Inside Information: Optomed has signed a shareholder’s agreement with Zhongbao Fund to establish a joint venture in China
Optomed Plc Inside Information 24 June 2024 at 14.00, Helsinki
Inside Information: Optomed has signed a shareholder’s agreement with Zhongbao Fund to establish a joint venture in China
Optomed has signed a shareholder’s agreement with regards to a joint venture in China with Zhongbao,
a Chinese private equity firm based in Shenzhen, China. The firm focuses on growth opportunities, and it invests in a diversified range of industries. Optomed will own 19.9% of the joint venture and Zhongbao 80.1%.
Previously, Optomed has announced in its Q1-2024 report about discussions with a prominent eye hospital and private equity fund to establish a joint venture for eye screening services, aiming for implementation in either Q2 or Q3. The business model for this venture will be a recurring revenue model, ensuring sustainability and long-term success.
Being the largest aging population, China is facing the growing challenge with huge number of patients and shortage of medical services and doctors, especially in the eye-care industry. Further, over 140 million Chinese have diabetes, 50% of which have not been properly identified or diagnosed. Since 2021, China government made a plan to promote the eye screening services to cover nation-wide population in the coming years, and the creation of this joint-venture is in compliance with this strategic direction in China.
Once the joint venture is set up, the cooperation will begin with a trial period that will be done in collaboration with a leading ophthalmic institute (“strategic partner”) under National Health Commission of China (NHC). The strategic partner is the industry leader in ophthalmic institute, both in terms of technology development and total number of eye care patients since its establishment.
Zhongbao Fund is the private equity investment platform under CITIC Poly Fund, which is owned by two leading Global Fortune-500 companies, China CITIC and Poly Group. China CITIC is the largest financial holdings group in China, while Poly Group is the largest property development & investment company. Zhongbao is also one of few licensed fund management companies which both have the QFLP (Qualified Foreign Limited Partners) & QDLP (Qualified Domestic Limited Partners) licenses, the cross-border investment management scheme by China financial regulatory.
Credit risk accrual
At the same time, Optomed has re-evaluated the amount of the credit risk accrual in China. Optomed has a receivable of 1556 thousand from a Chinese client dating back to 2021, and the repayments of the client are late. Optomed increases the amount of the credit risk accrual from 50% (EUR 778 thousand) to 75% (EUR 1167 thousand).
The establishment of the joint venture does not have an effect on the outlook of the Company.
Optomed expects its full year 2024 revenue to grow compared to 2023.
Optomed Plc
Further enquiries
Juho Himberg, CEO, [email protected]
Optomed in Brief
Optomed is a Finnish medical technology company and a leading manufacturer of handheld fundus cameras and screening software. Optomed combines handheld fundus cameras with software and artificial intelligence with the aim to transform the diagnostic process of various diseases, such as rapidly increasing diabetic retinopathy. Optomed has offices in Finland, the US and China and the company’s products are sold via various sales channels in over 60 countries globally
