(Dow Jones) March 25, 2011 – Chilean health-care company Cruz Blanca Salud is seeking permission from the local SVS securities regulator to float about 25% of its equity on the local stock exchange, the company said.

More companies are aiming to list shares on the local bourse as Chile quickly recovers from a 2009 recession and a devastating 2010 earthquake.

Cruz Blanca Salud, which is owned by Chilean private-equity firm Linzor Capital Partners and the local Said family, aims to list 158.9 million shares during the second quarter this year.

“We will pursue this initial public offering to continue growing robustly…and to take advantage of the opportunities in the health-care industry, which is one of the strongest growing industries in Chile and around the globe,” Andres Varas, the company’s chief executive, said.

Last year, Cruz Blanca Salud posted over $750 million in sales.

Of the nearly dozen companies reportedly seeking a local IPO this year, Corporacion Farmaceutica Recalcine, or CFR, will likely be the first.

Chilean seafood exporter and farmed-salmon producer Pesquera Camanchaca SA (CAMANCHACA.SN) was the lone IPO on the Santiago Stock Exchange last year, when it issued shares in early December.

The previous two companies to make their debuts on the bourse were retailer Empresas Hites SA (HITES.SN) and soccer holding company Cruzados SADP (CRUZADOS.SN), which manages the Universidad Catolica soccer team. Both those IPOs were in December 2009.

By Anthony Esposito