KIMS to invest Rs 800 cr to expand bed capacity over 3 yrs

Hyderabad, Aug 18 (PTI) KIMS Hospitals, a city-basedhealthcare multispeciality chain, is in the process ofenhancing bed capacity by about 2,300 from the existing 1,800,with an investment outlay of Rs 800 crore over the next threeyears. The healthcare chain is also chalking out plans to expandfootprint outside Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and has alreadyidentified lands in Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Indore andBengaluru, where it plans hospitals with a combined capacityof 1,100 beds, company’s vice president (strategy andmarketing) Abhinay Bollineni said. "The group runs five hospitals across Andhra Pradesh andTelangana with combined bed capacity of 1,800. KIMS Hospitals’bed strength in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will go up byover 1,000 shortly. "Similarly, KIMS Hospitals is spreading its footprintacross the country by establishing hospitals in Guwahati (250beds), Bhubaneshwar (350), Indore (250) and Bengaluru (250)-total 1100 beds," Bollineni told PTI. At present, KIMS Hospitals is operating five hospitals,including in Secunderabad and Kondapur (Hyderabad), Nellore,Rajahmundry and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. It is alsooperating a medical college in Srikakulam. In addition to 150-bed hospital in Rajahmundry, KIMS isacquiring 350-bed hospital which will be operational in nexttwo months. Besides, KIMS is establishing 250-bed hospital inDilsukhnagar (Hyderabad). Besides, KIMS is also planning to increase the bedstrength in Nellore and Kondapur hospital by 100 each and 150at Srikakulam hospital. "Expansion plans need an investment of Rs 800 crore inwhich Rs 300 crore will be raised through internal sourcesand Rs 500 crore through loan component," he further said. The debt-equity ratio stood at 1:1. ICICI Ventures owns 28per cent stake in KIMS while the promoters hold about 60 percent and the rest with some of the doctors working with thehealthcare chain. KIMS Hospitals turnover increased to Rs 650 crore for thefinancial year 2015-16 as against Rs 400 crore in the previousyear (2014-15). Replying to a query, Bollineni said the company is notagainst inorganic expansion and also looking to acquire assetsabroad if they fit into the KIMS’s philosophy. PTI GDK GKABKRDS