RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Final Results/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.
PRESS RELEASE RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, Bad Neustadt/Saale:- Results Press Conference in Frankfurt/Main -Results for financial year 2007• Growth course continued: double-digit rise in operating result• Revenues clear 2 billion euro mark for first time • Patient treatments climb by 10.8% to reach over 1.5 million • University hospital Gießen/Marburg in profit territory• Dividend proposal: € 0.28 per ordinary shareResults for Q1 2008• Good start into new financial year: revenue raised by 3.7% to € 520.7million /• Rise in net consolidated profit to € 29.6 million (+17.5%) as expected• EBITDA increases to € 64.2 million (+5.1%)• EBIT rises to € 43.7 million (+8.2%)• EBT climbs to € 35.4 million (+1.1%)• 410,194 patients treated by Group hospitals during the first quarter Forecast for further course of 2008 • Continuation of growth strategy with sound economic judgment• Forecast for 2008 reaffirmed: revenues of € 2.08 billion, netconsolidated profit of € 123 million Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale/Frankfurt am Main, 24 April 2008 ----- 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. 'Nearly all important performance ratios are above the previousyear’s results. A closer look at the figures shows that RHÖN-KLINIKUM AGhas once again clearly demonstrated its operative performance', statedWolfgang Pföhler, chairman of the Board of Management of the hospitalgroup. Results for financial year 2007 Consolidated revenues rose by 4.8% to reach € 2.02 billion (previous year:€ 1.93 billion), for the first time breaking the 'sonic barrier' of € 2billion for revenues. With the rise in net consolidated profit by 1.9% to € 111.2 million (previous year: € 109.1 million), the Group’s expectationswere met. Excluding the one-off tax effects in 2006 (€ 19.1 million) and2007 (€ 8.6 million) as well as the effect from the revaluation offinancial instruments (€ 2.4 million), net consolidated profit on anadjusted basis grew disproportionately by € 10.2 million to € 100.2 million(previous year: € 90.0 million). EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax and depreciation/amortisation) roseby 12.8% to reach € 249.3 million (previous year: € 221.1 million).Operating earnings EBIT rose by € 11.4 million to € 157.5 million (previousyear: € 146.1 million). This includes the net loss for the year of € 0.3million recorded at Krankenhaus Köthen GmbH consolidated for the first timein 2007. EBT (earnings before tax) grew 9.1% to reach € 137.1 million(previous year: € 125.7 million). Operating cash flow grew 15.8% to reach €191.0 million (previous year: € 165.0 million), which does not includeone-off non-cash effects. Earnings per ordinary share stood at € 1.03(previous year: € 1.01). 'In 2007 we demonstrated that we can manage hospitals profitably at allcare levels. All of our long-standing facilities are making a positivecontribution to net consolidated profit. At Universitätsklinikum Gießen undMarburg GmbH, a net profit of € 1.1 million (compared with a net loss of €6.8 million in financial year 2006) clearly shows that our restructuringexpertise can also be deployed at university hospitals', explains WolfgangPföhler.With more construction projects than ever seen in the Group's history, thefoundation is being laid for further growth over the coming years. The 46 hospitals belonging to RHÖN-KLINIKUM Group at year-end 2007 treateda total of 1,544,451 patients (+10.8%); of these, 552,538 (+5.0%) weretreated on an acute inpatient basis, 903,633 (+5.2%) as outpatients and9,555 (+5.0%) in the rehab and other areas. At the medical care centres(MVZs) belonging to the Group, 78,725 patients were treated. At 31 December 2007, the number of employees at the Group (by headcount)was 32,222 (previous year: 30,409). The rise in the personnel cost ratio to 59.5% (previous year: 58.3%) aswell as the decline in the cost-of-materials ratio from 25.4% to 24.5% wasthe result of wage and price factors, restructuring results and the launchof our service companies that we operated together with various servicepartners since 1 January 2007. 