Fresenius Group has posted satisfactory growth in sales during the first quarter ended March 2013 and its sales improved by 10.7 per cent to €4,890 million from €4,419 million in the corresponding period of last year. EBDITA also improved by 6.4 per cent to €891 million from €838 million. However, its net income declined by 4.8 per cent to €219 million from €230 million. Earnings per share improved by 2 per cent to €1.26.

Ulf Mark Schneider, CEO, said, “Fresenius is off to an excellent start in 2013. We improved on last year's outstanding sales and earnings and had the best first quarter in the company's history. Fresenius Kabi and Fresenius Helios recorded particularly strong growth. Our first quarter performance puts us on track to meet our goals for the full year 2013 and to exceed Euro 1 billion in Group net income for the first time.”

The sales of  Fresenius Medical Care, a group company, improved by 6 per cent to €2,623 million  and that of Fresenius Kabi jumped by 15 per cent to €1,260 million. Fresenius Helios posted sales of €841 million as against €710 million, a growth of 18 per cent. Similarly, the sales of Fresenius Vamed moved up by 23 per cent to €184 million from €149 million.

The Group's sales in North America improved by 12 per cent to €2,102 million from €1,870 million in the similar quarter of last year. Its sales in Europe also increased by 10 per cent to €1,974 million from €1,801 million. The Group also achieved better performance in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa with sales growth of 7 per cent, 9 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. The Group spent €179 million on property, plant and equipment. The Group's total assets increased by 2 per cent to €31.3 billion.

In December, 2012, Fresenius announced the decision to discontinue its Fresenius Biotech subsidiary. The company is in talks with several parties about a sale of Fresenius Biotech, while simultaneously assessing the equally viable option of continuing the immunosuppressive drug ATG-Fresenius S within Fresenius Group.

Based on the Group's performance in the first quarter, Fresenius fully confirms its full-year guidance. For 2013 it expects sales to increase by 7 per cent to 10 per cent and net income to increase by 7 per cent to 12 per cent, both in constant currency. It plans to invest around 5 per cent of sales in property, plant and equipment.