The wonderful weather here in Holland is continuing, and there are no signs that it is going to change in the short-term. Even with hot temperatures and summer vacations there are still interesting things happening in the market. In this latest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• European Care Residencies finally finds a buyer. What will be the next step in the consolidation of the Dutch elderly-care sector?
• Large and growing shortage of assisted-living apartments in the Netherlands. Opportunity for international elderly-care companies?
• Government likely to relax rules related to dividend payments for Dutch healthcare sector. How much will really change?
• Privately owned hospitals in trouble. Storm in a tea-cup?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of De Herbergier, the largest commercial provider of elderly care in the Dutch market.

Here in Holland we have had great weather the last few weeks, and there have been several interesting announcements in the press. In this latest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• Consolidation of Dutch dentistry sector continues, but sector is still very fragmented. Who will take the next steps in the expected consolidation?
• Financing for long term psychiatric care in process of being moved back to central government. What does this mean for international companies interested in the Dutch disables sector?
• Profitability up in Dutch elderly care sector. Is the improvement structural?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Kies Mondzorg, the largest privately-owned dentistry chain in the Dutch market.

In the last few weeks there has been a couple of announcements from the government that must be seen as very good news for international healthcare companies interested in the Dutch market. In this latest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• Public statement from the Minister of Healthcare regarding the recent acquisition of Dagelijks Leven by Orpea. What does this mean for international operators interested in the Dutch market?
• The Dutch Healthcare Authority announces changes to the financing of long-term care. Why is this good news for operators with experience in competitive markets?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Senior Service, a company helping the elderly live longer at home.

After the very warm days in May it is now a more typical summer here in the Netherlands with rain and wind. In this latest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• Orpea purchase of WoonZorgNet is official. Why has Orpea waited for such a long time in announcing this deal?
• Research company estimates that the Netherlands will require 82.000 more nursing home beds. Who will develop the required new capacity?
• Co-payments for home-care services standardized and limited to €17,50 per four weeks. Will this make the home care sector more attractive?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Pro Senectute, a different elderly care organization.

In this update a focus on the increasing international interest in the Dutch commercial elderly care sector and a company that appears to be in play.

As reported earlier, Orpea is building a position in the Dutch healthcare sector through the acquisition of a provider of long-term psychiatric care (WoonZorgNet) and the recent acquisition of Dagelijks Leven. Dagelijks Leven operates a chain of 29 nursing homes with a total of 580 apartments.

Another company operating in the elderly care sector is European Care Residencies (ECR). ECR was started several years ago by the current owners Maria Scholts and Paul Bijleveld (who are a married couple). ECR currently operates nine elderly care locations with a total of 458 apartments. In addition, ECR also has approximately 100 short-stay studios where rehabilitation services are offered. The company is divided into a holding company, a company providing healthcare services (RAZ), and individual real estate companies per location.

ECR has been profitable until 2015 (the last year with published results) but appears to be going through a bit of a rough patch. In the last few years there have been severe quality issues with RAZ receiving several warnings from the healthcare authorities. RAZ also appears to be structurally loss-making, with all profits coming from other services. ECR has also been selling off real estate (to Confinimo among others), with a large share of profits in 2015 coming from one-off extraordinary results (probably profits from sale of real estate).

ECR is currently in the process of selling more real estate and according to rumors on the street several international operators have looked at ECR but not necessarily liked what they have seen. ECR is one of the largest commercial providers of elderly care in the Dutch market and should represent an interesting market entry opportunity. Will ECR be the next operator to be sold to an international operator? Who will be the buyer and the next entrant to the Dutch market?

For those of you in north-west Europe, I hope that you have been enjoying the great weather. In this update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• For the first time a private chain of clinics has signed a multiyear contract with one of the leading Dutch insurance companies. Are the insurance companies starting to understand the value that private healthcare operators bring to the market?
• Ongoing change in the dentistry sector. Will this increase the speed of consolidation in the sector?
• Turkish hospital chain expands beyond Amsterdam. Are they developing a national organization?
• Further consolidation in the diagnostics and laboratory sector. Has the dam broken?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Atalmedial, the private company who has acquired the laboratory activities of MC Slotervaart.

