PROSPECTUS FILING
Prospectus Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)3
Registration No. 333-124759
INVITATION TO THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
ISIN: DE 0005785802 // Securities Identification Numbers 578 580
ISIN: DE 0005785836 // Securities Identification Numbers 578 583
ISIN: DE 000A0DRW61 // Securities Identification Numbers A0DRW6
ISIN: US 3580291066 // American Depositary Receipts Numbers 879
529
ISIN: US 3580292056 // American Depositary Receipts Numbers 903
780
We are pleased to invite our shareholders to attend an
extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of Fresenius
Medical Care Aktiengesellschaft (Fresenius Medical Care
AG or the Company) on Tuesday, August 30,
2005. The meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. local
time at Congress Center Messe Frankfurt,
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The purpose of this meeting is to submit to the consideration
and approval of our ordinary shareholders the proposals stated
in the Agenda below.
AGENDA
1. The conversion of our outstanding preference shares into
ordinary shares;
2. The conversion of interests held under our employee
participation programs into rights to acquire ordinary shares
and related adjustments to such interests;
3. The creation of authorized capital; and
4. The transformation of the Companys legal form from
a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) under German law
into a partnership limited by shares under German law, a
Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (KGaA) to be
called Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA
(Fresenius Medical Care KGaA), with Fresenius
Medical Care Management AG (Management AG), a
subsidiary of Fresenius AG, as the sole general partner.
The following documents are available for the inspection of our
shareholders at the offices of the Company,
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1, 61352 Bad Homburg, Germany:
|
|
|
|
|
The conversion report of our management board on the conversion
of our preference shares into ordinary shares; |
|
|
|
The report of our management board on the reasons for the
exclusion of the pre-emptive right in connection with the
creation of authorized capital; and |
|
|
|
The transformation report of our management board setting forth
the reasons for the transformation. |
Copies of the English translations of the above reports have
been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission under
cover of a Report on Form 6-K and may be obtained as
described below under Where You Can Find More
Information. On request, each shareholder will be provided
with a copy of each of the above documents free of charge. These
reports will also be available for inspection at the
extraordinary general meeting.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE SECURITIES
TO BE ISSUED UNDER THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS OR
DETERMINED IF THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE
OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
This information statement/ prospectus is dated July 20,
2005, and is first being mailed to
shareholders on or about July 28, 2005.
Registered holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by
American Depositary Receipts are being furnished, together with
this information statement/ prospectus, a request for voting
instructions directed to the depositary for the American
Depositary Shares. Holders of ordinary American Depositary
Shares whose American Depositary Shares are registered in their
own names (and not in the name of a bank, broker, financial
institution or share plan) who wish to have the shares
represented thereby voted at the extraordinary general meeting
should complete such request and return it to the depositary in
the enclosed reply-paid envelope (for use in the U.S. only) as
soon as possible but, in any event, so as to be received by
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 43062, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940-5115 U.S.A. no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on August 18, 2005. All registered holders of
American Depositary Receipts who return the voting instruction
card will have their American Depositary Shares blocked at the
depositary until Tuesday, August 30, 2005 and will not be
able to transfer or cancel their American Depositary Shares
during that period. Only registered American Depositary Share
holders of record as of the close of business on July 22,
2005, will be entitled to utilize the voting instruction card.
If you hold your ordinary American Depositary Shares indirectly
and wish to have the shares represented thereby voted, you
should contact the bank, broker, financial institution or share
plan administrator through which you hold your American
Depositary Shares in order to obtain instructions as to how you
may vote. Bank, brokers and nominees must block the American
Depositary Shares for which they provide voting instructions
through the Depository Trust Company utilizing the contra-Cusip
established with the Depository Trust Company for blocking
purposes. The depositary will try, as far as is practical,
subject to the provisions of and governing our ordinary shares,
to vote or to have its agents vote the shares as instructed. The
depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as holders
instruct. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting
discretion. Neither the depositary nor its agents are
responsible for any failure to carry out any voting
instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for
the effect of any vote.
Shareholders (other than holders of American Depositary Shares)
who deposit their shares during normal business hours no later
than Friday, August 26, 2005 with the Company, a notary
public in the Federal Republic of Germany, a securities clearing
and depository bank, or Dresdner Bank AG and its branches, and
keep their shares deposited through the close of the
extraordinary general meeting will be entitled to attend the
meeting. In case of deposit with a German notary public or a
securities clearing and depository bank, you must submit the
certificate to be issued by them to the cash office of the
Company no later than on the first business day after the
deadline for deposit, i.e. by Monday, August 29, 2005.
Shares will be deemed properly deposited if, with the consent of
the depository, the shares are blocked in favor of such
depository at a credit institution until the close of the
meeting.
A shareholder (other than a holder of American Depositary
Shares) may also exercise his or her voting right at the
extraordinary general meeting by engaging a party to act as his
or her proxy, such as the depository bank, an association of
shareholders or another person of his or her choice. As a
special service, ordinary shareholders (other than holders of
American Depositary Shares), can authorize a proxy who will be
appointed by the Company before the meeting. Shareholders who
would like to authorize the proxy announced by the Company must
obtain an entrance card for the extraordinary general meeting.
An entrance card will be issued upon deposit of shares in
accordance with the above procedures. Proxies must be
transmitted in text form. The necessary documents and
information will be distributed to shareholders together with
the entrance card.
Each ordinary share will be entitled to one (1) vote at the
extraordinary general meeting. Holders of American Depositary
Shares will be entitled to provide voting instructions on the
basis of one vote for every three American Depositary Shares or
integral multiple thereof they own. Preference shareholders are
invited to attend but are not entitled to vote at the
extraordinary general meeting.
Counter proposals to a proposal of the management board and
supervisory board on a particular item on the agenda may be made
exclusively to:
|
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care AG |
|
Attention: Investor Relations |
|
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1 |
|
61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H., Germany |
|
Telefax: ++49-6172-609-2301 |
|
e-mail: ir-fms@fmc-ag.com |
Counter proposals received no later than two weeks before the
date of the extraordinary general meeting at this address will
be made accessible to other shareholders on our website at
www.fmc-ag.com as soon as practicable after receipt.
Counter proposals that are sent to any address other than the
address set forth above will not be considered.
|
|
|
Hof a.d. Saale, in July 2005 |
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care
Aktiengesellschaft
|
|
The Management Board |
INVITATION TO THE SEPARATE MEETING
ISIN: DE 0005785836 // Securities Identification Numbers 578
583
ISIN: DE 000A0DRW61 // Securities Identification Number
A0DRW6
ISIN: US 3580292056 // American Depositary Receipts Numbers
903 780
We are pleased to invite our preference shareholders to attend a
separate meeting of the preference shareholders of Fresenius
Medical Care Aktiengesellschaft (Fresenius Medical Care
AG or the Company) on Tuesday, August 30,
2005. The meeting will begin promptly after the extraordinary
general meeting, which begins at 10:00 a.m. local time at
Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1,
60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Commencement of the separate
meeting could be delayed, perhaps significantly, depending on
the duration of the preceding extraordinary general meeting. If
the agenda below for the separate meeting cannot be completed on
August 30, 2005, the separate meeting will be continued on
August 31, 2005 at 10:00 am local time, at the same
location. The purpose of the separate meeting is to submit to
the consideration and approval of our preference shareholders
the proposal stated in the Agenda below.
AGENDA
|
|
|
|
1. |
The conversion of our outstanding preference shares into
ordinary shares. |
The conversion report of our management board on the conversion
of our preference shares into ordinary shares is available for
the inspection of our preference shareholders at the offices of
the Company, Else-Kröner-Strasse 1, 61352 Bad Homburg,
Germany. On request, each preference shareholder will be
provided with a copy of this report free of charge. The
conversion report will also be available for inspection at the
separate meeting.
A report of our management board on the reasons for the
exclusion of the pre-emptive right in connection with the
creation of authorized capital and a transformation report of
our management board setting forth the reasons for the proposed
transformation of the Company from a stock corporation
(Aktiengesellschaft) into a partnership limited by
shares, a Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
(KGaA) to be called Fresenius Medical Care
AG & Co. KGaA, will also be available for inspection at
the extraordinary general meeting that precedes the separate
meeting. These matters will be voted on only by our ordinary
shareholders. Copies of the English translation of the
conversion report and the transformation report have been
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission under cover
of a Report on Form 6-K and may be obtained as described
below under Where You Can Find More Information.
Registered holders of preference American Depositary Shares
evidenced by American Depositary Receipts are being furnished,
together with this information statement/ prospectus, a request
for voting instructions directed to the depositary for the
American Depositary Shares. Holders of preference American
Depositary Shares whose preference American Depositary Shares
are registered in their own names (and not in the name of a
bank, broker, financial institution or share plan) who wish to
have the preference shares represented thereby voted at the
separate meeting should complete such request and return it to
the depositary in the enclosed reply-paid envelope (for use in
the U.S. only) as soon as possible but, in any event, so as to
be received by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 43062,
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-5115 U.S.A. no later than
3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on August 18, 2005. All
registered holders of preference American Depositary Receipts
who return the voting instruction card will have their
preference American Depositary Shares blocked at the depositary
until Tuesday, August 30, 2005 (August 31, 2005 if the
separate meeting is continued until that date) and will not be
able to transfer or cancel their preference American Depositary
Shares during that period. Only registered preference American
Depositary Shareholders of record as of the close of business on
July 22, 2005 will be entitled to utilize the voting
instruction card. If you hold your preference American
Depositary Shares indirectly and wish to have the preference
shares represented thereby voted, you should contact the bank,
broker, financial institution or share plan administrator
through which you hold your preference American Depositary
Shares in order to obtain instructions as to how you may vote.
Banks, brokers and nominees must block the preference American
Depositary Shares for which they provide voting instructions
through the Depository Trust Company utilizing the contra-Cusip
established with the Depository Trust Company for blocking
purposes. The depositary will try, as far as is practical,
subject to the provisions of and governing our preference
shares, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares as
instructed. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as
holders instruct. The depositary will not itself exercise any
voting discretion. Neither the depositary nor its agents are
responsible for any failure to carry out any voting
instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for
the effect of any vote.
Preference shareholders (other than holders of American
Depositary Shares) who deposit their shares during normal
business hours no later than Friday, August 26, 2005 with
the Company, a notary public in the Federal Republic of Germany,
a securities clearing and depository bank, or Dresdner Bank AG
and its branches, and keep their shares deposited through the
close of the separate meeting will be entitled to attend the
meeting. In case of deposit with a German notary public or a
securities clearing and depository bank, you must submit the
certificate to be issued by them to the cash office of the
Company no later than on the first business day after the
deadline for deposit, i.e. by Monday, August 29, 2005.
Shares will be deemed properly deposited if, with the consent of
the depository, the shares are blocked in favor of such
depository at a credit institution until the close of the
meeting.
A preference shareholder (other than a holder of preference
American Depositary Shares) may also exercise his or her voting
right at the separate meeting by engaging a party to act as his
or her proxy, such as the depository bank, an association of
shareholders or another person of his or her choice. As a
special service, preference shareholders (other than holders of
preference American Depositary Shares), can authorize a proxy
who will be appointed by the Company before the separate
meeting. Shareholders who would like to authorize the proxy
announced by the Company must obtain an entrance card for the
extraordinary general meeting. An entrance card will be issued
upon deposit of shares in accordance with the above procedures.
Proxies must be transmitted in text form. The necessary
documents and information will be distributed to shareholders
together with the entrance card.
Each preference share will be entitled to one (1) vote at
the separate meeting. Holders of preference American Depositary
Shares will be entitled provide voting instructions on the basis
of one vote for every three preference American Depositary
Shares or integral multiple thereof they own.
Counter proposals to a proposal of the management board and
supervisory board on a particular item on the agenda may be made
exclusively to:
|
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care AG |
|
Attention: Investor Relations |
|
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1 |
|
61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H., Germany |
|
Telefax: ++ 49-6172-609-2301 |
|
e-mail: ir-fms@fmc-ag.com |
Counter proposals received no later than two weeks before the
date of the extraordinary general meeting at this address will
be made accessible to other shareholders on our website at
www.fmc-ag.com as soon as practicable after receipt.
Counter proposals that are sent to any address other than the
address set forth above will not be considered.
|
|
|
Hof a.d. Saale, in July 2005 |
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care
Aktiengesellschaft
|
|
The Management Board |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ii |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Interest of the Company in the Transformation of Legal Form
without the Conversion
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
|
71 |
|
APPENDIX A FORM OF ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG &
CO. KGAA
|
|
|
A-1 |
|
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual reports on Form 20-F and furnish periodic
reports on Form 6-K to the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC). You may read and copy
any of these reports at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549, U.S.A.,
and its public reference rooms in New York, New York, U.S.A. and
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
(1-800-732-0330) for further information on the public reference
rooms. The reports may also be obtained from the website
maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, which contains
reports and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the SEC. The New York Stock Exchange
currently lists American Depositary Shares representing our
ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares representing our
preference shares. Our periodic reports, registration statements
and other information that we file with the SEC are also
available for inspection and copying at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005, U.S.A. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from commercial document retrieval services.
We prepare annual and quarterly reports, which are then
distributed to our shareholders. Our annual reports contain
financial statements examined and reported upon, with opinions
expressed by, our independent auditors. The consolidated
financial statements of Fresenius Medical Care AG included in
these annual reports are prepared in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our
ii
annual and quarterly reports to our shareholders are posted on
our website at www.fmc-ag.com. In furnishing our web site
address in this information statement/ prospectus, however, we
do not intend to incorporate any information on our website into
this information statement/ prospectus, and you should not
consider any information on our website to be part of this
information statement/ prospectus.
We will also furnish JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the depositary
for our American Depositary Receipts, with all notices of
general meetings of shareholders and other reports and
communications that are made generally to our shareholders. Such
documents will be available for inspection by appointment by
registered holders of American Depositary Receipts at the
principal office of the depositary, presently located at 4 New
York Plaza, New York, New York, 10004, U.S.A.
This information statement/ prospectus is a part of a
registration statement on Form F-4 that we are filing with
the SEC to register the ordinary shares and the preference
shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and constitutes a
prospectus in addition to being an information statement for the
meetings. As allowed by SEC rules, this information statement/
prospectus does not contain all the information included in the
registration statement or the exhibits to the registration
statement.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference
information into this information statement/ prospectus, which
means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC.
The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part
of this information statement/ prospectus, except for any
information superseded by information in, or incorporated by
reference in, this information statement/ prospectus. This
information statement/ prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents set forth below that we have previously filed with or
furnished to the SEC. These documents contain important
information about our company and its finances.
|
|
|
SEC Filings (File No. 001-14444) |
|
Period/Filing Date |
|
|
|
Annual Report on Form 20-F
|
|
Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2004 (filed with the SEC
March 1, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
January 2005 (furnished to the SEC January 14, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
January 2005 (furnished to the SEC January 25, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
April 2005 (furnished to the SEC April 6, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
April 2005 (furnished to the SEC April 12, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
April 2005 (furnished to the SEC April 21, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
May 2005 (furnished to the SEC May 4, 2005 announcing the
definitive merger agreement with Renal Care Group, Inc.) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
June 2005 (furnished to the SEC June 7, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
June 2005 (furnished to the SEC June 15, 2005) |
Form 6-K Report
|
|
July 2005 (furnished to the SEC July 5, 2005) |
Amended Annual Report on Form 20-F/A
|
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (filed with the SEC
July 13, 2005) |
We may also incorporate by reference some of the reports on
Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC between the date of
this information statement/ prospectus and the date of the
meetings.
iii
If you are a shareholder, we may have sent you some of the
documents incorporated by reference, but you can obtain any of
them through us or the SEC. Documents incorporated by reference
are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits
unless we have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit
in this information statement/ prospectus. Shareholders may
obtain documents incorporated by reference in this information
statement/ prospectus by requesting them in writing or by
telephone from the appropriate party at the following
address:
|
|
|
In North America |
|
Elsewhere |
|
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care North America
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care AG |
Investor Relations
|
|
Investor Relations |
95 Hayden Avenue
|
|
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1 |
Lexington, MA 02420
|
|
61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H., Germany |
Attn: Heinz Schmidt
|
|
Attn: Oliver Maier |
Toll Free: 800 662-1237
|
|
++ 49 6172 609-2601 |
Banks and Brokers:
|
|
Banks & Brokers: |
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
|
|
Deutsche Bank AG |
CIB-Global Banking
|
|
Taunusanlage 12 |
Americas-Equities
|
|
60262 Frankfurt am Main |
60 Wall Street
|
|
Germany |
New York, NY USA 10005
|
|
++ 49 69 9103-3368 |
212 250-5491
|
|
|
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY DOCUMENTS
WE MAY SUBSEQUENTLY FILE WITH THE SEC BEFORE THE SHAREHOLDER
MEETINGS, PLEASE DO SO BY THE EARLIEST PRACTICABLE DATE.
This information statement/ prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the
securities offered by this information statement/ prospectus, or
the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction to or from any
person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer,
solicitation of an offer or proxy solicitation in such
jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of this information
statement/ prospectus nor any distribution of securities
pursuant to this information statement/ prospectus will, under
any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the information set forth or incorporated into this
information statement/ prospectus by reference or in our affairs
since the date of this information statement/ prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this information statement/
prospectus to vote on the matters presented to you for your
approval. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
information that is different from what is contained in this
information statement/ prospectus. This information statement/
prospectus is dated July 20, 2005. You should not assume
that the information contained in this information statement/
prospectus is accurate as of any date other than this date, and
neither the mailing of the information statement/ prospectus to
shareholders nor the issuance of securities will create any
implication to the contrary.
iv
SUMMARY
The Company
Fresenius Medical Care AG is a stock corporation
(Aktiengesellschaft) organized under the laws of Germany.
It was incorporated on August 5, 1996. Fresenius Medical
Care AG is registered with the commercial register of the local
court (Amtsgericht) of Hof an der Saale, Germany, under
HRB 2460. Our registered office (Sitz) is Hof an der
Saale, Germany. Our business address is
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1, 61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H.,
Germany, telephone ++49-6172-609-0.
We are the worlds largest kidney dialysis company engaged
in both providing dialysis care and manufacturing dialysis
products, based on publicly reported revenues and patients
treated. We provide dialysis treatment to over
125,900 patients in 1,630 clinics worldwide located in 26
countries. In the U.S. we also perform clinical laboratory
testing and provide inpatient dialysis services, therapeutic
apheresis, hemoperfusion and other services under contract to
hospitals. We also develop and manufacture a complete range of
equipment, systems and disposable products, which we sell to
customers in over 100 countries. We use the insight we gain
when treating patients in developing new and improved products.
We believe that our size, our activities in both dialysis care
and dialysis products and our concentration in specific
geographic areas allow us to operate more cost-effectively than
many of our competitors. For the year ended December 31,
2004, we had net revenues of $6.2 billion, an increase of
13% over 2003 revenues. We derived 68% of our revenues in 2004
from our North America operations and 32% from our International
operations.
In this information statement/prospectus, (1) the
Company refers to both Fresenius Medical Care AG
prior to the transformation and Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
after the transformation; (2) we and
our refers either to the Company or the Company and
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis both before and after
the transformation, as the context requires; and
(3) Management AG refers to a newly formed
entity that will serve as the general partner of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA and that is wholly owned by Fresenius AG.
Recent Developments
On May 3, 2005, we entered into a definitive merger
agreement with Renal Care Group, Inc. (RCG) to
acquire RCG for an all cash purchase price of approximately
$3.5 billion. At December 31, 2004, RCG provided
dialysis and ancillary services to over 29,700 patients
through 418 outpatient dialysis centers in 33 states, in
addition to providing acute dialysis services to more than 200
hospitals. Completion of the acquisition is subject to
governmental approvals (including termination or expiration of
the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended),
third-party consents, and approval by RCGs stockholders.
On June 15, 2005, we announced that we had received a
request for additional information from the United States
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) relating to the RCG
acquisition. We intend to continue to cooperate with the FTC and
to respond promptly to the request so as to enable us to
complete the acquisition during the second half of 2005, but we
cannot offer any assurance that the acquisition will be
completed during this time or that it will be completed at all.
In connection with the proposed acquisition, we have entered
into a commitment letter pursuant to which Bank of America, N.A.
and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch have agreed, subject to
certain conditions, to underwrite an aggregate of
$5.0 billion in principal amount of term and revolving
loans to be syndicated to other financial institutions. See
Recent Developments Acquisition of Renal Care
Group, Inc. and New Senior Credit
Facility.
On July 19, 2005, the closing price per share in euro for
our ordinary shares was
70.23 and the
closing price per share in euro for our preference shares was
57.30, as
reported by the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Xetra system. On the
same date, the closing price per American Depositary Share, or
ADS, for ADSs representing our ordinary shares was
$28.19 and the closing price per ADS for ADSs representing our
preference shares was $23.05, as reported by the New York Stock
Exchange. Three ordinary ADSs represent one ordinary share, and
three preference ADSs represent one preference share.
1
The Meetings
All of our shareholders are invited to attend an extraordinary
general meeting at 10:00 am, local time, on Tuesday,
August 30, 2005 at Congress Center Messe Frankfurt,
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. At the
extraordinary general meeting, our ordinary shareholders will be
entitled to vote on proposals relating to the conversion of our
outstanding preference shares into ordinary shares, the creation
of authorized capital and the transformation of the
Companys legal form from a stock corporation to a
partnership limited by shares under German law, a KGaA, to be
called Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, with
Fresenius Medical Care Management AG, a subsidiary of Fresenius
AG, as the sole general partner.
Each ordinary share will be entitled to one (1) vote at the
extraordinary general meeting. The vote required to approve each
proposal is 75% of the ordinary shares present at the meeting.
Fresenius AG, which holds approximately 50.8% of our outstanding
ordinary shares, intends to vote in favor of each of the
proposals. Each of the members of our supervisory board and our
management board, none of whom beneficially owns more than 1% of
our outstanding ordinary shares, also intends to vote any shares
they hold in favor of each of the proposals.
A separate meeting of our preference shareholders to vote on the
proposal relating to the conversion will be held on the same day
as, and immediately following, our extraordinary general
meeting. However, commencement of the separate meeting could be
delayed, perhaps significantly, depending on the duration of the
preceding extraordinary general meeting. If the agenda for the
separate meeting cannot be completed on August 30, 2005,
the separate meeting will be continued on August 31, 2005
at 10:00 am local time, at the same location. Each
preference share is entitled to one (1) vote at the
separate meeting. The vote required to approve the proposal is
75% of the preference shares present at the meeting. Each of the
members of our supervisory board and our management board, none
of whom beneficially owns more than 1% of our outstanding
preference shares, intends to vote any shares they hold in favor
of the proposal.
If it is approved, we intend that our management board shall
file the transformation of legal form with the commercial
register even if the shareholders do not approve the conversion
of preference shares into ordinary shares or if delays arise in
this connection because of potential legal disputes. We believe
that the transformation alone is in our interest because it will
enable us, over the mid- to long-term, to create a more
attractive capital structure for our company.
For more information regarding the proposals and the meetings,
see The Meetings.
The Conversion and Transformation
If the transformation of legal form is approved, the
Companys legal form will be changed from an AG, which is a
German stock corporation, to a KGaA, which is a German
partnership limited by shares. The Company as a KGaA will be the
same legal entity under German law, rather than a successor to
the stock corporation. Fresenius Medical Care Management AG, a
subsidiary of Fresenius AG, will be the general partner of the
Company. We intend that the general partner will have
substantially the same provisions in its articles of association
concerning the relationship between the management board and the
supervisory board of the general partner and substantially the
same rules of procedure for the general partners executive
bodies as are currently in effect for Fresenius Medical Care AG.
In this information statement/ prospectus, we refer to this
transformation of our legal form as the
transformation. For more information, see The
Meetings The Conversion and Transformation
Proposals, The Conversion and
Transformation Structure of the Conversion and
Transformation and The Legal Structure
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
We intend to offer our preference shareholders the opportunity
to convert their preference shares into ordinary shares on a
one-to-one basis pursuant to a conversion offer to be conducted
after the shareholder meetings. The right to convert preference
shares into ordinary shares will be available only during a
specific conversion period. The details of the conversion
process will be determined by the management board with the
approval of the supervisory board, and announced when the
conversion period is announced.
2
Preference shareholders who decide to convert their shares will
be required to pay a premium of
12.25 per
preference share. The premium corresponds to approximately
two-thirds of the difference between the weighted average stock
exchange price of the ordinary shares and the weighted average
German stock exchange price of the preference shares for the
three months through and including May 3, 2005, the last
trading day before our first announcement of the proposed
conversion and transformation, determined using the prices
reported on the official website of the German Federal Financial
Supervisory Authority (German version of the website).
Preference shareholders who elect to convert will lose their
preferential dividend rights. Holders of preference American
Depositary Shares who elect to convert the preference shares
represented by their American Depositary Shares will also be
required to pay the depositarys customary fees for the
surrender of their preference American Depositary Shares, but
will not be charged a fee for issuance of American Depositary
Shares representing ordinary shares. In this information
statement/ prospectus, we refer to this conversion of our
preference shares into ordinary shares as the
conversion.
We believe that the conversion and transformation will increase
our financial and operative flexibility by increasing the number
of publicly held ordinary shares (which we refer to as our
free float), which we expect will increase the
liquidity of our ordinary shares and strengthen our position on
the DAX, the index of 30 major German stocks, while still
substantially maintaining our existing corporate governance. We
also believe that our increased liquidity will allow us to
attract equity financing so that we may pursue our long-term
growth objectives and strategies, which will help us maintain
and improve our position as a leading global integrated provider
of dialysis products and services.
Description of the Securities
After the conversion and the transformation, holders of our
ordinary shares and ADSs representing our ordinary shares will
continue to have substantially similar rights, but will
experience a dilution of their voting rights due to the increase
in the number of outstanding ordinary shares. Preference
shareholders who choose to convert their shares into ordinary
shares will no longer have preference rights. Preference
shareholders who do not choose to convert their shares will
retain their preference rights but may suffer financial
disadvantages due to the overall reduced liquidity of their
preference shares. We cannot assure holders of preference
ADSs that we will be able to maintain an American Depositary
Receipt facility or a New York Stock Exchange Listing for the
preference shares after the conversion and the
transformation. For more information, see Description
of the Shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA,
Descriptions of American Depositary Receipts,
Description of the Proposed Pooling Arrangements,
Effects on and Comparison of Shareholder Rights and
Stock Exchange Listing and Trading.
Certain Tax Consequences
Neither we nor our shareholders will recognize gain or loss as a
result of the transformation under either German or United
States federal tax law. For more information, see Certain
Tax Consequences.
Interests of Certain Persons in the Conversion and
Transformation
Currently, Fresenius AG owns approximately 50.8% of our ordinary
shares and, therefore, controls the management of the Company.
Fresenius AG also consolidates the Company in its financial
statements. In connection with the transformation, Fresenius
Medical Care Management AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Fresenius AG, will assume the management of the Company through
its position as general partner. Therefore, Fresenius AG will
continue to control the Company and consolidate the Company in
its financial statements after the transformation,
notwithstanding the likely loss of its majority ownership of our
ordinary shares due to the increased number of outstanding
ordinary shares expected as a result of the conversion.
The members of our management board will become the members of
the management board of the general partner, and will enter into
service contracts and compensation arrangements on the same
terms after the transformation as are currently in effect. Most
or all of the members of our supervisory board will
3
become the members of the general partners supervisory
board and (other than Dr. Ulf M. Schneider), will also
become the members of the supervisory board of the Company in
its KGaA form after the transformation. For more information,
see Interests of Certain Persons in the Conversion and
Transformation.
Stock Exchange Listing and Trading
The ordinary shares issued in connection with the conversion of
our preference shares into ordinary shares will, together with
the other ordinary and preference shares of the Company in its
new legal form as a KGaA, be admitted to the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange on the official market. The conversion and
transformation will not affect the Companys listing
section, Prime Standard. The Company will continue to be
included in the electronic trading system Xetra and, if the
relevant criteria are fulfilled, on the German Index DAX.
We intend to apply to list ADSs representing ordinary shares and
preference shares in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA on the New York
Stock Exchange. However, a U.S. trading market for the
preference ADSs may cease to be available if the preference ADSs
are not eligible for New York Stock Exchange listing due to a
substantial decrease in the number of outstanding preference
shares, if the depositary resigns as depositary for the
preference shares and we are unable to designate a replacement
depositary, or if we otherwise terminate the preference share
deposit agreement. We cannot assure holders of preference
ADSs that we will be able to maintain an American Depositary
Receipt facility for our preference shares or that preference
ADSs will continue to be eligible for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange after the conversion and transformation. For
more information, see Stock Exchange Listing and
Trading.
Appraisal Rights
The holders of preference shares and ordinary shares do not have
any appraisal rights in connection with the transformation under
German law. The German Stock Corporation Act provides expressly
that no offer of compensation to shareholders is required in
connection with a transformation from a stock corporation
(AG) to a partnership limited by shares (KGaA). Under
German law, in principle, an action may be brought to set aside
a resolution of the shareholders general meeting based on
a violation of law or the articles of association. Any such
action must be commenced within one month after adoption of the
resolution.
4
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth
below, as well as the other information contained in this
information statement/ prospectus, any supplement to this
information statement/ prospectus and the documents incorporated
by reference in this information statement/ prospectus.
Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or
that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and
adversely affect our business operations.
Risks Relating to Litigation and Regulatory Matters in the
U.S.
|
|
|
If we do not comply with the many governmental regulations
applicable to our business or with the corporate integrity
agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could be
excluded from government health care reimbursement programs or
our authority to conduct business could be terminated, either of
which would result in a material decrease in our revenue. |
Our operations in both our provider business and our products
business are subject to extensive governmental regulation in
virtually every country in which we operate. The applicable
regulations, which differ from country to country, relate in
general to the safety and efficacy of medical products and
supplies, the operation of manufacturing facilities,
laboratories and dialysis clinics, the rate of, and accurate
reporting and billing for, government and third-party
reimbursement, and compensation of medical directors and other
financial arrangements with physicians and other referral
sources. We are also subject to other laws of general
applicability, including antitrust laws.
