the financial statements were authorised for issue, 
the initial accounting for this business combination is incomplete. Accordingly, the Group has been unable to provide the remaining 
disclosures required by paragraph B64 of IFRS 3 Business Combinations in respect of business combinations which have taken 
place after the end of the reporting period  (such as the amount of goodwill or gain on bargain purchase recognised, disclosures  
in respect of acquired receivables, major classes of receivables and contingent liabilities and the amount of the non-controlling 
interest in Clinica Eugin and the measurement basis of that amount). 

Transfer of land and buildings
Subsequent to year end US$5,177,000 of the land and buildings which were held in the name of a previous shareholder for the 
beneficial interest of the Group were transferred into the name of a current UAE national shareholder.

There were no other events which would have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements between 31 December 
2014 and the date of this report.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

123

Financial Statements

124

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Financial
Statements

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 31 December 2014

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Investment in subsidiary 

Current assets
Other receivables and prepayments
Amounts due from a related party
Bank balances and cash

TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Accumulated losses 
Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Other payables 

Current liabilities
Other payables and accruals
Amount due to related party

Total liabilities

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Notes

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

4

5
6

7
7
9

8
6

204,127

204,127

290
–
131

421

50
2,875
234

3,159

204,548

207,286

29,566
179,152
(12,029)
196,689

29,566
179,152
(2,904)
205,814

21

–

261
7,577

7,838

7,859

1,472
–

1,472

1,472

204,548

207,286

The financial statements were authorised for issue by the board of directors on 23 February 2015 and were signed on its behalf by

Dr B.R. Shetty 
Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

Mr Suresh Krishnamoorthy
Chief Financial Officer

The attached notes 1 to 15 form part of the financial statements.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

125

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Financial Statements

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Balance as at I January 2013
Total (other) comprehensive income for 
for the year (note 9) 
Dividends paid (note 14)

Balance as at 31 December 2013
Total (other) comprehensive income for the year (note 9) 
Share based payments (note 12)
Dividends paid (note 14)

Balance as at 31 December 2014

The attached notes 1 to 15 form part of the financial statements.

Share 
Capital
US$’000

Share 
premium
US$’000 

Accumulated 
losses
US$’000 

Total
US$’000

29,566

179,152

(5,938)

202,780

–
–

29,566
–
–
–

29,566

–
–

179,152
–
–
–

179,152

14,632
(11,598)

(2,904)
4,654
67
(13,846)

14,632
(11,598)

205,814
4,654
67
(13,846)

(12,029)

196,689

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Financial
Statements

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 December 2014

OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Profit for the year before tax 
Adjustments for:
Finance costs
Share based payments
Dividends payment (note 6)

Working capital changes:

Amounts due from a related party
Other receivables and prepayments
Amounts due to a related party 
Other payables and accruals 

Net cash used in operations

FINANCING ACTIVITY
Finance costs paid

Cash used in financing activity

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT 31 DECEMBER

The attached notes 1 to 15 form part of the financial statements.

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000
(restated)

4,654

14,632

2
88
(13,846)

3
–
(11,598)

(9,102)

3,037

2,875
(240)
7,577
(1,211)

(101)

(2)

(2)

(103)

131

(2,852)
(50)
–
(279)

(144)

(3)

(3)

(147)

234

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

127

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At 31 December 2014

1  CORPORATE INFORMATION
NMC Health plc (the “Company” or “Parent’’) is a Company which was incorporated in England and Wales on 20 July 2011. The Company 
is a public limited company. The address of the registered office of the Company is 23 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JB. The registered 
number of the Company is 7712220. The Company’s immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of three individuals  
(H.E. Saeed Bin Butti, Dr B.R. Shetty and Mr Khalifa Bin Butti) who are all shareholders and of whom one is a director of the company 
and who together have the ability to control the company.

The Parent and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group”) are engaged in providing professional medical services, wholesale of 
pharmaceutical goods, medical equipment, cosmetics, food and IT products and services in the United Arab Emirates.

The financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2014 were authorised for issue by the board of  
directors on 23 February 2015 and the statement of financial position was signed on the Board’s behalf by Dr B.R. Shetty and  
Mr Suresh Krishnamoorthy.

