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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

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PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 UNDER THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of November 2024.

Commission file number: 001-32749

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FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

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Else-Kröner-Strasse 1

61346 Bad Homburg

Germany

(Address of principal executive offices)

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

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Interim Report of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Management’s discussion and analysis

In this report, “FME AG,” or the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Fresenius Medical Care AG or to Fresenius Medical Care AG and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as the context requires. You should read the following discussion and analysis of the results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries in conjunction with our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this report and our disclosures and discussions in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the “IFRS® Accounting Standards,” using the euro as our reporting currency, included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (our 2023 Form 20-F).

The term “Care Enablement” refers to our Care Enablement operating segment, which is primarily engaged in the distribution of products and equipment and includes research and development (R&D), manufacturing, supply chain and commercial operations, as well as supporting functions, such as regulatory and quality management. The term “Care Delivery” refers to the Care Delivery operating segment, which is primarily engaged in providing services for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and other extracorporeal therapies, including value and risk-based care programs. Care Delivery also includes the pharmaceutical products business and the income from equity method investees related to the sale of certain renal pharmaceuticals from Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd. (VFMCRP), which are used in our clinics to provide health care services to our patients. Our operating segments are determined based upon how the Company manages its businesses and allocates resources with responsibilities by products and services and is aligned to the financial information that is presented on a quarterly basis to the chief operating decision maker.

Our Global Medical Office, which seeks to optimize medical treatments and clinical processes within the Company and supports both Care Delivery and Care Enablement, is centrally managed and its profit and loss are allocated to the segments. Similarly, we allocate costs related primarily to headquarters’ overhead charges, including accounting and finance as well as certain human resources, legal and IT costs, as we believe that these costs are attributable to the segments and used in the allocation of resources to Care Delivery and Care Enablement. These costs are allocated at budgeted amounts, with the difference between budgeted and actual figures recorded at the corporate level. However, certain costs, which relate mainly to shareholder activities, management activities, global internal audit and the remeasurement of certain investments and virtual power purchase agreements, are not allocated to a segment but are accounted for as corporate expenses. These activities do not fulfill the definition of a segment according to IFRS 8, Operating Segments and are also reported separately as Corporate (Corporate). Financing is a corporate function which is not controlled by the operating segments. Therefore, the Company does not include interest expense relating to financing as a segment measurement. In addition, the Company does not include income taxes as we believe taxes are outside the segments’ control. See note 13 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) included in this report for a further discussion on our operating segments.

At an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the Company held on July 14, 2023, the shareholders of the Company approved a proposal to change the legal form of the Company from a partnership limited by shares (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien – KGaA) into a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft – AG), (the Conversion). Upon effectiveness of the Conversion, which occurred upon registration of the Conversion with the competent commercial register on November 30, 2023, the Company’s former general partner exited the Company, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA (Fresenius SE) ceased to control (as defined by IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements) the Company and the Company ceased to be a member of the Fresenius SE consolidated group.

The abbreviations “THOUS” and “M” are used to denote the presentation of amounts in thousands and millions, respectively. The term “Constant Currency” or at “Constant Exchange Rates” means that we have translated local currency revenue, operating income, net income attributable to shareholders of FME AG and other items for the current reporting period into euro using the prior year exchange rates to provide a comparable analysis without effect from exchange rate fluctuations on translation, as described below under “Financial condition and results of operations – II. Discussion of measures – Non-IFRS® measures.”

Forward-looking statements

This report 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 (the Exchange Act). When used in this report, the words “outlook,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “guidance,” “target” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions and 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 be anticipated. Additionally, subsequent events and actual results, financial and otherwise, have differed in the past and, going forward, could differ materially from those set forth in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained elsewhere in this report. We have based these forward-looking statements on current estimates and assumptions made to the best of our knowledge. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause actual results, including our financial condition and profitability, to differ materially, positively or negatively, relative to the results expressly or implicitly described in or suggested by these statements. Moreover, forward-looking estimates or predictions derived from third parties’ studies or information may prove to be inaccurate. Consequently, we cannot give any assurance regarding the future accuracy of the opinions set forth in this report or the actual occurrence of the projected developments described herein. In addition, even if our future results meet the expectations expressed here, those results may not be indicative of our performance in future periods.

These risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, including associated costs, could cause actual results to differ from our projected results and include, among others, the following:

In the U.S., the interpretation of these statutes and the validity of existing interpretations by the agencies that administer such statutes may be subject to increased uncertainty as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce, 603 U.S. (2024) (Loper) in June 2024. Loper overruled the so-called “Chevron Doctrine” under which administrative agencies were accorded significant deference in their interpretation of the statutes they administer. The Loper opinion held that the U.S. Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to “exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.” While the effects of the Loper decision will become apparent over the succeeding months and years, it is possible that the decision could result in additional litigation challenging regulations, guidance, and decisions issued by agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), concern over the enforceability of such regulations until tested in court, challenges to CMS guidance in areas such as coverage billing requirements, coding decisions, add-on payments and procedure categorization and the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, as well as the validity of advisory opinions and safe-harbor regulations issued by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Such additional litigation could also result in additional uncertainty regarding such regulations and interpretations due to conflicting interpretations and rulings issued by courts in different jurisdictions. Given the uncertainty created by the Loper decision, we cannot predict its potential impact on our financial condition and results of operations at this time;

Important factors that could contribute to such differences are noted in “Financial condition and results of operations – I. Overview” below, in note 11 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) included in this report, in note 25 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2023 Form 20-F, as well as under “Risk Factors,” “Business overview,” “Operating and financial review and prospects,” and elsewhere in that report. Further information regarding our efforts to address various environmental, social and governance issues can be found within our Non-financial Group Report available at www.freseniusmedicalcare.com/en/investors/investors-overview/. In referencing our Non-financial Group Report and furnishing this website address in this report, however, we do not intend to incorporate any content from our Non-financial Group Report or information on our website into this report, and any information in our Non-financial Group Report or on our website should not be considered to be part of this report, except as expressly set forth herein.

Our business is also subject to other risks and uncertainties that we describe from time to time in our periodic public filings which can be accessed at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov. 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.

The actual accounting policies, the judgments made in the selection and application of these policies, as well as the sensitivities of reported results to changes in accounting policies, assumptions and estimates, are additional factors to be considered along with our interim financial statements and the discussion under “Results of operations, financial position and net assets” below. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2023 Form 20-F.

Rounding adjustments applied to individual numbers and percentages shown in this and other reports may result in these figures differing immaterially from their absolute values. Some figures (including percentages) in this report have been rounded in accordance with commercial rounding conventions. In some instances, such rounded figures and percentages may not add up to 100% or to the totals or subtotals contained in this report. Furthermore, totals and subtotals in tables may differ slightly from unrounded figures contained in this report due to rounding in accordance with commercial rounding conventions. A dash (–) indicates that no data were reported for a specific line item in the relevant financial year or period, while a zero (0) is used when the pertinent figure, after rounding, amounts to zero.

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Financial condition and results of operations

I. Overview

We are the world’s leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases, based on publicly reported revenue and number of patients treated. We provide dialysis and related services for individuals with renal diseases as well as other health care services. We also develop, manufacture and distribute a wide variety of health care products. Our health care products include hemodialysis machines, peritoneal dialysis cyclers, dialyzers, peritoneal dialysis solutions, hemodialysis concentrates, solutions and granulates, bloodlines, renal pharmaceuticals, systems for water treatment as well as acute cardiopulmonary and apheresis products. We supply dialysis clinics we own, operate or manage with a broad range of products and also sell dialysis products to other dialysis service providers. We sell our health care products to customers in around 140 countries and we also use them in our own health care service operations. Our dialysis business is therefore vertically integrated. Our other health care services include value and risk-based care programs, pharmacy services, vascular specialty services as well as ambulatory surgery center services, physician nephrology practice management and ambulant treatment services. We estimate that the size of the global dialysis market was approximately €81 billion in 2023. Dialysis patient growth results from factors such as the aging population and increased life expectancies; shortage of donor organs for kidney transplants; increasing incidence of kidney disease and better treatment of and survival of patients with diabetes, hypertension and other illnesses, which frequently lead to the onset of CKD; improvements in treatment quality, new pharmaceuticals and product technologies, which prolong patient life; and improving standards of living in developing countries, which make life-saving dialysis treatment available. We are also engaged in different areas of health care product therapy research.

As a global company delivering health care services and products, we face the challenge of addressing the needs of a wide variety of stakeholders, such as patients, customers, payors, regulators and legislators in many different economic environments and health care systems. In general, government-funded programs (in some countries in coordination with private insurers) pay for certain health care items and services provided to their citizens. Not all health care systems provide payment for dialysis treatment. Therefore, the reimbursement systems and ancillary services utilization environment in various countries significantly influence our business.

