01/18/2019
Press Release No. 002, 2019
Bogotá D.C., January 18, 2019. In relation to information about a possible sale of Medimás EPS S.A.S. and Estudios e Inversiones Médicas S.A. ("Esimed") or about the shares of Prestnewco S.A.S. ("Prestnewco") and Prestmed S.A.S. ("Prestmed") or about other assets of Saludcoop EPS OC going into Liquidation ("Saludcoop"), the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Superintendence of Health and the Superintendence of Companies inform the general public:
1. The National Government's priority is to guarantee and protect the fundamental right to health of all Colombians and to ensure the proper use of public resources available for this purpose and, therefore, will act accordingly. Likewise, it will ensure the rights of users, workers and compliance with obligations to service providers and suppliers.
2. To date there is no firm business offer related to this possible sale, only a letter of intent delivered to the Saludcoop liquidator, which does not comply with the formalities, nor does it have the necessary support for a due diligence and an eventual transaction to guarantee the fundamental right to health of Colombians.
3. There is a purchase interest, therefore the National Health Superintendence and the Superintendence of Companies have carried out various actions to identify the interested investors and have absolute clarity about any business offer and the basis of a possible negotiation, for which purpose they have made specific requests to the Saludcoop liquidator and the legal representatives of the Prestnewco and Prestmed, current owners of Medimás and Esimed, respectively.
4. If a firm business offer is presented and formalized, the National Government will articulate institutional efforts to guarantee transparency and it will exercise the respective control in case of sale of the assets of Saludcoop, as well as of Medimás and Esimed or of the shares of Prestnewco and Prestmed, so that they comply fully with all the requirements established by law.
5. To date, preventive actions have been developed by the Superintendencies of National Health and Companies, as well as by other control entities. These actions will continue permanently in relation to any offer and negotiation involving the possible sale of Medimás and Esimed or of the Prestnewco and Prestmed shares or other Saludcoop assets, in order to guarantee the fundamental right to health of Colombians.
6. Medimás is currently under a special surveillance measure by the National Health Superintendency, and Prestnewco and Prestmed are subject to a control measure by the Superintendency of Companies, which enables carrying out actions to guarantee the fundamental right to health of Colombians.
7. A strong call of attention has been made to all the actors involved in an eventual offer and negotiation of Medimás and Esimed or of the Prestnewco and Prestmed shares or other assets of Saludcoop so that this process: i) guarantees the fundamental right to health of the Colombians, ii) is transparent and its information is public; iii) receives the corresponding authorization procedures in a timely manner and sufficiently.
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