direct/ Capio AB (SE) - The Board of Capio AB rejects the public offer from Opica

Opica AB ("Opica"), indirectly owned by funds advised by Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, by funds managed by Nordic Capital Fund VI Ltd and by funds managed by Apax Partners SA, has on September 1 2006 announced a public cash offer to the shareholders of Capio to acquire all outstanding shares in Capio (the "Offer").

The Board of Capio received a written non-binding proposal by Opica on August 28, 2006. The Board convened on 30 August, 2006 and promptly informed representatives of Opica that it had unanimously rejected the Offer. The Board is surprised that Opica has proceeded with its unsolicited Offer in light of the earlier rejection and confirms that it unanimously rejects the Offer. The Board believes the Offer does not adequately reflect the value of Capio shares, given Capio´s attractive growth prospects and business fundamentals.

Capio´s Board of Directors is being advised by Morgan Stanley and Mannheimer Swartling in relation to the Offer.

Due to conflicts of interest Roger Holtback, the Chairman of Capio AB, has not participated in the decision.

Roger Holtback says:
"I am Chairman of the Board of Capio and at the same time Chairman of NC Advisory AB´s Review Committee. This means that there is a conflict of interest."

The consequences of this decision are the following:

- Mr Holtback has not and will not participate in the Board of Capio´s handling of the Offer

- Mr Holtback has not and will not participate in Opica´s handling of the Offer

- Mr Holtback does not participate in ongoing contacts with these parties regarding the Offer or any discussion that can affect the handling of the Offer

The Board of Capio has decided that the Stockholm stock exchange rules on so called Management Buy-Out bids should be followed and has appointed Mr Krister Hertzen, currently a non-executive Director of Capio, to assume Mr Holtback´s responsibilities and chair the subcommittee of the Board that has been constituted to handle the Offer. Roger Holtback will remain in his role as Chairman of the Board of Capio regarding other issues unaffected by the bid.

Göteborg, September 1, 2006
Capio AB (publ)

For more information, please contact:
Krister Hertzen, Member of the Board of Directors, Capio AB +46 31 732 40 00
Ulrika Stenson, SVP Corporate Communications, Capio AB +46 31 732 40 04, +46 705 900 723

Capio Group is one of Europe´s leading healthcare providers, with operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Portugal. The Capio Group has annual net revenues of approximately SEK 12,500 M (EUR 1,350 M), with some 14,500 employees.

Public offer on Capio

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