DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita and a leading provider of kidney care services in the US, announced the signing of a definitive agreement that, subject to certain closing conditions, will create a long-term joint venture. The joint venture with Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the strategic investment fund of the Government of Malaysia, and Mitsui & Co., LTD., one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service companies in the world, is intended to support the growth of DaVita Kidney Care operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Khazanah and Mitsui will collectively own 40 per cent in DaVita's Asia-Pacific kidney care business. DaVita will drive operations as the majority owner of the joint venture and continuing its efforts to provide the same high-quality clinical outcomes that lead all other major dialysis providers in the US according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star and QIP programmes.

"Two-thirds of the world's population lives in Asia Pacific, and there simply isn't enough capacity to provide access to quality care for patients," said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita. "This partnership will leverage our collective healthcare experience to provide patients and their families the care they deserve."

Khazanah and Mitsui are currently major shareholders of IHH Healthcare, the world's second largest hospital group (by market capitalization). Their experience and understanding of the healthcare landscape in Asia Pacific will deepen DaVita's local expertise to accelerate expansion in the region.

"This partnership is a reflection of our shared commitment to serve a growing number of patients needing quality dialysis treatment in the region," said Atul Mathur, DaVita's executive vice president of global operations. "It is also a commitment to providing career opportunities to current and future teammates in the Asia-Pacific region for which DaVita is well known."

DaVita currently delivers its life-sustaining kidney care services to patients in 42 cities across Asia Pacific. The company serves urban populations as well as more remote rural areas where access to care can be a challenge. DaVita and its teammates also produce educational resources that give individuals the knowledge and tools they need to help slow the progression of and better manage their kidney disease.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the world's population has chronic kidney disease, and many do not know it because the symptoms go unnoticed until the disease has progressed to full renal failure.

DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500 company that, through its operating divisions, provides a variety of health care services to patient populations throughout the United States and abroad. A leading provider of dialysis services in the United States, DaVita Kidney Care treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease.