Renal Advantage Inc. Completes Purchase of Dialysis Centers

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2005--Brentwood-based Renal Advantage Inc. (RAI) 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.

RAI bought these centers as a result of DaVita Inc.'s acquisition of Gambro Healthcare US. The company is implementing its transition plan to ensure the continuity of services at the centers. Patients at RAI Care Centers will receive dialysis at the same time on the same days with few changes in service.

“We first announced our agreement to purchase the centers in July 2005. We have used the past two months to put a solid management structure in place and begin implementation of our transition plan”

RAI was founded by CEO Michael D. Klein who recruited an experienced healthcare management team to help ensure clinical quality and expand the company. The management team includes: Dean Weiland, chief operating officer; John Crawford, chief financial officer; Juha Kokko, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer; Karl Kokko, chief information officer; Jon Sundock, chief legal counsel; Sharon Burbage, vice president of clinical services; Clay Bittner, vice president of managed care; Monte Frankenfield, vice president of finance and controller and Linda Meador, vice president of human resources.

"We first announced our agreement to purchase the centers in July 2005. We have used the past two months to put a solid management structure in place and begin implementation of our transition plan," said Klein. "I am confident in our ability to not only operate and manage these centers but to grow our business through additional development in these and other markets."

RAI currently serves approximately 7,000 patients in nine states: California, Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. A 10th state will be added to the list when RAI begins operating three centers in Illinois.

About Renal Advantage (www.RenalAdvantage.com):

Based in Brentwood, Tenn., Renal Advantage Inc. (RAI) was founded by veteran health care executives to build a leading national provider of high-quality dialysis services. Its growth plan began with the acquisition of 70 dialysis clinics. RAI is the fourth largest provider of outpatient dialysis services in the U.S. RAI is not affiliated with any other dialysis provider.

RAI partnered with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe to finance the acquisition. Welsh Carson has over $13 billion of capital under management and is one of the most experienced and successful health care investors with interests in a number of alternate site health care providers, including Ardent Health Services, Concentra Inc., AmeriPath, MedCath, Select Medical, and US Oncology.