Japara Healthcare Limited provided earnings guidance for the fiscal year 2018 and 2019. EBITDA from operations for the first half of fiscal year 2018 is now expected to be approximately 15% to 17% below the prior corresponding period due to the lower than expected occupancy levels. Management expects the second half EBITDA from operations to exceed the first half, notwithstanding the impact of the three additional public holidays, due primarily to: recovering occupancy levels; the additional operational places added to the portfolio and other benefits associated with the brownfield and greenfield developments completed during the period; and increasing cost efficiencies being achieved associated with the implementation of a workforce management system earlier this calendar year. The full year fiscal year 2018 EBITDA is expected to be 5-10% below fiscal year 2017 as a result of the abovementioned factors. The company expects fiscal year 2019 earnings will be significantly higher than fiscal year 2018 as a result of: income on an additional 391 net new places as a result of brownfield and greenfield developments highlighted above completing during fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019; improved occupancy; increased revenue per occupied place due to additional significant refurbishment supplements, COPE escalation and a reduced revenue impact resulting from the changes to AFCI scoring; and cost efficiencies due to the implementation of the workforce management system.