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. (FMCH), our
North American subsidiary, is party to a corporate integrity
agreement with the U.S. government. This agreement requires
that FMCH staff and maintain a comprehensive compliance program,
including a written code of conduct, training programs,
regulatory compliance policies and procedures, annual audits and
periodic reporting to the government. The corporate integrity
agreement permits the U.S. government to exclude FMCH and
its subsidiaries from participation in U.S. federal health
care programs if there is a material breach of the agreement
that FMCH does not cure within thirty days after FMCH receives
written notice of the breach. We derive approximately 38% of our
consolidated revenue from U.S. federal health care benefit
programs. Consequently, if FMCH commits a material breach of the
corporate integrity agreement that results in the exclusion of
FMCH or its subsidiaries from continued participation in those
programs, it would significantly decrease our revenue and have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
While we rely upon our management structure, regulatory and
legal resources, and the effective operation of our compliance
program to direct, manage and monitor these activities, if
employees, deliberately or inadvertently, fail to adhere to
these regulations, then our authority to conduct business could
be terminated or our operations could be significantly
curtailed. Any such terminations or reductions could materially
reduce our revenues with a resulting adverse impact on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
In October 2004, FMCH and its Spectra Renal Management
subsidiary received subpoenas from the U.S. Department of
Justice, Eastern District of New York, in connection with a
civil and criminal investigation, which requires production of a
broad range of documents relating to our operations, with
specific attention to documents relating to laboratory testing
for parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and vitamin D
therapies. We are cooperating with the governments
requests for information. While we believe that we have complied
with applicable laws relating to PTH testing and use of vitamin
D therapies, an adverse determination in this investigation
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, and results of operations.
On April 1, 2005, FMCH was served with a subpoena from the
office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of
Missouri in connection with a joint civil and criminal
investigation of our company. The subpoena requires production
of a broad range of documents relating to the Companys
operations, including documents related to, among other things,
clinical quality programs, business
5
development activities, medical director compensation and
physician relations, joint ventures and our anemia management
program. The subpoena covers the period from December 1,
1996 through the present. We are unable to predict whether
proceedings might be initiated against us, when the
investigation might be concluded or what the impact of this
joint investigation might be.
|
|
|
A reduction in U.S. government reimbursement for
dialysis care could materially decrease our revenues and
operating profit. |
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004,
approximately 38% of our consolidated revenues resulted from
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Legislative changes may
affect the reimbursement rates for the services we provide, as
well as the scope of Medicare and Medicaid coverage. A decrease
in Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement rates or covered services
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. In December 2003, the
Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization and Improvement Act was
enacted. For information regarding the effects of this
legislation on reimbursement rates, see Business Overview
Regulatory and Legal Matters Reimbursement in
our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004, as amended (our 2004
Form 20-F), which has been incorporated by reference
into this information statement/ prospectus.
|
|
|
A change in reimbursement for or utilization of EPO could
materially reduce our revenue and operating profit. |
Reimbursement and revenue from the administration of
erythropoietin, or EPO, accounted for approximately 23% of
dialysis care revenue in our North America segment for the year
ended December 31, 2004. EPO is produced by a single source
manufacturer, Amgen Inc. Our current contract with Amgen covers
the period from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005.
A reduction in reimbursement for EPO, a significant change in
utilization of EPO, a reduction of the current overfill amount
in EPO vials, an interruption of supply or our inability to
obtain satisfactory purchase terms for EPO after our current
contract expires could reduce our revenues from, or increase our
costs in connection with, the administration of EPO, which could
materially adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations. In July 2004, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed
certain changes with respect to its EPO reimbursement and
utilization guidelines. See Business Overview
Regulatory and Legal Matters Reimbursement in
our 2004 Form 20-F.
|
|
|
Creditors of W.R. Grace & Co. Conn. have asserted
claims against us. |
We were formed in 1996 as a result of a series of transactions
with W.R. Grace & Co. that we refer to as the merger.
At the time of the merger, W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. had,
and continues to have, significant liabilities arising out of
product-liability related litigation (including asbestos),
pre-merger tax claims and other claims unrelated to its dialysis
business. In connection with the merger, W.R. Grace &
Co.-Conn. and other Grace entities agreed to indemnify Fresenius
Medical Care AG and its subsidiaries against all liabilities of
W.R. Grace & Co., whether relating to events occurring
before or after the merger, other than liabilities arising from
or relating to the operations of National Medical Care, a
subsidiary of W.R. Grace & Co. which became our subsidiary
in the merger. W.R. Grace & Co. and certain of its
subsidiaries filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the Grace Chapter 11
Proceedings) on April 2, 2001.
Pre-merger tax claims or tax claims that would arise if events
were to violate the tax-free nature of the merger could
ultimately be our obligation. In particular, W.R.
Grace & Co. has disclosed in its filings with the SEC
that: its tax returns for the 1993 to 1996 tax years are under
audit by the Internal Revenue Service (the Service);
W.R. Grace & Co. has received the Services
examination report on tax periods 1993 to 1996; that during
those years W.R. Grace & Co. deducted approximately
$122 million in interest attributable to corporate owned
life insurance (COLI) policy loans; that W.R.
Grace & Co. has paid $21 million of tax and
interest related to COLI deductions taken in tax years prior to
1993; and that a U.S. District Court ruling has denied
interest deductions of a taxpayer in a similar situation. In
October 2004, W.R. Grace & Co. obtained bankruptcy
court approval to settle its COLI claims with the Service.
6
In January 2005, W.R. Grace and Co., FMCH and Sealed Air
Corporation executed a settlement agreement with respect to the
Services COLI related claims and other tax claims. On
April 14, 2005, W.R. Grace & Co. paid the Service
approximately $90 million in connection with taxes owed for
the tax periods 1993 to 1996 pursuant to a bankruptcy court
order directing W.R. Grace & Co. to make such payment.
Subject to certain representations made by W.R. Grace &
Co., the Company and Fresenius AG, W.R. Grace & Co. and
certain of its affiliates agreed to indemnify us against this
and other pre-merger and merger-related tax liabilities.
Prior to and after the commencement of the Grace Chapter 11
Proceedings, class action complaints were filed against W.R.
Grace & Co. and FMCH by plaintiffs claiming to be
creditors of W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn., and by the
asbestos creditors committees on behalf of the W.R.
Grace & Co. bankruptcy estate in the Grace
Chapter 11 Proceedings, alleging among other things that
the merger was a fraudulent conveyance, violated the uniform
fraudulent transfer act and constituted a conspiracy. All such
cases have been stayed and transferred to or are pending before
the U.S. District Court as part of the Grace
Chapter 11 Proceedings.
In 2003, we reached an agreement with the asbestos
creditors committees and W.R. Grace & Co. in the
Grace Chapter 11 Proceedings to settle these fraudulent
conveyance and tax claims. The settlement agreement has been
approved by the U.S. District Court. The proposed
settlement is subject to confirmation of a final plan of
reorganization of W.R. Grace & Co. that meets the
requirements of the settlement agreement or is otherwise
satisfactory to us. If the proposed settlement with the asbestos
creditors committees and W.R. Grace & Co. is not
confirmed in such a final plan of reorganization, the claims
could be reinstated. If the claims are reinstated and the merger
is determined to be a fraudulent transfer and if material
damages are proved by the plaintiffs and we are not able to
collect, in whole or in part, on the indemnity from any of our
indemnitors, a judgment could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations. We
recorded a pre-tax accrual of $172 million at
December 31, 2001 to reflect our estimated exposure for
liabilities and expenses related to the Grace Chapter 11
Proceedings. See Note 6 to our consolidated financial
statements in our 2004 Form 20-F. For additional
information concerning the Grace Chapter 11 Proceedings and
the settlement agreement see Legal Proceedings in
our 2004 Form 20-F.
|
|
|
As health maintenance organizations and other managed care
plans grow, amounts paid for our services and products by
non-governmental payors could decrease. |
We obtain a significant portion of our revenues from
reimbursement provided by non-governmental third-party payors.
Although non-governmental payors generally pay at higher
reimbursement rates than governmental payors, managed care plans
generally negotiate lower reimbursement rates than indemnity
insurance plans. Some managed care plans and indemnity plans
also utilize a capitated fee structure or limit reimbursement
for ancillary services.
As the managed care industry continues to consolidate, there
could be increased pressure to reduce the amounts paid for our
services and products. These trends may be accelerated if future
changes to the U.S. Medicare ESRD program require private
payors to assume a greater percentage of the total cost of care
given to dialysis patients over the term of their illness, or if
managed care plans otherwise significantly increase their
enrollment of renal patients.
If managed care plans reduce reimbursements, our revenues could
decrease, and our financial condition and results of operations
could be materially adversely affected.
|
|
|
Proposals for health care reform could decrease our
revenues and operating profit. |
Proposals to modify the current health care system in the
U.S. to improve access to health care and control its costs
are continually being considered by the federal and certain
state governments. See Regulatory and Legal
Matters Reimbursement U.S. in our
2004 Form 20-F for a discussion of the Medicare
Prescription Drug Modernization and Improvement Act of 2003 and
proposed changes to CMSs EPO Reimbursement guidelines. We
anticipate that the U.S. Congress and state legislatures
will continue
7
to review and assess alternative health care reforms, and we
cannot predict whether these reform proposals will be adopted,
when they may be adopted or what impact they may have on us. Any
spending decreases or other significant changes in the Medicare
program could reduce our revenues and profitability and have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
Other countries, especially those in Western Europe, have also
considered health care reform proposals and could materially
alter their government-sponsored health care programs by
reducing reimbursement payments. Any reduction could affect the
pricing of our products and the profitability of our services,
especially as we expand our international business. This
potential development could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to our Business
|
|
|
Our competitors proposed combination could foreclose
certain business opportunities. |
On December 6, 2004, DaVita Inc. (DaVita), the
second largest provider of dialysis services in the U.S., agreed
to acquire Gambro Healthcare, Inc. (Gambro
Healthcare), the third largest provider of dialysis
services in the U.S., and to purchase a substantial portion of
its dialysis product supply requirements from Gambro
Healthcares parent company during the next ten years.
These agreements are subject to regulatory review and/or
approval, and DaVita announced in February 2005 that it has
received a request for additional information regarding the
transaction from the United States Federal Trade Commission. If
the proposed product supply contract is consummated,
DaVitas purchases of our products may decrease
substantially. Any such reduction in DaVitas purchases
will decrease our product revenues and could result in a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
|
|
|
Our growth depends, in part, on our ability to continue to
make acquisitions. |
The health care industry has experienced significant
consolidation in recent years, particularly in the dialysis
services sector. Our ability to make acquisitions depends, in
part, on our available financial resources and limitations
imposed under our credit agreements. If we make future
acquisitions, we may issue ordinary shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA that could dilute the holdings of our shareholders,
incur debt, assume significant liabilities or create additional
expenses relating to intangible assets, any of which might
reduce our reported earnings or reduce earnings per share and
cause our stock price to decline. In addition, any financing
that we might need for future acquisitions might be available to
us only on terms that restrict our business. Acquisitions that
we complete are also subject to the risks that we might not
successfully integrate the acquired businesses or that we might
not realize anticipated synergies from the combination. If we
are not able to effect acquisitions in the dialysis care
business on reasonable terms, there could be an adverse impact
on growth in our business and on our results of operations.
On May 3, 2005, we entered into a definitive merger
agreement for the acquisition of RCG for an all cash purchase
price of approximately $3.5 billion. The acquisition is
subject to approval by the shareholders of RCG and other
conditions, including expiration or termination of the
applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other
regulatory approvals. See Recent Developments. We
cannot assure you that we will receive the required antitrust
and other regulatory approvals required to consummate this
acquisition.
|
|
|
Our competitors could develop superior technology or
impact our product sales. |
We face numerous competitors in both our dialysis services
business and our dialysis products business, some of which may
possess substantial financial, marketing or research and
development resources. Competition could materially adversely
affect the future pricing and sale of our products and services.
In particular, technological innovation has historically been a
significant competitive factor in the dialysis products
business. The introduction of new products by competitors could
render one or more of our products obsolete.
8
We are engaged in both manufacturing dialysis products and
providing dialysis services. We compete in the dialysis services
business with many customers of our products business. As a
result, independent dialysis clinics, those operated by other
chains and dialysis centers acquired by other products
manufacturers may elect to limit or terminate their purchases of
our dialysis products so as to avoid purchasing products
manufactured by a competitor. In addition, as consolidation in
the dialysis services business continues and other vertically
integrated dialysis companies expand, the external market for
our dialysis products could be reduced. Possible purchase
reductions could decrease our product revenues, with a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
We also compete with other dialysis products and services
companies in seeking selected acquisitions. If we are not able
to continue to effect acquisitions in the provider business upon
reasonable terms there could be an adverse impact on the growth
of our business and our future growth prospects.
|
|
|
We face products liability and other claims which could
result in significant liability. |
Health care companies are subject to claims alleging negligence,
products liability, breach of warranty, malpractice and other
legal theories that may involve large claims and significant
defense costs whether or not liability is ultimately imposed.
Health care products may also be subject to recalls. Although
product liability claims and recalls have not had a material
adverse effect on our businesses in the past, we cannot assure
that we will not suffer one or more significant claims or
product recalls in the future. Product liability claims or
recalls could result in judgments against us or significant
compliance costs, which could materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
While we have been able to obtain liability insurance in the
past, it is possible that such insurance may not be available in
the future either on acceptable terms or at all. A successful
claim in excess of the limits of our insurance coverage could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition. Liability claims, regardless
of their merit or eventual outcome, also may have a material
adverse effect on our business and reputation, which could in
turn reduce our revenues and profitability.
|
|
|
If physicians and other referral sources cease referring
patients to our dialysis clinics or cease purchasing our
dialysis products, our revenues would decrease. |
Our dialysis services business is dependent upon patients
choosing our clinics as the location for their treatments.
Patients may select a clinic based, in whole or in part, on the
recommendation of their physician. We believe that physicians
and other clinicians typically consider a number of factors when
recommending a particular dialysis facility to an end-stage
renal disease patient, including, but not limited to, the
quality of care at a clinic, the competency of a clinics
staff, convenient scheduling, and a clinics location and
physical condition. Physicians may change their facility
recommendations at any time, which may result in the movement of
our existing patients to competing clinics, including clinics
established by the physicians themselves. At most of our
clinics, a relatively small number of physicians account for the
referral of all or a significant portion of the patient base. If
a significant number of physicians cease referring their
patients to our clinics, this would reduce our dialysis care
revenue and could materially adversely affect our overall
operations. Our operations are also affected by referrals from
hospitals, managed care plans and other sources.
The decision to purchase our dialysis products and other
services or competing dialysis products and other services will
be made in some instances by medical directors and other
referring physicians at our dialysis clinics and by the managing
medical personnel and referring physicians at other dialysis
clinics, subject to applicable regulatory requirements. A
decline in physician recommendations or purchases of our
products or ancillary services would reduce our dialysis product
and other services revenue, and could materially adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
9
|
|
|
If we are unable to attract and retain skilled medical,
technical and engineering personnel, we may be unable to manage
our growth or continue our technological development. |
Our continued growth in the provider business will depend upon
our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, such as
highly skilled nurses and other medical personnel. Competition
for those employees is intense and the current nursing shortage
in North America has increased our personnel and recruiting
costs. Moreover, we believe that future success in the provider
business will be significantly dependent on our ability to
attract and retain qualified physicians to serve as medical
directors of our dialysis clinics.
Our dialysis products business depends on the development of new
products, technologies and treatment concepts. Competition is
also intense for skilled engineers and other technical research
and development personnel. If we are unable to obtain and retain
the services of key personnel, the ability of our officers and
key employees to manage our growth would suffer and our
operations could suffer in other respects. These factors could
preclude us from integrating acquired companies into our
operations, which could increase our costs and prevent us from
realizing synergies from acquisitions. Lack of skilled research
and development personnel could impair our technological
development, which would increase our costs and impair our
reputation for production of technologically advanced products.
|
|
|
We face additional costs and uncertainties from
international operations. |
We intend to expand our international presence. Revenues from
international operations are subject to a number of risks,
including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
Worsening of the economic situation in Latin America; |
|
|
|
Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect
profitability; |
|
|
|
We could face difficulties in enforcing and collecting accounts
receivable under some countries legal systems; |
|
|
|
Local regulations could restrict our ability to obtain a direct
ownership interest in dialysis clinics or other operations; |
|
|
|
Political instability, especially in developing countries, could
disrupt our operations; |
|
|
|
Some customers and governments could have longer payment cycles,
with resulting adverse effects on our cash flow; and |
|
|
|
Some countries could impose additional taxes or restrict the
import of our products. |
Any one or more of these factors, or any difficulty in
integrating businesses we acquire into our operations, could
increase our costs, reduce our revenues, or disrupt our
operations, with possible material adverse effects on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to our Securities
|
|
|
Capital markets may be unfamiliar with the KGaA form,
which may affect our share price. In addition, if most of our
preference shares are converted into ordinary shares, ADSs
representing our preference shares may not be eligible for
listing on the New York Stock Exchange after the conversion and
transformation. |
We are presently aware of only a few companies organized in KGaA
form in Germany whose shares are publicly traded, and no such
companies shares are listed on any national stock exchange
in the United States or quoted in the Nasdaq Stock Market. The
lack of familiarity of capital markets with the KGaA form, plus
other factors, such as the lesser degree of shareholder
influence on management and the inability to effect a takeover
without the consent of Fresenius AG, could adversely affect the
price of our shares after the conversion and the transformation.
We will apply to list the ordinary shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and we will apply to
list ADSs representing such
10
ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange. We cannot give
any assurances as to the level of capital market acceptance of
our securities after the transformation or the prices at which
our ordinary shares or ADSs representing ordinary shares will
trade after the conversion and the transformation.
We also intend to apply to list the preference shares of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and
ADSs representing the preference shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA on the New York Stock Exchange. However, we expect
that, if most of our preference shares are converted into
ordinary shares in the conversion offer that we intend to make
immediately prior to completing the transformation, the number
of preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA that would
remain outstanding after completion of the transformation and
the distribution of ownership of those shares would not satisfy
the listing criteria of the New York Stock Exchange. Without a
New York Stock Exchange or a Nasdaq Stock Market listing, we
might not be able to maintain an American Depositary Receipt
facility for the preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA. In addition, if substantially all of the preference shares
are converted, we may terminate the deposit agreement for the
preference shares, or the depositary may resign due to the
substantially reduced compensation it is likely to receive for
its services in such circumstances and we may not be able to
find a suitable replacement. If there is a high acceptance rate
of the conversion offer, any public market that may be available
for the preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA after
the transformation is likely to be limited and highly illiquid.
|
|
|
Our significant indebtedness may limit our ability to pay
dividends or implement certain elements of our business
strategy. |
We have a substantial amount of debt. As of December 31,
2004, our total consolidated liabilities were
$4.33 billion, including obligations with respect to all
our trust preferred securities of approximately
$1.28 billion, our total consolidated assets were
$7.96 billion and our shareholders equity was
$3.63 billion. If we complete the acquisition of RCG (see
Recent Developments), on a pro forma basis our total
consolidated liabilities will increase to approximately
$8.59 billion and our total consolidated assets to
approximately $12.29 billion. Our substantial level of debt
and the higher level of debt to be incurred in connection with
the RCG acquisition present the risk that we might not generate
sufficient cash to service our indebtedness or that our
leveraged capital structure could limit our ability to finance
acquisitions and develop additional projects, to compete
effectively or to operate successfully under adverse economic
conditions.
Our senior credit agreement and the indentures relating to our
trust preferred securities include covenants that require us to
maintain certain financial ratios or meet other financial tests.
Under our senior credit agreement, we are obligated to maintain
a minimum consolidated net worth and a minimum consolidated
interest coverage ratio (ratio of consolidated earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to
consolidated net interest expense) and a certain consolidated
leverage ratio (ratio of consolidated funded debt to EBITDA).
Our senior credit agreement and our indentures include other
covenants which, among other things, restrict or have the effect
of restricting our ability to dispose of assets, incur debt, pay
dividends, create liens or make capital expenditures,
investments or acquisitions. These covenants may otherwise limit
our activities. The breach of any of the covenants could result
in a default under the credit agreement or the indentures, which
could, in turn, create additional defaults under the agreements
relating to our other long-term indebtedness.
In connection with our proposed acquisition of RCG, we will
enter into a new credit agreement to refinance outstanding
indebtedness under our existing senior credit facility, to pay
the purchase price and related expenses for the acquisition of
RCG, and for working capital. For additional information with
respect to the anticipated terms of the new credit agreement,
including the restrictive covenants to be included in that
agreement, see Recent Developments New Senior
Credit Facility.
11
|
|
|
Fresenius AG will own 100% of the general partner of the
Company after the transformation and will continue to be able to
control our management and affairs. |
Fresenius AG currently holds approximately 50.8% of our voting
securities. Accordingly, Fresenius AG currently possesses the
ability to elect the members of the supervisory board
(Aufsichtsrat) of the Company and, through its voting
power, to approve many actions requiring the vote of the
shareholders of the Company. This controlling ownership has the
effect of, among other things, preventing a change in control
and precluding a declaration or payment of dividends without the
consent of Fresenius AG.
After the conversion and transformation, Fresenius AG will no
longer possess a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares
with voting power of the Company and will be precluded from
voting on certain matters that will be submitted to the
shareholders of the Company. See Effects on and Comparison
of Shareholder Rights. However, Fresenius AG will own 100%
of the outstanding shares of the general partner of the Company
and will have the sole right to elect the supervisory board of
the general partner which, in turn, will elect the management
board of the general partner. The management board of the
general partner will be responsible for the management of the
Company, but the actions and decisions of the general
partners management board will be fully reviewable by the
supervisory board of the general partner and, to a certain
extent, by the supervisory board of the Company in its KGaA
form. However, actions of the management board that currently
require the consent or approval of the supervisory board of
Fresenius Medical Care AG, elected by all of the shareholders,
will require only the approval of the supervisory board of the
general partner. Accordingly, through its ownership of the
general partner, Fresenius AG will be able to exercise
substantially the same degree of control over the management and
policies of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA as it currently
exercises over Fresenius Medical Care AG, notwithstanding that
it will no longer own a majority of the outstanding voting
shares.
|
|
|
Because we are not organized under U.S. law, we are
subject to certain less detailed disclosure requirements under
U.S. federal securities laws. |
Under pooling agreements that we have entered into for the
benefit of minority holders of our ordinary shares and holders
of our preference shares (including, in each case, holders of
American Depositary Receipts representing beneficial ownership
of such shares), we have agreed to file quarterly reports with
the SEC, to prepare annual and quarterly financial statements in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles, and to file information with the SEC with respect to
annual and general meetings of our shareholders. These pooling
agreements also require that the supervisory board of Fresenius
Medical Care AG include at least two members who do not have any
substantial business or professional relationship with Fresenius
AG, Fresenius Medical Care AG and its affiliates and
require the consent of those independent directors to certain
transactions between us and Fresenius AG and its affiliates. We
intend to enter into similar arrangements with Fresenius AG in
connection with the transformation, including requirements that
the supervisory board of the general partner include independent
directors.
We are a foreign private issuer, as defined in the
SECs regulations, and consequently we are not subject to
all of the same disclosure requirements applicable to domestic
companies. We are exempt from the SECs proxy rules, and
our annual reports contain less detailed disclosure than reports
of domestic issuers regarding such matters as management,
executive compensation and outstanding options, beneficial
ownership of our securities and certain related party
transactions. Also, our officers, directors and beneficial
owners of more than 10% of our equity securities are exempt from
the reporting requirements and short-swing profit recovery
provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. We are not obligated to comply with the Commissions
rules regarding internal control over financial reporting until
2006 and we are also generally exempt from most of the
governance rule revisions recently adopted by the New York Stock
Exchange, other than the obligation to maintain an audit
committee in accordance with Rule 10A-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These limits on
available information about our company and exemptions from many
governance rules applicable to domestic issuers may adversely
affect the market prices for our securities.
12
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Acquisition of Renal Care Group, Inc.
On May 3, 2005, we entered into a definitive merger
agreement for the acquisition of RCG for an all cash purchase
price of approximately $3.5 billion. At December 31,
2004, RCG provided dialysis and ancillary services to over
29,700 patients through 418 outpatient dialysis centers in
33 states, in addition to providing acute dialysis services
to more than 200 hospitals. Completion of the acquisition is
subject to governmental approvals (including termination or
expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended),
third-party consents, and approval by RCGs stockholders.
On June 15, 2005, we announced that we had received a
request for additional information from the United States
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) relating to the RCG
acquisition. We intend to continue to cooperate with the FTC and
to respond promptly to the request so as to enable us to
complete the acquisition during the second half of 2005, but we
cannot offer any assurance that the acquisition will be
completed during this time or that it will be completed at all.
New Senior Credit Facility
In connection with our proposed acquisition of RCG, we have
entered into a commitment letter pursuant to which Bank of
America, N.A. (BofA) and Deutsche Bank AG New York
Branch (DB) have agreed, subject to the satisfaction
of certain conditions, to underwrite an aggregate of
$5.0 billion in principal amount of term and revolving
loans (the Senior Credit Facilities) to be
syndicated to other financial institutions by Banc of America
Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead
arrangers and joint book running managers, and BofA has agreed
to act as administrative agent. The loans under the Senior
Credit Facilities will be available to us, among other things,
to pay the purchase price and related expenses for the
acquisition of RCG, to refinance the outstanding indebtedness
under our existing senior credit facility and certain
indebtedness of RCG, and to utilize for working capital
purposes. The Senior Credit Facilities will consist of a 5-year
$1.0 billion revolving credit facility and, subject to
reallocation upon syndication, a 5-year $1.5 billion term
loan A facility, and a 7-year $2.5 billion term
loan B facility. Interest on the Senior Credit Facilities
will be at the option of the borrowers at a rate equal to either
(i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin, or (ii) the
higher of BofAs prime rate or the Federal Funds rate plus
0.5% plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin is
variable and depends on the consolidated leverage ratio of the
borrowers.
The Senior Credit Facilities will include financial covenants
that require us to maintain a certain consolidated leverage
ratio and a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.
The Senior Credit Facilities will also include covenants that
are substantially the same as those under our existing senior
credit facility, with modifications as required in the context
of the transaction. Among other covenants, there will be
limitations on liens, mergers, consolidations, sale of assets,
incurrence of debt and capital expenditures, prepayment of
certain other debt, investments and acquisitions, and
transactions with affiliates.
The Senior Credit Facilities will be guaranteed by the Company
and FMCH and certain of their respective subsidiaries and
secured by pledges of the stock of certain of the Companys
material subsidiaries. The borrowers and guarantors under the
Senior Credit Facilities will provide liens on substantially all
of their personal property and material real property if the
non-credit enhanced senior secured debt rating of the borrowers
falls below a certain level, to the extent a grant of security
interests is determined appropriate by a cost-benefit analysis.
The closing of the Senior Credit Facilities will be subject,
among other things, to the negotiation and execution of
definitive documents, the non-occurrence of a material adverse
effect in relation to RCG, and the refinancing of the
indebtedness under our existing senior credit facility and
certain indebtedness of RCG. DB and BofA also have the right to
approve any material modification to the merger agreement and
any waiver of any material conditions precedent under that
agreement. The commitment letter for the Senior Credit
Facilities expressly permits us to consummate the conversion and
the transformation. However, completion of the conversion and
the transformation while our existing credit facility is in
effect could require that we obtain the consent of the lenders
under that facility.
13
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This information statement/ prospectus including the information
incorporated by reference contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are based upon our
current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections
about us and our industry that address, among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
Our business development, operating development and financial
condition; |
|
|
|
Our expectations of growth in the patient population regarding
renal dialysis products and services; |
|
|
|
Our ability to remain competitive in the markets for our
products and services; |
|
|
|
The effects of regulatory developments, legal and tax
proceedings and any resolution of government investigations into
our business; |
|
|
|
Changes in government reimbursement policies and those of
private payors; |
|
|
|
Changes in pharmaceutical administration patterns or
reimbursement policies; |
|
|
|
Our ability to develop and maintain additional sources of
financing; and |
|
|
|
Other statements of our expectations, beliefs, future plans and
strategies, anticipated development and other matters that are
not historical facts. |
When used in this information statement/ prospectus, the words
expects, anticipates,
intends, plans, believes,
seeks, estimates and similar expressions
are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties,
many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of
which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual
results, financial and otherwise, could differ materially from
those set forth in or contemplated by the forward-looking
statements contained elsewhere in this information statement/
prospectus. These risks and uncertainties include: general
economic, currency exchange and other market conditions,
litigation and regulatory compliance risks, changes in
government reimbursement for our dialysis care and
pharmaceuticals, the investigations by the United States
Attorneys for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Eastern
District of New York, and changes to pharmaceutical utilization
patterns.
This information statement/ prospectus contains or incorporates
by reference patient and other statistical data related to
end-stage renal disease and treatment modalities, including
estimates regarding the size of the patient population and
growth in that population. These data have been included in
reports published by organizations such as the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, the Japanese Society for Dialysis
Therapy and the German registry Quasi-Niere. While we believe
these surveys and statistical publications to be reliable, we
have not independently verified the data or any assumptions on
which the estimates they contain are based.
Our business is also subject to other risks and uncertainties
that we describe from time to time in our public filings.
Developments in any of these areas could cause our results to
differ materially from the results that we or others have
projected or may project.
14
THE MEETINGS
The Extraordinary General Meeting
An extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders will be
held at 10:00 am local time on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at
Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327
Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Each of our shareholders is entitled
to attend the extraordinary general meeting although only
ordinary shareholders will be entitled to vote. Those
shareholders who deposit their shares during normal business
hours no later than on Friday, August 26, 2005 with the
Company, a notary public in the Federal Republic of Germany, a
securities clearing and depository bank, or Dresdner Bank AG and
its branches, and keep their shares deposited through the close
of the extraordinary general meeting will be entitled to attend
the extraordinary general meeting.
In case of deposit with a German notary public or a securities
clearing and depositary bank, you must submit the certificate to
be issued by them to the cash office of the Company no later
than on the first workday after the deadline for deposit, i.e.
by Monday, August 29, 2005. Shares will be deemed properly
deposited if, with the consent of the depository, the shares are
blocked in favor of such depository at a credit institution
through the close of the extraordinary general meeting.
