Fresenius becomes the largest hospital operator in Europa

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA has acquired 38 hospitals and 11 medical centres (MVZ) from Rhön-Klinikum AG. With its group subsidiary Helios Kliniken GmbH, Fresenius thereby becomes the largest operator of hospitals in Europe. A team of the international law firm led by the Berlin antitrust lawyers Prof. Dr. Karsten Metzlaff and Dr. Fabian Badtke dealt with the comprehensive transaction merger control law proceedings which continued for six months before the EU Commission in Brussels and the Federal Cartel Office. The transaction is likely to have been the largest hospital merger ever to be reviewed by the cartel authorities. The transaction was approved at the end of February without conditions. The purchase price is approx. three billion Euro.

With this acquisition, Fresenius has created the basis on which to offer integrated care concepts throughout Germany. The Helios Kliniken Group now includes 110 acute and rehabilitation facilities of its own including 6 maximum care providers,  47 medical centres, 5 prevention centres and 13 nursing care institutions. Helios is thereby one of the largest providers of in-patient and out-patient care in Germany. The Group has a total of more than 44,000 beds and approx. 68,000 employees. In 2013, Helios had turnover of 3.4 billion Euro.

Advisor Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA/Helios Kliniken GmbH: Noerr LLP
Prof. Dr. Karsten Metzlaff, Dr. Fabian Badtke (both leading), Hanno Schaper (all Regulatory & Governmental Affairs, Berlin)