Capio acquires Scandinavian Heart Center

8/20/2002 9:00 AM EST

Capio is acquiring Scandinavian Heart Center in Gothenburg. Scandinavian
Heart Center focuses on cardiovascular surgery and performs slightly
more than 550 operations each year. The company has a 6% share of the
Swedish market. Scandinavian Heart Center's competence in the highly
specialised area of cardiovascular surgery will constitute a solid base
for a new leading-edge area of business within Capio Healthcare Nordic.

Capio will formally acquire Scandinavian Heart Center SHC AB in
Gothenburg as per September 1, 2002. The company has annual sales of
approx. SEK 65 M and a care-services contract with the Västra Götaland
region to carry out 550 cardiovascular operations per year. The care-
services contract with the region extends to mid-year 2006, with an
option for extension.

"The acquisition of Scandinavian Heart Center is fully in line with our
strategy to develop cardiovascular care as a leading-edge area of
expertise within Capio. The company's high competence in the
cardiovascular surgery area will make a strong contribution to the
Healthcare Nordic business area. Today, Capio is active in
cardiovascular surgery in the UK. Furthermore, preparations are in
progress at St. Göran's Hospital in Stockholm to commence so-called
balloon angioplasty," says Ann-Sofi Lodin, Deputy Head of Capio
Healthcare Nordic business area.

Heart-related problems are relatively common today and in Sweden
approximately one fifth of all patients seeking emergency medical care
show symptoms of cardiovascular disease. This means that there is
substantial demand for various types of cardiovascular treatment.
Approximately 10,000 cardiovascular operations are carried out per year
in Sweden.

Scandinavian Heart Center commenced operations in 1985 and has been
wholly owned by Gambro AB since 1994. Activities focus primarily on by-
pass operations, cardiac valve surgery and operations to correct
congenital heart disorders. The majority of the staff of 70 people is
nurses with specialist training.

Gothenburg, August 20, 2002
Capio AB (publ)


For further information, please contact:
Ann-Sofi Lodin, Deputy Head of Capio +46 31 732 40 09, +
Healthcare Nordic business area: 46 70 632 11 65
Ulrika Stenson, Vice President, Corporate +46 70 590 07 23
Communications, Capio AB
Janette Jennische, Vice President +46 8 613 65 99, + 46
Corporate Communications Gambro AB 70 212 50 53