Significant U.S. reimbursement developments

The majority of health care services we provide are paid for by governmental institutions. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, approximately 26% of our consolidated revenue was attributable to U.S. federally-funded health care benefit programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, under which reimbursement rates are set by CMS. Legislative changes could affect reimbursement rates for a significant portion of the services we provide. The stability of reimbursement in the U.S. has been affected by (i) the ESRD prospective payment system (ESRD PPS), (ii) the U.S. federal government across the board spending cuts in payments to Medicare providers commonly referred to as “U.S. Sequestration” and (iii) the reduction to the ESRD PPS rate to account for the decline in utilization of certain drugs and biologicals associated with dialysis pursuant to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 as subsequently modified under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA). See detailed discussions on these and further legislative developments below:

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Presently, there is considerable uncertainty regarding possible future changes in health care regulation, including the regulation of reimbursement for dialysis services. As a consequence of the pressure to decrease health care costs, government reimbursement rate increases in the U.S. have historically been limited and are expected to continue in this fashion. However, any significant decreases in reimbursement under Medicare, commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage plans, or in patient access to commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage plans could have material adverse effects on our health care services business and, because the demand for dialysis products is affected by Medicare reimbursement, on our products business. To the extent that increases in operating costs that are affected by inflation, such as labor and supply costs, are not fully reflected in a compensating increase in reimbursement rates, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected. In addition, the United States Supreme Court’s Marietta ruling makes it easier for health plans to design plan benefits for Medicare eligible ESRD patients in a way that makes commercial insurance relatively less attractive to ESRD patients and Medicare relatively more attractive. The Marietta ruling could also result in certain EGHPs reducing the benefits offered for dialysis, which could, depending on the number of patients impacted, have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In December 2023, a bipartisan group of six members of the House reintroduced the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 6860), which would address the Marietta decision. The bill includes updated language which would restore the understanding of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act prior to the Marietta decision and ensure that patients cannot be discriminated against because of their need for dialysis. In September 2024, a companion bill was introduced on a bipartisan basis in the U.S. Senate (S. 5018). As Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates are generally lower than the reimbursement rates paid by commercial insurers, a shift of commercially insured patients to Medicare and Medicaid could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations in 2024 and beyond. There can be no assurance that this proposal or any other legislation to address the Marietta decision will be enacted. For additional information regarding these regulatory matters, see “Information on the Company—Regulatory and Legal Matters—Health Care Reform” in our 2023 Form 20-F.

For additional information, see “Risk Factors” included in our 2023 Form 20-F.

Premium assistance programs

The operation of charitable insurance premium assistance programs such as that offered by the American Kidney Fund (AKF) has received increased attention over the last few years by CMS and state insurance regulators and legislators. The result may be a regulatory framework that differs from the current framework or that varies from state to state. Even in the absence of actions by CMS or state regulators and legislatures to restrict the access that patients currently have to premium assistance programs, insurers are likely to continue efforts to thwart charitable premium assistance by premium assistance programs to our patients. If successful in a material area or scope of our U.S. operations, these efforts would have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results.

One such law that was enacted is AB290 in California (U.S.). Upon enactment, we, along with other providers and the AKF, filed suit challenging the validity of the law. Jane Doe, et al. v. Xavier Becerra, et al., 8:19-cv-02105, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. In December 2019, the court issued a preliminary injunction staying implementation of the law. On January 9, 2024, the court issued a summary judgment decision which, among other things, upheld the provisions limiting reimbursement paid to providers who donate to the AKF when such reimbursement relates to services provided to patients who receive AKF support. On May 9, 2024, the court issued a final judgment, but stayed entry of such judgment while the parties appeal.

