October 7, 2005 - Renal Advantage Inc. became the fourth largest provider of outpatient dialysis services in the U.S. with the closing of its purchase of 70 freestanding dialysis centers in nine states. RAI will purchase an additional three freestanding dialysis centers in Illinois once regulatory requirements are satisfied in that state. Press release via BusinessWire.

DaVita also announced that it closed its acquisition of Gambro Healthcare U.S. Press release via Yahoo.

October 5, 2005 - Attorney General Mike Cox announced that his office has reached an antitrust settlement with two of the nation's largest providers of kidney dialysis services that will allow the two companies to merge while preserving the competitive atmosphere necessary to protect more than 11,000 Michigan patients. Press release via Yahoo.

DaVita Inc. announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has completed its review of DaVita's acquisition of Gambro Healthcare U.S. and has issued a consent order allowing for the closing of the acquisition. Press release via Yahoo.

DaVita said it will sell 70 clinics to the newly-formed private company Renal Advantage Inc., who will then become the U.S.'s fourth-largest provider of outpatient dialysis services. Renal Advantage, Inc. web site.


October 3, 2005 - DaVita Inc. announced that it expects to receive final approval of its acquisition of Gambro Healthcare U.S. from the Federal Trade Commission shortly and is working towards closing the acquisition in early October. Press release from PRNewswire.

December 14, 2004 - Gambro said it is confident US regulatory authorities will swiftly approve the sale of its US dialysis clinic business to DaVita. News item from AFX via Yahoo. (link is no longer available)

Under the companies' merger agreement, which was filed late Wednesday, Dec. 8, with the Securities & Exchange Commission, DaVita must "take any and all steps necessary" to overcome antitrust, competition or trade law impediments to closing the deal for the dialysis provider. Story from The Deal.com. (link is no longer available)

December 10, 2004 - This week's $3 billion acquisition in the market for dialysis services and products sent a rare shudder of movement through what is a normally low-profile and self-contained industry. Story from Financial Times.

The stock prices:

• DaVita - 10-day stock chart
  
  
• Fresenius - 10-day stock chart
  
  
• Gambro - 10-day stock chart

December 8, 2004 - More developments in DaVita's acquisition of Gambro's U.S. dialysis facilities:

• Dialysis deal faces scrutiny - article from The Deal.com via Yahoo.(link is no longer available)
  
  
• Gambro continues capacity expansion for dialyzers - press release from Gambro (link is no longer available)
  
  
• DaVita jumps ahead of dialysis pack - article from The Deal.com via Yahoo.(link is no longer available)
  
  
• DaVita pays $3bn for Gambro's US clinics - article from Financial Times.

December 7, 2004 - DaVita Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gambro AB's U.S. dialysis clinics for a total consideration of approximately $3.05 billion in cash. DaVita will nearly double its U.S. business, giving it approximately 96,000 patients at more than 1,200 clinics with combined revenues of approximately $4.4 billion and 25,000 employees. Also as part of the deal, Gambro will become DaVita's preferred supplier of dialysis equipment. Story from Reuters.(link is no longer available)

Gambro has agreed to supply DaVita with renal products for at least 10 years and jointly develop dialysis products. Gambro will have three business units: Gambro Healthcare, which provides dialysis services outside the U.S.; Renal Products, which makes dialysis products; and BCT, which provides blood collection services. Story from Bloomberg.

DaVita press release.

"Gambro makes combined, important strategic steps: sells US clinics business and establishes strategic alliance with DaVita" - press release from Gambro

"Gambro Divests Gambro Healthcare US" - information page from the Gambro AB web site.

December 6, 2004 - Four days after Gambro announced a final settlement of Medicare billing fraud charges with the U.S. Department of Justice for $350 million, it is now being reported that DaVita is near an agreement to buy the dialysis operations of Gambro. Story from iWon.com.(link is no longer available)

2-page story from Reuters at 6:50 PM EST.(link is no longer available)

Gambro has posted a message on its web site that states it does not comment on "rumors".(link is no longer available)

No message has yet appeared on the Investor Relations page of the DaVita web site.

The Stockholm stock exchange halted trade in Gambro shares on Monday pending further information later this week. Story from Reuters.(link is no longer available)

Story from the Associated Press. (link is no longer available)

News item from Reuters.(link is no longer available)

[Page reviewed on 10/20/2005.]