December 21, 2004
Fresenius Medical Care AG strengthens leading position in emerging European markets
Fresenius Medical Care AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: FME, FME3) (NYSE: FMS, FMS_p), the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, today announced that it has signed a privatization contract in Romania providing products and services to more than 500 patients in this emerging European market. FME is the market leader in the provision of dialysis services in Eastern Europe where it then treats over 7,000 Hemodialysis patients and has a strong presence in markets such as Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia and Turkey. As a fully vertically integrated provider, Fresenius Medical Care offers innovative systems, patient therapy solutions, know-how and expertise for End Stage Renal Disease patients and the healthcare systems in these rapidly growing markets.
Dr. Emanuele Gatti, Chief Executive Officer for the regions Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: "We are very pleased with this development having seized market opportunities that provide for good growth in these key European markets. Our patients and the healthcare systems at large clearly benefit from our fully vertically integrated system and our innovative cost efficient technologies."
Fresenius Medical Care AG is the world's largest, integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,300,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of approximately 1,595 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Fresenius Medical Care provides Dialysis Treatment to approximately 123,000 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of Dialysis Products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company's website at www.fmc-ag.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.