Executive order-based models

On July 10, 2019, an Executive Order on advancing kidney health was signed in the United States. Among other things, the order instructed the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop new Medicare payment models to encourage identification and earlier treatment of kidney disease as well as increased home dialysis and transplants. One of those models, for which the rule was finalized on September 29, 2020 and later amended through finalized changes on October 29, 2021, the ETC model, is a mandatory model that creates financial incentives for home treatment and kidney transplants with a start date in January 2021 and ending in June 2027. This model applies both upside and downside payment adjustments to claims submitted by physicians and dialysis facilities for certain Medicare home dialysis patients over the span of six and one-half years. Participants in this model are based on a random selection of 30% of the Hospital Referral Regions. As of September 30, 2024, 979 of our U.S. dialysis facilities, representing approximately 35% of our U.S. dialysis facilities, are within the random selection of Hospital Referral Regions and therefore are in areas selected for participation in the model. An initial upside-only payment, Home Dialysis Payment Adjustment (HDPA), was applied for the first three years of the model, beginning in January 2021, in decreasing payment adjustments ranging from 3% in the first HDPA payment year, to 2% in the second HDPA payment year, and to 1% in the final HDPA payment year. This model also includes a Performance Payment Adjustment (PPA) beginning in July 2022. PPA payments will be a combined calculation of home dialysis (home, self-dialysis and nocturnal in-center) and transplant (living donor transplants and transplant waitlist) rates based upon a participant’s historic performance and/or increasingly weighted benchmark data from comparison geographic areas. CMS utilizes a two-tiered approach in PPA scoring to stratify participants with a high volume of beneficiaries who are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or Low Income Subsidy recipients. Possible PPA payment adjustments increase over time and will range from (5%) to 4% in the first PPA payment year (beginning July 2022) for both physicians and facilities and increase to (9%) and 8% for physicians and (10%) and 8% for facilities in the final PPA payment year (ending in June 2027).

On October 31, 2022, CMS finalized refinements to the ETC model, including a change to the improvement in scoring methodology and a change to the requirements related to flexibilities regarding furnishing and billing kidney disease patient education services under the ETC model. CMS also discussed its intent to publish participant-level performance data. These changes did not result in additional estimated savings to the Medicare program. At this time, our payment adjustments from the ETC model have resulted in a net positive adjustment. In October 2024, CMS released the performance scores for 2022 participants in which the majority of the KCEs organized by Interwell Health, our value and risk-based care subsidiary, qualified as high performers in various quality metrics.

Pursuant to the Executive Order, the Secretary of HHS also announced voluntary payment models, Kidney Care First (KCF) and CKCC models (graduated, professional and global), which aim to build on the existing Comprehensive ESRD Care model. These voluntary models create financial incentives for health care providers to manage care for Medicare beneficiaries with CKD stages 4 and 5 and with ESRD, to delay the start of dialysis, and to incentivize kidney transplants. The voluntary models allow health care providers to take on various amounts of financial risk by forming an entity known as a Kidney Care Entity (KCE). Two options, the CKCC global and professional models, allow renal health care providers to assume upside and downside financial risk. A third option, the CKCC graduated model, is limited to assumption of upside risk, but is unavailable to KCEs that include large dialysis organizations such as the Company. Under the global model, the KCE is responsible for 100% of the total cost of care for all Medicare Part A and B services for aligned beneficiaries, and under the professional model, the KCE is responsible for 50% of such costs. Applications for the voluntary models were submitted in January 2020. We submitted 25 CKCC applications to participate in the professional model and were also included in four other CKCC applications submitted by nephrologists. All 29 of these KCE applications were accepted in June 2020. Of the 29 accepted applications, 28 KCEs have elected to participate in the implementation period, which started on October 15, 2020, and provided a start-up period during which the KCE is not at financial risk. The KCEs started assuming financial risk at the start of the first performance year on January 1, 2022. Of the 28 KCEs participating in the implementation period, we moved forward with 20 of the KCEs during the first performance year. The CKCC model is expected to run through 2026. For the second performance year in the CKCC model, we submitted 4 additional CKCC applications (3 under the professional option and 1 under the global option) and were also included in one other CKCC application submitted by nephrologists under the global option. All 5 applications were accepted, though we notified CMS that we will not move forward with one of those applications. The accepted KCEs started assuming financial risk as of January 1, 2023. As of September 2024, approximately 54,000 patients were aligned to KCEs in which we participated.

Company structure

For a description of our structure, especially as relates to our operating segments, see “Management’s discussion and analysis” above as well as note 13 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) included in this report.

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II. Discussion of measures

Non-IFRS measures

Certain of the following financial measures and other financial information as well as discussions and analyses set out in this report include measures that are not defined by IFRS Accounting Standards (Non-IFRS Measures). We believe this information, along with comparable IFRS® Accounting Standards financial measurements, is useful to our investors as it provides a basis for assessing our performance, payment obligations related to performance-based compensation, our compliance with covenants and enhanced transparency as well as comparability of our results. Non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed or interpreted as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.