2.1  BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by  
the European Union as they apply to the financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2014 and applied  
in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted in the 
preparation of these financial statements are set out below. 

No profit and loss account is presented by the Company as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

Comparative information
Statement of Cash Flows Reclassification
The Company has made the following reclassification in respect of the comparatives included in the Statement of Cash Flows  
to correct the presentation of the dividend paid to shareholders:

•  An amount of US$11,598,000 included as dividend paid to shareholders within financing activities in the prior year has now  

been included within non-cash adjustments in operating activities given that the dividend was paid, on behalf of the Company, 
by a subsidiary of the Company.

This reclassification had no impact on previously reported equity, profit or movement in cash of the Company.

Functional currency
The UAE Dirham is determined to be the functional currency of the Company. The reporting currency of the Company is 
United States of America Dollar (US$) as this is a more globally recognised currency. The UAE Dirham is pegged against the 
US Dollar at a rate of 3.673 per US Dollar.

All values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($000) except when otherwise indicated.

Going concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has made a profit of US$4,654,000  
(2013: US$14,632,000) and has equity of US$196,689,000 (2013: US$205,814,000).

The Company is the parent of NMC Health plc group and is solely a holding company with no business activities of its own. The Company 
earned a dividend and reported a net profit during the year. The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect 
its future development, performance and position are set out in the Strategic Review on pages 9 to 33. The financial position of the 
Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the Strategic Review on pages 24 to 25.

The Group has considerable financial resources including bank facilities. As a consequence, the directors believe that the Group 
is well placed to manage its business risks successfully. The directors expect that the Group has adequate resources to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
financial statements.

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2.2 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
The key assumptions concerning the future, key sources of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements at the statement of 
financial position date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities 
within the next financial year are discussed below:

Significant judgements
Functional currency
The UAE Dirham is determined to be the functional currency of the Company. 

Judgement has been used to determine the functional currency of the Company that most appropriately represents the economic  
effects of the Company’s transactions, events and conditions. As part of this assessment, the following information has been taken 
into account:

The primary economic environment influencing the Company’s income (dividends) is the UAE and the effect of the local 
environment is limited to expenses incurred within the UK. The ability of the Company to meet its obligations and pay dividends  
to its shareholders is dependent on the economy of, and the operation of its subsidiaries in, the UAE. 

2.3 CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial period.

New and amended standards and interpretations:
The Company applied for the first time certain standards and amendments which are effective for annual periods beginning  
on or after 1 January 2014

The amendments to IFRS, which are effective as of 1 January 2014 and are described in more detail below, have no impact on 
the Company. 

Investment Entities (Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27) 
These amendments provide an exception to the consolidation requirement for entities that meet the definition of an investment 
entity under IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements and must be applied retrospectively, subject to certain transition relief.  
The exception to consolidation requires investment entities to account for subsidiaries at fair value through profit or loss. These 
amendments have no impact on the Company. 

Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Amendments to IAS 32 
These amendments clarify the meaning of ’currently has a legally enforceable right to set-off’ and the criteria for non-simultaneous 
settlement mechanisms of clearing houses to qualify for offsetting and is applied retrospectively. These amendments have no 
impact on the Company. 

Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting – Amendments to IAS 39 
These amendments provide relief from discontinuing hedge accounting when novation of a derivative designated as a hedging 
instrument meets certain criteria and retrospective application is required. These amendments have no impact on the Company 
as the Company has no derivatives. 

Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets – Amendments to IAS 36
These amendments remove the unintended consequences of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement on the disclosures required under 
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. In addition, these amendments require disclosure of the recoverable amounts for the assets or 
cash–generating units (CGUs) for which an impairment loss has been recognised or reversed during the period. These amendments 
have no impact on the Company as the Company has not recognised or reversed any impairment loss during the period.

IFRIC 21 Levies 
IFRIC 21 clarifies that an entity recognises a liability for a levy when the activity that triggers payment, as identified by the relevant 
legislation, occurs. For a levy that is triggered upon reaching a minimum threshold, the interpretation clarifies that no liability should 
be anticipated before the specified minimum threshold is reached. Retrospective application is required for IFRIC 21. This interpretation 
has no impact on the Company.

Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle 
In the 2010-2012 annual improvements cycle, the IASB issued seven amendments to six standards, which included an amendment 
to IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The amendment to IFRS 13 is effective immediately and, thus, for periods beginning at 1 January 
2014, and it clarifies in the Basis for Conclusions that short-term receivables and payables with no stated interest rates can be 
measured at invoice amounts when the effect of discounting is immaterial. This amendment to IFRS 13 has no impact on the 
Company. This amendment to IFRS 13 is relevant to the Company as the Company has determined that the effect of discounting 
is immaterial and so short term receivables and payables have been measured at invoiced amounts.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

129

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTINUED

2.3 CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle 
In the 2011-2013 annual improvements cycle, the IASB issued four amendments to four standards, which included an amendment 
to IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. This amendment to IFRS 1 has no impact on the 
Company, since the Company is an existing IFRS preparer.

2.4 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investment in subsidiary
Subsidiaries are entities over which the Company controls the operating and financial policies, generally by owning more than 
50% of voting rights. Investments in subsidiaries are recognised at acquisition cost less any provision for impairment.

When the Company incurs increases in or return of share capital, to/from its subsidiaries, such movements are recognised within 
the cost of investment in subsidiaries. 

At each reporting date, an assessment is made to determine whether there are any indicators of impairment. Where an indicator 
of impairment exists, a formal estimate of the recoverable amount of the investment in subsidiary is made, which is considered to 
be the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and the value in use. Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained 
from the sale of the investment in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. When this information 
is not available the fair value is determined based on the net present value of the future cash flows related to its subsidiaries, using 
a discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. If the 
carrying amount of an investment exceeds the recoverable amount, a provision is recorded in the income statement to reflect the 
investment at the recoverable amount. 

Where an impairment charge has previously been recognised, an assessment is made at the end of each reporting period as to 
whether there is any indication that the impairment loss may no longer exist or may have decreased. If any such indication exists, 
an estimate of the recoverable amount is made. An impairment loss is reversed to the income statement to the extent that the 
increased carrying value of the investment in subsidiary does not exceed the carrying value that would have been determined had 
no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. 

Acquisition of subsidiary under common control
When the Company acquires a subsidiary under common control, the cost of the investment is deemed to be the Company’s 
share of the net assets of the subsidiary at the date of acquisition,

Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consists of cash in hand and bank balances.

Equity
The Company has issued ordinary shares that are classified as equity. The difference between the issue price and the par value  
of ordinary share capital is allocated to share premium. The transaction costs incurred for the share issue are accounted for as a 
deduction from share premium, net of any related income tax benefit, to the extent they are incremental costs directly attributable 
to the share issue that would otherwise have been avoided.

Accounts payable and accruals
Liabilities are recognised for amounts to be paid in the future for goods and services received whether billed by the supplier or not. 
Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of  
the business if longer). If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Accounts payable are recognised initially at fair value and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Company has an obligation (legal or constructive) arising from a past event, and the costs  
to settle the obligation are both probable and able to be reliably measured.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax 
rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the obligation. Increases in provisions 
due to the passage of time are recognised in the consolidated income statement.

Share based payments
Equity-settled share-based payments to employees are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. 
The fair value excludes the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. Details regarding the determination of the fair value  
of equity-settled share-based transactions are set out in note 12.

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Strategic Report

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Financial
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2.4 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis  
over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of equity instruments that will eventually vest. At each reporting date, the 
Group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based 
vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves/
other payables.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for equity-settled transactions for which vesting are 
conditional upon a market or non-vesting condition. These are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market  
or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.

Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in UAE Dirhams at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.  
All differences are taken to the statement of comprehensive income.

Impairment of financial assets
An assessment is made at each statement of financial position date to determine whether there is objective evidence that  
a specific financial asset may be impaired. If such evidence exists, any impairment loss is recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income. Impairment is determined as the difference between carrying value and the present value of future  
cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset.

Financial guarantee contracts
Financial guarantee contracts issued by the Company are those contracts that require a payment to be made to reimburse  
the holder for a loss it incurs because the specified debtor fails to make a payment when due in accordance with the terms  
of a debt instrument. Financial guarantee contracts are recognised initially as a liability at fair value, adjusted for transaction  
costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of the guarantee. Subsequently, the liability is measured at the higher of the  
best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date and the amount recognised less 
cumulative amortisation.

