RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Final Results/Results ForecastRelease of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStoryAG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, Bad Neustadt/Saale:- Results Press Conference in Frankfurt/Main -Results for financial year 2006• Success story continued• Integration of Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg successfullyimplemented• Revenue raised by 36.5% to € 1.9 billion• Consolidated profit raised by 23.5 % to € 109.1 million• Total of 1,394,035 patients treated at the Group’s 45 hospitals• 30,409 employees as at year-end 2006 Forecast for the further course of 2007• Market environment and future prospects• Continuation of growth strategy with sound economic judgment• Revenues of € 2 billion forecast for 2007, and forecast for 2007 netconsolidated profit raised from € 100 million to € 102 million Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale/Frankfurt am Main, 19 April 2007 ----- At itsannual Results Press Conference held today in Frankfurt am Main the Boardof Management of the listed hospital group with headquarters in the Rhönconfirmed the trend figures already published in February and thus its ownforecasts. 'RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG thus continues the success story seen since1988 – despite the difficult economic environment of doctors’ strikes andreform debates', said Wolfgang Pföhler, chairman of the Board of Managementof the hospital group. The integration of Universitätsklinikum Gießen undMarburg was successfully implemented. The first-time consolidation of the largest acquisition in the Company’shistory, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg (consolidated as at 1February 2006), as well as that of Frankenwaldklinik in Kronach and HeinzKalk-Krankenhaus in Bad Kissingen (both facilities from 1 January 2006),resulted in a 36.5% surge in revenues and thus in consolidated revenue of €1.933 billion (previous year: € 1.416 billion). With the rise in netconsolidated profit by € 20.8 million (+23.5 %) to € 109.1 million(previous year: € 88.3 million), the Group’s expectations were met. Theresult was marked by two extraordinary effects of opposite signs: aone-off, tax-relieving effect (amendment of Section 37 (5) Corporation TaxAct) as well as the burdening effect from the net loss for the yearrecorded at Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg. According to the Group’s management, the Supervisory Board and the Boardof Management of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG have decided to waive that part of theirbonus attributable to the extraordinary tax effect. This waiver will takeeffect only in the 2007 consolidated financial statements. 'We consider itreasonable and appropriate to be paid for our own performance, and not toprofit from one-off tax effects', Wolfgang Pföhler stated. 'For 2007 wetherefore raise our forecast for net consolidated profit to € 102 million.' EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation/amortisation and tax) roseby 6.9% to reach € 221.1 million (previous year: € 206.9 million).Operating earnings EBIT rose by € 6.0 million to € 146.1 million (previousyear: € 140.1 million). This includes the net loss for the year of € 8.4million recorded at the hospitals in Gießen, Marburg, Kronach and BadKissingen consolidated for the first time in 2006. The facilities alreadyconsolidated before 2006 together reported EBIT growth of € 14.4 millionand an EBIT margin of 12.3% (previous year: 11.9%). 'We have thus succeededin countering the deteriorating framework conditions for hospitals',explained CFO Dietmar Pawlik. EBT (earnings before tax) reached € 125.7million, a gain of 1.8% over the previous year’s level (€ 123.5 million).Operating cash flow grew 6.0 % to reach € 165.0 million (previous year: €155.6 million), which does include the one-off non-cash effect. Earningsper ordinary share stood at € 2.03 (previous year: € 1.61). The 45 hospitals belonging to RHÖN-KLINIKUM Group at year-end 2006 treateda total of 1,394,035 patients (+46.8%; previous year: 949,376); of these,526,226 (+28.2%) were treated on an acute inpatient basis, 858,708 (+62.1%)as outpatients and 9,101 (+1.9%) in the rehab and other areas. Thedisproportionate rise in outpatient treatments stems from the universityoutpatient units taken over. Excluding the hospitals acquired in 2006,organic growth in case numbers stood at 3.6%. At 31 December 2006, the number of employees at the Group (by headcount)was 30,409 (previous year: 21,226). Particularly with the takeover of the university hospitals in Gießen andMarburg, the Group’s key ratios have changed significantly in terms oftheir structure compared with the previous year. 'The increase in thepersonnel cost ratio to 58.3% (previous year: 56.1%) and in the cost ofmaterials ratio to 25.4% (previous year: 24.3%) essentially stems from theacquired research and teaching structures. These compared with costreimbursements of € 15.1 million reported under the item 'Other income'.Thanks to successful integration and restructuring measures, our personneland materials cost ratios at the hospitals already consolidated in 2005were reduced to a combined ratio of 87.9% (previous year: 88.8%)', DietmarPawlik said. Forecast for the further course of 2007 'We continue to aim for qualitative growth', explained the chairman of theBoard of Management. The results for the first quarter of 2007 will bepublished on Thursday, 3 May 2007 in a separate press release and with thepublication of the interim Q1 2007 report.On 11 April 2007, the Düsseldorf Court of Appeals dismissed the appeallodged against the prohibited sale of the district hospitals inRhön-Grabfeld. The judgement has no influence on the growth strategy ofRHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. Over the past two and a quarter years the Group has newlyconsolidated 16 hospitals – including the university hospital heavyweightsin Gießen and Marburg. As a result, the company has nearly doubled itsrevenues since the cartel proceedings began. 'The situation is annoying,but does not weigh heavily in economic terms', Wolfgang Pföhler said. TheBoard of Management will now review the possibility of appealing toGermany’s Federal High Court of Justice.'With our proven strategy of ‘competence in acquisition and integration’ aswell as ‘quality before quantity’, we will continue to generate viable andprofitable growth', declared a convinced Wolfgang Pföhler. 'We are strivingfor generalised healthcare coverage in Germany to high quality standardsfor all segments of the population at socially acceptable prices. Nottaking into account potential new acquisitions, our revenues in 2997 willrise to around € 2.0 billion.' Sallwey & PartnerBrigitte SallweyTelemannstr. 18D-60323 Frankfurt/MainTel.: (+49)069-97 203 628DGAP 19.04.2007 
 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.comwww: www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.comISIN: DE0007042301WKN: 704230Indices: MDAXListed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service