RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Forecast/Quarter ResultsRelease of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStoryAG.The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
• Forecast for 2008 reaffirmed• Expectations for financial year 2009 positive: Revenues of 2.3 billioneuros, net consolidated profit between 125 and 135 million euros• RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG embraces integrated growth strategy• Dr. Straub first medical doctor in Board of ManagementBad Neustadt, 6 November 2008 ----- At today’s Analyst Conference theCompany informed about its expectations for financial year 2009. Thechairman of the Board of Management, Wolfgang Pföhler, moreover madedetailed statements on the recently announced orientation of the Board ofManagement to the Company’s integrated growth strategy.Forecast for 2008 reaffirmedThe 9-month figures for 2008 reveal that RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG has continued itsgrowth course and that increases have been once again recorded in the mostimportant key figures – patient numbers, revenues and earnings.In the first nine months of 2008, the Group’s hospitals treated 1.24million patients (+ 6.6%) and generated revenues of 1.59 billion euros (+4.9%), with net consolidated profit reaching 89.2 million euros (+ 2.6 %)in the first three quarters. The Company has succeeded in expandingoperative performance despite extraordinary burdens from legislation andthe sharp rise in the costs of personnel and materials, which is why theforecast for financial year 2008 is reaffirmed: revenues of 2.1 billioneuros, earnings of 123 million euros.Expectations for financial year 2009 positiveThe Company expects to see a positive development in 2009: 'The healthcaremarket is crisis-resistant and largely unaffected by short-termdevelopments on the financial markets and swings in the economic cycle.Demand for good medical care is rising as society greys, people gaingreater awareness of the health and progress in medicine advances. Forthese reasons we see a growth path for our Group which is clearly markedout over the coming years' Pföhler explained.The framework conditions for the healthcare market remain challenging. 'Theanticipated amendments to hospital financing are bringing a certain degreeof relief. These are set against rising personnel and material costs',Pföhler said. 'Overall, we will expand our market position. Our plandeveloped for the next financial year is sound and conservative, and we arecertain that we will be able to achieve the stated targets', the chairmanof the Board of Management said confidently.For financial year 2009, rising revenues and rising net consolidated profitare expected. Irrespective of further hospital acquisitions the Company istargeting revenues of roughly 2.3 billion euros. 'We put our earningstarget for 2009 at a net consolidated profit of roughly 130 million euros –but in view of the opportunities and risks see a deviation of plus or minus5 million euros as possible' said the chairman of the Board of Management.RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG embraces integrated growth Wolfgang Pföhler provided detailed information on the Company’s orientationtowards the integrated growth strategy: 'By establishing our two-stephealthcare offering, we want to draw on performance reserves, set abenchmark for ensuring the viability of care, offer people good medicineand exploit quality and efficiency reserves at the interface betweensectors. We are expanding our medical offering with the new divisionOutpatient-Inpatient Basic and Standard Care. The solid basis of our growthstrategy continues to be provided by our original business field of acuteinpatient care.'The Group’s core principles of medical understanding were especiallyhighlighted by Pföhler: 'Our seal of quality is the independent medicinepractised by doctors at our Company. This is what RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG hasstood for in the past and will continue to stand for in future', remarkedthe chairman of the Board of Management. 'Dr. Christoph Straub, workingtogether with the doctors of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, will forge ahead with theintegration of state-of-the-art medicine within our network of hospitalsand moreover assume responsibility for medical quality management and thefurther training and higher-qualification of doctors. I am pleased to havefound in Dr. Straub a doctor to build bridges for us between the sectors',explained the chairman of the Board of Management.Wolfgang Pföhler provided detailed information on the further orientationof the Company’s executive team and the implementation of the integratedgrowth strategy. In finance policy, the Company assigns a key role tocontinuity. The outgoing CFO, Dietmar Pawlik, will be succeeded by Dr. ErikHamann as deputy member of the Board of Management for the divisionFinance, Investor Relations and Controlling who will ensure consistency inthe Company’s long-term oriented finance policy. Dr. Hamann currently headsthe division Group Controlling at RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG.In conclusion Pföhler emphasised: 'My goal is to further developRHÖN-KLINIKUM AG from being traditional hospital operator into a healthcareprovider.'Dr. Irmgard StipplerDivisional Head of Corporate CommunicationTelephone: +49 9771 65-1321 FAX: +49 9771 65-1306E-Mail: irmgard.stippler@rhoen-klinikum-ag.com06.11.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
 Language: EnglishIssuer: RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG Schlossplatz 1 97616 Bad Neustadt a.d.Saale DeutschlandPhone: +49 (0)9771 - 65-0Fax: +49 (0)9771 - 97 467E-mail: fire.ir@rhoen-klinikum-ag.comInternet: www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.comISIN: DE0007042301WKN: 704230Indices: MDAXListed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service