3  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS ISSUED BUT NOT EFFECTIVE
The standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the Company’s financial 
statements are disclosed below. The Company intends to adopt these standards, if applicable, when they become effective.

Amendments to IAS 27: Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements
The amendments will allow entities to use the equity method to account for investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and 
associates in their separate financial statements. Entities already applying IFRS and electing to change to the equity method in  
its separate financial statements will have to apply that change retrospectively. The amendments are effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this 
amendment on its financial statements.

The standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of issuance of the Company’s financial 
statements and not expected to have any impact on the Company are as follows:

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts

• 
• 
•  Amendments to IAS 19 Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions
•  Annual improvements 2010-2012 Cycle:

• 
• 
• 
• 

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
IFRS 8 Operating Segments
IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible Assets
IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

131

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTINUED

3  ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS ISSUED BUT NOT EFFECTIVE (CONTINUED)
Annual improvements 2011-2013 Cycle:
IFRS 3 Business Combinations
• 
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
• 
IAS 40 Investment Property
• 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

• 
•  Amendments to IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements: Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests
•  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38: Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation
•  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 Agriculture: Bearer Plants

4 

INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARY

As at 1 January
Transfer of amount due from a related party (note 6)

As at 31 December 

2014
US$ ‘000

204,127
–

2013
US$ ‘000

37,227
166,900

204,127

204,127

This represents the cost of investment in NMC Healthcare LLC (previous parent company), a wholly owned subsidiary held through 
the holding company subsidiaries NMC Health Holdco Limited and NMC Holding Co LLC. As part of the restructuring of NMC 
Healthcare LLC group, on 28 March 2012, NMC Health plc issued shares to the existing shareholders of NMC Healthcare LLC in 
exchange for shares already held in NMC Healthcare LLC. The cost of investment as at 1 January 2013 represented the Company’s 
share of the net assets of NMC Healthcare LLC at the date of the group restructuring. 

During the year ended 31 December 2013 NMC Healthcare LLC issued a promissory note to the Company in respect of the amount 
that it owed to the Company. Subsequently, during the same year, agreement was reached between the Company and NMC 
Healthcare LLC, that the obligations which NMC Healthcare LLC had under the terms of the promissory note would be released and 
discharged by the Company in return for the Company receiving shares in NMC Healthcare LLC. Accordingly, NMC Healthcare LLC 
issued 14,568 shares to the Company. The market value of the shares issued was equal to the market value of the inter-company 
debt as at the date of the loan capitalisation of US$166,900,000.

The subsidiaries held by NMC Heath plc are as follows:

Direct subsidiaries:

NMC Holding Co LLC
NMC Health Holdco Limited

Indirect subsidiaries:

NMC Healthcare LLC
New Pharmacy Company Limited
New Medical Centre Hospital LLC-Dubai
NMC Specialty Hospital LLC-Abu Dhabi
NMC Specialty Hospital LLC-Dubai
New Medical Centre Trading LLC
Bait Al Shifaa Pharmacy LLC-Dubai
New Medical Centre LLC-Sharjah
New Medical Centre Specialty Hospital LLC-Al Ain
Reliance Information Technology LLC
BR Medical Suites FZ LLC
Brightpoint Hospital LLC
NMC Day Surgery Centre LLC
NMC Dubai Investment Park LLC

Percentage of holdings

31 December
2014

31 December
2013

100%
100%

100%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
100%
99%
99%
99%

100%
100%

100%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
99%
100%
99%
99%
99%

All the above subsidiaries are incorporated in the UAE except for NMC Health Holdco Limited, which is incorporated in England and Wales.

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Strategic Report

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Financial
Statements

5  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAYMENTS

Other receivables
Prepayments

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

263
27

290

33
17

50

6  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 
These represent transactions with related parties, i.e. major shareholders and senior management of the Company, and entities 
controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced by such parties. Pricing policies and terms of all transactions are approved  
by the management of the Company.