For those of you who were in London at the HBI conference: I hope you had a great time and wish that I could have attended. In this update on private healthcare in the Netherlands we cover:

• Orpea enters Dutch elderly care market through acquisition of Dagelijks Leven, a chain of 29 elderly care locations with 580 beds. Will other international elderly care companies now also enter this market?
• Government clarifies requirements for promised extra financing of nursing homes. Will the requirements stifle innovation in the sector?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Dagelijks Leven, the elderly care chain acquired by Orpea.

In a separate email I am attaching the presentation I have made for my roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in the Dutch healthcare market at the HBI conference last week in London. Please take a look. If you have any specific questions related to the presentation or this week’s update do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

In my previous update I said that I was looking forward to meeting you at the Healthcare Business International conference in London this week where I was to host a roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in the Dutch healthcare market.

Unfortunately, at the moment I am quite limited in my mobility due to an accident that has resulted in a couple of fractures. Due to this, I will not be able to make it to London this time. If you are going, I hope that you have a useful and nice time at the conference.

I will send you the presentation I was planning to use at the Roundtable discussion at a later date. If you have any immediate questions regarding the Dutch healthcare sector, do not hesitate to get in touch.

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. In this update we cover:

• Unilabs acquisition of Medlon is finalized after acceptance by authorities. Is this the start of the consolidation of the Dutch diagnostics sector?
• Careyn, troubled Dutch healthcare conglomerate, sells maternity care business to Naviva. Is this the first step in a further portfolio restructuring for Careyn?
• Rumors on the street say that Bergman Clinics are preparing themselves for a sale. Is this an interesting target for an international chain of clinics?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Zorg voor de Zaak, a privately-owned group of companies providing a wide range of health-care related services.

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. In this update we cover:

• Siza, a non-profit provider of long-term care in the disabled sector has acquired part of the know-how and staff of Top Care. Will this be the starting point for more innovation in the long-term care sector?
• Purchasers of long-term care see improvements in purchase process with insurance companies. Is this good news for new commercial entrants?
• The government has committed to provide the nursing home sector with €2.1 billion extra per year. What are the cost consequences of the additional money?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Zorgroep De Laren, an organization focusing on high-end nursing homes that is rumored to be in financial problems.

2018 has had a relatively quiet start in the Dutch healthcare sector, therefore this is the first update in the new year. In this update we cover:

• Ongoing discussion related to growing use of non-contracted healthcare services. Will this make it more difficult for innovative new healthcare organizations?
• Private Clinic bankrupt for the second time in three years. Carelessness or structural problems?
• Average stay in Dutch nursing homes is stable. Good news for nursing home operators?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Martha Flora, an organization focusing on long term care for elderly patients with dementia.

I am back from a fantastic time in Sri Lanka. Definitely a place that is worth visiting.

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. This will be the last update for 2018, but I will be back again in January. In this update we cover:

• NPM Capital lets chain specializing in complex pain treatment go bankrupt after fraudulent declarations to insurance companies. Is fraud an overlooked risk in investing in the healthcare sector?
• OECD report shows interesting comparisons between Dutch healthcare and healthcare in other countries. Is long-term care the most interesting sector in the Netherlands?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of SAOW (Samen Aangenaam Ouder Worden), an organization that has ambitious growth targets in the elderly care sector

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. It has been quiet the last few weeks, so not much news this time:

• Two new ministers for health in the new coalition government. What will their likely influence on the Dutch healthcare sector be?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Thomashuizen / De Drie Notenboomen an organization that provides long-term care in the disabled and elderly-care sector.

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. In this newsletter we cover the following news and issues:

• Coalition manifesto from new government is presented giving mixed messages for the Dutch healthcare sector. What does it mean for potential international entrants?
• One of the most interesting financing forms in the long-term care in the Netherlands are Personal Budgets (PGB). How does this work?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of NoviCare, an organization that provides medical care to the patients of Dutch elderly care operators.

Welcome to the newest update on private healthcare in the Netherlands. In the last few weeks there have been several interesting things happening in the Dutch market. In this newsletter we cover the following news and issues:

• Merger of two chains creates largest provider of elective surgery in the Netherlands. Is this the starting point for more mergers in the sector?
• In announcing the 2018 budgets the caretaker government has promised significant and structural increases in payments to elderly care sector. Will this help improve both quality and profitability in the sector?
• Profitability and investments in hospital sector at new low. How can Dutch hospitals become more profitable?
• In our snapshot we give an overview of Stepping Stones, an organization that operates a chain of elderly care locations throughout the Netherlands.