Shareholders may also exercise their voting rights at the
extraordinary general meeting by engaging a party to act as a
proxy for him or her, such as the depository bank, an
association of shareholders or another person of his or her
choice.
Holders of American Depositary Shares wishing physically to cast
their votes at the extraordinary general meeting or at the
separate meeting of preference shareholders must forward their
request for the issuance of an admission ticket, together with
the certificates evidencing their American Depositary Receipts,
to the depositary by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
August 17, 2005. Since one American Depositary Share
represents one-third of an ordinary share, admission tickets
will only be issued to American Depositary Shareholder for every
three American Depositary Shares or multiple thereof.
The Separate Meeting of Preference Shareholders
A separate meeting of our preference shareholders will be held
in the same location immediately following the extraordinary
general meeting. However, commencement of the separate meeting
could be delayed, perhaps significantly, depending on the
duration of the preceding extraordinary general meeting. If the
agenda for the separate meeting cannot be completed on
August 30, 2005, the separate meeting will be continued on
August 31, 2005 at 10:00 am local time, at the same
location. The purpose of the separate meeting is to submit to
the consideration and approval of the preference shareholders
the proposal relating to the conversion of our outstanding
preference shares into ordinary shares.
Votes Required for Approval
Each ordinary share is entitled to one (1) vote at the
extraordinary general meeting. Holders of ordinary American
Depositary Shares will be entitled to provide voting
instructions on the basis of one vote for every three American
Depositary Shares or integral multiple thereof they own.
Preference shares are not entitled to vote at the extraordinary
general meeting. Each of the proposals on the agenda is being
presented as a resolution for which the vote required for
approval is 75% of the ordinary shares present at the
extraordinary general meeting. Fresenius AG, which owns
approximately 50.8% of our ordinary shares, intends to vote its
ordinary shares in favor of each of these resolutions.
Each preference share is entitled to one (1) vote at the
separate meeting of preference shareholders. Holders of
preference American Depositary Shares will be entitled to
provide voting instructions on the basis of one vote for every
three American Depositary Shares or integral multiple thereof
they own. Ordinary shares are not entitled to vote at the
separate meeting. The conversion proposal requires the approval
of 75% of the preference shares present at the separate meeting.
Approval of all of the proposals at the extraordinary general
meeting is a condition to completing both the conversion and
transformation. However, our management boards
instructions to file the transformation of legal form with the
commercial register are not conditioned upon approval of the
other agenda
15
items. Rather, our management board is instructed to file the
transformation of legal form with the commercial register even
if the shareholders do not approve the conversion of preference
shares into ordinary shares or any other agenda items or if
delays arise in this connection because of potential legal
disputes. In addition, our management board is instructed to
file the amendments to our articles of association in connection
with the measures to be taken in advance of the transformation
of legal form only when the management board is satisfied
that the transformation of legal form will occur. This is
intended to assure that such measures, i.e., (i) the
conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares,
(ii) the adjustment of our conditional capital, and
(iii) the revocation of the existing and the creation of
new authorized capital cannot happen without the transformation
of legal form. This is essential for Fresenius AG, owner of
approximately 50.8% of our ordinary shares because, if such
measures were taken without the transformation,
Fresenius AG would lose its voting majority at the general
meeting without retaining its control of the Company through
ownership of the general partner in the legal form of a KGaA.
See Interest of Certain Persons in the Conversion and
Transformation.
Proxies
As a special service, shareholders (other than holders of
American Depositary Shares) can authorize a party who will be
appointed by the Company prior to the general meeting to act as
a proxy for them. If a shareholder wishes to nominate such party
to act as proxy for him or her at a shareholder meeting, the
shareholder must obtain an entrance card to attend the meeting
and therefore must deposit his or her shares as described above.
Proxies must be transmitted in text form. The necessary
documents and information for this proxy procedure will be
distributed to shareholders together with the entrance card. A
proxy is revocable by notice to the proxy holder at any time
prior to exercise of the proxy at the meeting.
Registered holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by
American Depositary Receipts are being furnished, together with
this information statement/ prospectus, a form on which they may
instruct the depositary for the American Depositary Shares with
respect to voting their shares at the extraordinary general
meeting and at the separate meeting of preference shareholders.
Holders of ordinary or preference American Depositary Shares
whose American Depositary Shares are registered in their own
names (and not in the name of a bank, broker, financial
institution or share plan) who wish to have the ordinary or
preference shares represented thereby voted should complete such
request and return it to the depositary in the enclosed
reply-paid envelope (for use in the U.S. only) as soon as
possible but, in any event, so as to be received by JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 43062, Providence, Rhode Island
02940-5115 U.S.A. no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on August 18, 2005. All registered holders of
American Depositary Receipts who return the voting instruction
card will have their American Depositary Shares blocked at the
depositary until Tuesday, August 30, 2005 (August 31,
2005 if the separate meeting is continued to that date) and will
not be able to transfer or cancel their ordinary or preference
American Depositary Shares during that period. Only registered
ordinary or preference American Depositary Share holders of
record as of the close of business on July 22, 2005, will
be entitled to utilize the applicable voting instruction card.
If you hold your ordinary American Depositary Shares indirectly
and wish to have your shares voted, you should contact the bank,
broker, financial institution or share plan administrator
through which you hold your American Depositary Shares in order
to obtain instructions as to how you may vote. Banks, brokers
and nominees must block the American Depositary Shares for which
they provide voting instructions through the Depository Trust
Company utilizing the contra-Cusip established with the
Depository Trust Company for blocking purposes.
A subsequently dated voting instruction card received by the
depositary prior to August 18, 2005 will revoke and
supersede prior voting instructions.
16
Counter Proposals
Counter proposals to a proposal of the management board and
supervisory board on a particular item on the agenda may be made
exclusively to:
|
|
|
Fresenius Medical Care AG |
|
Attention: Investor Relations |
|
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1 |
|
61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H., Germany |
|
Telefax: ++49-6172-609-2301 |
|
e-mail: ir-fms@fmc-ag.com |
Counter proposals that are sent to any other address will not be
considered. Counter proposals received no later than two weeks
before the date of the extraordinary general meeting at this
address will be made accessible to other shareholders, together
with our evaluation of the merits of the counter proposals, by
posting on our website www.fmc-ag.com as soon as
practicable after receipt. We may also furnish a Form 6-K
to the SEC containing such counter proposals and our evaluation.
Under German law, we are obligated to submit counter proposals
bearing on the respective agenda items of the extraordinary
general meeting and the separate meeting of preference
shareholders to the relevant meeting. Approval of a counter
proposal could result in a change in the terms, conditions or
provisions (financial or otherwise) of one or more of the
proposed agenda items described in this prospectus. Shareholders
may also raise counter proposals at the shareholder meetings.
The ADR depositary will not vote underlying shares or take any
other action with respect to counter proposals.
The Conversion and the Transformation Proposals
The following are the proposals with respect to the conversion
of non-voting bearer preference shares (referred to as
preference shares) into voting bearer ordinary
shares (referred to as ordinary shares) and the
transformation of the legal form of Fresenius Medical Care AG
from a stock corporation into a partnership limited by shares
under German law, a Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
(KGaA). Ordinary shareholders will vote on
proposals 1 through 4 below at the extraordinary general meeting
and preference shareholders will vote on a consent to the
ordinary shareholders resolution regarding proposal 1
at the separate meeting. Share amounts and Euro amounts that
will not be finally determinable until the filing of the
amendments with the commercial register authorized by the
proposed resolutions appear in square brackets. The resolutions
authorize the supervisory board to adjust the final amounts to
reflect actual amounts at the time the resolutions are filed.
1. Conversion of Preference Shares into Ordinary
Shares. The management board and the supervisory board
propose that the general meeting and at the same time the
ordinary shareholders by special resolution in accordance with
the German Stock Corporation Act, resolve that:
|
|
|
a) Out of 26,454,805 preference shares outstanding as of
the date hereof, up to all of these shares may be converted into
ordinary shares. In addition, of the preference shares issued up
to the end of the period for conversion, those preference shares
that have been deposited with the Company in accordance with
b) of this resolution will be converted into ordinary
shares. The dividend preference provided by the articles of
association to the preference shares to be converted will be
cancelled. The right to dividends on the converted preference
shares with respect to the Companys profits shall be the
same as that for ordinary shares, effective as of January 1,
2005. |
|
|
b) Only preference shares that are deposited with the
Company for conversion within the time period allowed and in
accordance with the conditions specified in the conversion
offer, together with a conversion declaration and the conversion
premium of EUR 12.25 per deposited share will be
converted into ordinary shares. |
|
|
c) The management board is authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to determine and announce further details
of the conversion process in a conversion offer, including the |
17
|
|
|
period for conversion and the conditions of conversion. The
period for conversion will be between four and six weeks (i.e.,
not less than 20 U.S. business days). |
|
|
d) The supervisory board is authorized to amend the
articles of association in accordance with this resolution to
reflect the number of ordinary and preference shares after the
conversion. |
|
|
e) The management board is instructed to file the amendment
to the articles of association in connection with the conversion
of the preference shares into ordinary shares with the
commercial register only when the management board is satisfied
that the transformation of legal form to a KGaA proposed by the
management board and supervisory board will also occur. |
|
|
f) This resolution will be invalid if the amendment to the
articles of association described in paragraph e) is not
registered with the commercial register prior to the end of the
general meeting which resolves on the ratification of the
actions of the management board and supervisory board for the
2005 financial year, unless that general meeting renews or
confirms the resolution. |
The management board has prepared a conversion report on the
conversion of the preference shares into ordinary shares. This
report is available at the German offices of the Company,
Else-Kröner-Strasse 1, 61352 Bad Homburg v.d.H.,
Germany, for inspection by shareholders. On request, each
shareholder will receive a copy of the report free of charge.
The report will also be available at the extraordinary general
meeting. A copy of this report has also been furnished to the
SEC under cover of a report on Form 6-K and is available at
the public reference rooms of the SEC.
THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS BEING DISTRIBUTED
SOLELY TO ENABLE OUR SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE AT THE SHAREHOLDER
MEETINGS ON THE AMENDMENTS TO OUR ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
REQUIRED TO PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF OUR PREFERENCE SHARES INTO
ORDINARY SHARES AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEGAL FORM OF THE
COMPANY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO ISSUE ORDINARY
SHARES UPON CONVERSION INTO PREFERENCE SHARES OR A SOLICITATION
OF OFFERS TO CONVERT PREFERENCE SHARES INTO ORDINARY SHARES. ANY
SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE BY A SEPARATE PROSPECTUS TO BE
DISTRIBUTED AFTER THE SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS.
2. Conversion of Interests Held Under the Employee
Participation Programs. In connection with the proposed
conversion, we intend to offer employees and members of our
management board, as well as employees and members of the
management of affiliated companies, that hold convertible bonds
or stock options under our employee participation programs the
right to receive ordinary shares upon conversion or exercise,
rather than preference shares. Our management board and
supervisory board propose that the general meeting and at the
same time the ordinary shareholders by special resolution in
accordance with the German Stock Corporation Act, resolve as
follows:
|
|
|
a) The 1996/1998 Employee Participation Program |
|
|
|
i) The 1996/1998 Employee Participation Program approved on
September 24, 1996 by the general meeting will be changed
as follows as a result of the conversion of our outstanding
preference shares into ordinary shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
We will make an offer to the holders of convertible bonds
convertible into preference shares to change a portion of the
convertible bonds granted to them out of a tranche of |
18
|
|
|
|
|
grants of such bonds so that they are convertible into ordinary
shares. The number of convertible bonds to be changed is
calculated for each tranche of grants by the formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78)
Average
price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28) |
|
× |
|
Number of
convertible bonds
issued |
|
= |
|
Number of
amended
convertible bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
The result will be rounded up or down to whole figures. The
remaining, unchanged convertible bonds of each holder will be
returned to us against reimbursement of their nominal value. |
|
|
|
The conversion price of the convertible bonds of each tranche
will be adjusted according to the following formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28)
Average
price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78) |
|
× |
|
Old option price for
relevant tranche |
|
= |
|
New option price
for relevant tranche |
|
|
|
|
|
The average price on which both calculations will be based will
correspond to the respective weighted average German stock
exchange price of the past three months through and including
May 3, 2005, the day before the date of the Companys
first announcement of the conversion and transformation of legal
form, and will be EUR 64.28 for the ordinary shares and
EUR 45.78 for the preference shares. |
|
|
|
Holders of convertible bonds will be able to accept our
conversion and adjustment offer only for all convertible bonds
they hold. |
|
|
|
If holders of convertible bonds do not consent to the
adjustment, their bonds will continue to be convertible into
preference shares and the conversion price will not change. |
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, with the consent of the
supervisory board, to specify details of the conversion process.
If members of the management board have an interest, only the
supervisory board is authorized to specify the details of the
adjustment process. |
|
|
|
ii) The conditional capital of the Company under our
articles of association will be adjusted in accordance with the
above resolution to ordinary shares and will read as follows: |
|
|
|
The capital of the Company is conditionally increased by
up to [Euro 5,389,450.24 (in words: five million three hundred
eighty-nine thousand four hundred fifty Euro and twenty-four
Euro cents)] by the issue of up to [2,105,254 (in words: two
million, one hundred five thousand two hundred fifty-four)] new
non-voting bearer preference shares and by up to
[ ]
new bearer ordinary shares. The conditional capital increase
will be implemented only to the extent that, in accordance with
the employee participation program resolved by the general
meeting of September 24, 1996, convertible bonds relating
to non-par value bearer shares have been issued and the holders
of convertible bonds exercise their right of conversion. The new
non-voting bearer preference shares and bearer ordinary shares
shall participate in profits from the beginning of the financial
year in which they arise by exercise of the right of
conversion. |
|
|
|
iii) The supervisory board is authorized to amend our
articles of association consistent with this resolution and/or
issuances of shares out of conditional capital in the interim
period, which |
19
|
|
|
means that the supervisory board is authorized to adjust the
figures in the square brackets and to complete the blank space
in the square brackets. |
|
|
|
b) The 1998 Employee Participation Program |
|
|
|
i) The 1998 Employee Participation Program approved on
June 10, 1998 and modified on May 30, 2000, will be
changed as follows as a result of the proposed conversion of our
outstanding preference shares into ordinary shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
We will make an offer to the holders of stock options to change
a portion of the stock options granted to them out of a tranche
of grants of such options exercisable to acquire preference
shares so that they are exercisable to acquire ordinary shares.
The number of stock options to be changed will be calculated for
each tranche by the formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78)
Average
price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28) |
|
× |
|
Number of
options issued |
|
= |
|
Number of changed
options |
|
|
|
|
|
The result will be rounded up or down to whole figures. The
remaining, unchanged stock options of each holder will be
cancelled. |
|
|
|
The exercise price for the options will be adjusted according to
the following formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28)
Average
price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78) |
|
× |
|
Old option price
for relevant
tranche |
|
= |
|
New option price
for relevant tranche |
|
|
|
|
|
The average price on which both calculations will be based will
correspond to the respective weighted average German stock
exchange price of the past three months through and including
May 3, 2005, the day before the date of our first
announcement of the conversion and transformation of legal form,
and shall be EUR 64.28 for the ordinary shares and
EUR 45.78 for the preference shares. |
|
|
|
The performance target under the option plan fixed in the
general meeting resolution of June 10, 1998 will not change. |
|
|
|
Holders of stock options will be able to accept our conversion
and adjustment offer only for all options they hold. |
|
|
|
If holders of stock options do not consent to the adjustment,
their options will continue to exercisable to acquire preference
shares and the exercise price will not change. |
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, with the consent of the
supervisory board, to specify details of the adjustment process.
If members of the management board have an interest, only the
supervisory board is authorized to specify the details of the
adjustment process. |
|
|
|
ii) Our conditional capital under our articles of
association will be adjusted, in accordance with the above
resolution, to ordinary shares and will now read as follows: |
|
|
|
The capital of the Company is conditionally increased by
up to [Euro 2,763,432.96 (in words: two million seven hundred
sixty-three thousand four hundred thirty-two Euro and ninety-six
Euro cents)] by the issue of up to [1,079,466 (in words: one
million seventy-nine thousand four hundred sixty-six)] new
non-voting bearer preference shares and by up to |
20
|
|
|
[ ] new bearer ordinary shares. The
conditional capital increase will be implemented only to the
extent that, in accordance with the stock option program
resolved by the general meetings of June 10, 1998 and
May 30, 2000, stock options relating to non-par value
bearer shares have been issued and the holders exercise their
options. The new non-voting bearer preference shares and bearer
ordinary shares shall participate in profits from the beginning
of the financial year in which they are issued. |
|
|
|
iii) The supervisory board is authorized to amend the
articles of association consistent with this resolution and/or
issuances of shares out of conditional capital in the interim
period, which means that the supervisory board is authorized to
adjust the figures in the square brackets and to complete the
blank space in the square brackets. |
|
|
|
c) The 2001 Employee Participation Program |
|
|
|
i) The 2001 Employee Participation Program approved on
May 23, 2001 will be changed as follows as a result of the
proposed conversion of our outstanding preference shares into
ordinary shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
We will make an offer to the holders of convertible bonds
convertible into preference shares to change a portion of the
convertible bonds granted to them out of a tranche of grants of
such bonds so that they are convertible into ordinary shares.
The number of convertible bonds to be changed will be calculated
for each tranche by the formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78)
Average
price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28) |
|
× |
|
Number of
convertible
bonds issued |
|
= |
|
Number of
amended
convertible bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
The result will be rounded up or down to whole figures. The
remaining, unchanged convertible bonds of each holder will be
returned to us against reimbursement of their nominal value. |
|
|
|
The price at which the conversion right may be exercised will be
adjusted according to the following formula: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average price of
ordinary shares (EUR 64.28)
Average
price of
preference shares (EUR 45.78) |
|
× |
|
Old
option price for
relevant tranche |
|
= |
|
New option price
for relevant tranche |
|
|
|
|
|
The average price on which both calculations are to be based
will correspond to the respective weighted average German stock
exchange price of the past three months through and including
May 3, 2005, the day before the date of our first
announcement of the conversion and transformation of legal form,
and shall therefore be EUR 64.28 for the ordinary shares
and EUR 45.78 for the preference shares. Deviating from the
foregoing, the average price on which both calculations are to
be based for the conversion of convertible bonds issued after
May 4, 2005, or which will still be issued shall correspond
to the weighted average stock exchange price of the past three
months prior to the issuance of the applicable convertible bond. |
|
|
|
The performance target which the general meeting resolution of
May 23, 2001 set for the convertible bonds will, for
converted bonds, from the day of our first announcement of the
conversion and transformation of legal form (May 4, 2005),
refer to ordinary shares. Any |
21
|
|
|
|
|
partial achievement of the target in relation to preference
shares prior to May 4, 2005 will be taken into account. |
|
|
|
Holders of convertible bonds will be able to accept our
conversion and adjustment offer only for all convertible bonds
that they hold. |
|
|
|
If holders of convertible bonds do not consent to the
adjustment, their bonds will continue to be convertible into
preference shares, the conversion price will not change and the
performance targets set by the resolution of May 23, 2001
will not change. |
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, with the consent of the
supervisory board, to specify details of the conversion process.
If members of the management board have an interest, only the
supervisory board is authorized to specify the details of the
adjustment process. |
|
|
|
ii) Our conditional capital under our articles of
association will be adjusted, in accordance with the above
resolution to ordinary shares and will now read as follows: |
|
|
|
The capital of the Company is conditionally increased by
up to [Euro 10,132,928.00 (in words: ten million one hundred
thirty-two thousand nine hundred twenty-eight Euro)] by the
issue of up to [3,958,175 (in words: three million nine hundred
fifty-eight thousand one hundred seventy-five)] new non-voting
bearer preference shares and by up to
[ ]
new bearer ordinary shares. The conditional capital increase
will be implemented only to the extent that, in accordance with
the international employee participation program resolved by the
general meeting of May 23, 2001, convertible bonds relating
to non-par value bearer shares have been issued and the holders
of convertible bonds exercise their right of conversion. The new
non-voting bearer preference shares and bearer ordinary shares
shall participate in profits from the beginning of the financial
year in which they arise by exercise of the right of
conversion. |
|
|
|
iii) The supervisory board is authorized to amend our
articles of association consistent with this resolution and/or
issuances of shares out of conditional capital in the interim
period, which means that the supervisory board is authorized to
adjust the figures in the square brackets and to complete the
blank space in the square brackets. |
|
|
|
d) The management board is instructed to file the
amendments reflecting the new version of the articles of
association with the commercial register only when the
management board is satisfied that the transformation of legal
form to a KGaA proposed by the management board and supervisory
board will occur. |
3. The Creation of Authorized Capital (Genehmigtes
Kapital). Our articles of association currently provide for
Authorized Capital I and Authorized Capital II, which
authorize the management board with the approval of the
supervisory board, to increase the share capital by up to Euro
30,720,000.00 by issuing new preference shares for cash
(Authorized Capital I) and up to Euro 20,480,000.00 by the issue
of preference shares for cash and/or contributions in kind
(Authorized Capital II). We anticipate that after the
conversion and transformation, we will raise equity capital by
issuing ordinary shares. Therefore, Authorized Capital I and
Authorized Capital II, which provide for the issuance of
new preference shares, will no longer be appropriate, and the
management board and supervisory board propose canceling the
existing Authorized Capital I and Authorized Capital II
with effect from the time of registration of the new Authorized
Capital I and Authorized Capital II and replacing them
with the following resolutions, which provide for the issuance
of new ordinary shares:
|
|
|
a) A new Authorized Capital I in the articles of
association will be created as set forth below: |
|
|
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to increase, on one or more occasions during
the period ending August 29, 2010, the share capital of the
Company by up to a total of Euro 35,000,000.00 for cash by the
issue of new ordinary shares (Authorized Capital I). |
22
|
|
|
|
|
The number of shares must be increased in the same proportion as
the capital. |
|
|
|
The management board is further authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to decide on the exclusion of
shareholders pre-emption rights. |
|
|
|
Exclusion of pre-emption rights is permissible, however, only
for fractional amounts. |
|
|
|
The new shares may also be taken up by credit institutions to be
specified by the management board, with the obligation to offer
them to our shareholders (indirect pre-emption rights). |
|
|
|
The management board is further authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to determine the further details of the
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized Capital
I. |
|
|
|
The supervisory board is authorized to amend the articles of
association after complete or partial implementation of a
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I or after the expiry
of the authorized period of in accordance with the amount of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I. |
|
|
|
Our articles of association will be amended to reflect the
points set forth above and will now read as follows: |
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, in the period up to
August 29, 2010, with the approval of the supervisory
board, to increase, on one or more occasions, the capital of the
company by up to a total of Euro 35,000,000.00 (thirty five
million Euro) for cash by the issue of new bearer ordinary
shares (Authorized Capital I). The number of shares must
increase in the same proportion as the capital. The management
board is further authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to decide on the exclusion of
shareholders pre-emption rights. Exclusion of pre-emption
rights is admissible, however, only for fractional amounts. The
new shares may also be taken up by credit institutions to be
specified by the management board, with the obligation to offer
them to the shareholders (indirect pre-emption rights). The
management board is further authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to determine the further details of the
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized Capital
I. The supervisory board is authorized to amend the articles of
association after complete or partial implementation of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I or after the expiry
of the authorized period in accordance with the amount of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I. |
|
|
|
b) A new Authorized Capital II in our articles of
association will be created as set forth below: |
|
|
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to increase, on one or more occasions during
the period ending August 29, 2010, the share capital of the
Company by up to a total of Euro 25,000,000.00 for cash and/or
contributions in kind by the issue of new ordinary shares
(Authorized Capital II). |
|
|
|
The number of shares must be increased in the same proportion as
the capital. |
|
|
|
The management board is further authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to decide on the exclusion of
shareholders pre-emption rights. |
|
|
|
Pre-emption rights may be excluded, however, only if: |
|
|
|
1) in the case of a capital increase for cash the amount of
capital attributable to the new shares does not exceed 10% of
the nominal value of our share capital at the time of the issue
of the new shares and the issue price for the new shares is not
significantly lower than the stock exchange price of listed
shares of the same class and rights at the time of the final
determination of the issue price by the management board, or |
23
|
|
|
2) in the case of a capital increase for contributions in
kind the grant of shares should be for the purpose of acquiring
an enterprise, parts of an enterprise or an interest in an
enterprise. |
|
|
|
|
|
The management board is further authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to determine the further details of the
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized
Capital II. |
|
|
|
The supervisory board is authorized to amend the articles of
association after complete or partial implementation of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital II or after the
expiry of the authorized period in accordance with the amount of
a capital increase out of Authorized Capital II. |
|
|
|
Our articles of association will be amended to reflect the
points set forth above and will read as follows: |
|
|
|
The management board is authorized, in the period up to
August 29, 2010, with the approval of the supervisory
board, to increase, on one or more occasions, the capital of the
company by up to a total of Euro 25,000,000.00 (twenty five
million Euro) for cash and/or contributions in kind by the issue
of new ordinary bearer shares (Authorized Capital II). The
number of shares must increase in the same proportion as the
capital. The management board is further authorized, with the
approval of the supervisory board, to decide on the exclusion of
shareholders pre-emption rights. Exclusion of pre-emption
rights is admissible, however, only if |
|
|
|
|
|
in the case of a capital increase for cash the amount of capital
attributable to the new shares does not exceed 10% of the share
capital at the time of the issue of the new shares and the issue
price for the new shares is not significantly lower than the
stock exchange price of the listed shares of the same class and
rights at the time of the final determination of the issue price
by the management board, or |
|
|
|
in the case of a capital increase for contributions in kind the
grant of shares should be for the purpose of acquiring an
enterprise, parts of an enterprise or a participation in an
enterprise. |
|
|
|
The management board is further authorized, with the approval
of the supervisory board, to determine the further details of
the implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized
Capital II. The supervisory board is authorized to amend
the articles of association after complete or partial
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized
Capital II or after the expiry of the authorized period in
accordance with the amount of the capital increase out of
Authorized Capital II. |
The management board has issued a report in accordance with the
German Stock Corporation Act as to the reasons for the exclusion
of pre-emption rights in connection with any capital increase
using Authorized Capital I or Authorized Capital II. The
report will be made available at the Company for inspection by
the shareholders. Shareholders will be entitled to receive a
copy of the report free of charge upon request. The report will
also be available at the extraordinary general meeting.
The management board is instructed to file the above resolutions
with the commercial register only when the management board is
satisfied that the transformation of legal form to a KGaA
proposed by the management board and supervisory board will also
occur.
4. Transformation of the Legal Form of the Company to a
KGaA with Fresenius Medical Care Management AG as Sole General
Partner.
|
|
|
a) Resolution on the transformation of Fresenius Medical
Care AG into Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. The management board
and supervisory board propose the following resolutions. |
24
|
|
|
i. Fresenius Medical Care AG will be transformed into a
partnership limited by shares under German law (a
KGaA). |
|
|
ii. The name of the KGaA will be Fresenius Medical Care
AG & Co. KGaA, referred to herein as Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA. |
|
|
iii. The entire share capital of Fresenius Medical Care AG
(at present: EUR 246,924,300.80) will become the share
capital of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, and the persons and
companies who are shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG at
the time of the registration of the transformation in the
commercial register will become KGaA shareholders in Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA. They will participate in Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA to the same extent and with the same number of shares
as they held in Fresenius Medical Care AG prior to the
transformation. The ordinary shareholders and the preference
shareholders will receive the same number of ordinary shares and
preference shares in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, respectively,
as they held in Fresenius Medical Care AG prior to the
transformation. |
|
|
iv. The general partner of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will
be Fresenius Medical Care Management AG, which will be
registered in Hof an der Saale. The general partner will not
make a capital contribution and therefore will not participate
in the assets, profits or losses of the Company. |
|
|
v. Special Rights |
|
|
|
|
|
Preference Shares. The holders of preference shares in
the Company will continue to receive for each preference share
held by them an annual dividend based on the Companys
profits for the year in an amount EUR 0.06 per share higher
than the dividend paid on the ordinary shares, and a minimum
dividend of EUR 0.12 for each preference share. The minimum
dividend has priority over the distribution of a dividend on the
ordinary shares. If the Companys profits in one or more
financial years is not adequate to enable payment of EUR
0.12 per preference share, any deficits will be paid in
arrears, without interest, in the following years, after
distribution of the minimum dividend on the preference shares
for that financial year and before the payment of a dividend on
the ordinary shares. The right to such payment in arrears is an
integral part of the right to dividends for the financial year
in respect of which the dividend payment on the preference
shares is made. |
|
|
|
Employee Participation Programs. In the course of the
transformation, the conditional capital to cover the shares to
be issued under the employee participation programs of 1996,
1998 and 2001 will continue to exist in the KGaA and the right
to convert convertible bonds or exercise options to acquire
shares of the AG will refer to shares in the KGaA. The
performance target for stock options with target set by the
general meeting of June 10, 1998 and May 30, 2000 will
remain unchanged. The performance target for convertible bonds
with target set by the general meeting of May 23, 2001
will, for convertible bonds as of May 4, 2005, refer to
ordinary shares in the KGaA, and any partial achievement of the
performance target will be taken into account. Holders of
convertible bonds and stock options under the existing employee
participation programs will be offered the opportunity to change
the terms of their convertible bonds and stock options so that
they will be convertible into or exercisable for ordinary shares
rather than preference shares as more fully set forth above
under proposal 2. |
|
|
|
vi. An English translation of the form of the articles of
association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA is attached as
Appendix A to this information statement/ prospectus. The
Articles of Association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will be
approved in the version attached. In case the transformation of
legal form will be filed with the commercial register for
registration after the effectiveness of the amendments to
Section 123 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) by the
Act for Corporate Integrity and Modernization of the Right of
Avoidance |
25
|
|
|
(UMAG), Art. 14 and Art. 15 of the Articles of
Association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will be approved in
deviation of the proposed wording as follows: |
|
|
|
Art. 14 Calling of the
General Meeting |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The general meeting shall be called no later than thirty days
before the day by the end of which the shareholders must
register according to Article 15, unless a shorter period is
permitted by law. In calculating such period, the day the
general meeting is called and the day by the end of which the
shareholders must register before the meeting shall not be
counted; if the end of that period is a Sunday, an official
holiday at the registered office of the Company or a Saturday,
such day shall be replaced by the preceding working day. |
|
|
(2) |
No later than on the last day of the convocation period, the
English short version pursuant to Article 3 paragraph (2) shall
also be published, if necessary. |
|
|
(3) |
The general meeting shall be held at the place where the
registered office of the Company is located, or in a German city
where a stock exchange is situated or at the place where the
registered office of a domestic affiliated company is
located. |
|
|
|
Art. 15 Attendance at the
General Meeting |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Only those shareholders shall be entitled to attend the
general meeting who have registered in writing (Textform) in the
German or English language at the location given in the calling
of the general meeting no later than on the fifth day before the
general meeting. |
|
|
(2) |
Further, shareholders are required to provide evidence of
their entitlement to attend the general meeting and to vote.
