Gambro continues expansion in the US

Gambro continues expansion in the US Stockholm, Sweden - Gambro AB (Stockholm Stock Exchange: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that its subsidiary GAMBRO Healthcare Inc. has acquired the dialysis clinics owned by USHAWL, Inc. ("USHAWL") and Century Dialysis Corporation ("Century"). USHAWL and Century are wholly owned subsidiaries of Salick Health Care, Inc., a provider of outpatient dialysis and cancer services. USHAWL operates 12 outpatient dialysis clinics within Southern California in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino counties that serve approxi- mately 900 patients. Century provides in-hospital dialysis services within the same area under contracted arrangements to more than 25 hospitals, including Cedars Sinai Medical Center. With this acquisition, GAMBRO Healthcare will own, operate or manage 42 clinics serving approximately 3,500 patients in the Los Angeles, Long Beach, Riverside, San Bernadino and Orange County Metropolitan Areas. "We are pleased to join GAMBRO Healthcare's internationally renowned renal care network", stated Dr. Hector Rodriguez, Chief Medical Officer, Salick Health Care. "Gambro has an excellent reputation for providing high quality patient care and has a proven commitment to improving patient outcomes. Our relationship with Gambro will provide support for further growth of our business, with a strong commitment to the welfare of our patients." "The dialysis division, comprised of dedicated and talented employees who pro- vide high quality patient care, has been a strong performing unit and served as the cornerstone of the Company's growth during the early years of Salick Health Care", added Peter Jessup, Attorney, Salick Health Care. "This transaction offers the dialysis division important new avenues for growth and development through alignment with a company that is dedicated solely to this type of business. Salick Health Care and Gambro are working together to ensure a smooth transition for patients, employees and physicians." "We are delighted to conclude this transaction with Salick Health Care, whose dialysis division meets our high standards for excellence in patient care", said Mats Wahlström, President of GAMBRO Healthcare. "This acquisition further supports our strategy to selectively expand our network of clinics in the US. Today we have made another step toward our goal of becoming the world's leading provider of high-quality renal care services." GAMBRO Healthcare, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gambro AB, a world- leading medical technology and healthcare company. GAMBRO Healthcare is a fully integrated service provider in renal replacement therapy. Its activities include risk contracting, disease management, physician practice management, dialysis services, and clinical laboratory services. GAMBRO Healthcare is a leading provider of kidney dialysis services in the US. The Company now owns, operates, manages or provides consulting services to 478 dialysis centers in the United States that serve about 35,200 patients. There are patients under treatment in centers across 33 states and the District of Columbia. For further information please contact: Bengt Modéer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 33 Anna Augustson, European Investor Relations Manager, tel. +46-8-613 65 35, +46-70-513 65 34 Tim Schoenberg, Vice President, US Investor Relations Manager, +1-949-425-2185 Gambro is a global medical technology and healthcare company with leading positions in renal care - services and products - and blood component technology (BCT). Gambro is the second largest provider of kidney dialysis services in the world. Gambro treats about 41,800 patients in 569 clinics worldwide. Renal care products comprise dialyzers, dialysis machines, blood lines and dialysis fluid. BCT includes products for the separation and handling of blood components. The group, with revenue of approximately SEK 18 billion (USD 2.2 billion), has approximately 17,000 employees in some 40 countries. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/27/19990527BIT00050/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/27/19990527BIT00050/bit0002.pdf