DGAP-News: RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG (english)

RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG: Result Press Conference in Frankfurt/Main



RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG / Final Results/Results Forecast



19.04.2007



Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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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 successfully

implemented

Revenue raised by 36.5% to EUR 1.9 billion

Consolidated profit raised by 23.5 % to EUR 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 EUR 2 billion forecast for 2007, and forecast for 2007 net

consolidated profit raised from EUR 100 million to EUR 102 million



Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale/Frankfurt am Main, 19 April 2007 ----- At its

annual Results Press Conference held today in Frankfurt am Main the Board

of Management of the listed hospital group with headquarters in the Rhön

confirmed the trend figures already published in February and thus its own

forecasts. 'RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG thus continues the success story seen since

1988 - despite the difficult economic environment of doctors' strikes and

reform debates', said Wolfgang Pföhler, chairman of the Board of Management

of the hospital group. The integration of Universitätsklinikum Gießen und

Marburg was successfully implemented.



The first-time consolidation of the largest acquisition in the Company's

history, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg (consolidated as at 1

February 2006), as well as that of Frankenwaldklinik in Kronach and Heinz

Kalk-Krankenhaus in Bad Kissingen (both facilities from 1 January 2006),

resulted in a 36.5% surge in revenues and thus in consolidated revenue of EUR

1.933 billion (previous year: EUR 1.416 billion). With the rise in net

consolidated profit by EUR 20.8 million (+23.5 %) to EUR 109.1 million

(previous year: EUR 88.3 million), the Group's expectations were met. The

result was marked by two extraordinary effects of opposite signs: a

one-off, tax-relieving effect (amendment of Section 37 (5) Corporation Tax

Act) as well as the burdening effect from the net loss for the year

recorded at Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg.



According to the Group's management, the Supervisory Board and the Board

of Management of RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG have decided to waive that part of their

bonus attributable to the extraordinary tax effect. This waiver will take

effect only in the 2007 consolidated financial statements. 'We consider it

reasonable and appropriate to be paid for our own performance, and not to

profit from one-off tax effects', Wolfgang Pföhler stated. 'For 2007 we

therefore raise our forecast for net consolidated profit to EUR 102 million.'





EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation/amortisation and tax) rose

by 6.9% to reach EUR 221.1 million (previous year: EUR 206.9 million).

Operating earnings EBIT rose by EUR 6.0 million to EUR 146.1 million (previous

year: EUR 140.1 million). This includes the net loss for the year of EUR 8.4

million recorded at the hospitals in Gießen, Marburg, Kronach and Bad

Kissingen consolidated for the first time in 2006. The facilities already

consolidated before 2006 together reported EBIT growth of EUR 14.4 million

and an EBIT margin of 12.3% (previous year: 11.9%). 'We have thus succeeded

in countering the deteriorating framework conditions for hospitals',

explained CFO Dietmar Pawlik. EBT (earnings before tax) reached EUR 125.7

million, a gain of 1.8% over the previous year's level (EUR 123.5 million).

Operating cash flow grew 6.0 % to reach EUR 165.0 million (previous year: EUR

155.6 million), which does include the one-off non-cash effect. Earnings

per ordinary share stood at EUR 2.03 (previous year: EUR 1.61).



The 45 hospitals belonging to RHÖN-KLINIKUM Group at year-end 2006 treated

a 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. The

disproportionate rise in outpatient treatments stems from the university

outpatient 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 and

Marburg, the Group's key ratios have changed significantly in terms of

their structure compared with the previous year. 'The increase in the

personnel cost ratio to 58.3% (previous year: 56.1%) and in the cost of

materials ratio to 25.4% (previous year: 24.3%) essentially stems from the

acquired research and teaching structures. These compared with cost

reimbursements of EUR 15.1 million reported under the item 'Other income'.

Thanks to successful integration and restructuring measures, our personnel

and materials cost ratios at the hospitals already consolidated in 2005

were reduced to a combined ratio of 87.9% (previous year: 88.8%)', Dietmar

Pawlik said.



Forecast for the further course of 2007



'We continue to aim for qualitative growth', explained the chairman of the

Board of Management. The results for the first quarter of 2007 will be

published on Thursday, 3 May 2007 in a separate press release and with the

publication of the interim Q1 2007 report.



On 11 April 2007, the Düsseldorf Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal

lodged against the prohibited sale of the district hospitals in

Rhön-Grabfeld. The judgement has no influence on the growth strategy of

RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. Over the past two and a quarter years the Group has newly

consolidated 16 hospitals - including the university hospital heavyweights

in Gießen and Marburg. As a result, the company has nearly doubled its

revenues since the cartel proceedings began. 'The situation is annoying,

but does not weigh heavily in economic terms', Wolfgang Pföhler said. The

Board of Management will now review the possibility of appealing to

Germany's Federal High Court of Justice.



'With our proven strategy of 'competence in acquisition and integration' as

well as 'quality before quantity', we will continue to generate viable and

profitable growth', declared a convinced Wolfgang Pföhler. 'We are striving

for generalised healthcare coverage in Germany to high quality standards

for all segments of the population at socially acceptable prices. Not

taking into account potential new acquisitions, our revenues in 2997 will

rise to around EUR 2.0 billion.'







Sallwey & Partner

Brigitte Sallwey

Telemannstr. 18

D-60323 Frankfurt/Main

Tel.: (+49)069-97 203 628





DGAP 19.04.2007

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Language: English

Issuer: RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG

Schlossplatz 1

97616 Bad Neustadt a.d.Saale Deutschland

Phone: +49 (0)9771 - 65-0

Fax: +49 (0)9771 - 97 467

E-mail: fire.ir@rhoen-klinikum-ag.com

www: www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.com

ISIN: DE0007042301

WKN: 704230

Indices: MDAX

Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München;

Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart



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