This requires certification showing ownership of their shares to
be issued by the depository bank. Certification must refer to
the beginning of the twenty-first day before the general
meeting, 0.00 hours at the registered office of the Company.
Certification must be received by the Company in writing
(Textform) in the German or English language at the location
given in the calling of the general meeting no later than on the
fifth day before the general meeting. |
|
|
(3) |
The members of the management board of the general partner
and of the supervisory board should personally attend the
general meeting. If it is not possible for a member of the
supervisory board to attend at the place of the general meeting,
in particular, because he is abroad for cause, he may
participate in the general meeting by sound and picture
transmission. |
|
|
(4) |
If a voting right is to be exercised by a proxy,
authorization in writing (Textform) shall be
sufficient. |
The same shall apply in case that the above-mentioned amendments
to Section 123 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) become
effective after the filing for registration but before
registration of the transformation of legal form with the
commercial register.
To the extent that the proposed amendments to the articles of
association under proposal 3 above have not been registered
with the commercial register until the transformation of legal
form, the articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
shall, in deviation from the proposed wording, be approved
without paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 4.
The supervisory board is authorized to make amendments to the
articles of association before registration with the commercial
register, to the extent necessary to implement the approved
resolutions and to issue shares out of existing conditional
capital in order to adjust the number of preference shares and
ordinary shares as a result of the conversion. This also
includes the adjustment of the share capital and the amount in
Article 4, paragraph 2, sentence 2 of the annexed
articles of association. The supervisory board is further
authorized to amend the articles of association prior to the
filing of the transformation in the commercial register in order
to amend the amount of the conditional capital in connection
with the above resolutions.
|
|
|
vii. No offer of compensation will made to shareholders
objecting to the transformation. |
26
|
|
|
viii. There are no consequences for the employees or their
representatives arising out of the transformation of legal form.
It does not involve a change of employer. Each employees
employment contract will continue in force unchanged. After the
transformation of legal form, the employers right to issue
instructions will be exercised by the management board of the
general partner, Fresenius Medical Care Management AG. No change
for the employees and their representatives will arise
therefrom. The composition of the works council and its rights
and entitlements will not be altered by the transformation of
legal form. Works agreements will remain in force in their
present form unchanged. There are no effects on co-determination
or collective bargaining in relation to the Company and its
subsidiaries. Our and our affiliates involvement in
collective bargaining agreements is also not affected. |
|
|
ix. KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main, will be
our auditor for the 2005 fiscal year. |
|
|
|
b) Consent of Management AG to join as general partner of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and consent of Management AG to the
articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, an
English translation of which is attached as Appendix A to
this information statement/ prospectus. |
27
THE CONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION
The description of the material terms of the conversion and
transformation set forth below is not intended to be a complete
description of the conversion and transformation. We qualify
this description by reference to the proposed resolutions set
forth above under The Meetings The Conversion
and Transformation Proposals and to the proposed articles
of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, an English
translation of which is attached as Appendix A to this
information statement/ prospectus and which we incorporate in
this information statement/ prospectus by reference. We urge all
shareholders to read these documents in their entirety. Counter
proposals could result in a change in the terms, conditions or
provisions of one or more of the agenda items described in this
prospectus. See The Meetings Counter
Proposals.
Structure of the Conversion and Transformation
The management board and the supervisory board of Fresenius
Medical Care AG propose the conversion of our outstanding
preference shares into ordinary shares and the transformation of
the legal form of the Company from a stock corporation into a
partnership limited by shares, a Kommanditgesellschaft auf
Aktien (KGaA). German law requires that our
ordinary shareholders approve the transformation and the
conversion. We are submitting the conversion to our preference
shareholders for approval due to our views of appropriate
corporate governance (i.e., to include our preference
shareholders in this decision) and for reasons of legal
certainty.
Currently, our outstanding share capital consists of ordinary
shares and non-voting preference shares that are issued only in
bearer form. Fresenius AG owns approximately 50.8% of our
ordinary shares. Fresenius AGs ordinary shares represent
approximately 37% of our total share capital. In connection with
the transformation, Management AG will assume the management of
the Company through its position as general partner. Fresenius
AG, which currently controls the Company as holder of a majority
of our ordinary shares, will continue to do so after the
transformation as sole shareholder of the general partner.
Prior to registration of the transformation, we intend to offer
our preference shareholders the opportunity to convert their
preference shares into ordinary shares on a one-to-one basis
pursuant to a conversion offer to be conducted after the
shareholder meetings. The right to convert preference shares
into ordinary shares will be available only during a specific
period which will be held open for four to six weeks but not
less than 20 U.S. business days. The details of the
conversion process will be determined by the management board
with the approval of the supervisory board, and announced
together with the conversion period.
Preference shareholders who decide to convert their shares into
ordinary shares will be required to pay a premium of
EUR 12.25 per converted share for the conversion. The
premium corresponds to approximately two-thirds of the
difference between the weighted average stock exchange price of
the ordinary shares and the weighted average stock exchange
price of the preference shares for the three months through and
including May 3, 2005, the last trading day before our
first announcement of the proposed conversion and
transformation, determined using the prices reported on the
official website of the German Financial Supervisory Authority
(German version of the website). Holders of preference American
Depositary Shares who elect to convert the preference shares
represented by their American Depositary Shares will also be
required to pay the depositarys customary fees for the
surrender of their preference American Depositary Shares, but
will not be charged a fee for issuance of American Depositary
Shares representing ordinary shares.
In the conversion process, preference shares submitted for
conversion will lose the preferential dividend right provided
for under our articles of association and German law. The
conversion will increase the number of ordinary shares
outstanding held by persons other than Fresenius AG, which we
refer to in this information statement/ prospectus as the
outside shareholders or free float of
our ordinary shares, as the context requires. Under the
applicable rules of Deutsche Börse AG with regard to index
weighting, an increase in the number of ordinary shares in free
float would lead to a strengthening of our DAX position
28
because this position, among other criteria, is determined by
reference to the market capitalization of the free float of the
largest class of shares. DAX is an index that measures the
performance of the Prime Standards 30 largest German
companies in terms of order book volume and market
capitalization. We believe that membership in the DAX is
advantageous to us because many institutional investors utilize
inclusion in the DAX index as a decisive investment criterion.
Some fund investors reproduce a selected index such as the DAX
and, therefore, rely exclusively on index participations. The
index is based on prices generated in the electronic trading
system Xetra. Assuming that most of our outstanding preference
shares are converted into ordinary shares, the preference shares
will have limited trading volume after the conversion.
The following overview shows companies on the DAX or MDAX which
may be considered comparable with us taking into account their
free float market capitalization. It illustrates that our DAX
position is presently at risk. In addition, the overview shows
how our position on the DAX would be improved (from the point of
view of the freefloat market capitalization) by the
implementation of the conversion and the transformation. We
assume for this purpose that all our preference shares would
participate in the conversion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turnover in m. | |
|
|
|
|
Rank | |
|
MarketCap. | |
|
Rank | |
|
| |
Issuer |
|
Index | |
|
MarketCap. | |
|
(in m. ) | |
|
Turnover | |
|
(12 Months) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Infineon Tech.
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
4,649 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
21,063 |
|
Linde AG
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
4,616 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
6,511 |
|
Henkel KGaA (Pref.)
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
4,419 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
6,857 |
|
Heidelbergcement AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
4,392 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
3,247 |
|
Hypo Real Estate HLDG (Ord.)
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
4,341 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
2,856 |
|
Lufthansa AG
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
4,309 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
11,043 |
|
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA (Pref. + Ord.*)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 |
* |
|
|
3,764 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merck KGAA
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
3,336 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
3,486 |
|
Altana AG
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
3,328 |
|
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
6,804 |
|
TUI AG
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
3,313 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
7,504 |
|
Puma AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
2,860 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
8,227 |
|
Celesio AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
2,702 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
2,575 |
|
Henkel KGaA (Ord.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,573 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
717 |
|
Fresenius Medical Care AG (Ord.)
|
|
|
DAX |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
2,340 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
4,635 |
|
Deutsche Postbank AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
2,205 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
3,566 |
|
Fresenius AG (Pref.)
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
1,922 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
1,366 |
|
Hann. Rueckver. AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
1,830 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
2,750 |
|
RWE AG (Pref.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,768 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
604 |
|
K+S AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
1,721 |
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
1,216 |
|
Beiersdorf AG
|
|
|
MDAX |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1,684 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
1,642 |
|
|
|
*) |
Present market capitalization of the ordinary shares together
with all preference shares, i.e. assumes a conversion rate
of 100%. |
Source: Deutsche Börse AG as of June 30,
2005(Fresenius Medical Care KGaA added by the Company)
Those persons who hold convertible bonds or stock options
entitling them to preference shares under our employee
participation programs will be offered the opportunity to
receive convertible bonds or stock options entitling them to
receive ordinary shares.
The conversion requires that we amend our articles of
association for the purpose of allotting the shares as between
ordinary and preference. The final version of the articles of
association can be determined, however, only upon final
determination of the number of preference shares submitted to
the Company for conversion in proper form within the time
allowed, together with the applicable conversion premium. As a
29
result, the supervisory board will be authorized to amend the
wording of the articles of association after the conversion
offer has been completed to reflect the final allotment between
classes of shares.
The conversion requires approval by the affirmative vote of 75%
of our ordinary shares present at the extraordinary general
meeting and by the affirmative vote of 75% of the preference
shares present at the separate meeting of preference
shareholders. Fresenius AG, which holds approximately 50.8%
of our ordinary shares, intends to vote in favor of the
conversion.
THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS IS BEING DISTRIBUTED
SOLELY TO ENABLE OUR SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE AT THE SHAREHOLDER
MEETINGS ON THE AMENDMENTS TO OUR ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
REQUIRED TO PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF OUR PREFERENCE SHARES INTO
ORDINARY SHARES AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEGAL FORM OF THE
COMPANY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO ISSUE ORDINARY
SHARES UPON CONVERSION OF PREFERENCE SHARES OR A SOLICITATION OF
OFFERS TO CONVERT PREFERENCE SHARES INTO ORDINARY SHARES. ANY
SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE BY A SEPARATE PROSPECTUS DISTRIBUTED
AFTER THE SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS.
If the transformation is approved by the required shareholder
vote, it will become effective upon registration with the
commercial register that has jurisdiction over the Company,
i.e., the commercial register of the local court
(Amtsgericht) Hof an der Saale, Germany. Upon
registration of the transformation, the Companys legal
form will be changed by operation of law from an AG, which is a
German stock corporation, to a KGaA, which is a German
partnership limited by shares, and it will continue to exist in
that legal form. In connection with the transformation, the
Company will not transfer any assets to another entity, merge
into or with or consolidate with any entity, or acquire the
shares of any other entity. The Company as a KGaA will be the
same legal entity under German law, rather than a successor to
the stock corporation. Upon effectiveness of the transformation,
Management AG, a subsidiary of Fresenius AG, will become the
general partner of the Company. Legal relationships existing
between the Company and third parties will continue unchanged.
If public registers become inaccurate by the change of name,
they will be amended on the application of the entity in its new
legal form.
The offices of the members of the management board of Fresenius
Medical Care AG will terminate by operation of law but the
service agreements of the members of the management board will
continue in force after effectiveness of the transformation. The
members of the management board, however, have declared that
their service agreements will be rescinded by agreement without
compensation. The members of the management board will, subject
to the election by the supervisory board of Management AG,
become members of the management board of the general partner,
Management AG, effective upon the transformation. We intend to
propose that they enter into new service agreements with the
general partner on the same terms as they had with Fresenius
Medical Care AG before the transformation. The service
agreements of the members of the management board will thereby
in effect pass to Management AG on the same conditions.
Management AG will be reimbursed for all of its costs in
conducting the business of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA,
including the compensation of the members of the supervisory
board and the management board of Management AG. The exclusive
purpose of Management AG is to conduct the business of the
Company.
Approval of the transformation requires the affirmative vote of
75% of the ordinary shares present at the extraordinary general
meeting. Fresenius AG, which holds approximately 50.8% of our
outstanding ordinary shares, intends to vote in favor of the
transformation. We intend that our management board shall file
the transformation of legal form with the commercial register
even if the shareholders do not approve the conversion of
preference shares into ordinary shares or if delays arise in
this connection because of potential legal disputes. We feel
that the transformation alone is in our interest because it will
enable us, in the mid- to long-term, to create a more attractive
capital structure for our Company. The consequences
30
for our shareholders resulting from consummation of the
transformation of legal form without the conversion are
described under Transformation of Legal Form Without
Conversion.
Our share capital will become the share capital of the Company
in its new legal form after the transformation. Shareholders in
Fresenius Medical Care AG at the time of the registration of the
transformation of legal form in the commercial register will be
shareholders in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. They will
participate in all economic respects, including profits and
capital, to the same extent and with the same number of shares
in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA as they did in Fresenius Medical
Care AG prior to the transformation becoming effective. Ordinary
shareholders will hold the same number of voting ordinary shares
which they had in Fresenius Medical Care AG prior to the
transformation and non-voting preference shareholders who do not
convert their shares into ordinary shares will hold the same
number of non-voting preference shares as they had in Fresenius
Medical Care AG prior to the transformation. Holders of
convertible bonds and stock options issued under the
Companys employee participation programs will not
experience any change in their legal position due to the
transformation of legal form, but will have the opportunity to
exchange their bonds or options for adjusted convertible bonds
or options convertible into or exercisable for ordinary shares
in connection with the conversion.
Management AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fresenius AG, will
be the general partner of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
Management AG will not make a capital contribution to Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA in connection with the transformation of legal
form and therefore will not receive dividends or other
distributions from Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. However, the
general partner will receive a fee for management of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA and for acting as general partner and thereby
assuming the liabilities of the partnership limited by shares.
The transformation of legal form will have no effect on our
employees because it will not involve a change of employer.
Employment contracts between us and our employees will continue.
Our right to issue directions to our employees will be exercised
after the transformation by the management board of the general
partner, Management AG. In addition, the composition of the
works council under German law and their rights and authorities
will not be changed by the transformation. All works agreements
will remain in effect in their present form unchanged. The
transformation will not affect our status under the German
codetermination law, which, under certain circumstances,
requires labor representation on the supervisory boards of
German companies. There will be no effect on German collective
bargaining agreements in relation to us and our subsidiaries.
Under German law, after a transformation of legal form the
members of a companys supervisory board remain in office
for the remainder of their terms as members of its supervisory
board if the supervisory board of the company in its new legal
form is formed in the same way and with the same composition.
That will occur in the transformation of Fresenius Medical Care
AG into Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
Dr. Ulf M. Schneider, chairman of the management board of
Fresenius AG, has notified us, however, that he will resign from
the supervisory board effective upon entry of the transformation
in the commercial register. As chairman of the management board
of Fresenius AG, the sole shareholder of the general partner,
Dr. Schneider wants to concentrate his activities on his
position on the supervisory board of Management AG. Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA will apply for a court appointment of a sixth
member of the supervisory board to replace Dr. Schneider
after the transformation has become effective in accordance with
German law.
31
Reasons for the Conversion and Transformation
Our management board and supervisory board believe that the
conversion of our outstanding preference shares into ordinary
shares and the transformation of the legal form of the Company
are in the overall interest of the Company and its shareholders,
taking into account the existing rights of our shareholders. We
believe the conversion and transformation (as well as the
transformation alone) will increase our financial and operative
flexibility, which will allow us to pursue our long-term growth
objectives and strategies and will help us maintain and improve
our position as the leading global integrated provider of
dialysis products and services. We believe that the
transformation and conversion are in the interests of the
Company and its shareholders overall for the following reasons:
|
|
|
|
|
Ability to Issue New Ordinary Shares. Our current
articles of association provide only for the issuance of new
non-voting preference shares. Fresenius AG, which holds
approximately 50.8% of our voting ordinary shares, has advised
us that it will not approve an issuance of new ordinary shares
that would dilute its ownership below 50% because such dilution
would cause Fresenius AG to lose its control over the management
of the Company under the current corporate structure. The loss
of control would preclude Fresenius AG from consolidating our
financial statements with its own. Although Fresenius AG has the
right to participate proportionately in any new issuances of
ordinary shares in order to prevent such dilution, it may be
unable or unwilling to do so. Therefore, our ability to issue
additional equity capital is generally limited to the issuance
of preference shares, which are not as attractive to investors
as ordinary shares. In our new legal form as a partnership
limited by shares under German law, or a KGaA, the
management of the Company will be controlled by a general
partner rather than the voting majority of our ordinary shares.
Fresenius AG will own the general partner of the Company and,
therefore, will continue to control the management of the
Company after the transformation, notwithstanding the resulting
decrease in Fresenius AGs percentage ownership of our
ordinary shares. Therefore, our new capital structure will allow
us to issue ordinary shares without causing Fresenius AG to lose
control over the management of the Company. We believe that our
ability to issue new ordinary shares will help us attract equity
financing so that we may pursue our long-term growth objectives
and strategies. |
|
|
|
Improved Liquidity. We anticipate that the conversion of
the preference shares into ordinary shares will lead to an
increase in the free float of our ordinary shares. Currently,
the free float of our shares is divided between preference
shares and ordinary shares. If all of our preference shares are
converted into ordinary shares, the free float of ordinary
shares will increase from approximately
34.47 million shares to approximately
60.92 million shares, which is an increase of
approximately 77%. We believe that the new free float of our
ordinary shares will lead to an increase in the daily trading
volume of our ordinary shares and will improve the liquidity of
our ordinary shares, which will create more value for our
existing ordinary shareholders and make our ordinary shares more
attractive to large investors. We also believe that the
increased free float and liquidity will allow us to raise
substantial future capital on more attractive terms because the
market will be more receptive to new ordinary shares from future
capital increases. Equity financing opportunities will allow us
to pursue our long-term growth objectives and strategies,
including pursuit of acquisitions using ordinary shares as
consideration. |
|
|
|
Improved DAX Position. We expect that the conversion of
our outstanding preference shares into ordinary shares will
improve our position on the German share index, DAX, which is an
index that measures the performance of the Prime Standards
30 largest German companies in terms of order book volume and
free float market capitalization. Under the rules of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange, only one class of a companys
shares may be considered in determining order book volume and
market capitalization for purposes of DAX position. We believe
that the conversion of our outstanding preference shares into
ordinary shares will increase our order book volume and our
market capitalization as described above and, therefore, our
position on DAX. We believe that a stronger position on DAX will
allow us to attract more institutional investors. |
32
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance of the Existing Levels of Corporate Governance
and Transparency. Our proposed new structure will include
corporate governance arrangements that are substantially similar
to our current corporate governance arrangements. As described
above, a subsidiary of Fresenius AG will serve as the general
partner of the Company after the transformation. We intend that
the general partner will have substantially the same provisions
in its articles of association concerning the relationship
between its management board and its supervisory board and
substantially the same rules of procedure for its executive
bodies. For example, under the articles of association of the
general partner, the supervisory board of the general partner
will be required to consent to the same major transactions that
currently require the consent of the supervisory board of
Fresenius Medical Care AG. We plan to arrange for all or most
current members of the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical
Care AG and all members of the management board to become
members of the supervisory board or the management board of the
general partner. Also, Fresenius AG will continue to be
obligated to elect to the supervisory board of the general
partner persons who have no significant business relationships
with Fresenius AG. As a result, we believe that Fresenius
AGs ability to control the Company through its ownership
of the general partner will not differ significantly from its
ability to control the Company through ownership of a majority
of our ordinary shares. |
|
|
|
Acquisition of New Capital. We will acquire new capital
when we convert our outstanding preference shares into ordinary
shares because we intend to require that our preference
shareholders who choose to convert their shares pay a premium
per share to us in connection with the conversion. The payments
that we receive from preference shareholders in the conversion
will be placed in our capital reserves, which will improve our
capital ratio. |
|
|
|
Benefits to our Ordinary Shareholders. Ordinary
shareholders will experience dilution of their voting rights and
possibly a dilution of the value of their shares as a result of
the conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares. We
believe, however, that the benefits that our ordinary
shareholders will receive as a result of the conversion and
transformation outweigh these factors. First, approximately
two-thirds of the difference in value between the ordinary
shares and the preference shares will be covered by the
conversion premium that our preference shareholders will be
required to pay, which will strengthen our capital base.
Further, the ordinary shares will become more attractive
investments due to the increased liquidity which we expect and
stronger DAX position. Finally, the preference dividend that is
paid to preference shareholders will be cancelled in connection
with the preference shares that are converted into ordinary
shares, which will allow us to retain more capital. |
|
|
|
Benefits to our Preference Shareholders That Choose to
Convert Their Preference Shares. Holders of our outstanding
preference shares will have the opportunity to convert their
shares into ordinary shares, but will not be required to do so.
We believe that the conversion is an opportunity for holders of
preference shares to obtain ordinary shares on favorable terms.
Although preference shareholders who choose to convert their
shares will be required to pay a premium per share of EUR 12.25
to us for the conversion, the premium consists of approximately
two-thirds of the difference between the weighted average stock
exchange price of the preference shares and the weighted average
stock exchange price of the ordinary shares for the three months
prior to the announcement of the planned conversion offer and
transformation, determined using the prices reported on the
official website of the German Financial Supervisory Authority
(German version of the website). Based on such prices, holders
of preference shares who elect to convert will acquire ordinary
shares at a discount of EUR 6.25 per ordinary share or
10% of the weighted average stock exchange price of the ordinary
shares for the three-months prior to the announcement. Holders
of preference American Depositary Shares who elect to convert
the preference shares represented by their American Depositary
Shares will also be required to pay the depositarys
customary fees for the surrender of their preference American
Depositary Shares but will not be charged a fee for issuance of
American Depositary Shares representing ordinary shares. (On
July 19, 2005, the day prior to the date of this
prospectus, the closing prices of our preference shares and our
ordinary |
33
|
|
|
|
|
shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange were EUR 70.23 and
EUR 57.30, respectively.) Additionally, while the matter is
not entirely free from doubt, it is believed that the conversion
of the preference shares into ordinary shares will not result in
any taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Holders of preference shares that do not choose to convert their
preference shares into ordinary shares will continue to hold
preference shares in the new legal form of the Company after the
transformation and will continue to be entitled to receive
preference dividends. However, holders of preference shares will
likely experience reduced liquidity of their shares. We
anticipate that the preference shares will continue to trade on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange after the conversion and
transformation but we cannot offer any assurances that the
preference ADSs will continue to be eligible for listing on the
New York Stock Exchange if the number of outstanding preference
shares decreases substantially due to the conversion of
preference shares into ordinary shares. If substantially all of
the preference shares are converted, we may terminate the
deposit agreement for the preference shares or the depositary
may resign due to the substantially reduced compensation it is
likely to receive for its services in such circumstances. Our
management board and supervisory board have considered the
disadvantages to the holders of preference shares that do not
choose to convert their shares into ordinary shares as a result
of the conversion and transformation but have concluded that the
conversion and transformation are nevertheless in the interest
of the Company and its shareholders overall.
Background of the Conversion and Transformation
Our management board extensively considered possible
alternatives to the proposed measures and, after careful
consideration of the arguments for and against, determined that
there is no comparable alternative to the proposed measures that
would achieve the results to be achieved through the conversion
and the transformation. Specifically, the management board
reviewed the following options:
|
|
|
|
|
Refraining from Implementation of the Entire Transaction.
The management board discussed whether we could have refrained
from the entire transaction, but concluded that we would not be
able to achieve our intended goals if we did so. We would lose
the opportunity to standardize our share classes and thereby
arrive at what we believe is a more attractive capital
structure. First, implementing the entire transaction will
enable us to issue new ordinary shares, which we believe will
facilitate future equity financing. Second, the entire
transaction will result in an increase in the free float of
ordinary shares and is thereby expected to lead to an increase
in the liquidity of the ordinary shares and a consolidation in
our DAX position. This measure, which is important both for us
and our shareholders, would not be possible if we refrained from
taking any action. In the opinion of the management board,
refraining from the entire transaction is not a viable
alternative. |
|
|
|
Conversion of Preference Shares into Ordinary Shares without
Transformation of Legal Form. The management board
considered implementing the conversion of preference shares into
ordinary shares and the corresponding amendment to the articles
of association, without the transformation of the Company into a
KGaA. This would have increased the number of outstanding voting
ordinary shares and resulted in the loss of Fresenius AGs
voting majority in the general meeting of the Company. Fresenius
AG would then no longer possess the absolute ability to appoint
our supervisory board and thereby influence the management of
the Company. As a result, Fresenius AG would no longer be able
to fully consolidate our financial results in its own group
financial statements. Fresenius AG indicated that it was not
prepared to consent to any standardization of share classes that
would result in its losing control of the Company and its
ability to consolidate our financial statements with its own.
Because it is the holder of a majority of our voting shares,
Fresenius AGs consent is required for any proposal to
revise our share capital. |
|
|
|
Acquisition of Capital by Issue of Additional Preference
Shares. The management board also considered as a possible
alternative whether additional preference shares could be issued
in the absence of the implementation of the conversion of
preference into ordinary shares, the transformation of legal
form into a KGaA, or both. The management board determined that
this |
34
|
|
|
|
|
alternative would not have achieved the objectives to be
achieved by implementing the entire transaction. First, our
ability to issue additional preference shares is limited. Under
the German Stock Corporation Act, preference shares may be
issued only up to half of our share capital. This limit on the
issue of additional preference shares would, at least in the
long term, restrict the growth of the Company. Fresenius
AGs intention, as owner of Management AG, the general
partner, to maintain ownership of more than 25% of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaAs shares capital could similarly limit
Fresenius Medical Care KGaAs ability to issue ordinary
shares unless Fresenius AG were to participate in capital
increases pursuant to pre-emption rights or otherwise acquire
additional ordinary shares. However, such limiting effects are
not likely to be felt in the near term. Secondly, the issue of
preference shares alone would increase, rather than diminish,
the division between ordinary shares and preference shares. The
issuance of additional preference shares would not increase the
free float and liquidity of our ordinary shares, which is the
only class considered in our DAX valuation, and therefore would
not improve our DAX position. We believe that, ultimately, the
greater liquidity of the market for our ordinary shares would
make future capital financing through issuance of additional
preference shares less attractive, and that the liquidity of the
market for our ordinary shares will increase by implementing the
conversion and the transformation. The higher dilutive effect on
present ordinary and preference shares would also make the
issuance of new preference shares less attractive. |
|
|
|
Merger with a KGaA Founded by Fresenius AG. The
management board also considered a merger of the Company with a
KGaA founded for that purpose by Fresenius AG in lieu of a
transformation of our legal form. In the course of such a
merger, our shareholders would become shareholders in the
acquiring KGaA, so that ultimately a similar result would be
achieved as with the transformation of legal form into a KGaA.
After reviewing the additional costs of such a proposal,
including the costs of the valuation report and independent
audit required by German law in connection with a merger, and
the absence of any additional benefit for the Company or its
shareholders, the management board rejected this alternative. |
The Legal Structure of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
A partnership limited by shares (KGaA) is a mixed
form of entity under German corporate law, which has elements of
both a partnership and a corporation. Like a stock corporation,
the share capital of the KGaA is held by shareholders. The KGaA
is similar to a limited partnership because there are two groups
of owners, the general partner on the one hand, and the KGaA
shareholders on the other hand.
A KGaAs corporate bodies are its general partner,
supervisory board and the general meeting of shareholders. A
KGaA may have one or more general partners who conduct the
business of the KGaA. They are appointed as executive bodies on
the basis of their corporate position and, therefore, are
inherent executive bodies of the partnership under
German law. However, in contrast to the appointment of the
management board of a stock corporation, the supervisory board
of a KGaA has no influence on appointment of the general
partner. Likewise, the removal of the general partner from
office is subject to very strict conditions, including the
necessity of a court decision. The general partners may, but are
not required to, purchase shares of the KGaA. The general
partners are personally liable for the liabilities of the KGaA
in relations with third parties subject, in the case of
corporate general partners, to applicable limits on liability of
corporations generally.
The status of the members of the two groups of owners, i.e., the
group of KGaA shareholders on the one hand, and the general
partner or partners, on the other hand, varies within the KGaA
due to the structure of a KGaA. The KGaA shareholders exercise
influence in the general meeting through their voting rights
but, in contrast to a stock corporation, the general partner of
a KGaA has a veto right with regard to material resolutions. The
members of the supervisory board of a KGaA are elected by the
general meeting as in a stock corporation. However, since the
supervisory board of a KGaA has less powers than the supervisory
board of a stock corporation, the indirect influence exercised
by the KGaA shareholders on the KGaA via the supervisory board
is also less significant than in a stock corporation. For
example, the supervisory board is not usually entitled to issue
rules of procedure for management or to
35
specify business management measures that require the
supervisory boards consent. The status of the general
partner or partners in a KGaA is stronger than that of the
shareholders based on: (i) the management powers of the
general partners, (ii) the existing veto rights regarding
material resolutions adopted by the general meeting and
(iii) the independence of the general partner from the
influence of the KGaA shareholders as a collective body.