The Company’s immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of three individuals (H.E. Saeed Bin Butti, Dr B.R. Shetty and  
Mr Khalifa Bin Butti) who are all shareholders and of whom one is a director of the Company and who together have the ability  
to control the Company. As the immediate and ultimate controlling party is a group of individuals, it does not produce consolidated 
financial statements.

As referred to in note 4, during the year ended 31 December 2013 the inter-company amount owed to the Company by NMC 
Healthcare LLC was capitalised into share capital in NMC Healthcare LLC.

During the year the Company was charged a management fees of US$5,506,000 (2013: US$NIL) by NMC Healthcare LLC. 

Dividend amount of US$13,846,000 (2013: US$11,598,000) was paid, on behalf of the Company, by a subsidiary to the shareholders  
of the Company. 

Amounts due from Subsidiary
Amounts due from a related party

Amounts due to Subsidiary
Amounts due to a related party

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

–

2,875

7,577

–

The Company is a guarantor along with other fellow subsidiary undertakings for US$166,561,000 (2013: US$225,000,000) of syndicated 
loans from JP Morgan raised by its subsidiary NMC Healthcare LLC. 

Compensation of key management personnel

Short term benefits 

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

1,504

1,586

Key management personnel include all the Non-Executives Directors (2013: all) and two senior management personnel (2013: two).

7  SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARE PREMIUM
As at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013:

Share capital

Issued and fully paid
(nominal value 10 pence sterling)

Number of 
shares
(thousands)

Ordinary 
shares
US$ ‘000

Share 
premium
US$ ‘000

Total
US$ ‘000

185,714

 29,566 

 179,152 

 208,718 

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

133

 
Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTINUED

8  OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS

Other payables
Accrued expenses

2014
US$ ‘000

2013
US$ ‘000

67
194

261

238
1,234

1,472

9  PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PARENT COMPANY
The Profit for the year in the financial statements of the Company is US$4,654,000 (2013: US$14,362,000).

10  AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION
The Company paid US$593,000 to its auditor in respect of the audit of the Company’s annual accounts for the year ended 
31 December 2014 (2013: US$615,000), which includes a portion in respect of the audit of the financial statements of the Company.

Fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP and its associates for non-audit services to the Company itself are not disclosed in the individual 
accounts of NMC Health plc because group financial statements are prepared which are required to disclose such fees on a 
consolidated basis.

11  DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

Directors’ remuneration 

2014
US$ ‘000

863

2013
US$ ‘000

944

Further information in respect of this compensation paid to directors is disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report

12  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
The Company currently operates two share option schemes:

Long term incentive plan (LTIP)
Options awarded under the LTIP are made annually to Executive Directors and other senior management. The exercise prices are 
nil. Options have a life of ten years and a vesting period of three years. The LTIP is subject to performance conditions which can be 
found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 67 to 85.

Short term incentive plan (STIP)
Options awarded under the STIP are made annually to Executive Directors and other senior management. The exercise prices are 
nil. Options have a life of ten years and a vesting period of three years.

Fair values are determined using the Black-Scholes model. Expected volatility has been based on historical volatility over the period 
since the Company’s shares have been publically traded. 

The cost is calculated by estimating the fair value of the option at grant date and spreading that amount over the vesting period 
after adjusting for an expectation of non-vesting.

For options granted in the year ended 31 December 2014, the fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation 
are as follows:

Share price at grant date
Fair value at measurement date
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected option life
Expected dividend yield
Risk free interest rate

2014
LTIP
£4.949
£4.769
£nil
35%
3 years
1.23%
0.98%

2014
STIP
£4.570
£4.403
£nil
35%
3 years
1.23%
0.98%

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Financial
Statements

12  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)
The options existing at the year-end were as follows:

Long term incentive plan (LTIP)
October 2014
Short term incentive plan (STIP)
October 2014

Total options subsisting on existing ordinary shares

Percentage of issued share capital

Movement of share options during the year is as follows:

Granted during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Number of 
shares

2014
Exercise 
price

Period when exercisable

2013
Number of 
shares

£nil

£nil

29/10/17 to 28/10/24

29/10/17 to 28/10/24

160,778

55,527

216,305

0.1%

—

—

 —

—

2014

2013

216,305

216,305

—

—

No options expired, were exercised or forfeited during the year (2013: nil).

