In Washington, DC:
Ludi Joseph
Phone: +1 (202) 473 7700
E-mail: ljoseph@ifc.org

In São Paulo:
Karina Manasseh
Phone: +55 11 5185 6881
E-mail: kmanasseh@ifc.org


Washington D.C./São Paulo, Brazil, October 23, 2007 — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will help bridge the gap in Brazil’s delivery of medical services by financing a private hospital chain that will increase health services in the underserved eastern part of São Paulo city.  By providing long-term financing to the health sector, which is typically capital-intensive with long development phases, IFC is helping to support private health and relieve the burden on Brazil’s public health system.

IFC will partially finance the furnishing and equipping of Hospital e Maternidade Anália Franco, a new 334-bed maternity and general hospital owned by the São Luiz Group.  

IFC’s investment consists of a $17 million senior loan with a 13-year final maturity and an additional $17 million in long-term financing that is being mobilized from Banco Santander Central Hispano, through its New York branch.  

Headquartered in São Paulo, the São Luiz Group is a well-established provider of private health care with an extensive track record. The company offers a wide range of services through its two general hospitals and maternity hospital in São Paulo.

A source of best practices for Brazil’s medical community due to its professional management and training programs, Hospital São Luiz also participates in several activities that improve health services in the community.  

Atul Mehta, IFC Director for Latin America, said, “IFC is delighted to support this project which demonstrates the Brazilian private sector's ability to address key social infrastructure needs.”

Guy Ellena, IFC Director for Health and Education, noted, “The São Luiz Group combines the vision and characteristics we associate with success, including a professional management team with clearly established objectives. We hope that IFC’s considerable global experience in hospitals will be of value to the São Luiz Group and its sponsors.”  

According to Andre Staffa, CEO of Hospital São Luiz, “The new hospital marks an important step in our strategy to expand to areas where there has long been a great need for high-quality private health care. We see IFC as an important partner in helping us achieve our strategic vision. This partnership recognizes our efforts to establish benchmarks of medical and management excellence and outstanding quality of service.”
He added that the new hospital is one of the first in Brazil to conform to international life and fire safety standards.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC’s vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through loan participations and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.