Artimplant's Board of Directors authorized to effect a directed new share issue

Artimplant's Board of Directors authorized to effect a directed new share issue Artimplant's Extraordinary General Meeting held today authorized the Board of Directors to decide on an issue without preferential rights of up to 2,000,000 new shares of series B, directed to institutional investors. Anders Cedronius, CEO of Artimplant, comments: "Considering the positive early follow-up results from the pilot study regarding ACL and thumb ligaments, and the large market potential for Artimplant's ligament products, increased priority has been given to these market segments. Larger resources are needed for a forcefull expansion. As Artimplant is entering a market phase with a global market strategy, the company views it as natural to increase the share of institutional investors." It is the Board of Director's intention to pursue the new issue as soon as possible. Artimplant intends to primarily use the funds raised through a new issue to intensify the work with marketing and clinical trials. The company hopes that it hereby will be able to launch several new products earlier than planned. Enskilda Securities AB is financial advisor to Artimplant in connection with the issue. For further information please contact: Lars-Erik Nygren, CFO, tel:+46 31 746 5600 or Kari Odhnoff, Investor Relations, tel:+46 708 639 341 www.artimplant.se Artimplant is a biomaterial company focused on unmet needs in the field of orthopedic surgery. Artimplant's business concept is to develop, manufacture and market biodegradable implants that provide the injured tissue with temporary relief and support the body's natural healing process. The vision is to be world-leading within biologically degradable implants that stimulate self-healing and re-create an active life. The Company's researchers, which represent a unique combination of interdisciplinary competence, have synthesized a vast number of biodegradable polymers, that can be tailored for use in a number of different medical-treatment areas. Artimplant has developed and patented a resorbable ligament implant that currently is undergoing clinical trial including 200 patients for treatment of injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Early follow-up results from the pilot study using Artimplant's ACL implant show both subjective and objective joint stability in the operated knee, and the technique made possible relatively early rehabilitation. A ruptured ACL in the knee is one of the most frequent ligament injuries and often leads to lifelong detrimental effects for the injured, and substantial costs to society. Artimplant's technology can be applied in numerous other areas, and the development activities have expanded to include more than a dozen projects. Artimplant's goal is to launch at least one product year 2000. As part of Artimplant's market strategy Gothenburg Medical Center (GMC) was acquired with the purpose of establishing Swedish headquarters for Artimplant Academy - a forum for advanced clinical research, application and education within orthopedic surgery. Artimplant is listed on the OM Stockholm Exchange O-list. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/27/20000327BIT01080/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/27/20000327BIT01080/bit0002.pdf