Medibank Private set to acquire Better Medical in $159m expansion

Medibank Private shares are in focus as the company acquires Better Medical, expanding its primary care reach and boosting future earnings.

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Key points

  • Medibank Private will acquire Better Medical for approximately $159 million, which includes 61 clinics, boosting its primary care presence and targeting an EBITDA contribution of $6 million for the second half of FY26.
  • This decision expands on Medibank's prior stake in Myhealth Medical Group, intending to enhance service delivery and digital health integration while ensuring clinics retain doctor-led structures with independent fee-setting.
  • Following ACCC approval, expected by Q3 FY26, Medibank will focus on integrating Better Medical to advance proactive care and digital investments, driving towards its broader profit and capital targets in the health segment.

The Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) share price is in focus today after the company announced the acquisition of Better Medical, a network of 61 GP and medical clinics, for approximately $159 million. Medibank expects Better Medical to deliver around $6 million in EBITDA for the six months to 30 June 2026.

What did Medibank Private report?

  • Agreed to acquire Better Medical, a primary care provider with 61 clinics across four states
  • Purchase price of approximately $159 million, subject to closing adjustments
  • Acquisition to be funded from existing unallocated capital
  • Expected EBITDA contribution of $6 million in six months to 30 June 2026
  • Total M&A investment for FY24–26 now $218 million, nearing the target range
  • Supports goal of at least $200 million Medibank Health segment profit and ~$700 million capital employed by FY30

What else do investors need to know?

The acquisition builds on Medibank's primary care expansion, following its existing majority interest in Myhealth Medical Group, which operates 105 clinics. Medibank aims to improve service delivery for patients and clinicians by investing further in digital health capabilities and care accessibility.

The deal is subject to customary conditions including approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and is expected to complete by the end of the third quarter of FY26. Importantly, Medibank states that Better Medical clinics will remain doctor-led, with full clinical autonomy and independent fee-setting.

What did Medibank Private management say?

Amplar Health Chief Executive Robert Read said:

Primary care is the cornerstone of the health system, with GPs, nurses and other health professionals vital to early intervention and prevention in their communities. Investing in GPs and their teams to enable them to deliver more proactive and preventative care is good for patients, good for doctors and good for the health system.

What's next for Medibank Private?

Medibank will now focus on integrating Better Medical into its broader health portfolio, aiming to ramp up digital investment and help clinicians deliver more proactive, connected care. The group remains committed to supporting GPs while pursuing overall growth in its health segment profit and capital employed targets.

Completion of the acquisition is anticipated by the third quarter of FY26, provided all regulatory and closing conditions are met. Medibank will also continue seeking further opportunities to build its presence in the primary healthcare sector.

Medibank Private share price snapshot

Medibank Private shares have soared 38% over the past year, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased around 8% over the same period.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

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