Ethema signs LOI to purchase Edgewater Recovery Center LLC

Rhea-AI Summary

Ethema Health (GRST) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire all assets of Edgewater Recovery Center (ERC), including three real estate holding companies. The agreement also includes a management deal effective July 15, 2024, until the acquisition closes on January 31, 2025. ERC operates in Morehead and Paducah, Kentucky, with around 440 licensed beds and an additional 66 beds coming online in 2024. The acquisition is expected to help Ethema reach its goal of 500 beds by the end of 2025. The deal will also allow Ethema to pursue a sale-leaseback transaction for working capital without new equity. Ethema’s CEO, Shawn Leon, highlighted the strategic benefits, including expanding Medicaid-insured care and up-listing plans.

Positive

• Ethema signed an LOI to acquire ERC, including real estate assets.
• Management agreement effective until January 31, 2025.
• ERC has around 440 licensed beds and 66 more coming online in 2024.
• Acquisition aids Ethema in reaching 500-bed target by end of 2025.
• Potential sale-leaseback transaction for additional working capital.
• Expansion into Medicaid-insured client care.

Negative

• Current census at ERC is only 170 clients, which is below capacity.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ethema Health Corporation (OTCPINK: GRST) ("Ethema" "GRST" or the "Company"), has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") agreement to purchase all of the assets of Edgewater Revcovery Center, LLC ("ERC") of Morehead Kentucky. The LOI includes the purchase of the operating company or its assets along with three real estate holding companies that own some of the properties that ERC operates its treatment centers in. Along with the signing of the LOI, the Company signed a management agreement with ERC to take over management of ERC effective Monday, July 15, 2024. It will be effective until the purchases of the companies are completed on January 31, 2025 whichever comes first. During the management period the company will do business as ARIA-Edgewater and will be renamed ARIA after the closing.

ERC operates primarily in the urban areas of Morehead in the east end of Kentucky and Paducah in the west end of Kentucky. Altogether, ERC has about 440 licensed beds across all of its locations and has another 66 beds available to come on-line in Paducah in Calendar 2024. The current census is approximately 170 clients and is expected to be around that level when the Company takes over management. The LOI and Management agreement are available in an 8-k filing filed July 12, 2024.

The real estate as part of the assets being purchased will allow Ethema to pursue a sale-leaseback transaction similar to the one completed in August 2024 on its West Palm Beach property. This strategy could generate healthy working capital for the Company without raising new equity. This strategy will not be deployed initially as there is sufficient financing available to the Company to complete the purchase.

This deal will easily help the Company reach its mandate to expand to 500 beds by the end of 2025. There are almost 600 beds available between Florida and Kentucky. This platform will allow the Company to focus on business development to build the census to the 500-person level. 

The Kentucky operation primarily provides care to Medicaid insured clients. This will help the Company add this dimension to its in-network insurance strategy. 

Mr. Shawn Leon, Company CEO reported, "to say that this opportunity is massive, is an understatement. This will propel us to the 500-bed target much sooner than we anticipated. We know this is big growth, but we will be sure to stick to our principles in developing this opportunity. We will focus on client safety and care first. Then we will focus on the best programming possible for the clients to ensure the best outcomes. Third, we will bring our well-honed operational skills and efficiencies to bear on the whole organization to ensure profitability and further growth. We are honored to have been chosen as the buyer to take over this much sought after opportunity and look forward to becoming the provider of choice in the state of Kentucky." Mr. Leon added, "our family commitment to this business has deepened with the conversion of our debt to equity this week. We look forward to bringing this company to the attention of many more investors with our plan to up-list and this announcement will help get us there faster. I want to thank all the great shareholders that support us and contact me often to encourage us to keep up the good work. I think this development is proof that we intend to keep doing that."

About Ethema Health Corporation

Ethema Health Corporation (OTCPINK: GRST) operates in the behavioral healthcare space specifically the treatment of substance use disorders. Ethema developed a unique style of treatment over the last decade and has had much success with in-patient treatment for adults. Ethema will continue to develop world class programs and techniques for North America. For more information you can visit our website at www.ethemahealth.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For information please contact:

Ethema Health Corporation
shawn@ethemahealth.com
Text to 416-500-0020
Twitter @healthethema

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SOURCE Ethema Health Corporation

FAQ

What is the significance of Ethema's LOI to purchase Edgewater Recovery Center?

The LOI signifies Ethema's plans to expand its operations by acquiring ERC, which will help achieve its 500-bed target by 2025.

When will the management agreement between Ethema and Edgewater Recovery Center become effective?

The management agreement becomes effective on July 15, 2024.

How many licensed beds does Edgewater Recovery Center currently have?

Edgewater Recovery Center currently has around 440 licensed beds.

When is the anticipated closing date for Ethema's acquisition of Edgewater Recovery Center?

The anticipated closing date for the acquisition is January 31, 2025.

How will Ethema benefit from the acquisition of Edgewater Recovery Center?

Ethema will benefit by expanding its bed capacity, enhancing its Medicaid client care, and potentially gaining additional working capital through a sale-leaseback strategy.

What is the current client census at Edgewater Recovery Center?

The current client census at Edgewater Recovery Center is approximately 170.