Constant Exchange Rates or Constant Currency (Non-IFRS Measure)

Our presentation of some financial measures used in this report such as changes in revenue, operating income and net income attributable to shareholders of FME AG (or net income) includes the impact of translating local currencies to our reporting currency for financial reporting purposes. We calculate and present these financial measures using both IFRS Accounting Standards and at constant exchange rates in our publications to show changes in these metrics and other items without giving effect to period-to-period currency fluctuations. Under IFRS Accounting Standards, amounts received in local (non-euro) currency are translated into euro at the average exchange rate for the period presented. Once we translate the local currency for the constant currency, we then calculate the change, as a percentage, of the current period calculated using the prior period exchange rates versus the prior period. This resulting percentage is a Non-IFRS Measure referring to a change as a percentage at constant currency. These currency-adjusted financial measures are identifiable by the designated terms “Constant Exchange Rates” or “Constant Currency.”

The primary key performance indicators are presented both in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards and at Constant Currency. Each of these indicators presented at Constant Currency is considered a non-IFRS measure. For the purposes of management compensation, these metrics are also benchmarked at the underlying exchange rates used in the calculation of our incentive compensation targets.

We believe that the measures at Constant Currency are useful to investors, lenders and other creditors because such information enables them to gauge the impact of currency fluctuations on our revenue, operating income, net income attributable to shareholders of FME AG and other items from period to period. In addition, under our long-term incentive plans, we measure the attainment of certain predetermined financial targets for revenue growth and net income growth in Constant Currency. However, we limit our use of Constant Currency period-over-period changes to a measure for the impact of currency fluctuations on the translation of local currency into euro. We do not evaluate our results and performance without considering both:

We caution the readers of this report not to consider these measures in isolation, but to review them in conjunction with changes in revenue, operating income, net income attributable to shareholders of FME AG and other items prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. We present the growth rate derived from non-IFRS measures next to the growth rate derived from IFRS Accounting Standards measures such as revenue, operating income, net income attributable to shareholders of FME AG and other items. As the reconciliation is inherent in the disclosure included within “Results of operations, financial position and net assets,” below, we believe that a separate reconciliation would not provide any additional benefit.

Return on invested capital (ROIC) (Non-IFRS Measure)

ROIC is the ratio of operating income, for the last twelve months, after tax (net operating profit after tax or NOPAT) to the average invested capital of the last five quarter closing dates, including adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures made during the last twelve months with a purchase price above a €50 M threshold, consistent with the respective adjustments made in the determination of adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) below (see “Net leverage ratio (Non-IFRS Measure)”). Additionally, we further adjust ROIC for costs related to Legacy Portfolio Optimization incurred during the last twelve months to increase comparability of the underlying financial figures of certain Management Board compensation performance targets with the Company’s operating performance and to adequately recognize the actual performance of the members of the Management Board. ROIC expresses how efficiently we allocate the capital under our control or how well we employ our capital with regard to investment projects. The following tables show the reconciliation of average invested capital to total assets, which we believe to be the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards financial measure, and how ROIC is calculated:

Reconciliation of average invested capital and ROIC (Non-IFRS Measure, unadjusted)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Adjustments to average invested capital and ROIC

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Reconciliation of average invested capital and ROIC (Non-IFRS Measure)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Adjustments to average invested capital and ROIC (excluding Legacy Portfolio Optimization costs)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Reconciliation of average invested capital and ROIC (Non-IFRS Measure, excluding Legacy Portfolio Optimization costs)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Reconciliation of average invested capital and ROIC (Non-IFRS Measure, unadjusted)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Adjustments to average invested capital and ROIC

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Reconciliation of average invested capital and ROIC (Non-IFRS Measure)

in € M, except where otherwise specified

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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in % of revenue

Our consolidated statement of cash flows indicates how we generated and used cash and cash equivalents. In conjunction with our other primary interim financial statements, it provides information that helps us evaluate changes to our net assets and our financial structure (including liquidity and solvency). Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities is applied to assess whether a business can internally generate the cash required to make the necessary replacement and expansion of investments. This indicator is impacted by the profitability of our business and the development of working capital, mainly receivables. Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in percent of revenue shows the percentage of our revenue that is available in terms of financial resources. This measure is an indicator of our operating financial strength.

Free cash flow in % of revenue (Non-IFRS Measure)

Free cash flow (which we define as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities after capital expenditures, before acquisitions and investments) refers to the cash flow we have at our disposal, including cash flows that may be restricted for other uses. This indicator shows the percentage of revenue available for acquisitions and investments, dividends to shareholders, debt servicing and reductions in debt financing or for repurchasing shares.

