RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Half Year Results/Interim ReportRelease of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStoryAG.The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
•Confirmation of growth course: Revenues raised by 4.3% to € 1.05 billion(first half of 2007: € 1.01 billion)•Net consolidated profit: sharp rise by 17.7% to € 61.9 million (first halfof 2007: € 52.6 million)•Group wants to take new approaches to cross-sector cooperation•Forecast confirmed for full-year 2008: revenues of € 2.1 billion and netconsolidated profit of € 123 millionNote: The Company reports according to International Financial ReportingStandards (IFRS) in their version applicable for 2008. For the first time,an auditor’s review of the Half-Year Financial Report was performed by thestatutory auditor.Bad Neustadt a. d. Saale, 7 August 2008 ----- 'The further increase in keyperformance ratios during the first six months of 2008 confirms our growthcourse which we will continue also in the second half despite challengingframework conditions', stated Wolfgang Pföhler, chairman of the Board ofManagement of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. 'RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG stands on a solidfoundation. We combine good medicine with good business judgment and willtherefore be successful in the future as well.'Compared with the first half of 2007, revenues rose during the first sixmonths of 2008 by € 43.2 million (+4.3%) to € 1,050.2 million (previousyear: € 1,007.0 million). The first-time consolidation of KreiskrankenhausKöthen as at 1 April 2007 accounts for € 7.2 million of this rise inrevenues, and organic growth for the lion's share of € 36.0 million.Compared with the first half of 2007, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG achieved a rise(+3.0%) in EBITDA by € 3.7 million to € 128.6 million (previous year: €124.9 million) and an increase (+6.7%) in EBIT by € 5.4 million to € 86.2million (previous year: € 80.8 million) as well as a rise in netconsolidated profit by € 9.3 million or 17.7% to € 61.9 million (previousyear: € 52.6 million), thus meeting the targets set by the Group’sManagement. Net consolidated profit in the first half corresponds toearnings per ordinary share of € 0.57 (previous year: € 0.48).€ 8.1 million of the € 9.3 million improvement in net consolidated profitis accounted for by the first-time application of the lowered corporationtax rate and the resulting lower earnings tax burden. Despite challengingframework conditions and sharp rises in personnel and material costs,RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG succeeded in once again raising operating consolidatedprofit by broadening its offering and exercising strict cost management.The remaining increase in earnings is € 1.2 million. Adjusted for one-offvaluation effects in 2007 of € 0.4 million, the increase in operatingearnings in the first half stood at € 1.6 million, which stemmed amongother things from the further improvement, to € 0.5 million, atUniversitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH. After burdening the earningsresult last year by € 0.5 million, Krankenhaus Köthen GmbH, consolidated on1 April 2007, contributed € 0.2 million to consolidated earnings in thefirst half of 2008.Driven by investments, the Company’s assets increased by € 3.6 million(+0.2%).As at 30 June 2008, the Company reported equity capital of € 845.1 million(as at 30 June 2007: € 751.9 million, 31 December 2007: € 810.8 million),with distributions to shareholders and minority owners in the amount of €32.3 million already included. The equity ratio saw a slight rise from39.1% to 40.8%.Overall, 100.4% of non-current assets is covered by equity and non-currentliabilities. Net debt to banks rose since the last reporting date from €496.2 million to € 555.2 million as at 30 June 2008.Internal financing strength was raised. Compared with the same period lastyear, operating cash flow rose from € 96.8 million by 7.5% to reach € 104.1million.'The Group continues to enjoy stable and sound financial structures',confirms Dietmar Pawlik, the Company’s CFO.Of the investments made in the Group during the first six months of 2008, €22.0 million was attributable to investments funded from grants under theHospital Financing Act (KHG) (previous year: € 46.9 million) and deductedfrom total investments pursuant to the relevant provisions of IFRS. For thesecond half of financial year 2008, investments of roughly € 150 millionhave been planned.As at 30 June 2008 we consolidate 46 hospitals with 14,584 beds/places at atotal of 35 sites in nine federal states.During the first six months a total of 833,375 patients (previous year:782,718; a rise of 6.5% or 50,657 patients) were treated at our Grouphospitals and medical care centres (MVZs). After deducting consolidationeffects (Krankenhaus Köthen), this translates into organic growth of 44,756patients or 5.7%. This growth is distributed nearly uniformly over theentire Group.At 30 June 2008, the Group employed 32,385 persons (31 December 2007:32,222). The number of employees will further increase with the first-timeconsolidation of St. Petri-Hospital in Warburg in the second half of 2008.'With the takeover of St. Petri-Hospital in Warburg we will expand ourhospital network to 47 facilities', Wolfgang Pföhler said. By thisacquisition RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG confirms its goal of continuing to achievequalitative growth through the acquisition of hospitals at all levels ofcare. St. Petri-Hospital, a standard care facility, has 153 beds and anannual revenue volume of roughly € 15 million. 'The facility’s first-timeconsolidation is slated for the second half of 2008. We are well preparedto take further hospitals into the Group.'Besides the acquisition and restructuring of hospitals, the Company istaking new approaches to outpatient-inpatient cooperation. In this regardWolfgang Pföhler adds that this ensures a stable cross-sector medicalplatform for better patient care. 'We are seeking a partnership of equalsbetween community-based and hospital doctors, and offer community-baseddoctors the opportunity to combine medical expertise with economiccommitment under their own responsibility through their stake in ourfacilities. This cooperation holds considerable quality advantages forpatients and also leads to lower costs', states the chairman of the Boardof Management.In conclusion, Wolfgang Pföhler confirmed the earnings forecast ofRHÖN-KLINIKUM AG: 'Based on the current framework conditions and on theresults of the first half of 2008, we confirm our revenue forecast forfull-year 2008 of € 2.1 billion and our earnings forecast of € 123 million.We continue to pursue organic growth coupled with qualitativeacquisitions-driven growth in inpatient care as well asoutpatient-inpatient cooperation.'RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG Contact: Dr. Irmgard Stippler Divisional Head of Corporate Communication Schlossplatz 1 97616 Bad Neustadt/Saale Tel.: 09771/65 1321Fax: 09771/65 1306E-mail: irmgard.stippler@rhoen-klinikum-ag.com www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.com 07.08.2008 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