In the articles of association of a KGaA, the relationship
between the general partners and the KGaA shareholders can be
structured to a certain extent without restrictions. This means
that the articles of association of a KGaA can be adjusted to
the specific needs of the partners at the time the KGaA is
founded or at the time a company is transformed into such a
partnership limited by shares. Since the articles of association
of a KGaA may be amended subsequently only through a resolution
of the general meeting adopted by a qualified 75% majority and
with the consent of the general partner, neither group of owners
(i.e., the KGaA shareholders and the general partners) can
unilaterally amend the articles of association without the
consent of the other group. Fresenius AG will, however, continue
to be able to exert significant influence over amendments to the
articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA through
its ownership of a significant percentage of our ordinary shares
after the transformation, since such amendments require a 75%
vote of the shares present at the meeting rather than three
quarters of the outstanding shares. See Effects on and
Comparison of Shareholder Rights Comparison of the
Rights of Shareholders in Fresenius Medical Care AG and
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
The corporate legal structure of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA is
intended to retain the essential elements of Fresenius AGs
existing power to control the Company, but, to the extent
legally feasible, not to expand such control. We intend to
ensure that Fresenius AGs controlling position is
conditioned upon ownership of a substantial amount of our share
capital. Therefore, under the proposed articles of association,
Management AG has to withdraw as general partner if Fresenius
AGs holdings decrease to 25% or less of our share capital.
Alternatively, Fresenius AG may sell its interest in Management
AG to a third party if the sale also includes at least 25%
of our share capital. At the same time, we intend to ensure that
our business operations remain unaffected by the transformation
of legal form as much as possible.
36
|
|
|
Management and Oversight of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA |
The management structure of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA is
illustrated as follows:
A subsidiary of Fresenius AG, Management AG, a stock
corporation, will be the sole general partner of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA. We chose a stock corporation as the legal
form of the general partner principally because it enables us to
maintain a management structure substantially similar to
Fresenius Medical Care AGs existing management structure
by means of the general partner entity. The internal structure
of the general partner will be substantially similar to the
current structure at Fresenius Medical Care AG. In particular,
we intend that the general partner will have substantially the
same provisions in its articles of association concerning the
relationship between the management board and the supervisory
board and, subject to applicable statutory law, substantially
the same rules of procedure for its executive bodies. We also
plan to arrange for all current members of the management board
and all or most members of the supervisory board of Fresenius
Medical Care AG to become members of the management board or
supervisory board of the general partner after the
transformation of our legal form.
The general partner will not make a capital contribution and,
therefore, will participate in neither the assets nor the
profits and losses of the KGaA. However, the general partner
will be compensated for all outlays in connection with
conducting the business of the partnership, including the
remuneration of members of the management board and the
supervisory board. See The Conversion and
Transformation The Legal Structure of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA The Articles of Association of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA Organization of the
Company below. Management AG was founded on April 8,
2005 and registered with the commercial register on May 10,
2005. Fresenius AG is the sole shareholder of Management AG.
37
The sole purpose of Management AG is to serve as the general
partner of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and to manage the
business of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. Management AG has the
same duties of care to Fresenius Medical Care KGaA as the
management board of a stock corporation has to the corporation.
The management board of Management AG must carefully conduct the
business of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and is liable for any
breaches of its obligations. The supervisory board must
carefully supervise the management board in the conduct of the
business of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
The statutory provisions governing a partnership, including a
KGaA, provide in principle that the consent of the KGaA
shareholders at a general meeting is required for transactions
that are not in the ordinary course of business. However, as
permitted by statute, the proposed articles of association of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA permit such decisions to be made by
Management AG as general partner without the consent of the KGaA
shareholders primarily for the following reasons:
|
|
|
|
|
It is difficult to clearly distinguish between transactions that
are in the ordinary course of business and those that are not,
and consequently the distinction is rather uncertain under
German law; |
|
|
|
The convening of a general meeting to obtain consent to
individual transactions entails substantial organizational
effort and expense; and |
|
|
|
Potential lawsuits challenging transactions or resolutions could
paralyze a partnership limited by shares for a long time. |
The negation of the statutory restrictions on the authority of
Management AG as general partner is intended to replicate
governance arrangements in Fresenius Medical Care AG, in which
the shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG do not presently
have any such veto right regarding determinations of the
management board. This does not affect the general
meetings right of approval with regard to measures of
unusual significance, such as a sale of a substantial part of a
companys assets, as developed in German Federal Supreme
Court decisions.
The relationship between the supervisory board and management
board of Management AG is comparable to the existing governance
provisions at Fresenius Medical Care AG. In particular, under
the articles of association of Management AG, the same
transactions are subject to the consent of the supervisory board
of Management AG as currently require the consent of the
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care AG. These
transactions include, among others:
|
|
|
|
|
The acquisition, disposal and encumbrance of real property if
the value or the amount to be secured exceeds a specified
threshold; |
|
|
|
The acquisition, formation, disposal or encumbrance of an equity
participation in other enterprises if the value of the
transaction exceeds a specified threshold; |
|
|
|
The adoption of new or the abandonment of existing lines of
business or establishments; and |
|
|
|
Certain inter-company legal transactions. |
At the moment the management board of Management AG
consists only of Mr. Lawrence A. Rosen, who is also a
member of our management board. The supervisory board consists
of Dr. Ulf M. Schneider, Dr. Dieter Schenk and
Prof. Dr. Bernd Fahrholz, who are also members of our
supervisory board. We intend that the present members of the
management board of Fresenius Medical Care AG shall become
the entire management board of the general partner after the
transformation of legal form. The supervisory boards of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and of Management AG shall
consist to a large extent of the same persons, and therefore
consist principally of the same persons as our present
supervisory board.
The supervisory board of a KGaA is similar in certain respects
to the supervisory board of a stock corporation. Like the
supervisory board of a stock corporation, the supervisory board
of a KGaA is under an obligation to oversee the management of
the business of the Company. However, the supervisory board
38
is not usually entitled to issue rules of procedure for the
management board or to specify types of business management
measures that require its consent. The supervisory board is
elected by the KGaA shareholders at the general meeting. Shares
in the KGaA held by the general partner or its affiliated
companies are not entitled to vote for the election of the
supervisory board members of the KGaA. Accordingly, Fresenius AG
will not be entitled to vote its shares for the election of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaAs supervisory board. In theory,
this means that Fresenius AG will have no influence on the
composition of the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA, and that the change in legal form into Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA entails an increase in the control rights for the
outside shareholders.
However, under the articles of association of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA, a resolution for the election of members of the
supervisory board will require the affirmative vote of 75% of
the votes cast at the general meeting. Such a high vote
requirement could be difficult to achieve, which could result in
the court appointment of members to the supervisory board after
the end of the terms of the members initially in office at the
time the transformation becomes effective. In addition, because
(i) the current members of the Fresenius Medical Care AG
supervisory board will initially continue as the members of the
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA (except for
Dr. Ulf M. Schneider) and (ii) in the future, the
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA supervisory board will propose
future nominees for election to its supervisory board (subject
to the right of shareholders to make nominations), Fresenius AG
is likely to retain certain influence over the selection of the
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. The
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will have less
power and scope for influence than the supervisory board of the
Company as a stock corporation. The supervisory board of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA is not entitled to appoint the
general partner or its executive bodies. Nor may the supervisory
board subject the management measures of the general partner to
its consent, or issue rules of procedure for the general
partner. The KGaA shareholders will approve Fresenius Medical
Care KGaAs annual financial statements at the general
meeting. Except for making a recommendation to the general
meeting regarding such approval, this matter is not within the
competence of the supervisory board.
The general meeting is the resolution body of the KGaA
shareholders. Among other matters, the general meeting of a KGaA
will approve its annual financial statements. The internal
procedure of the general meeting corresponds to that of the
general meeting of a stock corporation. The agenda for the
general meeting is fixed by the general partner and the KGaA
supervisory board except that the general partner cannot propose
nominees for election as members of the KGaA supervisory board
or proposals for the Company auditors. Any proposals for the
election of members of the supervisory board that are proposed
by the supervisory board at the general meeting are non-binding.
Any shareholder may submit his or her proposal. To the extent
that shareholders whose holdings in the aggregate equal or
exceed 10% of the share capital represented at the meeting so
request, the general meeting has to vote on the nominees of such
shareholders prior to voting on the nominees proposed by the
supervisory board.
The transformation itself does not affect voting rights or
required votes at the general meeting. However, if relative few
preference shares are converted into ordinary shares, Fresenius
AG will lose its voting majority at the general meeting of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. It is possible, therefore, that
after the transformation and the conversion, resolutions of the
general meeting could be adopted over the objection of Fresenius
AG or that resolutions supported by Fresenius AG could be
defeated. However, under German law, resolutions may be adopted
by the vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting.
Therefore, even if substantially all of our preference shares
are converted into ordinary shares, as long as less than
approximately 73.7% of our shares are present at a meeting,
Fresenius AG will continue to possess a controlling vote on most
matters presented to the shareholders, other than election of
the supervisory board and the matters subject to a ban on voting
as set forth below, at least until we issue additional ordinary
shares in a capital increase in which Fresenius AG does not
participate.
After the transformation, Fresenius AG will be subject to
various bans on voting at general meetings due to its ownership
of the general partner. Fresenius AG will be banned from voting
on resolutions concerning the election and removal from office
of the supervisory board, ratification of the actions of the
39
general partner and members of the supervisory board, the
appointment of special auditors, the assertion of compensation
claims against members of the executive bodies, the waiver of
compensation claims, and the selection of auditors of the annual
financial statements.
Certain matters requiring a resolution at the general meeting
will also require the consent of the general partner after the
transformation, such as amendments to the articles of
association, consent to inter-company agreements, dissolution of
the partnership limited by shares, mergers, a change in the
legal form of the partnership limited by shares and other
fundamental changes. The general partner will therefore have a
veto right on these matters. Annual financial statements will be
subject to approval by both the KGaA shareholders and the
general partner.
|
|
|
The Articles of Association of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA |
The proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA are based on our current articles of association,
particularly with respect to capital structure, the supervisory
board and the general meeting. Other parts of the proposed
articles of association, such as provisions dealing with
management of the KGaA, have been adjusted to the new legal
form. Certain material provisions of the articles of association
are explained below, especially variations from our current
articles of association. The following summary is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the complete proposed form of
articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, an
English translation of which is attached as Appendix A.
The general provisions of the proposed articles of association
are essentially based upon our current articles of association.
For the sake of clarity they provide that neither the
publication of abbreviated English versions of invitations to
the general meetings nor other announcements constitute a
prerequisite for the validity of such announcements.
The authorized capital of the proposed articles of association
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA provides for ordinary shares, in
contrast to the provisions in our current articles of
association, under which all authorized but unissued shares are
preference shares. The conditional capital of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA includes both preference shares and ordinary shares.
The amounts in the proposed articles of association, especially
regarding the division between preference shares and ordinary
shares, will be adjusted by the supervisory board to reflect the
final results of the conversion of preference shares into
ordinary shares and with respect to the participation of stock
option holders when the stock option schemes under our employee
participation programs are converted.
|
|
|
Organization of the Company |
The provisions relating to the management board in our current
articles of association will be replaced in the proposed
articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA by new
provisions relating to the general partner of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA. The general partner will be Management AG with its
registered office in Hof an der Saale. Management AG will not
make a capital contribution to the partnership and will not
participate in the profit or loss of the partnership limited by
shares.
Under the proposed articles of association, possession of the
power to control management of the KGaA through ownership of the
general partner is conditioned upon ownership of a specific
minimum portion of our share capital. Under German law,
Fresenius AG could significantly reduce its holdings in our
share capital while at the same time retaining its control over
us through ownership of the general partner. Under our current
capital structure, a shareholder must hold more than 50% of our
ordinary shares, to exercise a controlling influence. If half
our share capital were issued as preference shares (the maximum
permissible by law), such controlling interest would represent
25% of our total share capital. This absolute threshold of 25%
of the total share capital is the basis for the provision in the
proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
requiring that a parent company within the group
40
hold an interest of more than 25% of the share capital of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. As a result, the general partner
will be required to withdraw from the KGaA if its shareholder no
longer holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the share
capital of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. The effect of this
provision is that the parent company within the group may not
reduce its capital participation in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
below such amount without causing the withdrawal of the general
partner. However, the articles of association also permit a
transfer of all shares in the general partner to us, which would
have the same effect as withdrawal of the general partner.
In addition, our articles of association provide that the
general partner must withdraw if the shares of the general
partner are acquired by a person who does not make an offer
under the German Takeover Act to acquire the shares of our other
shareholders within three months of the acquisition of the
general partner. The consideration to be offered to shareholders
must include any portion of the consideration paid for the
general partners shares in excess of the general
partners equity capital, even if the parties to the sale
allocate the premium solely to the general partners
shares. Our proposed articles of association provide that the
general partner can be acquired only by a purchaser who at the
same time acquires more than 25% of the KGaAs share
capital. Thus, this provision would trigger a takeover offer at
a lower threshold than the German Takeover Act, which requires
that a person who acquires at least 30% of a companys
shares make an offer to all shareholders. The provision will
enable shareholders to participate in any potential control
premium payable for the shares of the general partner, although
the obligations to make the purchase offer and extend the
control premium to shareholders could also have the effect of
discouraging a change of control.
In the event that the general partner withdraws from the
partnership as described above or for other reasons, the
proposed articles of association provide for continuation of the
partnership as a so-called unified KGaA
(Einheits-KGaA), i.e., a KGaA in which the general
partner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the KGaA. Upon the
coming into existence of a unified KGaA, the
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA shareholders would ultimately be
restored to the status as shareholders in a stock corporation,
since the shareholding rights in the general partner would be
exercised by the KGaA supervisory board pursuant to the proposed
articles of association. If the KGaA is continued as a
unified KGaA, an extraordinary or the next ordinary
general meeting would vote on a change in the legal form of the
partnership limited by shares into a stock corporation. The
change of legal form back to the stock corporation is
facilitated in this case, because the articles of association
provide for a simple majority vote and because the general
partner is obligated to consent to the transformation of legal
form.
The general partner of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will conduct
its business and will represent Fresenius Medical Care KGaA in
external relations. However, the Company will be represented by
its supervisory board in transactions with its general partner.
The general meeting will not be entitled to vote on business
measures which are outside the ordinary course of business. Our
current articles of association do not include a right to vote
on such matters and we intend to include a provision in the
articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA which
excludes such right. This does not affect the general
meetings right of approval with regard to measures of
unusual significance, such as a sale of a substantial part of a
companys assets, as developed in German Federal Supreme
Court decisions.
The general partner must be compensated by the partnership for
all outlays in connection with conducting the business of the
partnership, including the compensation of members of the
management board and the supervisory board. Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA itself is to bear all expenses of its administration.
Management AG is to devote itself exclusively to the management
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. In addition, the general partner
will receive compensation amounting to 4% of its capital for
assuming the liability and the management of the KGaA. This
payment constitutes a guaranteed return on Fresenius AGs
investment in the share capital of Management AG, which will
amount to 60,000
per annum. This payment is required for tax reasons, to avoid a
constructive dividend by the general partner to Fresenius AG in
the amount of reasonable compensation for undertaking liability
for the obligations of the KGaA.
The proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA do not contain a list of business management measures which
require the consent of its supervisory board. Due to the legal
41
differences between a stock corporation and a KGaA, the
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will not be
entitled to create or enact such a list.
The provisions of the proposed articles of association of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA on the general meeting correspond
for the most part to the provisions of our current articles of
association. In anticipation of certain forthcoming amendments
to the German Stock Corporation Act through the Act on Corporate
Integrity and Modernization of the Law on Shareholder Claims,
the articles provide that from the outset of the general meeting
the chairperson may place a reasonable time limit on the
shareholders right to speak and ask questions, insofar as
is permitted by law. This provision will not take effect until
the corresponding amendment to the German Stock Corporation Act
becomes effective.
The proposed articles of association provide that to the extent
legally required, the general partner must declare or refuse its
consent to resolutions adopted by the meeting directly at the
general meeting.
|
|
|
Annual Financial Statement and Allocation of Profits |
The proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA on rendering of accounts require that the annual financial
statement and allocation of profits of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA be submitted for approval to the general meeting of the
KGaA.
Corresponding to the current situation with Fresenius Medical
Care AG, the articles of association provide that
Management AG is authorized to transfer up to a maximum of
half of the annual surplus of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
to other retained earnings when setting up the annual financial
statements.
The proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA also contain a safeguard clause in case a provision in the
articles of association should subsequently prove to be invalid
in whole or in part or subsequently loses its validity. In this
case, the remaining provisions of the articles of association
will remain unaffected and a provision is to apply which best
fits the meaning and purpose of the articles of association.
|
|
|
Articles of Association of Management AG |
The articles of association of Management AG are expected to be
based essentially on our existing articles of association. In
particular, the current provisions of our articles of
association on relations between our management board and our
supervisory board will be incorporated into the new articles of
association of Management AG. The amount of Management AGs
share capital will be EUR 1,500,000 to be issued as
1,500,000 registered shares without par value. By law, notice of
any transfer of Management AGs shares must be provided to
the management board of Management AG in order for the
transferee to be recognized as a new shareholder by Management
AG.
Accounting Treatment
|
|
|
Conversion of Our Preference Shares into Ordinary
Shares |
Our preference shareholders participating in the conversion will
be required to pay a premium to convert their preference shares
into ordinary shares on a one-to-one basis. The conversion
premium has been calculated as a percentage of the difference
between the weighted average stock exchange price of the
ordinary shares and the weighted average stock exchange price of
the preference shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as
calculated for the three month period prior to our first
announcement of the conversion and the transformation. The
conversion premium will be placed in our capital reserves
without affecting our statement of operations. The amount of our
subscribed capital will not be affected by the conversion. The
total number of shares of both classes, issued, i.e. the
aggregate number of ordinary shares and preference shares, will
remain unchanged. However, the conversion of our preference
shares is expected to have an impact on the earnings (or loss)
per share available to the holders of our ordinary shares upon
conversion of our preference shares into ordinary shares.
42
|
|
|
Conversion of the Interests Held and Related Adjustments
under the Employee Participation Programs |
Our proposed offer to convert the interests held under the terms
of various employee participation programs is expected to result
in a new measurement date for the intrinsic value of awards
issued in exchange for the awards converted and may result in
variable accounting in interim and annual periods subsequent to
the conversion of the award in accordance with the regulations
set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued its final
standard on accounting for share-based payments, Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R (revised 2004),
Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R), that
requires companies to expense the cost of employee stock options
and similar awards. SFAS 123R requires determining the cost
that will be measured at fair value on the date of the
share-based payment awards based upon an estimate of the number
of awards expected to vest. We are obliged to adopt
SFAS 123R no later than the beginning of 2006.
|
|
|
Transformation of Legal Form |
The transformation of our legal form from a stock corporation
into a partnership limited by shares will not represent a
transaction that would result in measurement of the fair value
of the shares of the KGaA. The carrying amounts of the assets
and liabilities on our books will be carried over to the books
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA without adjustment as a result of
the transformation of the legal form. We will pay the costs of
the transformation transaction, including the costs of
soliciting shareholder approval of the transformation and
conversion proposals. Such costs, estimated to be approximately,
7,500,000.00
will be expensed under both U.S. and German GAAP. This estimate
includes formation costs, audit costs specifically relating to
the formation, the cost of required publications (in Germany and
the United States), costs of the extraordinary general meeting,
notary fees, court costs, stock exchange listing fees, costs of
preparing, reviewing and printing the German stock exchange
listing prospectus and the costs of external advisors (including
the fees of investment bankers, counsel and accountants in
Germany and the United States).
Appraisal Rights
The holders of preference shares and ordinary shares do not have
any appraisal rights in connection with the transformation under
German law. The German Stock Corporation Act provides expressly
that no offer of compensation to shareholders is required in
connection with a transformation from a stock corporation
(AG) to a partnership limited by shares (KGaA). Under
German law, an action may be brought to set aside a resolution
of the shareholders general meeting based on a violation
of law or the articles of association. Any such action must be
commenced within one month after adoption of the resolution.
United States Federal Securities Laws Consequences
The transformation of our ordinary shares and preference shares
held by United States persons into ordinary shares and
preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA has been
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. Shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA held by persons
who may be deemed affiliates of the Company may be
sold by such persons only in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 145 under the Securities Act, pursuant to an effective
registration under the Securities Act, or in transactions that
are exempt from registration under the Securities Act including
the exemption for offshore transactions pursuant to
Regulation S under the Securities Act. Rule 145
provides, in general, that our ordinary and preference shares
may be sold by an affiliate only if there is available adequate
public information with respect to the Company for the period
specified in Rule 145 and only if (a) the number of
shares sold within any three-month period does not exceed the
greater of (i) 1% of the total number of outstanding shares
of the applicable class, (ii) the average weekly trading
volume of such shares on the New York Stock Exchange during the
four calendar weeks immediately preceding the date on which
notice of the sales is filed with the SEC or (iii) the
average weekly volume of trading in such securities reported
through the consolidated transaction reporting system during
such four-week period, (b) certain current public
information is available regarding our Company (that
43
information will be available as long as we continue to file
annual reports and furnish other periodic reports with the SEC),
and (c) the shares are sold in transactions directly with a
market maker or in brokers
transactions within the meaning of Rule 144 under the
Securities Act.
The foregoing discussion applies solely to the ordinary shares
and preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA which may
be deemed to be issued in connection with the transformation of
the legal form, and not the ordinary shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA that are expected to be offered in connection with the
conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares. THIS
INFORMATION STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
OF ORDINARY SHARES UPON CONVERSION OF PREFERENCE SHARES OR A
SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO CONVERT PREFERENCE SHARES INTO
ORDINARY SHARES. ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE ONLY BY A SEPARATE
PROSPECTUS TO BE DISTRIBUTED FOLLOWING THE SHAREHOLDER
MEETINGS.
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE CONVERSION AND
TRANSFORMATION
Interest of Fresenius AG
Fresenius AG currently holds approximately 35.53 million of
our ordinary shares, constituting approximately 50.8% of our
outstanding ordinary shares. As the holder of a majority of our
voting shares, Fresenius AG is in a position to determine the
results of general meeting resolutions which require only a
simple majority, without regard to the vote of or attendance by
other shareholders. This applies, for example, to resolutions on
the election of members to the supervisory board and the
appointment of our auditors. We are therefore controlled by
Fresenius AG.
Because of its majority voting rights, Fresenius AG is entitled
and obliged to consolidate our financial statements completely
in its group financial statements. The ability to consolidate is
of major significance for Fresenius AG because it provides
comparable group financial statements on a consistent basis and
capital markets transparency. If the conversion of preference
shares into ordinary shares were implemented without the
transformation and Fresenius AG acquiring the general partner
interest, even a minimal participation of the preference
shareholders in the conversion process would lead to Fresenius
AG losing its voting majority in our general meeting.
Consequently, Fresenius AG would no longer be entitled to fully
consolidate our financial statements in its own financial
statements, since it would no longer control us. As a result,
Fresenius AG would be adversely affected by the conversion and
dilution of its voting rights in a manner that differs from the
effects on other ordinary shareholders. The benefits to the
other ordinary shareholders that arise from the conversion, such
as potentially increased liquidity and termination of the
dividend preference, would not fully compensate Fresenius AG,
since Fresenius AG does not presently intend to reduce its
shareholdings. Fresenius AG has informed us that it is willing
to implement the conversion of our outstanding preference shares
only in conjunction with the transformation of Fresenius Medical
Care AG into Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and acquisition of the
general partnership interest in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA,
which will enable it to continue to control us and to continue
to consolidate our financial statements in its financial
statements. However, if our preference shareholders do not
approve the conversion or if the conversion is delayed by
potential legal disputes, we will nevertheless complete the
transformation.
Maintenance of its controlling influence on us is also an
important component of Fresenius AGs business philosophy.
Fresenius AG and the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung, a
charitable foundation into which the Fresenius Group was
incorporated by inheritance and which holds a majority of the
ordinary shares of Fresenius AG, consider themselves obligated
by the testamentary disposition of the founder, which provides
that the business of the Fresenius Group of companies should
remain and continue together as long as possible. The dialysis
business now operated by us was a significant business division
of the Fresenius Group of companies at the time of the
testamentary deposition to the Else Kröner-Fresenius
Stiftung. Accordingly, both Fresenius AG and its controlling
shareholder, the Else Kröner-Fresenius
44
Stiftung, believe that we should continue to be an integral part
of the Fresenius Group under the control of Fresenius AG.
In addition to retaining its control of us, the various
transactions and relationships to which Fresenius AG and we are
parties will continue in effect after the transformation. For
information with respect to such matters, see Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions Related
Party Transaction in our 2004 Form 20-F.
Under the proposed articles of association of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA, Fresenius AG will receive a guaranteed return on its
capital investment in the general partner. See The
Conversion and Transformation The Legal Structure of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA The Articles of
Association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
Interest of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board
The members of our management board will become the members of
the management board of the general partner. Their service
contracts and compensation arrangements will contain the same
terms and conditions after the transformation. The KGaA will
reimburse the general partner for its expenses in connection
with the management and administration of the partnership,
including compensation paid to the general partners
management board.
All or most of the members of our supervisory board will become
the members of the general partners supervisory board and
(other than Dr. Ulf M. Schneider) will also become the
members of the supervisory board of the KGaA. At our general
meeting in May 2005, our articles of association were amended to
increase the compensation of the members of our supervisory
board. The members of our supervisory board will receive
additional remuneration for their service on the supervisory
board of the general partner. However, our articles of
association and those of Management AG provide that if a person
is a member of the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA and of the supervisory board of Management AG and
receives compensation for such service from Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA and from Management AG, both his fixed fee
compensation as a member of the supervisory board of the KGaA
and his fixed fee compensation as a member of the supervisory
board of Management AG will be reduced by half. As a result,
those persons who are members of both supervisory boards receive
the fixed fee remuneration provided in the articles of
association only once. The same rule shall apply if the chairman
or deputy chairman of our supervisory board also serves as the
chairman or deputy chairman, respectively, of
Management AG. In addition, a person who serves
simultaneously as deputy chairman of our supervisory board and
as chairman of the supervisory board of Management AG, or
as deputy chairman of the supervisory board of
Management AG and chairman of our supervisory board, will
be compensated only for service as chairman of the applicable
supervisory board.
45
CERTAIN TAX CONSEQUENCES
The discussion below is a summary of certain United States
federal and German tax consequences generally applicable to
U.S. holders (as defined below) of the receipt and
ownership of ADSs representing preference shares and ordinary
shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. A U.S. holder is
|
|
|
|
|
any citizen or resident of the U.S.; |
|
|
|
a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized
in or under the laws of the U.S. or any political
subdivision thereof; or |
|
|
|
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
U.S. federal income taxation regardless of source of income. |
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code), the U.S. Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder, Internal Revenue Service
rulings, interpretations and judicial decisions, and German tax
law, as currently in effect. All of these statutes, regulations
and interpretations are subject to change at any time. Any
change may be applied retroactively to the transactions
described herein.
The discussion below is not a complete analysis of all of the
potential U.S. federal and German tax consequences of
receiving and holding ADSs of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. In
addition, the U.S. federal and German tax consequences to
particular U.S. holders, such as insurance companies,
tax-exempt entities, investors holding ADSs through partnerships
or other fiscally transparent entities, investors liable for the
alternative minimum tax, investors that hold ADSs as part of a
straddle or a hedge, investors whose functional currency is not
the U.S. dollar, financial institutions and dealers in
securities, and to non-U.S. holders may be different from
that discussed herein. Investors should consult their own tax
advisors with respect to the particular United States federal
and German tax consequences applicable to receiving and holding
ADSs of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
German Tax Consequences of the Transformation
We have received a tax opinion from Nörr Stiefenhofer
Lutz Partnerschaft, which has been filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus, on the basis of the facts, assumptions,
representations and covenants all of which must be true and
accurate in all respects as of the effective time of the
transformation. The tax opinion may be summarized as follows:
|
|
|
Consequences to the Company |
We will not recognize any gain or loss upon consummation of the
transformation, because no assets will be transferred and no
special provisions as to taxation are applicable. Because our
existing shareholders will become shareholders of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA and will not take the position of general
partners, no system change from a capital corporation into a
partnership will occur for tax purposes. The transformation of
our legal form into a KGaA does not involve a transfer of assets
and therefore value added tax is not payable. Because the
transformation of legal form does not involve a change of legal
entity, no real estate transfer tax arises. As the
transformation does not result in an assignment of assets by us,
it does not result in either a detrimental change of
shareholders in subsidiary partnerships which would be subject
to real estate transfer tax or a detrimental transfer of
shareholdings which would also be subject to real estate
transfer tax.
The conversion and the transformation may result in the
termination of the existing VAT tax group between us and
Fresenius AG. After the conversion and the transformation and
possibly without having a VAT tax group in place between
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA and Fresenius AG, there should be no
material adverse VAT consequences.
|
|
|
Consequences to Shareholders |
Because the transformation of our legal form into a KGaA does
not constitute a sale, our shareholders will not realize any
capital gain. Our shareholders who reflect their shareholdings
in us on their balance sheets will continue to do so with
respect to their holdings in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
46
A tax opinion of counsel represents counsels best legal
judgment and is not binding on the German tax authorities or any
court. No ruling has been or will be sought from the German tax
authorities as to the tax consequences of the transformation. No
assurance can be given that a position contrary to that
expressed in the tax opinion will not be asserted by the German
tax authorities and, ultimately sustained by a court.
German Tax Consequences of the Conversion
|
|
|
Consequences to the Company |
Under German income tax law, the conversion of preference shares
into ordinary shares and the discounted premium payments should
be tax neutral for the Company. The premium payments will be
shown in our contribution account for tax purposes.
|
|
|
Consequences to the Shareholders |
Under German income tax law, the conversion of our outstanding
preference shares into ordinary shares and the discounted
premium payments should not have a tax effect for our
shareholders. The conversion premium payable by shareholders
will constitute subsequent costs of acquisition for the ordinary
shares.
U.S. Tax Consequences of the Transformation
It is anticipated that the transformation will qualify as a
tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We
have received a legal opinion from OMelveny &
Myers LLP, which has been filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement that includes this prospectus, to the
effect that, on the basis of the facts, assumptions,
representations, and covenants set forth or referred to therein,
all of which must be true and accurate in all respects as of the
effective time of the transformation, the transformation will be
a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code. The remainder of the discussion assumes that the
transformation qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code.
U.S. holders of our ADSs will not recognize gain or loss
upon their receipt of ADSs of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA solely
in exchange for their ADSs of Fresenius Medical Care AG. The
aggregate tax basis of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA ADSs received
in the transformation will be the same as the aggregate tax
basis of the Fresenius Medical Care AG ADSs surrendered
therefor. The holding period of the Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
ADSs will include the holding period of the Fresenius Medical
Care AG ADSs exchanged therefor.
