18th May 2007 07:00
Assura Group Limited18 May 2007 Press release 07.00 18 May 2007 ASSURA GROUP LIMITED ("ASSURA") AGM STATEMENT Richard Burrell, Chief Executive Officer of Assura, the independent primaryhealth care provider organisation, will make the following statement at Assura'sAnnual General Meeting at 2.00pm today. "I am pleased to report that we are performing in line with our expectations forthe first half of the year. The property division is continuing to work towards its target of £580m ofcapital committed by the end of 2007 and £750m by the end of 2009. The pharmacy division now has 12 pharmacies trading and is on target to have 20opened by the end of 2007 and at least 30 by the end of 2008. The medical division is beginning to provide services to patients through itsjoint venture Limited Liability Partnerships with GPs in its six projects. AMinor Surgery service has commenced in Bath and North East Somerset and "willingprovider" status has been granted in Liverpool and Macclesfield for theprovision of Dermatology and Urology services respectively in these localities.It is anticipated the provision of these services will commence during thesummer. Heads of Terms have now been signed for a further two joint ventures andwe are well on track to signing up GP practices covering 1.5 million patients bythe end of this calendar year. Subject to shareholder approval being granted at today's AGM to change theGroup's year end to 31 March, we will be publishing final figures for the 15months to 31 March 2008 and interim figures for the periods to 30 June 2007 and30 September 2007. We will also make a trading statement in respect of theperiod to 31 December 2007. A 31 March year end is considered more appropriategiven that the NHS and most organisations linked to the NHS, including ourmedical joint venture partners, adopt a March year end. On 4 May 2007 the final dividend of 4p per ordinary share in respect of the yearended 31 December 2006 was paid to shareholders on the register on 10 April2007, making a total of 6p per ordinary share for the year. We intend tomaintain our progressive dividend policy and intend to pay interim dividends inrespect of the periods ending 30 June 2007 and 30 September 2007 and a finaldividend in respect of the 15 month period ending 31 March 2008." - e n d s - For further information, please contact: Richard Burrell / Louise Bathersby Tony Langham/Charlotte EdgarAssura Group Limited Lansons Communications01244 893681 / 020 7107 3800 020 7294 3617 / 020 7294 3622 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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