HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2014) - Northstar Healthcare Inc. (TSX: NHC) today announced its financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013. All dollar amounts are in United States currency unless otherwise stated; percentage calculations are based on the numbers in the financial statements and may not correspond to rounded figures presented in this release.

Detailed information relating to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 is available in Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Consolidated Financial Statements, which are available on the company's web site at: www.northstar-healthcare.com and at www.sedar.com. This information is not intended to provide a comprehensive comparison of financial results.

"The company has shown continued growth in surgeon recruitment and the enhanced development of our direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns," stated Dr. Donald Kramer, Northstar Healthcare's Chief Executive Officer. "These capabilities are allowing Northstar to pursue additional opportunities in the surgical center industry."

"We have invested aggressively into building our marketing department and programs," stated Harry Fleming, Northstar Healthcare's Chief Financial Officer. "With positive results to date, we will continue this strategy as we roll out new programs into new markets. We expect this to fuel significant growth with corresponding EBITDA in the second half of 2014, as the multiple campaigns begin to produce revenues."

Fourth Quarter Results
 Net patient service revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2013 totaled $13.5 million, an increase of $7.0 million or 108.7%, compared to $6.5 million from the prior corresponding period. Total cases for the three months ended December 31, 2013 were 1,811, representing an increase of 496 cases or 37.7% from the 1,315 cases in the prior corresponding period. Revenue per case increased as a product of the procedure mix moving towards higher value surgeries. The increase in net patient service revenue resulted in Northstar having EBITDA of $3.3 million, which includes a bargain purchase gain of $2.4 million, for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared with $0.6 million from the prior corresponding period. These increases contributed to higher net income margin and resulted in net income of $0.08 per weight average share, compared with net income of $0.01 per weighted average share in the corresponding 2012 period.

Twelve Months Results
 In the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, Northstar generated net patient service revenue of $31.1 million, an increase of 49% compared with $20.9 million in the corresponding period of 2012. The increase in net patient service revenue resulted in Northstar having EBITDA of $2.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 compared with $2.1 million from the prior corresponding period. The increase in net patient service revenue was offset by an increase in operating general and administrative expenses as Northstar invested in its revenue growth and diversification. Northstar had net income of $0.04 per weight average share, compared with net income of $0.03 per weighted average share in the corresponding 2012 period.

Cash flows provided by operating activities in the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 were $3.5 million which represented a $1.3 million decrease compared to the prior corresponding period. The decrease was caused by an increase in investments related to direct to consumer marketing and expenses in physician contracting as the Company diversified its revenue streams in 2013.

At December 31, 2013, Northstar had consolidated net working capital of $8.7 million, including cash of $5.6 million. This compares with $7.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, at year-end 2012.

About Northstar Healthcare Inc.

Northstar partners with physicians in the ownership and management of ambulatory facilities and healthcare services. Northstar owns and manages interests in four ambulatory surgery centers, two in Houston, one in Dallas, and the fourth in Scottsdale, Arizona. Northstar also owns and manages interests in two imaging centers and one urgent care clinic in Houston.

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not be considered a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. Items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. EBITDA is an analytical indicator used by management and the health care industry to evaluate company performance, allocate resources and measure leverage and debt service capacity. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Net income attributable to Northstar Healthcare Inc. common shareholders is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that is most comparable to EBITDA as defined.

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) and financial outlooks relating to the business of Northstar Healthcare Inc. (the "Company") and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may" and other similar expressions and may discuss future expectations, contain projections of future results of operations or of financial condition, or state other forward-looking information. These statements are based on the Company's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and while the Company considers these to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's regulatory filings available on the Company's web site at www.Northstar-Healthcare.com or at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. Other than as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances.