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Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s largest provider of dialysis products and services, has proved resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains on its growth course, Chief Executive Officer Rice Powell said at today’s Annual General Meeting. In order to protect all participants’ health amid the pandemic, this year’s meeting, originally set for May, was not held as usual in Frankfurt but as a virtual meeting on the Internet. Powell spoke from the company’s North America headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, in the United States, while other Management and Supervisory Board members joined from locations around the world.

In his speech to the shareholders, Powell stressed the essential contributions that Fresenius Medical Care is making during the pandemic: “We have proven to our patients that we are there for them, no matter what. All of our production sites are fully operational and able to meet demand, our supply chains remain intact, and our clinics open. This is vital for our patients.”

The CEO confirmed the company’s 2020 outlook, with revenue and net income growth in the mid to high single-digit range expected. “Our strong performance in the first half of the year proves the resilience of our vertically integrated business model, and it shows our strength in taking care of people – even in a challenging environment,” said Powell. “Summing up, we intend to continue our success story. Fresenius Medical Care is well-positioned to grow further – this year and in the post-COVID era.”

In addition, Powell outlined the company’s Global Sustainability Program, which was started last year and is under his direct responsibility. Management Board members’ compensation will in future also be oriented to this program. The new compensation system, which includes a non-financial performance target, was approved by the Annual General Meeting with a large majority.

A large shareholder majority of 99.89 percent also approved the company’s 23rd consecutive dividend increase. The dividend will be raised by 3 percent, to €1.20 per share.

Shareholder majorities of 96.60 and 94.58 percent, respectively, approved the actions of the General Partner and the Supervisory Board in 2019.

At the virtual Annual General Meeting, 79 percent of the registered capital was represented.

Fresenius Helios has published initial results from a study of all COVID-19 patients admitted to Helios hospitals in Germany that has been conducted since the start of the pandemic: Two of every three COVID-19 patents in intensive care in Germany require mechanical ventilation. One-third of ventilated intensive care patients die, compared with one-quarter of non-ventilated intensive care patients. This shows that the clinical course of COVID-19 patients in Germany is as poor as in countries hit harder by the pandemic such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium. Helios, supported by the Brandenburg Medical School, started in February to collect and analyze data on COVID-19 patents treated in the Helios’ 86 German hospitals. These and additional findings that Helios makes from the study are expected to help in the development of a treatment for the virus.

Fresenius Helios has published initial results from a study of all COVID-19 patients admitted to Helios hospitals in Germany that has been conducted since the start of the pandemic: Two of every three COVID-19 patents in intensive care in Germany require mechanical ventilation. One-third of ventilated intensive care patients die, compared with one-quarter of non-ventilated intensive care patients. This shows that the clinical course of COVID-19 patients in Germany is as poor as in countries hit harder by the pandemic such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium. Helios, supported by the Brandenburg Medical School, started in February to collect and analyze data on COVID-19 patents treated in the Helios’ 86 German hospitals. These and additional findings that Helios makes from the study are expected to help in the development of a treatment for the virus.

Fresenius Helios is acquiring three hospitals and four connected medical care centers in the western German cities of Duisburg and Krefeld from the Malteser humanitarian aid group. The facilities have a total of 870 beds, and sales last year were about €160 million. Approximately 2,000 employees treat about 35,000 patients annually at the two locations.

The two Malteser Hospitals in Duisburg cover specialty areas including general surgery; internal medicine; ears, nose and throat medicine; oral and maxillofacial surgery, and geriatrics. Special expertise in hematological oncology is offered. At the Malteser Hospital in Krefeld, a comprehensive range of medical services includes oral and maxillofacial surgery, general surgery and internal medicine as the main specialty areas.

Dr. Francesco De Meo, who is responsible for Helios on the Fresenius Management Board, said: “We welcome the opportunity to acquire three additional Malteser hospitals just shortly after acquiring their hospital in Bonn. When they’re combined with our existing facilities, we will be able to offer the people of this region even better healthcare, tailored to their individual needs and with inpatient and outpatient care that go hand in hand. We are very much looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”

Fresenius Helios expects the acquisition, which is subject to approval by the German antitrust authorities, to close in the fourth quarter of this year. The three hospitals in Duisburg and Krefeld, along with the Malteser Hospital in Bonn, will be integrated into Helios Region West, where Helios already operates 18 acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation clinic and a number of medical care centers.

With approximately 18,000 employees, Helios treats some 300,000 inpatients annually in the region. The company is one of the largest healthcare employers in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Duisburg and Krefeld are situated, and the adjoining state of Lower Saxony.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition will be accretive to Group earnings starting in 2021.

Fresenius Helios is acquiring three hospitals and four connected medical care centers in the western German cities of Duisburg and Krefeld from the Malteser humanitarian aid group. The facilities have a total of 870 beds, and sales last year were about €160 million. Approximately 2,000 employees treat about 35,000 patients annually at the two locations.

The two Malteser Hospitals in Duisburg cover specialty areas including general surgery; internal medicine; ears, nose and throat medicine; oral and maxillofacial surgery, and geriatrics. Special expertise in hematological oncology is offered. At the Malteser Hospital in Krefeld, a comprehensive range of medical services includes oral and maxillofacial surgery, general surgery and internal medicine as the main specialty areas.

Dr. Francesco De Meo, who is responsible for Helios on the Fresenius Management Board, said: “We welcome the opportunity to acquire three additional Malteser hospitals just shortly after acquiring their hospital in Bonn. When they’re combined with our existing facilities, we will be able to offer the people of this region even better healthcare, tailored to their individual needs and with inpatient and outpatient care that go hand in hand. We are very much looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”

Fresenius Helios expects the acquisition, which is subject to approval by the German antitrust authorities, to close in the fourth quarter of this year. The three hospitals in Duisburg and Krefeld, along with the Malteser Hospital in Bonn, will be integrated into Helios Region West, where Helios already operates 18 acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation clinic and a number of medical care centers.

With approximately 18,000 employees, Helios treats some 300,000 inpatients annually in the region. The company is one of the largest healthcare employers in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Duisburg and Krefeld are situated, and the adjoining state of Lower Saxony.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition will be accretive to Group earnings starting in 2021.