FRANKFURT –  Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, said Thursday its earnings rose strongly in the first quarter helped by an investment gain, and backed its outlook for 2012.

MAIN FACTS:

- Based on preliminary data, total revenue for the first quarter increased by 9% (10% at constant currency) to $3.25 billion.

-Operating income rose by 13% to $503 million. This resulted in an operating margin of 15.5% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 14.9% for the corresponding quarter in 2011.

-Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care for the first quarter was $370 million, an increase of 68%. This includes a non-taxable investment gain of $127 million related to the acquisition of Liberty Dialysis Holdings, Inc., including its 51% stake in Renal Advantage Partners, LLC. The gain is a result of measuring the 49% equity interest in RAI held by the company at its fair value at the time of the Liberty acquisition and is subject to the finalization of the Liberty purchase accounting.

-Excluding this investment gain, net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA increased by 10% to $244 million.

-For the full year 2012, the company confirms its sales and earnings outlook.

-The company expects revenue to grow to around $14 billion in 2012.

-Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA is expected to grow to around $1.14 billion. This does not include the investment gain in the amount of approximately $127 million in the first quarter of 2012.

-Frankfurt Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; 49-69-29725-500

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