Acceptance levels of cash offer by Capio for Community Hospitals Group 82%

Acceptance levels of cash offer by Capio for Community Hospitals Group 82% Capio has, at 3.00 p.m. on 17 May 2001, the first closing date of the Offer, received valid acceptances in respect of 24,894,156 Community Hospitals Group Shares, representing 69.98 per cent of the existing issued share capital of CHG. In addition, Capio has acquired a total of 4,201,403 CHG Shares through market purchases, representing 11.81 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of CHG. Accordingly, as at 3.00pm on 17 May 2001, Capio therefore owned or had received valid acceptances in respect of 29,095,559 CHG Shares, representing 81.79 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of CHG. The Offer has been extended to 31 May 2001. Background; Capio presented at the 26th of April 2001 a cash offer of SEK 3.5 billion for all of the shares outstanding in the UK's fourth largest independent care company, CHG, Community Hospitals Group. CHG, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has 3,400 employees and operates 21 hospitals in the United Kingdom. This transaction means that Capio will gain a substantially stronger international position in a market segment that is experiencing solid growth. Göteborg, Sweden 18 May 2001 Capio AB (publ) For further information, please contact: Ulrika Stenson, Vice President Corporate Communications +46 (0)31 732 4004, +46 (0)705 90 07 23 Martin Svalstedt, CFO +46 (0)31 732 4010, +46 (0)705 11 11 36 Earlier distributed press releases with further information about the terms and conditions relating to the offer for CHG can be found on the Capio website: www.capio.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/18/20010518BIT00140/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/18/20010518BIT00140/bit0001.pdf