KOBLENZ (dpa-AFX) - The software provider Compugroup, which specializes in medical practices and hospitals, is aiming for further growth and more operating profit in the new year. Adjusted for special effects, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization are expected to increase to between 270 and 310 million euros, as the company surprisingly announced in Koblenz on Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by the Bloomberg news agency currently expect a figure in the middle of the range. In terms of turnover, Group CEO Michael Rauch continues to assume that digitalization in the healthcare sector will drive business. Revenue is expected to climb by four to six percent on its own, i.e. excluding exchange rate effects and acquisitions and disposals of parts of the company. Experts also have this in mind.

Last year, the software group benefited from a high order backlog in the hospital business. Revenue in the hospital division grew at a double-digit rate. Business with doctors' surgeries was less buoyant, growing only slightly. Overall, turnover increased by five percent to 1.19 billion euros according to preliminary figures. The operating result rose by 13 percent to 265 million euros. Experts had expected these figures to be around the same level.

In the fourth quarter, the company booked restructuring costs of 26 million euros for personnel expenses, which led to a reported quarterly loss of 15.5 million euros. For the year as a whole, net profit fell by more than a third to 46.9 million euros. Personnel costs increased significantly. Compugroup will present its detailed annual report on March 28./men/stk