RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results04.11.2010 07:00
After nine months:- Number of patients grows by 13.3% to over 1.53 million- Revenues grow by 10.5% to EUR 1.90 billion- EBITDA rises by 9.0% to EUR 228.5 million and EBIT by 9.7% to EUR 147.9million- Net consolidated profit improves by 10.4% to EUR 107.2 millionForecast for 2010 specified:- Revenues of EUR 2.55 billion- Net consolidated profit of EUR 145 millionPositive outlook for 2011 despite challenging policy environment:- Revenues: EUR 2.65 billion - EBITDA: EUR 340 million (± 5%)- Net consolidated profit: EUR 160 million (± 5%)Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale, 4 November 2010. Three quarters into financialyear 2010, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG remains right on course. Patient numbers,revenues and earnings have once again witnessed a very positive performancein the third quarter. For the full year, the Company now expects revenuesof EUR 2.55 billion (2009: EUR 2.3 billion) and net consolidated profit ofEUR 145 million (2009: EUR 131.7 million).'The very positive trend in our key ratios shows that our strategicdirection is right', said Wolfgang Pföhler, chairman of the Board ofManagement of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. 'Patients have a high level of trust in thework and quality of our medical care. Having made considerable investmentsin our hospitals, we will further expand our service offering'.In the first nine months of the current financial year, the Group's networkof 54 hospitals and 31 medical care centres (MVZs) treated a total of over1.53 million patients. Compared with the same period last year, thistranslates into a growth of 13.3%. Revenues rose over the same period by10.5% to reach EUR 1.90 billion. After nine months, EBITDA stood at EUR228.5 million, which corresponds to a 9.0% rise compared with the previousyear. EBIT rose by 9.7% to EUR 147.9 million, and operating cash flow by8.5% to EUR 188.7 million.Net consolidated profit improved in the period from January to September by10.4% to EUR 107.2 million. After deducting minority interests in profitof EUR 4.2 million, earnings per ordinary share (EpS) now amounts to EUR0.75. The change in the number of shares following the capital increase in2009 restricts the representative character of a year-on-year comparison(previous year: EUR 0.83). Based on the higher number of ordinary sharesafter the capital increase in 2009, an EpS of EUR 0.67 is calculated forthe previous year.Positive outlook for 2011 despite challenging policy environment RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG sees itself well prepared for financial year 2011 as well.'The framework conditions of policy are challenging', Pföhler said with aview to the German government's healthcare reform. 'Nevertheless, we willfurther expand our care offering and continue our growth course. Also in2011, the key elements being planned for hospital financing will not beable to completely offset the actual cost increases. How high our growthwill be next year will also ultimately depend on the specific terms ofremuneration that are worked out in the new legislation.'Based on information available thus far, the hospital group is targetingrevenues of EUR 2.65 billion for financial year 2011. This revenue targetis accompanied by an EBITDA forecast of EUR 340 million and an expected netconsolidated profit of EUR 160 million. Given the uncertainty over thefinal legislative environment, fluctuations in the range of ± 5% areconsidered possible.Helping shape system changeRHÖN-KLINIKUM AG intends to help shape this system change. This change isbeing marked in particular by a shift of many inpatient services into theoutpatient area along with advances in medical technology; at the sametime, though, demographic trends are also calling for new answers. 'Ourobjective is unchanged: we seek to ensure a high quality of medical carefor all patients at reasonable costs, whilst escorting the Group'sdevelopment towards becoming an integrated healthcare provider', Pföhlersaid. For example, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG has prepared its market entry into thefield of ophthalmology so as to provide patients with innovative serviceofferings. Like almost no other field, ophthalmology provides a primeexample of how inpatient services are being shifted into the outpatientsegment.Working together with the state as an effective partner in providing basicservicesAs planned, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG this year began integrating into the Group'snetwork the MEDIGREIF Group (comprising five hospitals and two medical carecentres in the federal states of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania andSaxony-Anhalt), thus succeeding in broadening its healthcare network.Integration of Klinik Hildesheimer Land GmbH with its focus on geriatricshave got off to a good start. Here Group is planning to strengthen itsmedical care networks in the area of acute geriatrics as well as geriatric,cardiological and orthopaedic rehabilitation.According to Pföhler, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG is among best placed companies inthe sector when it comes to further acquisitions. Given the tight budgetsituations of many municipalities, the question is not whether but whenfurther privatisations will take place. This becomes very clear from theexample of the Kiel-Lübeck university hospital. 'We must not make cut-backsat the expense of medical care in cities and municipalities', Pföhler said.'I am certain that competent and reliable partners for basic public medicalcare like RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG will continue to be much sought after. We havemany years of expertise and experience in the area of restructuring andmedical care which we offer for this end - but of course not at any price.We are confident of being able to expand our network by further facilitiesin specific areas', Pföhler said in conclusion.RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG is one of the largest healthcare providers in Germany. Itscorporate objective is high-quality medical care for everyone. Currently,our Group counts 54 hospitals at 43 sites as well as 33 medical carecentres (MVZs) throughout Germany. We employ more than 37.000 persons. Infinancial year 2009, roughly 1.8 million patients were treated in theGroup's facilities.More information is available under: www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.com.Esther WalterHead of Group Press and Public RelationsRHÖN-KLINIKUM AGSchlossplatz 1D-97616 Bad Neustadt a. d. SaalePhone: +49 9771 65 - 1322Fax: +49 9771 65 - 1820E-mail: esther.walter@rhoen-klinikum-ag.comBoris Tramm Head of Investor RelationsRHÖN-KLINIKUM AGSchlossplatz 1D-97616 Bad Neustadt a. d. SaalePhone:+49 9771 65 - 1318Fax: +49 9771 99 - 1736E-mail: boris.tramm@rhoen-klinikum-ag.com04.11.2010 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
 Language: EnglishCompany: RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG Schlossplatz 1 97616 Bad Neustadt a.d.Saale DeutschlandPhone: +49 (0)9771 - 65-0Fax: +49 (0)9771 - 97 467E-mail: rka@rhoen-klinikum-ag.comInternet: www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.comISIN: DE0007042301WKN: 704230Indices: MDAXListed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München; Freiverkehr in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart End of Announcement DGAP News-Service