The Ensign Group Acquires Colorado Post-Acute Care Campus

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG, the parent company of the Ensign™ group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, home health, home care, hospice care, assisted living and urgent care companies, announced today that it acquired Riverwalk Post-Acute and Rehabilitation, a 60-bed skilled nursing operation, Rock Canyon Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center, an 81-bed skilled nursing operation with a subacute unit, and the Villas at Rock Canyon, a 17-bed independent living and assisted living operation. Each of these operations is operated as part of a post-acute healthcare campus located in Pueblo, Colorado. The acquisition, which includes the real estate that Ensign will retain, was effective January 1, 2015.

"We are thrilled to expand our footprint in Colorado and are excited to bring our affiliate's extensive experience in operating subacute units in other markets to one of the only ventilator units in Colorado," said Christopher Christensen, Ensign's President and Chief Executive Officer. He added, "We continue to add to our strong leadership and clinical teams in the state and this campus represents another solid building block for future clinical and cultural growth," he added.

"We are fortunate to join hands with a wonderful team of caregivers at each of these facilities, and we are eager to continue in their tradition of providing the best possible experience and outcomes for each resident and their families," said Dave Jorgensen, President of Endura, the Ensign subsidiary responsible for operations in Colorado. He also added that he expects these facilities, which had a combined occupancy rate of 74% at acquisition, to be accretive to earnings in 2015.

This purchase, along with Ensign's other acquisitions announced today, brings Ensign's growing portfolio to 140 facilities, eleven hospice agencies, thirteen home health agencies, two home care businesses and fifteen urgent care clinics across 12 states. Mr. Christensen reaffirmed that Ensign is actively seeking additional opportunities to acquire real estate or to lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, assisted living and other healthcare related businesses across the United States.

About Ensign(TM)

The Ensign Group, Inc.'s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and assisted living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, home health and home care services, hospice services, urgent care services and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 140 facilities, eleven hospice agencies, thirteen home health agencies, two home care businesses and fifteen urgent care clinics in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.