Gambro sells COBE CV to Sorin

Gambro sells COBE CV to Sorin Gambro has reached an agreement to sell the cardiopulmonary care products company COBE CV to the Italian medical technology group Sorin. The sale is at a price of 267 MUSD and generates a capital gain before tax for Gambro of approx. 120 MUSD. The transaction is conditional upon approval by competition authorities. The transaction is supposed to be closed during the beginning of 1999. "This is a strategically correct move" says Mikael Lilius, President and CEO of Gambro."We will contribute to the creation of a very strong entity in the field of cardiopulmonary care products. The combination of the operations in COBE CV and Sorin will create a globally leading and forceful player which will offer more favorable development opportunities for the future." COBE CV has a strong market position in open heart surgery technology with worldwide sales of about 150 MUSD. Business includes two product areas: cardiopulmonary products - oxygenators, heart-lung machines and bloodlines - and autologous blood recovery products. COBE CV is based in Denver, Colorado, USA and has about 950 employees. For further information: Bengt Modéer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, +46-8-613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 33 Gambro is an international medical-technology group with revenues of approximately SEK 18 billion and about 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/1998/11/24/19981124BIT00020/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/11/24/19981124BIT00020/bit0002.doc