Healthcare: National Assura plc Announces Significant Strategic Progress November 14th, 2024 Deividas Krupstas Assura plc (“Assura”), the UK’s leading diversified healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT), today releases its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2024, reporting transformative strategic advances that strengthen its market-leading position and set the foundation for sustained long-term growth.Jonathan Murphy, CEO, said: “The first half of this financial year has been transformative for Assura. We delivered significant strategic progress to position us firmly as the UK’s leading diversified healthcare REIT offering an attractive investment opportunity into favourable long-term healthcare trends. We completed two strategically important transactions, diversifying our funding sources and materially increasing our presence in the structurally supported growth market of private healthcare, to lay the foundations for Assura’s long-term future. We’re also delighted to have been certified as the first FTSE 250 B Corp, an achievement which validates our continued focus on prioritising the positive impact we have on all our stakeholders.“Assura has a proven track record of delivering earnings and dividend growth, and this period has been no exception with a 4% uplift in EPRA earnings and an increased dividend for the 11th consecutive year. At the same time, we have made good progress in our disposals programme post-period to reduce our leverage over the short-term with 12 assets sold for £25 million last month.“Long-term trends in the UK healthcare market offer considerable growth drivers for Assura owing to the national recognition of a need to shift care into the community; increased focus on preventative services; and the increasing uptake of private healthcare amongst patients. An ageing population, pressure on NHS waiting lists and a forecast demand for beds that the NHS is unlikely to meet all underscore the critical role that Assura’s assets – across both primary care and private health – can play in supporting the structural change that is required.“The diverse healthcare markets in which Assura operates benefit from long-term, secure and growing income supported by strong underlying demand. With our full suite of property capabilities, strength of our long-term relationships and embedded ESG strategy, Assura is well-placed to take full advantage of these opportunities as the clear leader in our chosen sector.”