13  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company’s principal financial liabilities are other payables, arising in the normal course of business. The Company’s financial 
assets include an amount due from a related party and bank balances. The company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial 
risks: interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and foreign currency risk. 

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes  
in market interest rates. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its bank balances only, as the balance due from a related 
party is interest free, and therefore the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is limited.

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument, leading to a financial loss.  
The Company’s credit risk arises from amounts due from a related party and bank balances. 

The directors assess the credit quality of the related party by taking into account their financial position, past experience and other 
factors. Management does not expect any losses from non-performance by this counterparty, which is a subsidiary of the Company. 

The Company limits its credit risk with regard to bank balances by only dealing with reputable banks. The credit rating of the bank  
at which the cash at bank is held is AA+.

The Company’s credit risk exposure against a corporate guarantee provided to NMC Healthcare LLC in respect of the JP Morgan 
Chase loan is US$166,561,000 (2013: US$225,000,000). 

Liquidity risk
The Company’s objective is to maintain sufficient funding to meet its obligations as they fall due. 

The table below analyses the Company’s undiscounted financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the 
contractual payment dates. 

Balances due within 12 months equal their carrying balances as the impact of discounting is not significant.

NMC Health plc Annual Report 2014

135

Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTINUED

13  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

At 31 December 2014
Other payables

Total

At 31 December 2013
Other payables

Total

On demand
US$ ‘000

Less than 3 
months
US$ ‘000

3 to 12 
months
US$ ‘000

1 to 5 years
US$ ‘000

Total
US$ ‘000

—

—

—

—

67

67

238

238

—

—

—

—

21

21

—

—

88

88

238

238

In addition to the above financial liabilities the Company has provided a corporate guarantee of US$166,561,000 (2013: US$225,000,000) 
to NMC Healthcare LLC in respect of the JP Morgan Chase loan. Fair value of corporate guarantee is US$nil as at 31 December 2014 
(2013: US$nil).

Foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk arises when future commercial transactions or recognised assets or liabilities are denominated in a currency 
that is not the entity’s functional currency.

The Company is exposed to currency risk on its other payables denominated in Pound Sterling. Foreign currency payable balances 
included in the statement of financial position denominated in Pound Sterling are US$144,000 (2013: US$571,000). The impact of 
possible of foreign currency movement is not significant.

Fair value estimation
The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are not materially different from their carrying values at the statement of 
financial position date. 

Financial guarantees
The company is a guarantor along with other fellow subsidiary undertakings for US$166,561,000 (2013: US$225,000,000) of syndicated 
loans from JP Morgan raised by its subsidiary NMC Healthcare LLC.

14  DIVIDENDS
In the AGM on 26 June 2014 the shareholders approved a dividend of 4.4 pence per share, amounting to GBP8,212,700 (US$13,846,000) 
to be paid to shareholders on the Company’s share register on 31 May 2014. The dividend amount was paid to the shareholders  
on 4 July 2014 (31 December 2013: a dividend of GBP 7,614,286 equivalent to US$11,598,326 was approved on 25 June 2013 and paid  
on 4 July 2013). No interim dividend was declared during the year. Subject to shareholder’s approval at the Annual General Meeting 
on 16 June 2015, a final dividend of 5.4 pence per share, GBP10,028,600 (US$15,444,000) will be paid to shareholders on the Company’s 
share register on 29 May 2015.

15  TAX
The Group operates solely in the United Arab Emirates and as there is no corporation tax in the United Arab Emirates, no taxes  
are recognised or payable on the operations in the UAE. It is the opinion of management that there are sufficient expenses in  
the Company to offset taxable income arising in the UK and accordingly any tax liability that could arise is likely to be immaterial. 
The unused tax losses amount to US$5,155,000 as at 31 December 2014 (2013: US$nil).

136

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Established in 1975, NMC Health plc is now the 
leading private sector healthcare operator in 
the United Arab Emirates, with a nationwide 
network of hospitals and operations in the 
country. The group also operates a UAE wide 
distribution and wholesale business.

NMC Health plc
23 Hanover Square
London, W1S 1JB
United Kingdom