- Reward shareholders with interim dividend of 0.4 Singapore cent per ordinary share for 1Q2022 to be paid on 3 June 2022.

- EBITDA (excluding one-time gain in disposal of an associate in 1Q2021) increased 21% from S$10.6 million (1Q2021) to S$12.9 million (1Q2022)

SINGAPORE, May 12, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited, a leading private dental healthcare group in Asia, reported net profit excluding other gains or losses attributable to shareholders of S$7.2 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2022 (1Q2022) compared to S$5.8 million in the corresponding period (1Q2021).

Dr Ng Chin Siau, Chief Executive Officer of Q&M Dental said, "We are heartened by our continuous strong performance in 1Q2022 following a record-setting year FY2021. Our core dental business will remain strong, and with the abolishing of most of the pandemic restrictions, a positive impact on the economy, we are looking forward to resuming our growth trajectory of expanding our network of clinics in the coming quarters."

Growth & Expansion in Operations

As at 31 March 2022, the Group's number of dental outlets in Singapore has grown to 99, from 85 as at 31 March 2021. Similarly in Malaysia, the number of dental outlets has increased to 41, as compared to 36 previously.

The Group also continues to focus on its expansion into medical diagnostics, with its associated Company, Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited and through its recent acquisition of 49% shareholding of Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd., raising Q&M's effective interest in Acumen Diagnostics from 51% to 67%. In the near term, Acumen Diagnostics' clinical testing laboratory will roll out its pipeline of new tests, including PCR assays for dengue, sepsis and, identification of bacterial pathogens and their associated antibiotics resistance in pneumonia and bloodstream infections. Its longer-term plans include the development of new vaccines.

For 1Q2022, revenue contribution from dental and medical clinics was relatively unchanged with a marginal decrease of 2% to S$38.6 million, despite the challenges of the tightening of Safe Management Measures (SMM) due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Revenue contribution from medical laboratory and dental equipment & supplies segment surged by 80% to S$8.2 million on the back of increased revenue from Covid-19 testing from Acumen Diagnostics, the Group's medical laboratory business, which obtained its medical laboratory license in September 2020.

The Group's net profit after tax excluding other gains or losses for 1Q2022 increased by 25% to S$7.2 million, from S$5.8 million in the corresponding period last year, translating to an earnings per share of 0.69 Singapore cent.

As at 31 March 2022, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of S$43.5 million with net assets of S$94.9 million. This translates to Net Asset Value per share of 10.10 cents per share.

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