Fresenius, Asklepios and B. Braun reach agreement on Rhön-Klinikum transaction

Fresenius, Asklepios and B. Braun have settled their dispute over Fresenius Helios' purchase of 43 hospitals and 15 outpatient facilities from Rhön-Klinikum AG. At the same time, they have reached agreement on their future relationships.

B. Braun and Asklepios agree to maintain neutrality toward the sale and to refrain from taking any action against it. The lawsuit opposing the transaction will be withdrawn by B. Braun.

Fresenius Helios is entering into a non-exclusive long-term supply agreement with B. Braun. Fresenius Kabi will not be given preference as a supplier.

Asklepios will join Fresenius Helios and Rhön-Klinikum as a founding partner in the planned hospital network, with Fresenius Helios making a one-time, €5 million payment to Asklepios to support its entry into the network. Completion of the network agreement is subject to antitrust approval.

B. Braun has increased its stake in Rhön-Klinikum AG to 15.08 percent. Asklepios and Fresenius will retain their individual stakes of approximately 5 percent each in Rhön-Klinikum AG.

Ulf Mark Schneider, CEO of Fresenius; Dr. Bernard gr. Broermann, founder and sole shareholder of Asklepios, and Prof. Dr. Ludwig-Georg Braun, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of B. Braun, said in a joint statement: "For many years now, our companies have contributed significantly to the provision of high-quality and efficient health care in Germany. Our differences over the last two years have overshadowed these important contributions in the eyes of the public, which gives us even more reason to welcome today's agreement. It underlines our interest in maintaining open competition in the German healthcare product and services markets and enables each company to achieve its own goals while strengthening the public's confidence in high-quality, private health care. We will compete on the basis of mutual respect, always putting the patient at the center of everything we do."