Non-U.S. holders will not recognize gain or loss for
U.S. federal income tax purposes upon their receipt of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA ADSs in exchange for Fresenius
Medical Care AG ADSs pursuant to the transformation.
An opinion of counsel represents counsels best legal
judgment and is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or
any court. No ruling has been, or will be, sought from the
Internal Revenue Service as to the tax consequences of the
transformation, and no authority exists directly on point.
Accordingly, there can be no certainty that the Internal Revenue
Service will not challenge the conclusions set forth in the
opinion stated or referred to herein or that a court would not
sustain such a challenge.
U.S. and German Tax Consequences of Holding ADSs
|
|
|
Tax Treatment of Dividends |
Currently, German corporations are required to withhold tax on
dividends paid to resident and non-resident shareholders. The
required withholding rate applicable is 20% plus a solidarity
surcharge of 5.5% thereon, equal to 1.1% of the gross dividend
(i.e., 5.5% of the 20% tax). Accordingly, a total German
withholding tax of 21.1% of the gross dividend is required. A
partial refund of this withholding tax can be obtained by
U.S. holders under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty. For
U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. holders are
taxable on dividends paid by German corporations subject to a
foreign tax credit for certain German income taxes paid. The
amount of the refund of German withholding tax and the
determination of the foreign tax credit allowable against
U.S. federal income tax depend on whether the
U.S. holder is a corporation owning at least 10% of the
voting stock of the German corporation.
47
In the case of any U.S. holder, other than a
U.S. corporation owning our ADSs representing at least 10%
of our outstanding voting stock, the German withholding tax is
partially refunded under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty to reduce
the withholding tax to 15% of the gross amount of the dividend.
Thus, for each $100 of gross dividend that we pay to a
U.S. holder, other than a U.S. corporation owning our
ADSs representing at least 10% of our outstanding voting stock,
the dividend after partial refund of $6.10 of the $21.10
withholding tax under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty will be subject
to a German withholding tax of $15. For U.S. foreign tax
credit purposes, the U.S. holder would report dividend
income of $100 (to the extent paid out of current and
accumulated earnings and profits) and foreign taxes paid of $15,
for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit or the
deduction for taxes paid.
Subject to certain exceptions, dividends received by a
non-corporate U.S. holder will be subject to a maximum U.S.
federal income tax rate of 15%. The lower rate applies to
dividends only if the ADSs in respect of which such dividend is
paid have been held by you for at least 61 days during the
121 day period beginning 60 days before the
ex-dividend date. Periods during which you hedge a position in
our ADSs or related property may not count for purposes of the
holding period test. The dividends would also not be eligible
for the lower rate if you elect to take dividends into account
as investment income for purposes of limitations on deductions
for investment income. U.S. holders should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced
dividend rate in light of their own particular circumstances.
In the case of a corporate U.S. holder owning our ADSs
representing at least 10% of our outstanding voting stock, the
21.1% German withholding tax is reduced under the U.S.-German
Tax Treaty to 5% of the gross amount of the dividend. Such a
corporate U.S. holder may, therefore, apply for a refund of
German withholding tax in the amount of 16.1% of the gross
amount of the dividends. A corporate U.S. holder will
generally not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction
generally allowed to U.S. corporations in respect of dividends
received from other U.S. corporations.
Subject to certain complex limitations, a U.S. holder is
generally entitled to a foreign tax credit equal to the portion
of the withholding tax that cannot be refunded under the
U.S.-German Tax Treaty.
Dividends paid in Euros to a U.S. holder of ADSs will be
included in income in a dollar amount calculated by reference to
the exchange rate in effect on the date the dividends, including
the deemed refund of German corporate tax, are included in
income by such a U.S. holder. If dividends paid in Euros
are converted into dollars on the date included in income,
U.S. holders generally should not be required to recognize
foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.
Under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty the refund of German tax,
including the withholding tax, Treaty payment and solidarity
surcharge, will not be granted when the ADSs are part of the
business property of a U.S. holders permanent
establishment located in Germany or are part of the assets of an
individual U.S. holders fixed base located in Germany
and used for the performance of independent personal services.
But then withholding tax and solidarity surcharge may be
credited against German income tax liability.
To claim a refund under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty, the
U.S. holder must submit a claim for refund to the German
tax authorities, with the original bank voucher, or certified
copy thereof issued by the paying entity documenting the tax
withheld within four years from the end of the calendar year in
which the dividend is received. Claims for refund are made on a
special German claim for refund form, which must be filed with
the German tax authorities: Bundesamt für Finanzen, 53221
Bonn-Beuel, Germany. The claim refund forms may be obtained from
the German tax authorities at the same address where the
applications are filed, or from the Embassy of the Federal
Republic of Germany, 4645 Reservoir Road, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20007-1998, or from the Office of
International Operations, Internal Revenue Service, 1325 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20225, Attention: Taxpayer
Service Division, Room 900 or can be downloaded from the
homepage of the Bundesamt für Finanzen
(www.bff-online.de).
48
U.S. holders must also submit to the German tax authorities
certification of their last filed U.S. federal income tax
return. Certification is obtained from the office of the
Director of the Internal Revenue Service Center by filing a
request for certification with the Internal Revenue Service
Center, Foreign Certificate Request, P.O. Box 16347,
Philadelphia, PA 19114-0447. Requests for certification are to
be made in writing and must include the U.S. holders
name, address, phone number, social security number or employer
identification number, tax return form number, and tax period
for which certification is requested. The Internal Revenue
Service will send the certification back to the U.S. holder
for filing with the German tax authorities.
U.S. holders of ADSs who receive a refund attributable to
reduced withholding taxes under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty may
be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss, which
will be treated as ordinary income or loss, to the extent that
the dollar value of the refund received by the U.S. holders
differs from the dollar equivalent of the refund on the date the
dividend on which such withholding taxes were imposed was
received by the depositary or the U.S. holder, as the case
may be.
|
|
|
Taxation of Capital Gains |
Under the U.S.-German Tax Treaty, a U.S. holder who is not
a resident of Germany for German tax purposes will not be liable
for German tax on capital gains realized or accrued on the sale
or other disposition of ADSs unless the ADSs are part of the
business property of a permanent establishment located in
Germany or are part of the assets of a fixed base of an
individual located in Germany and used for the performance of
independent personal services.
Upon a sale or other disposition of the ADSs, a U.S. holder
will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the U.S. holders tax basis in the ADSs.
Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss if the
ADSs are held by the U.S. holder as a capital asset, and
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the
U.S. holders holding period for the ADSs exceeds one
year. Individual U.S. holders are generally taxed at a
maximum 15% rate on net long-term capital gains.
|
|
|
Gift and Inheritance Taxes |
The U.S.-Germany estate, inheritance and gift tax treaty
provides that an individual whose domicile is determined to be
in the U.S. for purposes of such treaty will not be subject
to German inheritance and gift tax, the equivalent of the
U.S. federal estate and gift tax, on the individuals
death or making of a gift unless the ADSs are part of the
business property of a permanent establishment located in
Germany or are part of the assets of a fixed base of an
individual located in Germany and used for the performance of
independent personal services. An individuals domicile in
the U.S., however, does not prevent imposition of German
inheritance and gift tax with respect to an heir, donee, or
other beneficiary who is domiciled in Germany at the time the
individual died or the gift was made.
Such treaty also provides a credit against U.S. federal
estate and gift tax liability for the amount of inheritance and
gift tax paid in Germany, subject to certain limitations, in a
case where ADSs are subject to German inheritance or gift tax
and U.S. federal estate or gift tax.
There are no German transfer, stamp or other similar taxes that
would apply to U.S. holders who purchase or sell ADSs.
|
|
|
United States Information Reporting and Backup
Withholding |
Dividends and payments of the proceeds on a sale of ADSs, paid
within the United States or through U.S.-related financial
intermediaries are subject to information reporting and may be
subject to backup withholding unless you (1) are a
corporation or other exempt recipient or (2) provide a
taxpayer
49
identification number and certify (on Internal Revenue Service
Form W-9) that no loss of exemption from backup withholding
has occurred.
Non-U.S. shareholders are not U.S. persons generally
subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However,
a non-U.S. holder may be required to provide a
certification (generally on Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN) of its non-U.S. status in connection with
payments received in the United States or through a U.S.-related
financial intermediary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARES OF FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE
AG & CO. KGaA
The following description of the capital shares of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA describes the material terms of our bearer
ordinary shares and our bearer non-voting preference shares, but
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the form of articles of association of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA to be approved at the extraordinary general
meeting in connection with the proposal to approve the
transformation. An English translation of the form of articles
of association of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA is annexed as
Appendix A to this information statement/ prospectus. For
information with respect to the deposit agreements pursuant to
which our shares will be held on behalf of
U.S. shareholders who choose to hold such shares in the
form of American Depositary Receipts, see Description of
American Depositary Receipts.
General
Our present share capital consists of
246,924,300.80,
divided into 70,000,000 ordinary shares without par value
(Stückaktien) and 26,454,805 non-voting preference
shares without par value (Stückaktien). Prior to the
conversion offer we intend to make to the holders of our
preference shares, our share capital will consist of
246,924,300.80,
plus 2.56 per
share for each additional non-voting preference share issued
after July 19, 2005 upon the exercise of options under our
stock option plans. If the holders of all of our outstanding
preference shares accept the proposed conversion offer in
accordance with the terms of the offer when we make it, the
share capital of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will consist of
246,924,300.80,
plus 2.56 per
share for each additional non-voting preference share issued
after July 19, 2005, consisting solely of ordinary shares
without par value (Stückaktien). All Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA shares will be in bearer form. We may issue
share certificates in global form (Sammelurkunden).
Shareholders are not entitled to have their shareholdings issued
in certificated form. All shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
will be freely transferable, subject to any applicable
restrictions imposed by the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or other applicable laws.
Authorized Capital
By resolution of our general meeting of shareholders on
May 23, 2001 and May 24, 2005, our management board
was authorized, with the approval of the supervisory board, to
increase under certain conditions our share capital through the
issue of preference shares. Such authorizations are effective
until May 22, 2006 and May 23, 2010, respectively. We
propose to revoke such authorizations at the extraordinary
general meeting.
Furthermore, we propose for resolution by the extraordinary
general meeting that the general partner (the management board
prior to the registration of the transformation), will be
authorized, with the approval of our supervisory board, to
increase, on one or more occasions, our share capital until
August 29, 2010 by a maximum amount of EUR 35,000,000
through issue of new ordinary shares against cash contributions,
our Authorized Capital I. The general partner will also be
entitled, subject to the approval of our supervisory board, to
decide on the exclusion of statutory pre-emption rights of the
shareholders. However, such an exclusion of pre-emption rights
will only be permissible for fractional amounts. The newly
issued shares may be taken up by certain credit institutions
determined by the general partner if such credit institutions
are obliged to offer the shares to the shareholders (indirect
pre-emption rights). The general partner will also be entitled,
subject to the approval of our supervisory board, to determine
further details of the increases of the capital out of our
Authorized Capital I.
50
In addition, we propose for resolution by the extraordinary
general meeting that the general partner (the management board
prior to the registration of the transformation), will be
authorized, with the approval of our supervisory board, to
increase, on one or more occasions, the share capital of our
Company until August 29, 2010 by a maximum amount of Euro
25,000,000 through the issue of new ordinary shares against cash
contributions or contributions in kind, our Authorized
Capital II. The general partner will also be entitled,
subject to the approval of our supervisory board, to decide on
an exclusion of statutory pre-emption rights of the
shareholders. However, such exclusion of pre-emption rights will
be permissible only if, (i) in case of a capital increase
against cash contributions, the nominal value of the issued
shares does not exceed 10% of the nominal share value of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaAs share capital and the issue
price for the new shares is at the time of its determination by
the general partner not significantly lower than the stock
exchange price of the existing listed shares of the same type
and with the same rights or, (ii) in case of a capital
increase against contributions in kind, the purpose of such
increase is to acquire an enterprise, parts of an enterprise or
an interest in an enterprise. The general partner will also be
entitled, subject to the approval of our supervisory board, to
determine further details of the increases of the capital out of
our Authorized Capital II.
For additional information regarding our proposed authorized
capital, see The Meetings The Conversion and
Transformation Proposals.
Conditional Capital
Through our employee participation programs, consisting of
employee stock option programs and an international employee
participation scheme, we have issued convertible bonds and stock
option/subscription rights (Bezugsrechte) to employees
and the members of the management board of Fresenius Medical
Care AG and employees and members of management of affiliated
companies that entitle these persons to receive preference
shares. With the implementation of the conversion, these
programs shall be adjusted to the effect that the conversion
rights and subscription rights refer to ordinary shares. We
intend to put the participants in those programs in the same
economic position in which they would have been without the
implementation of the proposed conversion of preference shares
into ordinary shares.
We propose for resolution by the extraordinary general meeting
that our share capital be contingently increased through the
issue of new non-voting preference shares and, if the conversion
is implemented, new ordinary shares. The resolutions authorizing
the increases in our share capital can be found under The
Meetings The Conversion and Transformation
Proposals. The conditional capital increases will be made
only to the extent that (i) convertible bonds for no par
value shares are issued pursuant to the stock option program
approved by the general shareholders meeting of
September 24, 1996 and insofar as the holders of such
convertible bonds exercise their conversion rights,
(ii) stock options are granted pursuant to the stock option
program approved by the general shareholders meetings of
June 10, 1998 and of May 30, 2000 and insofar as the
owners of such stock options exercise their subscription rights,
and/or (iii) convertible bonds for no par value shares are
issued pursuant to the international participation scheme for
employees approved by the general shareholders meeting of
May 23, 2001 and insofar as the holders of such convertible
bonds exercise their conversion rights. The new non-voting
preference shares and the new ordinary shares will participate
in the profits as from the beginning of the fiscal year in which
they are created as a result of exercise of the conversion
rights (in the case of shares issued upon conversion of
convertible bonds) or as from the beginning of the fiscal year
in which they are issued (in the case of shares issued upon
exercise of stock options).
Depending on the rate of acceptance of the conversion offer
among the participants in our employee participation programs,
the conditional capital created to cover the convertible bonds
and the stock options will change. The supervisory board is
therefore authorized to adjust the wording of the proposed
amendments to our articles of association, i.e. the number of
shares and the division of the share capital between preference
shares and ordinary shares, prior to the registration of the
resolution on the transformation of legal form with the
commercial register, to the extent made necessary by the
implementation of the adjustments of these programs and any
issue of shares out of existing conditional capital during the
period between the extraordinary general meeting and completion
of the conversion. The
51
authority granted to the supervisory board includes adjusting
the share amounts and Euro amounts set forth in square brackets
and completing the blanks in the resolutions set forth under
The Meetings The Conversion and Transformation
Proposals.
Voting Rights
Each ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to one vote at
general meetings of shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
Resolutions are passed at an ordinary general or an
extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders by a majority
of the votes cast, unless a higher vote is required by law or
our articles of association (such as the provisions in the
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA articles of association relating to
the election of our supervisory board). Fresenius AG as
shareholder of the general partner will not by statute be
entitled to vote with its ordinary shares in the election or
removal of members of the supervisory board, the ratification of
the acts of the general partners and members of the supervisory
board, the appointment of special auditors, the assertion of
compensation claims against members of the executive bodies
arising out of the management of the Company, the waiver of
compensation claims and the appointment of auditors. In the case
of resolutions regarding such matters Fresenius AGs voting
rights may also not be exercised by any other person.
Our preference shares do not have any voting rights, except as
described in this paragraph. If we do not pay the minimum annual
dividend payable on the preference shares for any year in the
following year, and we do not pay both the dividend arrearage
and the dividend payable on the preference shares for such
following year in full in the next following year, then the
preference shares shall have the same voting rights as the
ordinary shares (one vote for each share held or for each three
ADSs held) until all preference share dividend arrearages are
fully paid up. In addition, holders of preference shares are
entitled to vote on most matters affecting their preferential
rights, such as changes in the rate of the preferential
dividend. Any such vote requires the affirmative vote of 75% of
the votes cast in a meeting of holders of preference shares.
Dividend Rights
The general partner will prepare and submit the annual financial
statements for each fiscal year to our supervisory board and
will propose any dividends for approval at the annual general
meeting of shareholders. Usually, shareholders vote on a
recommendation made by management (i.e., the general partner)
and the supervisory board as to the amount of dividends to be
paid. Any dividends are paid once a year, generally, immediately
following our annual general meeting.
Under German law, dividends may only be paid from our balance
sheet profits as determined by our unconsolidated annual
financial statements (Bilanzgewinn) as approved by our
annual general meeting of shareholders and the general partner.
Unlike our consolidated annual financial statements, which are
prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), the
unconsolidated annual financial statements referred to above are
prepared on the basis of the accounting principles of the German
Commercial Code (HGB). Since our ordinary shares and our
preference shares that are entitled to dividend payments are
held in a clearing system, the dividends will be paid in
accordance with the rules of the individual clearing system. We
will publish notice of the dividends paid and the appointment of
the paying agent or agents for this purpose in the electronic
version of the German Federal Gazette (elektronischer
Bundesanzeiger).
In the case of holders of ADRs, the depositary will receive all
dividends and distributions on all deposited securities and
will, as promptly as practicable, distribute the dividends and
distributions to the holders of ADRs entitled to the dividend.
See Description of American Depositary
Receipts Share Dividends and Other
Distributions.
Liquidation Rights
Our company may be dissolved by a resolution of our general
shareholders meeting passed with a majority of three
quarters of our share capital represented at such general
meeting and the approval of the
52
general partner. In accordance with the German Stock Corporation
Act (Aktiengesetz), in such a case, any liquidation
proceeds remaining after paying all of our liabilities will be
distributed among our shareholders in proportion to the total
number of shares held by each shareholder. The preference shares
are not entitled to a preference in liquidation.
Pre-emption Rights
Under the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz),
each shareholder in a stock corporation or partnership limited
by shares has a preferential right to subscribe for any issue by
that company of shares, debt instruments convertible into
shares, e.g. convertible bonds or option bonds, and
participating debt instruments, e.g. profit participation rights
or participating certificates, in proportion to the number of
shares held by that shareholder in the existing share capital of
the company. Such pre-emption rights are freely assignable.
These rights may also be traded on German stock exchanges within
a specified period of time prior to the expiration of the
subscription period. Our general shareholders meeting may
exclude pre-emption rights by passing a resolution with a
majority of at least three quarters of our share capital
represented at the general meeting at which the resolution to
exclude the pre-emption rights is passed. In addition, an
exclusion of pre-emption rights requires a report by the general
partner justifying the exclusion by explaining why the interest
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA in excluding the pre-emption
rights outweighs our shareholders interests in receiving
such rights. Such justification is not required for any issue of
new shares if:
|
|
|
|
|
we increase our share capital against contributions in cash; |
|
|
|
the amount of the capital increase does not exceed 10% of our
existing share capital; and |
|
|
|
the issue price is not significantly lower than the price for
the shares quoted on a stock exchange. |
General Meeting
Our annual general meeting must be held within the first eight
months of each fiscal year at the location of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaAs registered office, or in a German city where a
stock exchange is situated or at the location of a registered
office of a domestic affiliated company. To attend the general
meeting and exercise voting rights, shareholders must deposit
their shares no later than on the fifth day before such general
shareholders meeting with the company, a notary in
Germany, or a bank for the central depository of securities
(Wertpapiersammelbank) or with any other body designated
in the notice of meeting. The deposit must be made during normal
business hours and remain in effect until the end of the general
shareholders meeting. If credit institutions are closed on
the last day for deposit, the deposit must be made by the end of
the preceding working day of the credit institutions. Shares
shall be deemed to have been properly deposited if they are
blocked until the end of the general shareholders meeting
at a credit institution in the name of and with the consent of a
depository. Voting rights may be exercised by proxy.
53
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
The following description of our American Depositary Receipts
discusses American Depositary Receipts evidencing our ordinary
ADSs and our preference ADSs. As described below, however, under
Stock Exchange Listing and Trading, we cannot assure
holders of our preference ADSs that, after the conversion and
the transformation, the preference ADSs of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA will be eligible for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange or that we will be able to maintain an American
Depositary Receipt facility for the preference shares of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
General
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association
organized under the laws of the United States, is the
depositary for our ordinary shares and preference shares. Each
American Depositary Share (ADS) represents an ownership
interest in one-third of one ordinary share or one-third of one
preference share. We deposit the underlying shares with a
custodian, as agent of the depositary, under the deposit
agreements among ourselves, the depositary and all of the ADS
holders of the applicable class. Each ADS also represents any
securities, cash or other property deposited with the depositary
but not distributed by it directly to ADS holders. The ADSs are
evidenced by securities called American depositary receipts or
ADRs. An ADR may be issued in either book-entry or certificated
form by the depositary. If an ADR is issued in book-entry form,
owners will receive periodic statements from the depositary
showing their ownership interest in ADSs.
The depositarys office is located at 4 New York Plaza, New
York, NY 10004, U.S.A.
An investor may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through
a broker or other financial institution. Investors who hold ADSs
directly, by having an ADS registered in their names on the
books of the depositary, are ADR holders. This description
assumes an investor holds ADSs directly. Investors who hold ADSs
through their brokers or financial institution nominees must
rely on the procedures of their brokers or financial
institutions to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in
this section. Investors should consult with their brokers or
financial institutions to find out what those procedures are.
Because the depositarys nominee will actually be the
registered owner of the shares, investors must rely on it to
exercise the rights of a shareholder on their behalf. The
obligations of the depositary and its agents are set out in the
deposit agreement. The deposit agreement and the ADSs are
governed by New York law.
The deposit agreements establishing the ADR facilities for our
ordinary shares and preference shares provide that, upon the
conversion, the ordinary shares and preference shares of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA into which our ordinary shares and
preference shares held by the depositary will be converted will
continue to be treated as deposited securities under
the respective deposit agreements. As a result, upon
registration of the conversion, ADSs representing the right to
receive our ordinary shares and preference shares will
thereafter represent ADS representing the right to ordinary and
preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, and ADRs
evidencing our ADSs will thereafter evidence Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA ADSs. With our consent, however, the depositary may
require ADR holders to submit their ADRs and distribute new ADRs
that evidence ADS of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. In the event
the depositary elects to do so, holders of our ADRs will be
notified by the depositary and provided with instructions to
carry out such a conversion. We intend to carry out the
conversion in a manner that does not result in a disruption of
trading in our ordinary ADSs. Trading in the preference share
ADSs is likely to be adversely affected by the conversion if the
preference share ADSs are not listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, and the lack of such a listing for the preference
share ADSs could result in termination of the preference share
ADS facility. See Stock Exchange Listing and Trading.
The following is a summary of the material terms of the deposit
agreements. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the
information that may be important to investors. Except as
specifically noted, the description covers both ordinary ADSs
and, if we maintain an American Depositary Receipt facility for
the preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA after the
conversion and the transformation, preference ADSs. For more
complete information, investors should read the entire
applicable deposit
54
agreements and the form of ADR of the relevant class which
contains the terms of the ADSs. Investors may obtain a copy of
the deposit agreements at the SECs Public Reference Room,
located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549.
Share Dividends and Other Distributions
We may make different types of distributions with respect to our
ordinary shares and our preference shares. The depositary has
agreed to pay to investors the cash dividends or other
distributions it or the custodian receives on the shares or
other deposited securities, after deducting its expenses.
Investors will receive these distributions in proportion to the
number of underlying shares of the applicable class their ADSs
represent.
Except as stated below, to the extent the depositary is legally
permitted it will deliver distributions to ADR holders in
proportion to their interests in the following manner:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash. The depositary shall convert cash distributions
from foreign currency to U.S. dollars if this is
permissible and can be done on a reasonable basis. The
depositary will endeavor to distribute cash in a practicable
manner, and may deduct any taxes or other governmental charges
required to be withheld, any expenses of converting foreign
currency and transferring funds to the United States, and
certain other expenses and adjustments. In addition, before
making a distribution the depositary will deduct any taxes
withheld. If exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the
depositary cannot convert a foreign currency, investors may lose
some or all of the value of the distribution. |
|
|
|
Shares. If we make a distribution in shares, the
depositary will issue additional ADRs to evidence the number of
ADSs representing the distributed shares. Only whole ADSs will
be issued. Any shares which would result in fractional ADSs will
be sold and the net proceeds will be distributed to the ADR
holders otherwise entitled to receive fractional ADSs. |
|
|
|
Rights to receive additional shares. In the case of a
distribution of pre-emption rights to subscribe for ordinary
shares or preference shares, or other subscription rights, if we
provide satisfactory evidence that the depositary may lawfully
distribute the rights, the depositary may arrange for ADR
holders to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the
rights. However, if we do not furnish the required evidence or
if the depositary determines it is not practical to distribute
the rights, the depositary may |
|
|
|
|
|
sell the rights if practicable and distribute the net proceeds
as cash, or |
|
|
|
allow the rights to lapse, in which case ADR holders will
receive nothing. |
We have no obligation to file a registration statement under the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act) in order to make any rights
available to ADR holders.
|
|
|
|
|
Other Distributions. If we make a distribution of
securities or property other than those described above, the
depositary may either: |
|
|
|
|
|
distribute the securities or property in any manner it deems
fair and equitable; |
|
|
|
after consultation with us if practicable, sell the securities
or property and distribute any net proceeds in the same way it
distributes cash; or |
|
|
|
hold the distributed property in which case the ADSs will also
represent the distributed property. |
Any U.S. dollars will be distributed by checks drawn on a
bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents
(fractional cents will be withheld without liability for
interest and handled in accordance with the depositarys
then current practices).
The depositary may choose any practical method of distribution
for any specific ADR holder, including the distribution of
foreign currency, securities or property, or it may retain the
items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf
of the ADR holder as deposited securities.
55
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is
unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any
ADR holders.
There can be no assurance that the depositary will be able to
convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any
property, rights, shares or other securities at a specified
price, or that any of these transactions can be completed within
a specified time period.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
The depositary will issue ADSs if an investor or his broker
deposits ordinary shares or preference shares or evidence of
rights to receive ordinary shares or preference shares with the
custodian. Shares deposited with the custodian must be
accompanied by certain documents, including instruments showing
that such shares have been properly transferred or endorsed to
the person on whose behalf the deposit is being made.
The custodian will hold all deposited shares for the account of
the depositary. ADR holders thus have no direct ownership
interest in the shares and only have the rights that are
contained in the deposit agreements. The custodian will also
hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or
in substitution for the deposited shares. The deposited shares
and any additional items are referred to as deposited
securities.
Upon each deposit of shares, receipt of related delivery
documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the
deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges
of the depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing,
the depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs of the applicable class
in the name of the person entitled to them. The ADR or ADRs will
evidence the number of ADSs to which the person making the
deposit is entitled. Certificated ADRs will be delivered at the
depositarys principal New York office or any other
location that it may designate as its transfer office.
All ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the
contrary, be part of the depositarys book-entry direct
registration system, and a registered holder will receive
periodic statements from the depositary which will show the
number of ADSs registered in the holders name. An ADR
holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the
depositarys direct registration system and that a
certificated ADR be issued. If ADRs are in book-entry form, a
statement setting forth the holders ownership interest
will be mailed to holders by the depositary.
When an investor surrenders ADSs at the depositarys
office, the depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable
fees, charges and taxes, and upon receipt of proper
instructions, deliver the whole number of shares of the
applicable class represented by the ADSs turned in to the
account the investor directs within Clearstream Banking AG, the
central German clearing firm.
The depositary may restrict the withdrawal of deposited
securities only in connection with:
|
|
|
|
|
temporary delays caused by closing our transfer books or those
of the depositary, or the deposit of shares in connection with
voting at a shareholders meeting, or the payment of
dividends, |
|
|
|
the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, or |
|
|
|
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental
regulations relating to the ADRs. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other
provision of the applicable deposit agreement.
Voting Rights
Only the depositarys nominee is able to exercise voting
rights with respect to deposited shares. Upon receipt of a
request from the depositary for voting instructions, a holder of
ADSs may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting
rights for the shares which underlie their ADSs. After receiving
voting materials from us, the depositary will notify the ADR
holders of any general shareholders meeting or
solicitation of consents or proxies. This notice will describe
how holders may instruct the depositary to
56
exercise voting rights for the shares which underlie their ADSs.
For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them
on or before the date specified in the depositarys request
for instructions. The depositary will try, as far as is
practical, subject to the provisions of and governing the
underlying shares or other deposited securities, to vote or to
have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as
instructed. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as
holders instruct. The depositary will not itself exercise any
voting discretion. Neither the depositary nor its agents are
responsible for any failure to carry out any voting
instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for
the effect of any vote.
Our preference shares are non-voting, except in a limited number
of circumstances. In those circumstances in which preference
shares are entitled to vote, the procedures and limitations
described above will apply in connection with the
depositarys request for voting instructions from holders
of ADSs representing preference shares.
There is no guarantee that holders will receive voting materials
in time to instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible
that holders, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers,
dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to
exercise a right to vote.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED POOLING ARRANGEMENTS
Fresenius Medical Care AG, Fresenius AG and the independent
directors of Fresenius Medical Care AG are parties to two
pooling agreements for the benefit of the holders of our
ordinary shares and the holders of our preference shares (other
than Fresenius AG and its affiliates). Upon consummation of the
transformation, we expect to enter into pooling arrangements
that we believe will provide similar benefits for the holders of
the ordinary shares and preference shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA. The following is a summary of the material provisions
of the pooling arrangements which we expect to enter into with
Fresenius AG and our independent directors.
General
The pooling arrangements will be entered into for the benefit of
all persons who, from time to time, beneficially own our
ordinary shares, including owners of ADSs evidencing our
ordinary shares, other than Fresenius AG and its affiliates or
their agents and representatives, and persons from time to time
beneficially owning our preference shares (including, if we
maintain an ADR facility for our preference shares after the
transformation, ADSs evidencing our preference shares), other
than Fresenius AG and its affiliates or their agents and
representatives. Beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with the beneficial ownership rules of the SEC.
