Hanger Receives Positive Outlook Rating from Standard & Poor’s

Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, announced on July 2 that Standard & Poor's Rating Services had improved its outlook for Hanger, raising it to "positive" status from "stable." S&P also affirmed Hanger's corporate credit rating at B. A Hanger press release quoted Standard & Poor's credit analyst Rivka Gertzulin as saying, "The outlook revision reflects positive prospects for WalkAide and our expectation for an improved financial risk profile." George McHenry, Hanger's chief financial officer, remarked, "We are pleased with the outlook change from S&P as it reflects our solid performance over the last nine quarters and further recognition of our new business prospects."