For a reconciliation of cash flow performance indicators for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 which reconciles free cash flow and free cash flow in percent of revenue to Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities and Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in percent of revenue, see “III. Results of operations, financial position and net assets - Financial position - Sources of Liquidity.”

Net leverage ratio (Non-IFRS Measure)

The net leverage ratio is a performance indicator used for capital management. To determine the net leverage ratio, debt and lease liabilities less cash and cash equivalents (net debt) is compared to adjusted EBITDA, which we define as EBITDA adjusted for:

The ratio is an indicator of the length of time the Company needs to service the net debt out of its own resources. We believe that the net leverage ratio provides alternative information that management believes to be useful in assessing our ability to meet our payment obligations in addition to considering the absolute amount of our debt. We have a strong market position in a growing, global and mainly non-cyclical market. Furthermore, most of our customers have a high credit rating as the dialysis industry is characterized by stable and sustained cash flows. We believe this enables us to work with a reasonable proportion of debt.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS Measure, is used in our capital management and is also relevant in major financing instruments, including the Syndicated Credit Facility. You should not consider adjusted EBITDA to be an alternative to net earnings determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards or to cash flow from operations, investing activities or financing activities. In addition, not all funds depicted by adjusted EBITDA are available for management’s discretionary use. For example, a substantial portion of such funds are subject to contractual restrictions and functional requirements to fund debt service, capital expenditures and other commitments from time to time as described in more detail elsewhere in this report.

For our self-set target range for the net leverage ratio and a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and net leverage ratio as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, see “III. Results of operations, financial position and net assets - Financial position - Sources of Liquidity.”

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III. Results of operations, financial position and net assets

Highlights

The following items represent notable impacts or trends in our business and/or industry for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024:

Legacy Portfolio Optimization

As noted above, we are reviewing our business portfolio, specifically with a view to exiting unsustainable markets and divesting non-core businesses and the cessation of certain R&D programs to enable more focused capital allocation towards areas in our core business that are expected to have higher profitable growth. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the impacts from Legacy Portfolio Optimization mainly comprise the items described in iv., above, under “Net leverage ratio (Non-IFRS Measure)” (see note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) included in this report).

Overall, the impacts from Legacy Portfolio Optimization resulted in a positive effect on operating income of €17 M and a negative effect on operating income €141 M for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively (negative effect of €53 M and €147 M for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively).

FME25 Program

Overall, the costs related to the FME25 Program resulted in a negative impact to operating income of €39 M and €107 M for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (€49 M and €100 M for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, recurring savings related to the FME25 Program were €161 M and €405 M, respectively (€97 M and €232 M for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively).

In the discussion of our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 below, the effects of the costs and savings related to the FME25 Program are presented on a net basis.

Third-party Cyber Incident

On February 21, 2024, one of our third party service providers was subject to a cyber-attack leading to the shutdown of its systems (the Third-party Cyber Incident). As this third party provided us with a range of financial clearinghouse services, the cyber-attack on its systems led to delays in claim processing impacting our consolidated financial statements, primarily affecting accounts receivable balances and cash flows. As of September 30, 2024, the impacts related to the Third-party Cyber Incident have been substantially resolved and are no longer material. See note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) included in this report for further information.

Other Trends

We continue to face significant challenges in the labor market, resulting in meaningfully higher costs. While we have seen signs of a stabilization of the labor market, such challenges are expected to continue in 2024 as we make investments in our employees. Additionally, overall treatments decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 primarily as divestitures in connection with Legacy Portfolio Optimization had a negative impact on overall treatment numbers. Specifically in the U.S., volumes were negatively affected by the cancellation of less profitable acute care contracts contributing to a 0.2% decline in Same Market Treatment Growth (as defined below) for both the for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 in addition to the impacts from divestitures noted above, as indicated in the discussion of our consolidated revenue and operating segment results and in the tables under “Key Performance Indicators,” below.

The following sections summarize our consolidated results of operations, financial position and net assets as well as key performance indicators by reporting segment, as well as Corporate, for the periods indicated. We prepared the information consistent with the manner in which management internally disaggregates financial information to assist in making operating decisions and evaluating management performance.

Results of operations

Revenue and operating income generated in countries outside the eurozone are subject to currency fluctuations. As a significant portion of our operations are derived from our businesses in the U.S., the development of the euro against the U.S. dollar can have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position and net assets and the impacts of foreign currency transaction and translation effects are included in the discussion of our key and secondary performance indicators below.

Three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to three months ended September 30, 2023

Results of operations

in € M