Transaction completed: Völker AG is now Völker GmbH

Witten/Batesville 15.02.2012 – By making Völker a GmbH (limited company), Völker AG’s take-over by Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Batesville/Indiana, a public company, has been completed. This step, a very reasonable one in terms of company law, allows it to pursue exactly the strategy that both partners want. They both want to implement a two-brand strategy in Germany, Europe and internationally, while also generating synergic effects for the benefit of the entire group.
The company expects the now completed transaction to strengthen its distribution channels and Hill-Rom’s range of products. At the same time, the combined power of these two brands is to expand their leading position in the key markets when it comes to innovations, product portfolio and an excellent corporate performance.

Hill-Rom Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Völker.

Witten, December 16, 2011 -- Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC), a global leader in patient support systems, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Germany-based Völker group. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary review by regulatory authorities. Völker is a leading manufacturer of long-term care and acute care bed frames, surfaces and furniture in Europe and around the world. Völker is a private company with annual revenues of approximately $100 million in 2010.
The transaction is expected to strengthen Hill-Rom's channels and product offerings in Europe. The complementary Völker products would also further develop Hill-Rom's global portfolio, accelerate international expansion, and leverage existing sales channels and customer relationships.
"During its nearly 100-year history, Völker has established an impressive reputation for quality and innovative design," said John J. Greisch, President and CEO of Hill-Rom. "Our companies share similar missions and approaches to enhancing outcomes for patients and caregivers. We look forward to expanding the presence of Völker's exceptional products around the world."
"This transaction is a strategic fit for both of our companies," said Heinrich Völker, President and CEO of Völker. "Hill-Rom is a global leader with the reach and capabilities to further enable our mutual vision of transforming healthcare with pioneering products that promote dignified care for patients and efficiency for caregivers."
The transaction is expected to close within the first calendar quarter of 2012.

Care: vision of the future.

85 specialists and experts from healthcare facilities and hospitals wrote down their vision of the future of care in 2020 in the Aachen Declaration (Aachener Erklärung). Their ideas and wishes like “attractive pay” and “public recognition” you can find at www.pia­-pflege.de

Patients become customers: trends in the healthcare system.

The Deloitte study 2010 Global Survey of Health Care Consumers studied citizens’ satisfaction with and attitudes to the healthcare system in five countries, including Germany, where 62 percent are satisfied with their healthcare system. www.presseportal.de/go2/deloitte

Citizens trust healthcare information conveyed by social media.

67 percent of European consumers trust healthcare information conveyed by social media (e.g. blogs, forums and online communities). 70 percent of European doctors assume that the impact of such media will grow even further. www.digitashealth.com/#/news_awards

Medical tourism market expects strong growth.

In 2010, the expected sales stand at about Euro 75bn. 53 percent of the inhabitants of the EU are prepared to take such trips. The reasons are, for example, the good reputation of specialists and the quality of the treatment given. www.hospitalscout.com

22.05 - 24.05.2012 / Pflege & Reha
Stuttgart / Germany

22.05 - 25.05.2012 / Hopital Expo
Paris / France

23.05 - 25.05.2012 / EWMA
Wien / Austria