• The change of the rating outlook reflects the company's progress in restoring credit metrics and the commitment to maintain its investment grade rating

• FME is expected to maintain its good growth momentum, while continuing to improve operational performance on the back of its strong transformation progress

• Solid deleveraging prospects

BAD HOMBURG, Germany, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care (FME), the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases, today received from S&P Global, a leading rating agency, the change of its rating outlook to stable from negative (bbb-, stable outlook). Moody's changed the credit rating outlook from negative to stable on May 17 (baa3, stable outlook).

Both, Moody's and S&P highlighted, that FME's transformation program has supported margin improvements, and they expect further sustainable contributions in the next 12 to 24 months. FME delivered savings out of the FME25 transformation program, adjusted financial debts, grew revenue and continuously executed divestments of non-core, lower margin assets.

Moody´s expects that Fresenius Medical Care "will be able to maintain organic revenue growth" and added that this development will be "driven by ongoing volume recovery in dialysis treatments along the fundamental growth drivers leading to higher population requiring such treatments as well as the company's focus on growth areas such as value-based care and home dialysis."

S&P reflects its decision as follow: "FME's improved results demonstrated its commitment to operational efficiency. It executed its FME25 cost-cutting strategy and was able to deliver cost optimization and savings ahead of plan", and that "FME is now expected to maintain its growth momentum with organic growth in 2024 and in 2025."

"The change of the rating outlook reflects our company's transformational progress. And in restoring our credit metrics we demonstrate our commitment to maintain our investment grade rating", said Martin Fischer, Chief Financial Officer. He added: "Throughout 2023 and in the first quarter of 2024, we improved our operational and financial performance, strengthened our balance sheet and delivered against our strategic plan. These are important steps in the right direction. We remain committed to our strict capital allocation policy while continuing to execute on our mid-term plans."

You can find the Moody's press release as a PDF via this link.