Fresenius Medical to acquire NxStage Medical Inc., provider of home stage dialysis devices

Fresenius Medical Care, the world�s largest provider of dialysis products and services, has signed an agreement to acquire NxStage Medical, Inc., a U.S.-based medical technology and services company. NxStage, was founded in 1998 and has approximately 3,400 employees. It develops, produces and markets an innovative product portfolio of medical devices for use in home dialysis and in the critical care setting. Fresenius Medical Care intends to acquire all outstanding shares of NxStage through a merger for $ 30.00 per common share, thus the transaction would be valued at approximately $ 2.0 billion. The merger, which has been approved by NxStage�s board, is subject to approval of NxStage stockholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Fresenius Medical Care currently expects the closing to occur in 2018. Comment: Fresenius Medical Care has built its dialysis business on a network of global dialysis centres. Advances in home dialysis have threatened this business and the introduction by Fresenius of its at home dialysis device in 2011 did not dislodge the smaller portable System One from NxStage. Additionally NxStage has in development a peritioneal dialysis device designed to cut the weight of supplies by 80% and set up time by 90%. NxStage hopes to bring this product to market before its competitor from Baxter in 2018