Fresenius Medical Care KGaA : reports strong operating results for the third quarter 2014 and confirms guidance for full year 2014

- Third quarter shows strong organic revenue growth
- Operating cash flow on record level in third quarter
- Company remains on track to achieve full year guidance

Rice Powell, chief executive officer of Fresenius Medical Care stated: "The third quarter has confirmed the positive trend from the previous quarter. Growth rates in revenue and earnings again improved and our operating cash flow has reached an all time high for a single quarter. We are on track to achieve our guidance as well as our cost savings target for the full year. The recent acquisitions, in combination with financing activities were important steps in the execution of our strategy to achieve our long term target 2020." 

Net revenue for the third quarter of 2014 increased by 12% to $4,113 million (+13% at constant currency) as compared to the third quarter of 2013. Organic revenue growth worldwide was 7%. Dialysis services revenue grew by 14% to $3,197 million (+15% at constant currency) and dialysis product revenue increased by 7% to $916 million (+7% at constant currency) as compared to the third quarter of 2013.

North America revenue for the third quarter of 2014 increased by 11% to $2,710 million. Organic revenue growth was 5%. Dialysis services revenue grew by 12% to $2,498 million with a same store treatment growth of 3.5%. Dialysis product revenue was flat compared to the third quarter of 2013 at $212 million.

International revenue increased by 13% to $1,386 million (+16% at constant currency). Organic revenue growth was 8%. Dialysis services revenue increased by 19% to $699 million (+25% at constant currency). Dialysis product revenue increased by 9% to $687 million (+9% at constant currency). 

Operating income (EBIT) for the third quarter of 2014 increased by 6% to $590 million as compared to $557 million in the third quarter of 2013. Operating income for North America for the third quarter of 2014 was $413 million, flat as compared to the third quarter of 2013. In the International segment, operating income for the third quarter of 2014 increased by 26% to $269 million as compared to $214 million in the third quarter of 2013.

Net interest expense for the third quarter of 2014 was $99 million, compared to $103 million in the third quarter of 2013.

Income tax expense was $162 million for the third quarter of 2014, which translates into an effective tax rate of 32.9%. This compares to income tax expense of $148 million and a tax rate of 32.6% for the third quarter of 2013.

Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA for the third quarter of 2014 was $271 million, a decrease of 1% compared to the corresponding number of $273 million for the third quarter of 2013.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of 2014 was $0.89, a decrease of 1% compared to the corresponding number for the third quarter of 2013. The weighted average number of shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2014 was approximately 302.7 million shares, compared to 301.3 million shares for the third quarter of 2013. The increase in shares outstanding resulted from stock option exercises in the past twelve months. 

In the third quarter of 2014, the company generated $712 million in net cash provided by operating activities, an increase of 18% compared to the corresponding figure of last year and representing 17% of revenue.

A total of $224 million was spent for capital expenditures, net of disposals. Free cash flow was $488 million compared to $430 million in the third quarter of 2013.

A total of $613 million in cash was spent for acquisitions and investments, net of divestitures. Free cash flow after investing activities was a negative $125 million as compared to $235 million in the third quarter of 2013. 

Net revenue for the first nine months of 2014 increased by 7% to $11,511 million (+8% at constant currency) as compared to the first nine months of 2013. Organic revenue growth worldwide was 5%.

Operating income (EBIT) for the first nine months of 2014 was $1,591 million as compared to $1,595 million in the first nine months of 2013.

Net interest expense for the first nine months of 2014 was $294 million as compared to $310 million in the first nine months of 2013.

Income tax expense for the first nine months of 2014 was $440 million, which translates into an effective tax rate of 33.9%. This compares to income tax expense of $421 million and a tax rate of 32.8% for the first nine months of 2013.

For the first nine months of 2014, net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA was $710 million, down by 7% from the corresponding number of $761 million for the first nine months of 2013.

In the first nine months of 2014, basic earnings per share (EPS) was $2.35, a decrease of 6% compared to the corresponding number for the first nine months of 2013. The weighted average number of shares outstanding during the first nine months of 2014 was approximately 302.0 million shares.

In the first nine months of 2014, the company generated $1,274 million in net cash provided by operating activities as compared to $1,446 million for the same period in 2013 and representing 11% of revenue.

A total of $639 million was spent for capital expenditures, net of disposals. Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2014 was $635 million as compared to $952 million in the first nine months of 2013.

A total of $1,045 million in cash was spent for acquisitions and investments, net of divestitures. Free cash flow after investing activities was a negative $410 million as compared to $673 million in the first nine months of 2013.

As of September 30, 2014, Fresenius Medical Care had 97,327 employees (full-time equivalents) worldwide, compared to 89,282 employees at the end of September 2013. This increase of more than 8,000 employees was attributable to acquisitions as well as to our continued organic growth.

The company´s total assets were $24,253 million (Dec. 31, 2013: $23,120 million), an increase of 5%. Current assets increased by 3% to $6,459 million (Dec. 31, 2013: $6,287 million). Non-current assets were $17,794 million (Dec. 31, 2013: $16,833 million), an increase of 6%. Total equity increased by 3% to $9,750 million (Dec. 31, 2013: $9,485 million). The equity ratio was 40% as compared to 41% at the end of 2013. Total debt was $9,068 million (Dec. 31, 2013: $8,417 million). As of September 30, 2014, the debt/EBITDA ratio was 3.0 (Dec. 31, 2013: 2.8).

The company expects revenue to be at around $15.2 billion in 2014, translating into a growth rate of around 4%. This outlook excludes revenue of approximately $500 million from acquisitions completed during the first nine months of 2014.

Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA is expected to be unchanged between $1.0 billion and $1.05 billion in 2014. The company initiated a global efficiency program designed to enhance the company's performance over a multi-year period. Potential cost savings, before income taxes, of up to $60 million generated from this program, and net of implementation costs are not included in the outlook for 2014.

For 2014, the company expects to spend around $900 million on capital expenditures. Reflecting the latest acquisitions the company now expects acquisition spending of around $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2014 (previously $1 billion). The debt/EBITDA ratio is expected to be around 3.0 by the end of 2014.

Fresenius Medical Care will hold a conference call to discuss the results of the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at 3.30 p.m. CET / 9.30 a.m. EST. The company invites investors to follow the live webcast of the call at the company's website www.fmc-ag.com in the "Investor Relations" section. A replay will be available shortly after the call.