Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PZZ) ("Prospect” or
"the Company”) today announced that Brotman Medical Center, Inc.
("Brotman”) officially exited from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on
April 14, 2009, and that the Company has increased its ownership in
Brotman from approximately 33% to approximately 72%. In exchange for its
increased interest, Prospect made an additional investment of $1.8
million, and anticipates making a further investment of $0.7 million
within six months. Four existing shareholders of Brotman own the
remaining 28%.
Brotman’s emergence from bankruptcy and Prospect’s majority ownership in
the facility evidence the institution’s successful reorganization and
its improved standing as a financially strong, well-run and needed
hospital in the Culver City and West Los Angeles communities.
Founded in 1924 and based in Culver City, California, Brotman is a
420-bed acute care hospital that offers a wide range of inpatient and
outpatient acute care services, including a 24-hour emergency room,
rehabilitation, psychiatric care and chemical dependency services.
Following several years of significant operating losses, Brotman
voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in October 2007.
Prospect’s new Hospital Services segment, through the purchase of Alta
Healthcare System, Inc., was then engaged to help return Brotman to
operational profitability and will continue this process going forward.
Brotman Receives Commitments of
Approximately $29.0 Million in Financing Facilities
As part of its Plan of Reorganization, Brotman obtained a commitment
from Gemino Healthcare Finance, LLC for a three-year, $6.0 million,
senior credit facility secured by accounts receivable at an interest
rate of LIBOR plus 7% per annum. In addition, the Los Angeles Jewish
Home for the Aging ("JHA”) provided an aggregate of approximately $23.0
million in financing through a $16.0 million loan with a two-year term
and a $6.25 million loan with a three-year term. The entire financing is
secured by real estate and personal property. The interest rate on the
$16.0 million loan is 10.0% per annum during the first year of the loan
and 7.5% thereafter. Under the $6.25 million loan, the interest rate is
10% per annum during the life of the loan. The proceeds of the JHA loans
were used to repay all existing senior secured loans at Brotman,
including Debtor-In-Possession financing. Prospect has not guaranteed
any portion of the Gemino or JHA financing.
JHA Granted Option to Purchase
Brotman-Owned Land and Construct New Senior Living Facility
As part of the JHA financing, Brotman has granted JHA an option to
purchase, for cancellation of $16 million of debt, certain Brotman-owned
land adjacent to the hospital, where JHA plans to construct a senior
living facility.
Founded in 1912, the JHA is one of the foremost continuing senior living
facilities in the United States and is the largest single-source
provider of senior housing in Los Angeles. In total, the JHA annually
serves more than 1,700 seniors through an extraordinary continuum of
services, including in-residence housing on two village campuses
(spanning 16 acres), with services featuring independent-living
"Neighborhood Home" accommodations, residential care, skilled nursing
care, Alzheimer's disease and dementia care, and end-of-life care.
Proven Strategies Combine with Shared
Commitment
Sam Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prospect, and Chairman
of Brotman commented, "The story of Brotman’s turnaround is, we believe,
a noteworthy success that can be shared by our physicians and a variety
of committed stakeholders. Prospect’s new management team, Brotman’s
medical, administrative and other staff, and many others worked together
to reshape and refine Brotman’s operations over the past 18 months,
while putting the facility on a path to optimize its vast potential. We
instituted many of the same principles that have substantially improved
the operations of our other businesses. For nearly 18 months, Brotman is
now consistently operating profitably for the first time in several
years and we expect this to continue to improve. Hospital census data,
as well as many other key operating metrics, rose steadily during the
reorganization process and continue to improve, although there is still
much work to be done.”
Stan Otake, Chief Executive Officer of Brotman, stated, "This is more
than a financial success story. The importance of access to quality
health care on a community’s ability to grow and prosper cannot be
understated. For more than 85 years, Brotman has served as a vital
institutional anchor to the dynamic and evolving West Los Angeles
community. I want to thank the Governing Board of Brotman, our
physicians, nurses, administrators and staff for their tireless efforts
and dedication to the cause. I would also like to thank JHA and Gemino
for their financial commitment and support of our vision. During a time
when community hospitals are rapidly disappearing, Brotman’s survival
and positive outlook are sources of much pride for all of us.”
Additional Financial Information
Effective April 14, 2009, Prospect began consolidating Brotman into its
financial statements and expects to publish standalone Brotman audited
and unaudited financial statements and pro forma financial information
by no later than June 30, 2009.
ABOUT PROSPECT MEDICAL HOLDINGS
Prospect Medical Holdings
operates five community-based hospitals
in the greater Los Angeles area and manages the medical care of
individuals enrolled in HMO plans in Southern California, through a
network of approximately 14,000 specialist and primary care physicians.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Additional
written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by Prospect from
time to time, in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
otherwise. Statements contained herein that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking
statements, including the statements regarding anticipated or expected
results, involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company's
business and prospects, including those outlined in Prospect's Form 10-K
filed on December 29, 2008, as well as risks and uncertainties arising
from Prospect's acquisition of Alta and ProMed, and the debt incurred by
Prospect in connection with those acquisitions. Any forward-looking
statements contained in this press release represent our estimates only
as of the date hereof, or as of such earlier dates as are indicated, and
should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any
subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements
at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to
do so, even if our estimates change.