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M&A Is a Key Growth Strategy for Senior Housing and Care Industry, According to GE Capital Survey
[October 01, 2014]

M&A Is a Key Growth Strategy for Senior Housing and Care Industry, According to GE Capital Survey


BETHESDA, Md. --(Business Wire)--

Acquisitions are likely to be a key growth strategy for the senior housing and care industry next year, according to a survey of executives in the field released today by GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services. Overall, they're expecting stronger business performance in the next 12 months, despite concerns about rising interest rates and regulatory oversight.

Two-thirds (67 percent) of survey respondents said their primary strategy for growth in the next year is to buy or merge with existing properties or operators. Nearly one-quarter (26 percent) said they plan to revitalize and upgrade existing properties.

As a result, over one-half (51 percent) said funds for acquisitions will be the most important type of financing they seek. Thirty-one percent said they were likely to seek construction financing.

"This survey echoes what we're seeing in our business, which thus far has provided nearly $2 billion in financing commitments in 2014," said James Seymour (News - Alert), senior managing director of GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services' real estate financing team. "Spurred by changes in the post-acute environment and improving industry fundamentals, U.S. senior housing and care investors and providers are aggressively pursuing a variety of expansion strategies."

Additional Survey Results

When asked their opinions on the industry's greatest challenge in the next 12 months, 26 percent selected rising interest rates and 22 percent selected regulatory oversight. The U.S. economy was cited by 19 percent of respondents and reimbursement pressures by 17 percent.

In 2013, respondents viewed the challenges facing the industry quite differently. t that time, the U.S. economy (35 percent) and reimbursement pressures (29 percent) were seen as their top two challenges.



Industry executives overwhelmingly (76 percent) expect the performance of their business to be stronger in the next 12 months, nearly flat from last year's results (77 percent).

Property and business valuations in the senior housing and care sector are seen as being sustainable based on a better market understanding of the space (31 percent) or improving industry fundamentals (25 percent). Nevertheless, 23 percent said the valuations are not sustainable.


One hundred fifty executives within the senior housing and care industry took the GE Capital survey, which was conducted via email in September.

About GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services

GE Capital's Healthcare Financial Services (HFS) business is one of the most active capital providers in the U.S. healthcare market, deploying approximately $9 billion in new commitments to customers via 200+ transactions in 2013. That adds up to more than $70 billion in financing over the past 10 years.

Customers across 45 healthcare sectors - including senior housing, hospitals, medical offices, outpatient services, pharmaceuticals and medical devices - rely on HFS to finance acquisitions, refinance existing debt, support working capital needs and fund growth initiatives. With in-depth industry knowledge and expertise, the HFS team of professionals creates financial solutions tailored to meet the individual needs of its customers. For more information, visit gecapital.com/healthcare or follow company news via Twitter (News - Alert) (http://twitter.com/GELendLease).

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (http://twitter.com/GECapital).

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.


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