Management Report
Results of Operations, Financial Position, Assets and Liabilities
Assets and Liabilities ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Asset and liability structure
The total assets of the Group rose by € 5,220 million (34%) to € 20,544 million (December 31, 2007: € 15,324 million). In constant currency, this is an increase of 31%. Of this growth, 27% is attributable to the acquisitions in 2008, especially APP Pharmaceuticals. The expansion of existing business activities accounted for 4%. Inflation had no significant impact on the assets of Fresenius in 2008.
Non-current assets were € 15,466 million (2007: € 11,033 million). Based on the exchange rates as of December 31, 2007, this was an increase of 36%, and was driven by additions to property, plant and equipment, as well as acquisitions. Goodwill from acquisitions was € 3,121 million as of December 31, 2008, of which € 2,637 million was attributable to the acquisition of APP Pharmaceuticals.
Current assets rose by 18% to € 5,078 million (2007: € 4,291 million). In constant currency, this is also an increase of 18%. Within current assets, trade accounts receivable rose by 15% to € 2,477 million, primarily due to business expansion as a result of acquisitions (2007: € 2,159 million). Average days sales outstanding (DSO) of 71 days was on previous year’s level. The acquisition of APP Pharmaceuticals had a positive effect while DSO increased at Fresenius Medical Care and Fresenius Kabi. Inventories rose by 29% to € 1,127 million (2007: € 875 million). The scope of inventory (SOI) was 48 days in 2008 (2007: 42 days). This was affected by the firsttime consolidation of APP Pharmaceuticals. The ratio of inventories to total assets slightly decreased to 5.5% as of December 31, 2008 (December 31, 2007: 5.7%).
Shareholders’ equity, including minority interest, rose by 15%, or € 884 million, to € 6,943 million (2007: € 6,059 million). In constant currency, this is an increase of 12%. Group net income increased shareholders’ equity by € 270 million. The capital increase in the third quarter of 2008 to finance the APP Pharmaceuticals acquisition added € 289 million. The equity ratio, including minority interest, was 33.8% as of December 31, 2008 (December 31, 2007: 39.5%).
The liabilities and equity side of the balance sheet shows a solid financing structure. Shareholders’ equity of the Group, including minority interest, comprises 45% of non-current assets (2007: 55%). Together, shareholders’ equity, minority interest, and long-term liabilities cover all non-current assets and 81% of the inventories
Long-term liabilities were € 9,432 million as of December 31, 2008, an increase of € 3,670 million compared to the previous year’s figure of € 5,762 million. The large increase is mainly attributable to the financing of the APP Pharmaceuticals acquisition. Short-term liabilities were € 4,169 million, an increase of 19% versus the previous year’s figure of € 3,503 million.
| ASSETS AND LIABILITIES – 5-YEARS OVERVIEW | |||||
| in million € | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
| Total assets | 20,544 | 15,324 | 15,024 | 11,594 | 8,188 |
| Shareholders’ equity* | 6,943 | 6,059 | 5,728 | 5,130 | 3,347 |
| As % of total assets* | 34 | 40 | 38 | 44 | 41 |
| Shareholders’ equity*/non-current assets (%) | 45 | 55 | 52 | 64 | 62 |
| Debt | 8,787 | 5,699 | 5,872 | 3,502 | 2,735 |
| As % of total assets | 43 | 37 | 39 | 30 | 33 |
| Gearing (%) | 121 | 88 | 98 | 63 | 78 |
| * | including minority interest |