Independent Directors
Under the pooling arrangements, no less than one-third of the
supervisory board of Management AG, the general partner of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, must be independent directors, and
there must be at least two independent directors. Independent
directors are persons without a substantial business or
professional relationship with us, Fresenius AG, or any
affiliate of either, other than as a member of the supervisory
board of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA or as a member of the
supervisory board of Management AG. If an independent director
resigns, is removed, or is otherwise unable or unwilling to
serve in that capacity, a new person will be appointed to serve
as an independent director in accordance with the provisions of
our articles of association, the articles of association of the
general partner, and the pooling arrangements, if as a result of
the resignation or removal the number of independent directors
falls below the required minimum.
Extraordinary Transactions
Under the pooling arrangements, we and our affiliates on the one
hand, and Management AG and Fresenius AG and their affiliates on
the other hand, must comply with all provisions of German law
regarding: any merger, consolidation, sale of all or
substantially all assets, recapitalization, other business
57
combination, liquidation or other similar action not in the
ordinary course of our business, any issuance of shares of our
voting capital stock representing more than 10% of the our total
voting capital stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis, and
any amendment to our articles of association which adversely
affects any holder of ordinary shares or preference shares, as
applicable.
Interested Transactions
We and Management AG and Fresenius AG have agreed that while the
pooling arrangements are in effect, a majority of the
independent directors must approve any transaction or contract,
or any series of related transactions or contracts, between
Fresenius AG or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and us
or our controlled affiliates, on the other hand, which involves
aggregate payments in any year in excess of
EUR 5 million for each individual transaction or
contract, or a related series of transactions or contracts.
However, approval is not required if the transaction or
contract, or series of related transactions or contracts, has
been described in a business plan or budget that a majority of
independent directors has previously approved. In any year in
which the aggregate amount of transactions that require
approval, or that would have required approval in that year but
for the fact that such payment or other consideration did not
exceed Euro 5 million, has exceeded Euro 25 million, a
majority of the independent directors must approve all further
interested transactions involving more than
Euro 2.5 million. However, approval is not required if
the transaction or contract, or series of related transactions
or contracts, has been described in a business plan or budget
that a majority of independent directors has previously approved.
Listing of American Depositary Shares; SEC Filings
During the terms of the pooling agreements, Fresenius AG has
agreed to use its best efforts to exercise its rights as the
direct or indirect holder of the general partner interest in
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA to cause us to, and we have agreed
to:
|
|
|
|
|
maintain the effectiveness of (i) the deposit agreement for
the ordinary shares, or a similar agreement, and to assure that
the ADSs evidencing the ordinary shares are listed on either the
New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market and
(ii) if the preference shares remain eligible for listing
on the New York Stock Exchange after the transformation, the
deposit agreement for the preference shares, or a similar
agreement, and to assure that the ADSs evidencing the preference
shares are listed on either the New York Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq Stock Market; |
|
|
|
file all reports, required by the New York Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq Stock Market, as applicable, the Securities Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all other
applicable laws; |
|
|
|
prepare all financial statements required for any filing in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the
U.S. (U.S. GAAP); |
|
|
|
on an annual basis, prepare audited consolidated financial
statements including, without limitation, a balance sheet, a
statement of income and retained earnings, and a statement of
changes in financial position, and all appropriate notes, all in
accordance U.S. GAAP, and, on a quarterly basis, prepare
and furnish consolidated financial statements prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP; |
|
|
|
furnish materials with the SEC with respect to annual and
special shareholder meetings under cover of Form 6-K and
make the materials available to the depositary for distribution
to holders of ordinary share ADSs, and, if we maintain a
preference share ADR facility, to holders of preference share
ADSs at any time that holders of preference shares are entitled
to voting rights; and |
|
|
|
make available to the depositary for distribution to holders of
ADSs representing our ordinary shares and, if we maintain a
preference share ADR facility, ADSs representing our preference
shares on an annual basis, a copy of any report prepared by the
supervisory board or the supervisory board of the general
partner and provided to our shareholders generally pursuant to
Section 314(2) of the German Stock Corporation Act, or any
successor provision. These reports concern the results |
58
|
|
|
|
|
of the supervisory boards examination of the managing
boards report on our relation with affiliated enterprises. |
Term
The pooling arrangements will terminate if:
|
|
|
|
|
Fresenius AG or its affiliates acquire all our voting capital
stock; |
|
|
|
Fresenius AGs beneficial ownership of our outstanding
share capital is reduced to less than 25%; |
|
|
|
Fresenius AG or an affiliate of Fresenius AG ceases to own the
general partner interest in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA; or |
|
|
|
we no longer meet the minimum threshold for obligatory
registration of the ordinary shares or ADSs representing our
ordinary shares and the preference shares or ADSs representing
our preference shares, as applicable, under
Section 12(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Rule 12g-1 thereunder. |
Amendment
Fresenius AG and a majority of the independent directors may
amend the pooling arrangements, provided, that beneficial
owners of 75% of the ordinary shares held by shareholders other
than Fresenius AG and its affiliates at a general meeting of
shareholders and 75% of the preference shares at a general
meeting of preference shareholders, as applicable, approve such
amendment.
Enforcement; Governing Law
The pooling arrangements are governed by New York law and may be
enforced in the state and federal courts of New York. The
Company and Fresenius AG have confirmed their intention to abide
by the terms of the pooling arrangements as described above.
Directors and Officers Insurance
Subject to any mandatory restrictions imposed by German law,
Fresenius Medical Care AG has obtained and Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA will continue to maintain directors and officers
insurance in respect of all liabilities arising from or relating
to the service of the members of the supervisory board and our
officers. We believe that our acquisition of that insurance is
in accordance with customary and usual policies followed by
public corporations in the U.S.
59
EFFECTS ON AND COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
The legal position of the shareholders and their interests will
be affected by the proposed transformation of legal form from an
AG into a KGaA. These changes will affect all shareholders. The
most significant adverse change for shareholders other than
Fresenius AG is the reduced authority of the supervisory board
of the KGaA. The KGaA supervisory board to be elected by the
shareholders (other than Fresenius AG) has no authority in a
KGaA to appoint or remove the management of the Company.
Management of the Company will be conducted by the management
board of the general partner and only the supervisory board of
the general partner (all of whose members will be elected solely
by Fresenius AG) has the authority to appoint or remove them.
However, Fresenius AG currently has a voting majority in the
general meeting of Fresenius Medical Care AG and can, therefore,
appoint the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care AG
irrespective of the votes of the outside shareholders. The
management board believes that if the transformation were not
carried out, Fresenius AG would exercise its voting majority at
the general meeting and control over the supervisory board of
Fresenius Medical Care AG (and its indirect control over the
management board of Fresenius Medical Care AG) to prevent any
capital increase or other transaction that would reduce
Fresenius AGs ownership of Fresenius Medical Care AG
voting shares to less than a majority. Accordingly, the
management board believes that Fresenius AG would retain its
control over the Company even in the absence of the
transformation.
The management board has structured the proposed articles of
association of the general partner and Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA in order to maintain corporate governance in Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA similar to the present corporate governance of
Fresenius Medical Care AG.
Effects of the Conversion on the Ordinary Shareholders
The conversion of the preference shares into ordinary shares
will change the relationship between both classes of shares due
to an increase in the number of outstanding ordinary shares. As
a result, our ordinary shareholders will experience dilution of
their voting rights. For this reason, we are proposing that our
ordinary shareholders approve the conversion as a special
resolution, which requires the affirmative vote of 75% of the
ordinary shares present at the extraordinary meeting.
The premium of EUR 12.25 per converted share to be
paid by the converting preference shareholders was calculated by
reference to the difference in the respective weighted average
German stock exchange prices for preference shares and ordinary
shares during the three months through and including May 3,
2005, the day before the date of our first announcement of the
proposed conversion and the transformation. This difference was
discounted by one-third. As a result, preference shareholders
will be able to acquire the ordinary shares at a discount
from the market price. See The Conversion and
Transformation Reasons for the Conversion and
Transformation. Holders of preference American Depositary
Shares who elect to convert the preference shares represented by
their American Depositary Shares will also be required to pay
the depositarys customary fees for the surrender of their
preference American Depositary Shares but will not be charged a
fee for issuance of American Depositary Shares representing
ordinary shares. Additionally, while the matter is not entirely
free from doubt, it is believed that the conversion of the
preference shares into ordinary shares will not result in any
taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Converting preference shareholders will therefore receive a
benefit that the ordinary shareholders will not receive. We
believe this difference in treatment between these groups of
shareholders is justified in order to provide an incentive to as
many preference shareholders as possible to convert their shares
into ordinary shares despite the cost. We wish to achieve the
highest possible rate of conversion because our position in the
DAX will be strengthened only if there is a clear increase in
the number of ordinary shares in free float and the liquidity of
the ordinary shares.
Effects of the Conversion on the Preference Shareholders
Preference shareholders who choose to convert their shares into
ordinary shares will no longer have preference rights.
Preference shareholders who do not convert their shares in the
conversion process will retain their preference rights. Although
preference rights will be cancelled only for those preference
60
shareholders who participate in the conversion offer, i.e., on a
voluntary basis, we have nevertheless made the conversion
subject to a resolution of our preference shareholders due to
our views of appropriate corporate governance (i.e., to include
our preference shareholders in this decision) and for reasons of
legal certainty.
Preference shares that remain on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
will be adversely affected due to the overall reduced liquidity
of the preference shares, so that preference shareholders who do
not participate may suffer financial disadvantages. Holders of
ADSs representing our preference shares will also be adversely
affected if ADSs representing preference shares of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA are not eligible for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange. In such event, the sole market for the
preference shares would be the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. United
States holders of preference shares could incur additional costs
and delays in effecting transactions in the preference shares on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In addition, if we determine to
discontinue the preference share ADR facility due to the reduced
number of preference shares outstanding after the conversion and
the transformation, or if the depositary resigns and we are
unable to appoint a successor, holders of ADSs representing the
preference shares would no longer have the benefits of that
facility, such as receipt of dividends in U.S. dollars.
Participation in the conversion process will be open to
preference shareholders irrespective of whether and how they
vote on the special resolution of preference shareholders. If a
preference shareholder consents to the conversion, he or she
will be entitled, but not obligated, to convert his or her
preference shares. Additionally, while the matter is not
entirely free from doubt, it is believed that the conversion of
the preference shares into ordinary shares will not result in
any taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If
a preference shareholder votes against or abstains from voting
on the special resolution, he or she will nevertheless be
entitled to convert his or her preference shares if the
conversion is approved.
THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION OF THE EFFECTS OF CONVERSION OF THE
PREFERENCE SHARES IS PROVIDED SOLELY TO ENABLE OUR SHAREHOLDERS
TO VOTE AT THE SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS ON THE AMENDMENTS TO OUR
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION REQUIRED TO PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF OUR
PREFERENCE SHARES INTO ORDINARY SHARES AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
THE LEGAL FORM OF THE COMPANY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
TO ISSUE ORDINARY SHARES UPON CONVERSION OF PREFERENCE SHARES OR
A SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO CONVERT PREFERENCE SHARES INTO
ORDINARY SHARES. ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE BY A SEPARATE
PROSPECTUS DISTRIBUTED AFTER THE SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS.
Effects of the Option and Convertible Bond Adjustments on
Shareholders
As a result of the adjustment of the employee participation
programs, future exercise of stock options will principally
result in issuance of ordinary shares. A slight dilutive effect
on the voting rights of the ordinary shareholders, which did not
previously exist, will result from the adjustment. This dilutive
effect will occur because the issuance of ordinary shares
pursuant to the employee participation programs is not subject
to statutory pre-emption rights. Such adjustments are within the
scope permitted by statute, and we believe that such dilution is
justified in light of the benefits to be derived from the new
capital structure and the motivational effects of our employee
participation programs on our employees. There are no adverse
effects from the adjustment of the employee participation
programs for preference shareholders.
Amendment of the Authorized Capital
If the proposed amendments to the articles of association are
approved, our capital will be subject to being increased by the
issue of new ordinary shares for cash or contributions in kind
under a new Authorized Capital I and a new Authorized
Capital II. See Description of the Shares of
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA.
The management board (after the transformation, the general
partner), in the course of the use of the new Authorized
Capital I, will be authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to exclude fractional amounts from the
shareholders pre-emption right. The management board
(after the
61
transformation, the general partner), in the course of the use
of the new Authorized Capital II, will be authorized, with the
approval of the supervisory board, to exclude shareholders
pre-emption right in the case of capital increases for
contributions in kind. This authority to exclude pre-emption
rights is intended to facilitate the issuance of our shares as
the consideration for acquisitions and to enable us to continue
our growth strategy and to act flexibly and rapidly on the
international markets in the interest of our shareholders.
At the present time, there are no concrete acquisition plans for
which the Authorized Capitals right to exclude pre-emption
rights would be used.
In addition, the management board will be authorized, in the
case of Authorized Capital II, to exclude pre-emption
rights under certain conditions in the case of capital increases
for cash. This exclusion is intended to enable us to achieve the
best possible issue price for our new share issues.
Comparison of the Status of Shareholders in Fresenius Medical
Care AG and Fresenius Medical Care KGaA
As a general rule, the general meeting of shareholders of a
partnership limited by shares and the supervisory board elected
by such shareholders have less influence on the management of
the company than the general meeting of shareholders and the
supervisory board of a stock corporation. Such lesser influence
results, to some extent, from the provisions of the German Stock
Corporation Law applicable to a KGaA. However, applicable law
also permits the parties to adjust the KGaAs articles of
association to the specific needs of the general partner and the
KGaA shareholders at the time the partnership is founded or, in
the case of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, at the time the stock
corporation is transformed into a partnership limited by shares.
In Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, the division of authority
between the KGaA shareholders (acting in the general meeting and
represented by the Fresenius Medical Care KGaA supervisory
board), on the one hand, and Fresenius AG, as owner of the
general partner, on the other hand, is intended to replicate, as
far as possible, the current division of authority between
Fresenius Medical Care AGs outside shareholders and
Fresenius AG, as majority holder of Fresenius Medical Care
AGs ordinary shares.
Fresenius AG currently holds the majority of our voting ordinary
shares. The remaining ordinary shares and all of the preference
shares are publicly held. This means that Fresenius AG is able
to adopt resolutions requiring a simple majority vote, such as
the election of the supervisory board, at the general meeting of
Fresenius Medical Care AG at any time without regard to
attendance or voting by other shareholders. Furthermore, due to
its voting power, and because extraordinary resolutions
generally require the consent of 75% of the shares present at
the meeting, rather than 75% of the outstanding shares,
Fresenius AG is able to significantly influence amendments to
the articles of association and other extraordinary resolutions,
especially where the attendance rate of ordinary shareholders at
the general meeting is low. Where the attendance rate is less
than 67.68% of all outstanding ordinary shares (including shares
held by Fresenius AG), Fresenius AG is able to adopt
extraordinary resolutions of the general meeting of Fresenius
Medical Care AG on its own. Outside shareholders (i. e.,
shareholders other than Fresenius AG) cannot influence the
election of the supervisory board (and indirectly the election
of the management board) of Fresenius Medical Care AG against
the will of Fresenius AG or, in the absence of unusually high
attendance at the general meeting, the approval of amendments to
the Companys articles of association or other
extraordinary resolutions.
62
The table below summarizes the scope for influence by outside
shareholders before and after the transformation. It assumes
that Fresenius AGs ownership of our voting shares is
reduced to approximately 37% as a result of the conversion and
the transformation. In considering the matters in the table
below over which outside shareholders are described as having
influence, you should note that, assuming all of the
approximately 26.45 million outstanding preference shares
are converted into ordinary shares, approximately
96.45 million ordinary shares will be outstanding after the
conversion and the transformation. As the holder of
approximately 35.53 million ordinary shares, Fresenius AG
will continue to be able to exercise a majority of the voting
rights at the general meeting as long as less than approximately
73.7% of the outstanding ordinary shares (approximately
71.1 million ordinary shares), including the shares held by
Fresenius AG, are present at the general meeting. However, under
German law, Fresenius AG is precluded from voting on various
matters. We intend that our management board will file the
transformation of legal form with the commercial register even
if our shareholders do not approve the conversion or if delays
arise in this connection because of potential legal disputes. In
that case, Fresenius AG would hold a majority of the voting
power at our general meeting, at least until we issue additional
ordinary shares. See Transformation of Legal Form Without
Conversion, below.
Scope for Influence by Outside Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Influence Within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
Influence Within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
|
AG Prior to the Transformation of |
|
KGaA After the Transformation of |
Matter |
|
Legal Form |
|
Legal Form |
|
|
|
|
|
Adoption of resolutions at the general meeting
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG holds
the majority of voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Some influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG
loses its absolute majority of the voting rights. In addition,
due to existing bans on voting on certain resolutions, power to
decide on such resolutions lies with outside shareholders alone. |
|
Amendments to the articles of association
|
|
Depending on the quorum at the general meeting, outside
shareholders are able to prevent amendments to the articles of
association; however, the articles of association cannot be
actively amended against the will of Fresenius AG. |
|
Amendments to the articles of association can be prevented by
the outside shareholders because the percentage of votes
increases due to the dilution of Fresenius AG below an absolute
majority. However, the articles of association cannot be amended
without the consent of the general partner, which is controlled
by Fresenius AG. |
|
Election of members to supervisory board
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG holds
a majority of voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Influence of outside shareholders alone because Fresenius AG is
subject to a ban on voting. A 75% vote is required to elect the
supervisory board. However, the supervisory board of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA will have significantly less influence over
the management of the Company than the supervisory board of
Fresenius Medical Care AG. |
63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Influence Within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
Influence Within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
|
AG Prior to the Transformation of |
|
KGaA After the Transformation of |
Matter |
|
Legal Form |
|
Legal Form |
|
|
|
|
|
Appointment of management board
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG holds
a majority at the general meeting and hence appoints the
supervisory board, which appoints the management board. |
|
No influence by outside shareholders. Although they are entitled
to appoint the supervisory board, the supervisory board does not
have the right to appoint the management board at Management AG. |
|
Approval of annual financial statements
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because annual financial
statements are as a rule approved by the supervisory board
elected by the general meeting, in which Fresenius AG holds the
voting majority. |
|
Influence by outside shareholders because the general meeting
approves the annual financial statements. However, the
resolution is subject to the consent of the general partner,
which is controlled by Fresenius AG. |
|
Payment of dividends
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG holds
a majority of voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Some influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG
loses its voting rights majority. |
|
Ratification of the actions of the management and the
supervisory board
|
|
No influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG holds
the majority of voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Sole influence by outside shareholders because Fresenius AG is
subject to a ban on voting on such matter. |
|
Selection of auditors of annual financial statements and of
special auditors (other than auditors whose appointment requires
a court order)
|
|
No influence, because Fresenius AG holds a majority of voting
rights at the general meeting. |
|
Sole influence by outside shareholders possible because
Fresenius AG is subject to a ban on voting in this respect.
However, the audit committee of the Management AG supervisory
board will recommend the auditors and the Management AG
supervisory board will select the auditors, subject to the
shareholder approval. |
64
The table below summarizes the scope for influence by Fresenius
AG before and after the conversion and transformation. In
considering the matters described below in which a lower
degree of influence is attributed to Fresenius AG due to
its loss of majority voting power, you should consider the same
factors described above regarding the percentage attendance
required at the general meeting to deprive Fresenius AG of a de
facto voting majority on matters submitted to the meeting.
Scope for Influence by Fresenius AG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Influence within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
Influence within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
|
AG Prior to the Transformation of |
|
KGaA After the Transformation of |
Matter |
|
Legal Form |
|
Legal Form |
|
|
|
|
|
Adoption of resolutions at the general meeting requiring a
simple majority
|
|
Universal influence because Fresenius AG holds the majority of
voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Lower degree of influence because Fresenius AG loses the
majority of voting rights. In addition, there is a ban on voting
on certain matters for resolution. |
|
Amendments to the articles of association
|
|
Depending on the quorum at the general meeting, in certain
circumstances Fresenius AG is able to approve amendments to the
articles of association on its own. Articles of association
cannot be amended against the will of Fresenius AG. |
|
Lower degree of influence because Fresenius AG loses the
majority of voting rights. However, the articles of association
still cannot be amended against the will of Fresenius AG,
because it has a veto right as owner of the general partner. |
|
Election of members of the supervisory board
|
|
Universal influence because Fresenius AG holds the majority of
voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
No influence by Fresenius AG because it is subject to a ban on
voting. However, the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA will have significantly less influence over the management
of the Company than the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical
Care AG. |
|
Appointment of management board
|
|
Universal indirect influence because Fresenius AG holds the
majority of voting rights at the general meeting and hence
appoints the supervisory board, which appoints the management
board. |
|
Universal indirect influence because Fresenius AG holds all
voting rights at the general meeting of Management AG and hence
appoints the supervisory board of that corporation, which
appoints the management board. |
|
Allocation of profits/payment of dividends
|
|
Universal influence because Fresenius AG holds the majority of
voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
Lower degree of influence because Fresenius AG loses majority of
voting rights. |
65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Influence within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
Influence within Fresenius Medical Care |
|
|
AG Prior to the Transformation of |
|
KGaA After the Transformation of |
Matter |
|
Legal Form |
|
Legal Form |
|
|
|
|
|
Approval of annual financial statements
|
|
Universal indirect influence via the supervisory board and the
management board. |
|
Lower degree of influence because Fresenius AG loses majority of
voting rights. However, annual financial statements cannot be
approved against the will of Fresenius AG because approval is
subject to the consent of the general partner. |
|
Ratification of the actions of the management board and the
supervisory board
|
|
Universal influence because Fresenius AG holds the majority of
voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
No influence by Fresenius AG because it is subject to a ban on
voting. |
|
Appointment of auditors of the annual financial statements
and special auditors (other than auditors whose appointment
requires a court order)
|
|
Universal influence because Fresenius AG holds the majority of
voting rights at the general meeting. |
|
No influence by Fresenius AG because it is subject to a ban on
voting. However, the audit committee of the Management AG
supervisory board will recommend the auditors and the Management
AG supervisory board will select the auditors, subject to the
shareholder approval. |
66
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING
Both classes of our shares are currently listed on the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange on the official market (Amtlicher Markt),
listing section Prime Standard. In addition, the shares are
included in the electronic trading system Xetra. Our ordinary
shares are listed on the German Index DAX. American Depositary
Shares (ADS), which represent our ordinary or preference shares,
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Three ADSs correspond
to one share.
Effect of the Conversion of the Preference Shares into
Ordinary Shares
After the shareholder meetings and in the course of the proposed
conversion, we expect to make an offer to holders of preference
shares to convert their preference shares into ordinary shares
upon submission of their preference shares with a conversion
declaration to us and payment of a conversion premium to us.
The offer will be made only by means of a separate
prospectus, to be distributed subsequent to the shareholder
meetings. Holders of ADSs representing preference shares
will be able to participate in the conversion in the same manner
as the holders of preference shares. The conversion, in that
case, will be conducted through the depositary, who will inform
the holders of ADSs of the opportunity to convert, and pass on
the documents provided by us. We will separately make known
details of the conversion period and the remainder of the
conversion process for the holders of ADSs.
By law, the conversion will occur upon registration with the
commercial register of the Company of the relevant amendments to
the articles of association approved at the shareholder
meetings. The ordinary shares to be acquired by preference
shareholders participating in the conversion will become
available only as a result of the registration.
The ordinary shares that will be held by shareholders
participating in the conversion offer are not at this time
admitted to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. They will, together
with our other ordinary and preference shares, be admitted to
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange directly after the transformation
into a KGaA.
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange listing of the ordinary shares and
the preference shares not deposited for conversion will not
change as a result of the process of converting the preference
shares into ordinary shares.
Stock Exchange Listing of the Shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA
The transformation of the Company into the legal form of a KGaA
will become effective after being registered with the commercial
register of the Company. Shareholders in Fresenius Medical Care
AG, at the time of the registration of the transformation of
legal form in the commercial register will thereupon become
shareholders in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA. They will
participate to the same extent and with the same number of
shares in Fresenius Medical Care KGaA as they did in Fresenius
Medical Care AG prior to the transformation becoming effective.
Because all of our shares are maintained in collective
securities accounts and by depositary banks for each
shareholder, the conversion of our ordinary shares or preference
shares into ordinary shares or preference shares in Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA will likewise take place exclusively through
the collective accounts. The exchange will be dealt with by
Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt am Main, by entries in the
securities accounts of the shareholders by the depositary banks
in each case. Shareholders will be informed of the changed
entries. The existing shares in Fresenius Medical Care AG will
be delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on registration of
the transformation of legal form in the commercial register. We
will admit both the ordinary shares and the preference shares in
Fresenius Medical Care KGaA again to stock exchange trading on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on the official market, Prime
Standard, directly after the transformation of legal form has
become effective. We will then endeavor to ensure that the new
admission takes place immediately after the transformation of
legal form becomes effective and therefore that the usual stock
exchange tradability both of the ordinary and the preference
shares in the Company is secured at all times.
67
Our inclusion in the DAX will not be affected by the
transformation of legal form, as long as other relevant criteria
for DAX membership are met. With regard to the new ordinary
shares in the Company that will come into existence upon the
conversion of the preference shares, the usual determination
process on the fulfillment of the membership criteria for the
DAX will take place taking account of the increased free float.
Under the deposit agreements establishing the American
Depositary Receipt facilities for our ordinary shares and
preference shares, upon effectiveness of the transformation, the
ordinary shares and preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA into which the ordinary shares and preference shares of
Fresenius Medical Care AG held by the Depositary will be
transformed will continue to be treated as deposited
securities under the respective deposit agreements. As a
result, American Depositary Shares (ADSs) representing the right
to receive ordinary shares and preference shares of Fresenius
Medical Care AG will, upon registration of the transformation,
thereafter represent the right to ordinary and preference shares
of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, and ADRs evidencing Fresenius
Medical Care AG ADSs will thereafter evidence Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA ADSs. The Depositary, however, may, with our consent,
require ADR holders to submit their ADRs and distribute new ADRs
that evidence ADS of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, which
represent ordinary and preference shares in Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA. In the event the Depositary elects to do so, holders
of Fresenius Medical Care AG ADRs will be notified by the
Depositary and provided with instructions to carry out such an
exchange.
We will apply to list ADSs representing Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA ordinary shares and Fresenius Medical Care KGaA preference
shares on the New York Stock Exchange. However, we cannot assure
you that the preference ADSs of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA will
be eligible for listing on that exchange if the number of
outstanding preference shares decreases substantially due to
conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares. In
addition, if substantially all of the preference shares are
converted, we may terminate the deposit agreement for the
preference shares, or the depositary may resign due to the
substantially reduced compensation it is likely to receive for
its services in such circumstances. While we will endeavor to
provide for continuation of a U.S. trading market for the
preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care KGaA, if they are
not eligible for New York Stock Exchange listing, if the
depositary resigns as depositary for the preference shares and
we are unable to designate a replacement depositary, or if we
otherwise terminate the preference share deposit agreement, it
is likely that a U.S. trading market for the preferences
ADSs will cease to be available.
German Corporate Governance Code
Under the German Stock Corporation Act, the management board and
the supervisory board of a company listed on a German stock
exchange must make an annual declaration regarding their
compliance with the recommendations of the Government
Commission German Corporate Governance Code published by
the Ministry of Justice in the official part of the electronic
Federal Gazette. This Code provides important regulations for
the management and supervision of companies and includes
statutory provisions and additional recommendations and
suggestions regarding corporate governance. Only the statutory
provisions are binding, but listed companies must declare
whether their governance practices deviate from the
recommendations. We issued our most recent declaration as of
December 2004, in which we declared that we comply with the
recommendations, subject to certain exceptions. Our declaration
is available on our website. Because the Code is designed to
apply to listed stock corporations, we will comply with it in
modified form after the transformation becomes effective. We
intend to continue to follow the recommendations of the Code to
the same extent as before. The general partner and the
supervisory board will make a new declaration of compliance
which will describe the existing exceptions and take account of
the special characteristics of the KGaA.
68
TRANSFORMATION OF LEGAL FORM WITHOUT CONVERSION
We intend that our management board shall file the
transformation of legal form with the commercial register even
if our shareholders do not approve the conversion of preference
shares into ordinary shares or if delays arise in this
connection because of potential legal disputes. The effects of
completing the transformation without also completing the
conversion would differ from the effects of completing both, as
described above under Effects and Comparisons of
Shareholder Rights. In particular, the consequences of a
reduction of Fresenius AGs proportionate voting rights
that would result from the conversion of the preference shares
to ordinary shares would not arise. The following are the most
significant differences.
After the Transformation Proportionate Majority
and Voting Rights Remain Unchanged.
If the conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares does
not occur, the division of our share capital between preference
shares and ordinary shares would not change solely as a result
of the transformation of legal form. The division of voting
rights between Fresenius AG and the outside shareholders in the
general meeting would not change and Fresenius AG would retain
its majority vote in our general meeting. This means that as
holder of a majority of the ordinary shares of Fresenius Medical
Care KGaA, Fresenius AG could continue to determine the vote on
all resolutions in respect of which it is not subject to a ban
on voting. This would not apply to resolutions which require a
three quarters majority but, as is presently the case in
Fresenius Medical Care AG, Fresenius AGs majority
ownership would still enable it to determine the outcome of such
resolutions if less than 67.68% of the outstanding shares
(including shares held by Fresenius AG) were present at the
meeting considering such resolutions.
If only the transformation were completed, the legal position of
the outside shareholders to exercise influence in Fresenius
Medical Care AG KGaA, in comparison to their present rights to
exercise influence in Fresenius Medical Care AG would be as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Adoption of resolutions at the general meeting requiring a
simple majority: Currently, outside shareholders have no
influence on such resolutions due to Fresenius AGs
majority ownership. This will be unchanged after the
transformation, except with respect to resolutions on which
Fresenius AG is subject to a ban on voting; |
|
|
|
Approval of amendments to the articles of association:
Currently, outside shareholders cannot effect such amendments
due to Fresenius AGs majority ownership, but can prevent
their adoption. This would be unchanged after the
transformation, since the outside shareholders voting
percentage would not increase. In addition, such amendments
would require the consent of the general partner, controlled by
Fresenius AG; |
|
|
|
Appropriation of profit: Currently, Fresenius AG alone
can decide this issue, due to its majority in the general
meeting. This would be unchanged after the transformation. In
addition, such resolution would require the consent of the
general partner, controlled by Fresenius AG. |
As a corollary, if we complete only the transformation, the
absence of any change in the division between ordinary shares
and preference shares and the absence of any reduction of
Fresenius AGs majority position would mean that Fresenius
AGs influence would be reduced only in the case of
resolutions in respect of which it is subject to a ban on
voting. As described under The Conversion and
Transformation The Legal Structure of Fresenius
Medical Care KGaA General Meeting, the voting
ban would apply to the following resolutions:
|
|
|
|
|
Election and removal from office of members of the supervisory
board; |
|
|
|
Ratification of the actions of the general partner and the
members of the supervisory board; |
|
|
|
Appointment of special auditors; |
|
|
|
Assertion and waiver of compensation claims against members of
the executive bodies; and |
|
|
|
Selection of auditors of the annual financial statements. |
69
Ultimately, if we complete only the transformation, the rights
of outside shareholders would not be diminished but, as would be
the case if the conversion were also implemented, would be
somewhat strengthened with respect to resolutions on which
Fresenius AG is excluded from voting.
