Aster gets approval for 100% ownership

Hospital operator says process will be completed by March 31

Aster DM Healthcare has got formal approval for 100 per cent ownership of its operations in the UAE. The clearance was provided by Dubai Government, as part of recent initiatives that allow businesses in certain sectors these rights.

This will not result in any major cash outflow towards investment, according to the hospital operator.

The entire process will be completed before March 31, according to the company’s founder.

Earlier, UAE nationals were required to be the legal/registered owners of UAE companies and foreign investors were allowed to hold only up to 49 per cent of stakes.

“We submitted two sets of documentation to Dubai Department of Economic Development for Aster DM to be granted 100 per cent [ownership] in the UAE,” said Dr Azad Moopen, founder and chairman of the company.

“One was for the hospitals and clinics and the second set for the pharmacies that we operate. They required a second set of documentation because retail was not part of the sectors that allow 100 per cent foreign ownership.

The approval, the final one we received on February 3, legally confirms full ownership of the business here.”

Dr Azad Moopen | Founder and chairman, Aster DM Healthcare

‘Full transition’

“The approval, the final one we received on February 3, legally confirms full ownership of the business here. Even earlier, we had all the economic benefits of being a 100 per cent owned company. Now, we make the full transition legally as well.”

The promoters of Aster DM, which is listed on Mumbai stock exchange, own 37.8 per cent in the company, while associates, private equity funds and high networth individuals (HNWIs) hold 5 per cent, 24 per cent and 10 per cent stakes, respectively. The rest are with the public and institutions.

Path-breaking move

It was last year that the UAE Government had granted approval for 100 per cent ownership to foreign companies in approved sectors, health care being one of them.

Chocolatemaker Mars became the first to avail of the reform, making the conversion to full ownership of its local operations last year.

Gulf News Archives Aster DM Healthcare, which was granted 100 per cent ownership of its business in UAE, will not see any major cash outflow towards investment, the company said.