Gentiva Health Services Agrees To Acquire Major Home Health Provider In CON State Of Mississippi

Melville, NY - Gentiva Health Services, Inc. , the nation's leading provider of comprehensive home health services, announced recently that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interest in Home Health Care Affiliates, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates (HHCA) for $55M in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments.

The transaction will be funded from a combination of Gentiva's existing cash balances and borrowings from its revolving credit facility.

HHCA operates home health and hospice agencies in Mississippi under the brand names of Gilbert's Home Health and Gilbert's Hospice Care. The acquisition, which would extend Gentiva's operations to 37 states, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008.

Annualized 2007 unaudited net revenues for the Gilbert's operations were approximately $37M, of which approximately $33M related to home health services and $4M to hospice services. Gentiva anticipates the transaction will be accretive to its fiscal 2008 results and expects to provide additional information on its upcoming February 14 earnings call. To access the call, please visit http://investors.gentiva.com/events.cfm.

Gilbert's Home Health and Gilbert's Hospice Care, with approximately 500 employees and a business mix that is approximately 81% Medicare, deliver their services through 14 locations covering 50 of 82 counties in Mississippi, a Certificate of Need state for home health. Gilbert's was founded in 1977 as one of the state's earliest home health operations and is currently one of its largest.

"This transaction is significant for Gentiva and consistent with our growth strategy," said Chairman and CEO Ron Malone. "It moves us into new territory, makes us one of the largest home health providers in the CON state of Mississippi and boosts our competitive position in the southeast region. We anticipate a smooth closing and integration of Gilbert's, and look forward to welcoming its employees to the Gentiva family."

SOURCE: Gentiva Health Services, Inc.