The sale of Vamed’s rehabilitation clinics to the French company PAI is final. The plan was announced in May and sparked some political criticism, especially from unions. In Austria, 3,500 employees at 21 locations are affected.
The deal stipulates that 70 percent will go to the French private equity company PAI and the remaining 30 percent will remain with the German Fresenius. The sales price has not yet been announced. Founded in 2002, PAI is based in Paris and has seven international locations.
The works council of healthcare group Vamed had issued a massive warning against the new majority owner of the rehabilitation clinics. Over the next five years, savings would be made on both staff and patients, the report said. The company must then be resold at a profit. “Because that is their business goal,” says Harald Steer, chairman of the Vamed Group works council. He called on the federal government to explore alternatives.
Across Europe, 13,000 employees are affected by the changes, and according to the Vida trade union, this number is approximately 3,500 in Austria. 100,000 patients annually with approximately 13,000 employees and patients in various European countries in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation,” said a Vamed broadcast on Monday evening .
In Austria, Vamed has shares in several thermal baths, for example in Vienna and Geinberg, as well as the technical management of the Vienna General Hospital. In 2023, a turnover of 2.36 billion euros was recorded, but at the same time the figures were in the red. Last year the operating loss amounted to 16 million euros. As a result, Fresenius came under pressure.
Source: Krone
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