Interest of the Company in the Transformation of Legal Form
without the Conversion
Even without implementation of the conversion, we have an
interest in implementation of the transformation of legal form,
because it will enable us, over the mid- to long term, to create
a more attractive capital structure. For example, we would then
be in a position to implement capital increases by issuing
ordinary shares without the necessity for participation by
Fresenius AG in such capital increases to avoid loss of its
voting majority. Through ownership of the general partner,
Fresenius AG would continue to be able to fulfil its declared
intention of consolidating Fresenius Medical Care AG in its
group consolidated financial statements, even if it loses its
voting majority after the transformation of legal form. The new
opportunity to implement major capital increases by issuing
ordinary shares would provide us with increased flexibility in
the course of our capital financing, since capital markets
consider our ordinary shares to be the more attractive class of
shares, as shown by the price differences between our ordinary
shares and our preference shares. In addition, we would be in a
position to improve the free float in our ordinary shares, which
could lead to an improvement in our position on the DAX.
70
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a German company. Some of our directors and executive
officers and some of the experts named in this information
statement/ prospectus are residents of Germany. A substantial
portion of our assets and the assets of those individuals is
located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult
or impossible for investors to effect service of process upon
those persons within the U.S. with respect to matters
arising under the U.S. federal securities laws or to
enforce against them in U.S. courts judgments of
U.S. courts predicated on the civil liability provisions of
the U.S. federal securities laws. We have been advised by
our German counsel, Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz, that there may
be doubt as to the enforceability in Germany, in original
actions, of liabilities predicated on the U.S. federal
securities laws and that in Germany both recognition and
enforcement of court judgments with respect to the civil
liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws
are solely governed by the provisions of the German Civil
Procedure Code (Zivilprozessordnung). In some cases,
especially when according to the German statutory provisions,
the international jurisdiction of the U.S. court will not
be recognized or if the judgment conflicts with basic principles
of German law (e.g., the restrictions to compensatory damages
and pre-trial discovery), the U.S. judgment might not be
recognized by a German court. The service of process in
U.S. proceedings on persons in Germany is regulated by a
multilateral treaty guaranteeing service of writs and other
legal documents in civil cases if the current address of the
defendant is known.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements and schedule as of
December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the years in
the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, included in
the Fresenius Medical Care AG amended annual report on
Form 20-F /A for the year ended December 31, 2004,
have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the
report of KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
Wirtschaftprüfungsgesellschaft, independent registered
public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz, as our special German counsel, will
pass upon the validity of the conversion of the ordinary shares
and the preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG into
ordinary shares and preference shares of Fresenius Medical Care
KGaA. Dr. Dieter Schenk and Dr. Bernd Fahrholz,
members of the firm of Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz, are members
(and Dr. Schenk is deputy chairman) of our supervisory
board. Dr. Schenk is also a member of the supervisory board
of Fresenius AG and one of the executors of the estate of
Mrs. Else Kröner. The Else-Kröner Fresenius
Stiftung, a charitable foundation established under the will of
Mrs. Kröner, owns the majority of the voting shares of
Fresenius AG. Its voting rights are exercised by the executors
of Mrs. Kröners estate, Dr. Dieter Schenk,
Dr. Karl Schneider (another member of the Fresenius AG
supervisory board) and Dr. h.c. Hans Kröner.
71
Appendix A
Articles of Association
|
|
|
Art. 1 Name and Registered Office |
(1) The Company is a partnership limited by shares
(KGaA). The name of the Company is
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & Co. KGaA
(2) The registered office of the Company is in Hof an der
Saale.
|
|
|
Art. 2 Objects of the Business |
(1) The objects of the Company are:
|
|
|
a) the development, production and distribution of as well
as the trading in health care products, systems and procedures,
including dialysis; |
|
|
b) the projecting, planning, establishment, acquisition and
operation of health care businesses, including, dialysis
centers, also in separate enterprises or through third parties
as well as the participation in such dialysis centers; |
|
|
c) the development, production and distribution of other
pharmaceutical products and the provision of services in this
field; |
|
|
d) the provision of advice in the medical and
pharmaceutical areas as well as scientific information and
documentation; |
|
|
e) the provision of laboratory services for dialysis and
non-dialysis patients and homecare medical services. |
The Company will operate itself or through subsidiaries at home
and abroad.
(2) The Company shall be entitled to enter into any and all
business transactions and take any and all measures which seem
to be necessary or useful to achieve the objects of the Company
and may, in particular, participate in other enterprises of the
same or similar kind, take over the management and/or the
representation of such enterprises, transfer company divisions,
including essential company divisions, to enterprises in which
the Company holds an interest and establish branches at home and
abroad.
|
|
|
Art. 3 Notifications and Publications |
(1) All notifications of the Company shall be made in the
electronic Federal Gazette (Elektronischer
Bundesanzeiger).
(2) English short versions of the invitations to general
meetings which must provide for the place, date and time and the
items on the agenda of the general meeting and the prerequisites
of participation in the meetings as well as English short
versions of the other notifications shall also be published in
The Wall Street Journal and in The New York Times. The
newspapers mentioned above are not journals used by the Company
for notifications in the sense of Article 3
paragraph (1); such publications shall not be a
pre-condition for a valid notification of the Company. With the
consent of the supervisory board the general partner may
determine deviations from this provision.
A-1
(1) The capital of the Company amounts to Euro
246,924,300.80 (in words: two hundred forty six million nine
hundred twenty-four thousand three hundred euro and eighty cent)
and is divided into 70,000,000 (in words: seventy million)
bearer ordinary shares and 26,454,805 (twenty six million four
hundred fifty-four thousand eight hundred five) non-voting
bearer preference shares.
In case of issuance of non-voting bearer preference shares,
particulars thereof are set forth in Article 19.
No consent of the preference shareholders shall be required for
the issuance of non-voting bearer preference shares which, for
the distribution of the profits or the corporate assets, will be
equal to or be preferred to the non-voting bearer preference
shares existing from time to time, if and to the extent that the
subscription rights of the preference shareholders are not
excluded.
(2) The capital stock in the amount of DM 100,000.00
(in words: one hundred thousand Deutsche Mark) available at the
transformation of Corporation was raised through change of the
legal form of the legal entity of previous legal form, Fresenius
Medical Care GmbH with registered office in Hof an der Saale.
The capital stock in the amount of Euro 246,924,300.80 (in
words: two hundred forty six million nine hundred twenty-four
thousand three hundred euro and eighty cent) available at the
transformation of the Company into a partnership limited by
shares (KGaA) was raised through change of the legal form
of the legal entity of previous legal form, Fresenius Medical
Care AG with registered office in Hof an der Saale.
(3) The general partner is authorized, in the period up to
August 29, 2010, with the approval of the supervisory
board, to increase, on one or more occasions, the capital of the
Company by up to a total of Euro 35,000,000.00 (in words: thirty
five million Euro) for cash by the issue of new bearer ordinary
shares (Authorized Capital I). The number of shares must
increase in the same proportion as the capital. The general
partner is further authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to decide on the exclusion of
shareholders pre-emption rights. Exclusion of pre-emption
rights is admissible, however, only for fractional amounts. The
new shares may also be taken up by credit institutions to be
specified by the general partner, with the obligation to offer
them to the shareholders (indirect pre-emption rights). The
general partner is further authorized, with the approval of the
supervisory board, to determine the further details of the
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized Capital
I. The supervisory board is authorized to amend the Articles of
Association after complete or partial implementation of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I or after the expiry
of the authorized period in accordance with the amount of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital I.
(4) The general partner is authorized, in the period up to
August 29, 2010, with the approval of the supervisory
board, to increase, on one or more occasions, the capital of the
Company by up to a total of Euro 25,000,000.00 (in words: twenty
five million Euro) for cash and/or contributions in kind by the
issue of new bearer ordinary shares (Authorized
Capital II). The number of shares must increase in the same
proportion as the capital. The general partner is further
authorized, with the approval of the supervisory board, to
decide on the exclusion of shareholders pre-emption
rights. Exclusion of pre-emption rights is admissible, however,
only if
|
|
|
|
|
in the case of a capital increase for cash the amount of capital
attributable to the new shares does not exceed 10% of the share
capital at the time of the issue of the new shares and the issue
price for the new shares is not significantly lower than the
stock exchange price of the listed shares of the same class and
rights at the time of the final determination of the issue price
by the general partner, or |
|
|
|
in the case of a capital increase for contributions in kind the
grant of shares should be for the purpose of acquiring an
enterprise, parts of an enterprise or a participation in an
enterprise. |
A-2
The general partner is further authorized, with the approval of
the supervisory board, to determine the further details of the
implementation of the capital increase out of Authorized Capital
II. The supervisory board is authorized to amend the Articles of
Association after complete or partial implementation of the
capital increase out of Authorized Capital II or after the
expiry of the authorized period in accordance with the amount of
the capital increase out of Authorized Capital II.
(5) The capital of the Company is conditionally increased
by up to [Euro 5,389,450.24, (in words: five million three
hundred eighty-nine thousand four hundred
fifty-five euro and twenty-four cents)] by the issue
of up to [2,105,254 (in words: two million one hundred
five thousand two hundred fifty-four)] new non-voting
bearer preference shares and by up to
[ ]
(in words:
[ ])
new bearer ordinary shares. The conditional capital increase
will be implemented only to the extent that, in accordance with
the employee participation program resolved by the general
meeting of September 24, 1996 convertible bonds relating to
non-par value shares will be issued and the holders of
convertible bonds exercise their right of conversion. The new
non-voting bearer preference shares and the new bearer ordinary
shares shall participate in profits from the beginning of the
fiscal year in which they arise by the exercise of the right of
conversion.
(6) The capital of the Company is conditionally increased
by up to Euro [2,763,432.96, (in words: two million seven
hundred sixty-three thousand four hundred
thirty-two euro and ninety-six cents)] by the issue of
up to [1,079,466 (in words: one million
seventy-nine thousand four hundred and sixty-six)] new
non-voting bearer preference shares and by up to
[ ]
(in words:
[ ])
new bearer ordinary shares. The conditional capital increase
will be implemented only to the extent that, in accordance with
the share option program resolved by the general meetings of
June 10, 1998 and May 30, 2000, share options relating
to non-par value shares have been issued and the holders
exercise their options. The new non-voting bearer preference
shares and bearer ordinary shares shall participate in profits
from the beginning of the fiscal year in which they are issued.
(7) The capital of the Company is conditionally increased
by up to [Euro 10,132,928.00 (in words: ten million one
hundred thirty-two thousand nine hundred
twenty-eight euro)] by the issue of up to [3,958,175 (in
words: three million nine hundred fifty-eight thousand one
hundred seventy-five)] new non-voting bearer preference shares
and by up to
[ ]
(in words:
[ ])
new bearer ordinary shares. The conditional capital increase
will be implemented only to the extent that, in accordance with
the international employee participation program resolved by the
general meeting of May 23, 2001 convertible bonds relating
to non-par value shares have been issued and the holders of
convertible bonds exercise their right of conversion. The new
non-voting bearer preference shares and the new bearer ordinary
shares shall participate in profits from the beginning of the
fiscal year in which they arise by the exercise of the right of
conversion.
(8) In case of a capital increase, the profit participation
may be determined in derogation from Section 60,
paragraph 2 German Stock Corporation Act (AktG).
(1) The shares will be non-par value bearer shares.
(2) The Company shall be entitled to issue share
certificates made out to bearer each evidencing a plurality of
shares (collective share certificates). There is no claim of the
shareholders to share certificates with respect to their
individual participation.
(3) The form of the share certificates and of the dividend
coupons and renewal coupons shall be determined by the general
partner with the consent of the supervisory board.
(4) The Company shall take the necessary measures to
achieve that its shares will, preferably be admitted for
official quotation on the stock exchange in Frankfurt am Main
and in suitable form e.g. as American Depository
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and that such
admissions will be maintained. With the consent of the
supervisory board which must decide unanimously on such consent,
the general partner may determine deviations from this provision.
A-3
III. Constitution of the
Company
A. General Partner
|
|
Art. 6 |
General Partner, Capital Contribution, Legal Relationships
and Resignation |
(1) General partner of the Company is
Fresenius Medical Care Management AG
with registered office in Hof a.d. Saale.
(2) The general partner has not made a capital
contribution. It shall neither participate in the profit or the
loss of the Company nor in its assets.
(3) The general partner will cease to be general partner of
the Company if and when all shares in the general partner are no
longer held directly or indirectly by a person holding more than
25 per cent of the capital of the Company, directly or
indirectly via a controlled enterprise in the sense of
§ 17 paragraph (1) German Stock Corporation Act
(AktG); this will not apply if and when all shares in the
general partner are held directly or indirectly by the Company.
Additionally, the general partner will cease to be general
partner of the Company, if the shares in the general partner are
acquired by a person
|
|
|
|
|
who does not acquire shares of the Company in the amount of more
than 25 per cent of the capital of the Company or |
|
|
|
who had not, within three months after the effectiveness of such
acquisition, submitted a voluntary or mandatory takeover offer
to the shareholders of the Company according to the rules of the
German Takeover Act (WpÜG); the fair consideration
offered to the shareholders must also reflect the consideration
which the purchaser had paid for the share in the general
partner, if the amount for such consideration is above the
amount of its equity capital. |
The other grounds for withdrawal as provided for by law remain
unaffected with respect to the general partner.
(4) If the general partner withdraws from the Company or if
such withdrawal can be foreseen, the supervisory board is
authorized and obliged to admit immediately, or at the time of
the withdrawal of the general partner, as new general partner of
the Company a corporation whose shares are fully owned by the
Company. If the general partner withdraws from the Company while
no new general partner is admitted simultaneously as aforesaid,
the Company shall for the time being be continued by the limited
shareholders of the Company alone. In such case, the supervisory
board shall immediately apply for the appointment of a
substitute representative who will represent the Company until
the admission of a new general partner according to sentence 1
of this paragraph, in particular with respect to the acquisition
or formation of such new general partner.
The supervisory board is authorized to adjust the version of the
Articles of Association so as to reflect the change of the
general partner.
(5) In the case of the continuing of the Company pursuant
to Article 6 paragraph (4) of these Articles of
Association or in the case that all shares in the general
partner are held directly or indirectly by the Company an
extraordinary general meeting or the next annual general meeting
shall decide about the transformation of the Company into a
stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft). The resolution
with respect to such transformation can be taken with a simple
majority of the votes cast. The general partner is obliged to
consent to such transformation decided by the general meeting.
|
|
|
Art. 7 Management and Representation of the Company,
Reimbursement of Expenses and Remuneration |
(1) The Company shall be represented by its general
partner. Vis-à-vis the general partner the Company shall be
represented by the supervisory board.
A-4
(2) The general partner shall be responsible for management
of the Company. The general partners management authority
also encompasses exceptional management measures. The right of
the shareholders to consent to exceptional management measures
at the general meeting is excluded.
(3) The general partner shall be reimbursed for any and all
expenses in connection with management of the Companys
business, which includes remuneration of the members of its
executive bodies. The general partner shall invoice its expenses
monthly; it is entitled to claim payment in advance.
(4) As consideration for assuming the management of the
Company and the liability, the general partner shall receive a
non-profit-and-loss-based annual remuneration of 4 per cent
of its equity capital.
(5) The general partner is not authorized to undertake
transactions for its own or for anothers account outside
the scope of its responsibilities within the Company.
|
|
|
Art. 8 Election and Term of Office of the Supervisory
Board |
(1) The supervisory board consists of six (6) members.
All six (6) members shall be elected by the general meeting
according to the provisions of the German Stock Corporation Act
(AktG). The resolution can only be taken with a majority
of a minimum of 75 per cent of the votes cast.
(2) Unless expressly otherwise resolved by the general
meeting, the supervisory board members shall be appointed to
hold office until the end of the ordinary general meeting which
resolves on the discharge for the fourth fiscal year after
commencement of the term of office. The year in which the term
of office commences shall not be considered for this
calculation. Re-election of supervisory board members shall be
permissible.
(3) If a member elected by the general meeting withdraws
from the supervisory board before expiration of his term of
office, a new member is to be elected in the next general
meeting to replace the withdrawing member. The newly elected
member shall hold office for the remaining term of office of the
withdrawing member.
(4) The general meeting may, for the supervisory board
members to be elected by it, appoint substitute members who will
become members of the supervisory board on the basis of a
specific order to be determined upon election if and when
supervisory board members withdraw before expiration of their
term of office. Their position as substitute members shall
revive if and when the general meeting elects a new member
instead of the withdrawing supervisory board member replaced by
such substitute member. The term of office of the substitute
member shall end upon completion of the general meeting in which
an election according to Article 8
paragraph (3) is made.
(5) Each member of the supervisory board may resign from
office by giving one months written notice even without
good cause.
|
|
|
Art. 9 Constitution of the Supervisory Board |
(1) Following the general meeting in which the supervisory
board has been newly elected, the supervisory board shall hold a
meeting without special notice of meeting and, where necessary,
shall elect in such meeting from among its members a chairman
and a deputy chairman for the whole term of office of the
elected persons as supervisory board members.
(2) If the chairman or his deputy resigns his office before
expiration of his term of office, the supervisory board shall
immediately hold a new election to replace the resigning
chairman/deputy.
|
|
|
Art. 10 Meetings and Resolutions of the Supervisory
Board |
(1) The meetings of the supervisory board shall be called
by the chairman by notice subject to a notice period of fourteen
(14) days. The meetings may be called in writing, by fax or
by other electronic means of communication. The items on the
agenda must be stated in the invitation to the meeting.
A-5
Notwithstanding sentence 2, in urgent cases, this period
may be shortened and the meeting may be called by telegram,
telex or telephone.
(2) The meetings of the supervisory board shall in the
regular case be by personal attendance. It is, however,
admissible that meetings of the supervisory board be held by way
of a video conference or that individual supervisory board
members participate by way of video link, provided that in these
cases the passing of resolutions also takes place by way of a
video conference or video link. Outside of meetings, resolutions
in writing, telegraph, telex, fax, telephone or electronic
communication (e-mail etc.) are admissible, if this is ordered
by the chairman of the supervisory board, or in the event of his
being unable to act, by his deputy.
(3) The supervisory board shall constitute a quorum if half
the members making up the entire board take part in the adoption
of the resolution.
(4) If members of the supervisory board are prevented from
attending the meeting, they may have another member of the
supervisory board submit their written votes. Such delivery of
the written vote shall be deemed to be participation in the
adoption of the resolution.
(5) Resolutions of the supervisory board shall require the
majority of the votes cast unless otherwise provided by law or
the Articles of Association. In case of a tie, a new vote shall
be taken on the same issue at the request of the chairman of the
supervisory board or of another member of the supervisory board.
In the event that such new vote leads again to a tie, the
chairman of the supervisory board shall have two (2) votes
(to the legally permissible extent, this shall apply also to
committees of the supervisory board of which he is a member).
Article 10 paragraph (4) shall be applicable to
the casting of the second vote. The deputy chairman of the
supervisory board shall not be entitled to such second vote.
(6) Minutes of the meetings of the supervisory board shall
be prepared in the English language. The minutes shall be signed
by the chairman of the meeting. Any minutes to be prepared
outside of the meeting by personal attendance
(Präsenzsitzung), as outlined in Article 10
paragraph (2) with respect to resolutions shall be
signed by the chairman of the supervisory board. On demand of a
member of the supervisory board a German translation of the
minutes shall be prepared.
|
|
|
Art. 11 Rights and Duties of the Supervisory Board |
(1) The supervisory board shall have the rights and duties
defined by mandatory legal provisions and these Articles of
Association.
(2) The supervisory board shall, at any time, have the
right to supervise the entire management of the general partner
and to inspect and audit all books and records, including the
minutes of the meetings of the management board of the general
partner, as well as the assets of the Company. This right to
inspect and audit can also be claimed by any individual
supervisory board member. The supervisory board member must
direct his request to the chairman of the supervisory board who
shall pass the request on to the chairman of the management
board of the general partner or, in the case that a chairman
does not exist, to the management board of the general partner.
(3) The general partner shall regularly report to the
supervisory board. In addition, the supervisory board may
request the submission of a report if and when there is
reasonable cause therefore including where such cause relates to
a business event at an affiliated company which has become known
to the general partner and which may substantially influence the
situation of the Company. Article 11 paragraph (2),
sentences 2 and 3 apply mutatis mutandis with the proviso that a
report only to the supervisory board can be demanded.
(4) If the Company holds a participation in its general
partner, all rights of the Company under and with respect to
such participation (e.g. voting rights, information rights etc.)
will be exercised by the supervisory board.
(5) The supervisory board shall be entitled, without
resolution of the general meeting, to make any amendments to the
Articles of Association which concern only the wording.
A-6
|
|
|
Art. 12 Rules of Procedure of the Supervisory Board |
The supervisory board shall, within the framework of the
mandatory legal provisions and the Articles of Association,
establish rules of procedure for itself which shall take into
account, in particular, the interests of those supervisory board
members who do not speak German.
|
|
|
Art. 13 Remuneration of Supervisory Board Members |
(1) The members of the supervisory board shall be
reimbursed for the expenses incurred in the exercise of their
office, including any value-added tax.
(2) Each member of the supervisory board shall receive a
fixed fee of USD 80,000.00 per annum for each full
fiscal year, payable in four equal instalments at the end of
each calendar quarter.
In the event that the general meeting, taking into consideration
the annual results, resolves a higher remuneration by a three
fourths majority of the votes cast, such higher remuneration
shall be payable.
(3) The chairman of the supervisory board shall receive
additional remuneration in the amount of USD 80,000 and his
deputy additional remuneration in the amount of USD 40,000.
(4) As a member of a committee, a supervisory board member
shall receive, in addition, USD 30,000.00 per year, or
as chairman of a committee, USD 50,000.00 per year,
payable in each case in four equal installments at the end of
each calendar quarter.
(5) If a fiscal year is not a complete calendar year, the
remuneration shall be paid on a pro rata temporis basis.
(6) To the extent that a member of the supervisory board is
at the same time a member of the supervisory board of the
general partner Fresenius Medical Care Management AG and
receives remuneration for his services as a member of the
supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care Management AG, the
remuneration according to Article 13(2) will be reduced to half
of it. The same shall apply in relation to additional
remuneration of the chairman and his deputy according to
Article 13(3) if such person is, at the same time, the
chairman or his deputy, respectively, of the supervisory board
of Fresenius Medical Care Management AG. If the deputy of the
chairman of the supervisory board of the Company is at the same
time chairman of the supervisory board of Fresenius Medical Care
Management AG he shall not receive additional remuneration
according to Article 13(3) for his services as deputy of
the chairman of the Company.
(7) The Company shall pay the remuneration of the
supervisory board members subject to statutory deductions.
(8) The Company shall provide the members of the
supervisory board with an insurance protection regarding the
fulfilment of their duties as such members of the supervisory
board which is subject to an appropriate deductible.
|
|
|
Art. 14 Calling of the General Meeting |
(1) The general meeting shall be called, in so far as no
shorter period is allowed by law, no later than one month before
the day by the end of which the shares must be deposited
according to Article 15 with the day of calling and the day
of deposit not to be considered for such calculation.
(2) No later than on the last day of the convocation
period, also the English short version pursuant to
Article 3 paragraph (2) shall be published, if
necessary.
(3) The general meeting shall be held at the place where
the registered office of the Company is located, or in a German
city where a stock exchange is situated or at the place where
the registered office of a domestic affiliated company is
located.
A-7
|
|
|
Art. 15 Attendance at the General Meeting |
(1) Those shareholders shall be entitled to attend the
general meeting who deposit their shares no later than on the
fifth day before the general meeting with the Company, or a
Notary in the Federal Republic of Germany, or a bank for the
central depository of securities (Wertpapiersammelbank)
or with any other body designated in the notice of meeting,
during the business hours until the end of the general meeting.
If the credit institutions are closed on the last day of
deposit, the period of deposit shall end on the preceding
working day of the credit institutions.
(2) If the shares are deposited with a German Notary or
with a bank for the central depository of securities
(Wertpapiersammelbank), the certificate to be issued by
them shall be submitted to the cash office of the Company no
later than on the first working day, except the Saturday, after
expiration of the period of deposit.
(3) Shares shall be deemed to have been properly deposited
if they are blocked until the end of the general meeting at a
credit institution in the name of and with the consent of a
depository.
(4) The members of the management board of the general
partner and of the supervisory board should personally attend
the general meeting. If it is not possible for a member of the
supervisory board to attend at the place of the general meeting,
in particular, because he is abroad for cause, he may
participate in the general meeting by sound and picture
transmission.
(5) If a voting right is to be exercised by a proxy,
authorization in writing (Textform) shall be sufficient.
|
|
|
Art. 16 Date of the Ordinary General Meeting |
The general meeting which resolves on the adoption of the annual
financial statement and on the discharge of the general partner
and the supervisory board and on the disposition of the profits
(ordinary general meeting) shall be held within the first eight
(8) months of a fiscal year.
|
|
|
Art. 17 Chairmanship at the General Meeting and
Voting |
(1) The general meeting shall be chaired by the chairman of
the supervisory board or, if he is prevented or at the request
of the chairman of the supervisory board, by another supervisory
board member to be designated by the chairman of the supervisory
board. If and when no such designation has been made and the
chairman of the supervisory board is prevented, another member
to be designated by the supervisory board shall preside over the
general meeting.
(2) The chairman shall chair the meeting and determine the
order of items to be dealt with as well as the kind and form of
the voting. The chairman is entitled to reasonably limit the
speaking time of the shareholders and the time to ask questions
from the beginning of the meeting on, if such limitation is
allowed by law.
(3) The majorities of the votes cast and of the capital
stock represented for the adoption of the resolution which are
required for the resolutions of the general meeting shall be
governed by the statutory provisions, unless otherwise provided
for in these Articles of Association. In case of a tie, a
proposal shall be deemed denied.
(4) Each ordinary share shall grant one (1) vote at
the general meeting. The preference shares have no voting
rights, unless otherwise required by mandatory legal provisions;
otherwise, sentence 1 of this paragraph shall apply mutatis
mutandis.
(5) The chairman can decide that the entire general meeting
or extracts therefrom be transmitted in sound and/or picture.
Such transmission can even be in a form to which the public has
unlimited access. The form of the transmission should be made
known in the invitation.
A-8
(6) To the extent that the resolutions of the general
meeting are subject to the consent of the general partner, the
general partner shall declare at the general meeting whether
consent to the resolutions will be given or will be refused.
|
|
IV. |
Annual Financial Statement and Disposition of Profits |
|
|
|
Art. 18 Fiscal Year,
Rendering of Accounts |
(1) The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
(2) Within the first three (3) months of the fiscal
year but no later than within the maximum period required by
mandatory legal provisions, the general partner shall prepare
the annual financial statement and the management report for the
preceding fiscal year and submit the same to the supervisory
board without delay. The general partner may allocate in the
annual financial statement a part of the annual net profit up to
the half of the annual net profit to other revenue reserves.
(3) The supervisory board shall commission the audit by the
auditors of the financial statements. Before the audit report of
the auditors is forwarded to the supervisory board, the general
partner shall be given the opportunity to express its opinion.
(4) At the same time as the submission of the annual
financial statement and the management report the general
partner shall provide the supervisory board with the proposal on
the appropriation of the net profits.
(5) The annual financial statement shall be approved by a
resolution of the general meeting with the consent of the
general partner.
(6) Article 18 paragraphs (2) and
(3) shall apply correspondingly to group financial
statements and to a report on the economic group position, as
far as § 170 paragraph 1 sentence 2 German Stock
Corporation Act (AktG) is applicable to the Company as
Parent Company.
|
|
|
Art. 19 Disposition of
Profits |
(1) The general meeting shall resolve on the disposition of
the balance sheet profits subject to the following
paragraphs (2) to (4) of this Article.
(2) Out of the annual balance sheet profits, the non-voting
bearer preference shares shall receive a dividend which exceeds
that for the ordinary shares by an amount of Euro 0.06 per
preference share, but at least a dividend in an amount of
Euro 0.12 per preference share.
(3) The minimum dividend of Euro 0.12 per preference
share shall take precedence over the distribution of a dividend
on the ordinary shares.
(4) In the event that the balance sheet profits for one or
more fiscal years are insufficient to distribute Euro 0.12
per preference share, the lacking sums shall be paid
subsequently without interest out of the balance sheet profits
for the following fiscal years, i.e. after distribution of the
minimum dividend on the preference shares for these fiscal years
and before distribution of a dividend on the ordinary shares.
The right to subsequent payment shall be part of the profit
share for the fiscal year from the balance sheet profits of
which the subsequent payment on the preference shares is made.
|
|
|
Art. 20 Partial
Invalidity |
Should any of the provisions of these Articles of Association be
or become ineffective in whole or in part, or should these
Articles of Association have a regulatory gap, the validity of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected. The
Parties shall replace any such ineffective provision by an
adequate provision that, as far as legally possible, comes
closest to the intent and purpose of these Articles of
Association. The same shall apply in case of a regulatory gap.
A-9
|
|
|
Art. 21 Formation
Expenses |
(1) The formation expenses (Notarys fees, court
costs, costs of notification) amount up to DM 5,000.00 (in
words: five thousand Deutsche Marks).
(2) Additionally, the Company has to bear the expenses for
the transformation of Fresenius Medical Care AG into Fresenius
Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in an amount up to
EUR 7,500,000.00 (in words: seven million five hundred
thousand euro).
A-10