'These service companies provide ourhospitals with cleaning and catering services', stated Dietmar Pawlik, thecompany’s CFO.The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose to thisyear’s Annual General Meeting (17 June 2008, Congress CenterFrankfurt/Main) the distribution of a dividend of € 0.28 (previous year: €0.25) per ordinary non-par share with dividend entitlement (DE 0007042301;103,680,000 non-par shares).Results for Q1 2008The Group is pleased with the interim report for the first quarter of 2008.Consolidated revenues rose by € 18.7 million to € 520.7 million (Q1 ofprevious year: € 502.0 million). Net consolidated profit in Q1 2008 rosesignificantly to € 29.6 million (Q1 of previous year: € 25.2 million/+17.5%).In EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation),the first quarter of 2008 recorded a gain by € 3.1 million or 5.1% to €64.2 million (Q1 of previous year: € 61.1 million) and in the operatingresult (EBIT = earnings before interest and taxes) by € 3.3 million (+8.2%)to € 43.7 million (Q1 of previous year: € 40.4 million). EBT (earningsbefore tax) grew 1.1% to reach € 35.4 million (Q1 of previous year: € 35.0million).At the end of the first quarter of 2008, earnings per share stood at € 0.27(Q1 of previous year: € 0.23).'The Group has maintained the positive momentum from 2007 going into 2008.Many of our hospitals are seeing significant expansions in servicevolumes', declares Wolfgang Pföhler.Investments in the first quarter of 2008 of € 40.3 million (Q1 of previousyear: € 31.5 million) were financed fully from the operating cash flow of €52.0 million (Q1 of previous year: € 45.9 million).Coverage of long-term assets by long-term financing is 99.4%; these assetsare financed by equity and long-term debt at matching maturities.Short-term loan capital continues to exceed short-term financial debt. 'Wecontinue to enjoy stable and sound financial structures oriented on thelong term.', explains Dietmar Pawlik, the company’s CFO.In the first three months of 2008 a total of 410,194 patients (Q1 ofprevious year: 388,882/+5.5%) were treated in the Group’s hospitals.At the reporting date 31 March 2008, the Group’s employees numbered 32,303(31 December 2007: 31,222).As at the reporting date 31 March 2008, RHÖN-KLINIKUM Group had 46hospitals with 14,584 beds/places at a total of 35 sites in nine federalstates.Forecast for the further course of 2008 As Pföhler explained, wage increases from higher collectively agreed ratesfor doctors and other hospital staff were already reflected in thecompany’s planning for 2008. 'We will firstly cope with rising wages andsalaries with rationalisation measures and are also looking to refinancethese through expansions in service volumes. In this way we willconsiderably improve our competitive position.'Given the state of the economy as well as rising personnel and energycosts, the scope of the federal states and municipalities to continueoperating their hospitals under public ownership is considerably narrowed.The Group is well placed to take up further hospitals at all care levels.The chairman of the Board of Management stated that attracting andretaining committed doctors is key to more innovation and growth within theGroup. 'We have to win over dedicated doctors to implement our guidingprinciple of ‘Quality and service for everyone’'.2007 saw the launch of a further and higher-qualification trainingoffensive for doctors within the RHÖN-KLINIKUM Group. The stated objectiveis for the Group, as an innovative operator of hospitals, to attract andretain dedicated and committed doctors. Particularly in order to get youngdoctors being trained as specialists to take an early interest in a careerwith the Group, the Company has been forging ahead with the formation ofregional further-training networks. From Pföhler’s statements it could begathered that the first positive results in this area have been achieved.'We are optimistic and confident going into financial year 2008', WolfgangPföhler said. 'Without taking account of possible further acquisitions, weexpect revenues of nearly € 2.1 billion and net consolidated profit of €123 million', Pföhler explained in conclusion.Brigitte SallweySallwey & PartnerGrüneburgweg 41D-60322 Frankfurt/MainTel.: (+49) 069 97 203 628Fax: (+49) 069 97 230 62724.04.2008 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