Abano continues national rollout of dental network

Published Thursday 1 September 2005

Lumino Care Dental, New Zealand’s largest dental network, continued its national rollout today, with the signing of an agreement to acquire Karen Harris Dental in Wellington.

1 September 2005

LUMINO DENTAL CONTINUES NATIONAL ROLLOUT

Lumino Care Dental, New Zealand’s largest dental network, continued its national
rollout today, with the signing of an agreement to acquire Karen Harris Dental in
Wellington.

Lumino, the dental brand for leading healthcare operator and investor, Abano
Healthcare Group, currently has 16 dental practices in Northland, Auckland and the
Waikato, with over 60 practicing clinicians.

Karen Harris is a highly respected dentist in Wellington and will continue with the
practice. The acquisition will add revenues of $1.2 million to Abano’s dental sector,
and bring a further three dentists and two hygienists into the Lumino group.

General manager for Lumino, Mr Frank Janssen, said: “The acquisition extends
Lumino's coverage to the main centres in the North Island and is line with our plans
to become a nationwide network of excellent dental services.

“This is a prime example of the type of practice that we are looking to bring into the
group as part of our plan to have the leading dentists in the country operating under
the Lumino brand.”

Lumino was launched by Abano Healthcare in early 2005 and offers leading edge
business practices and targeted client marketing. It is the only dental brand in New
Zealand to reward its patients for their custom, by offering New Zealand’s most
widely recognised and sophisticated loyalty programme – FlyBuys.

Frank continued: “The Lumino brand enables us to offer an attractive and innovative
career package for dentists, and we have had a strong and positive response from
the industry about opportunities within the Lumino network.

“The costs of setting up or buying into individual practices continue to rise, and
Lumino’s network structure provides dentists with the opportunity to focus on clinical
services without the hassle of running a business, or locking up personal capital.”

Abano Dental is a wholly owned subsidiary of Abano Healthcare Group Limited.
Since November 2004, Abano Dental has invested in The Auckland Dental Group in
Remuera Road, Victoria Avenue Dental Surgery, Dargaville Dental and two dental
practices in Hamilton and Te Awamutu. All practices now operate either in
association with or as a part of the Lumino brand.

Mr Alan Clarke, managing director of Abano Healthcare Group, said: “We are now on
target with the national rollout of the Lumino brand, and have a number of further
acquisition opportunities under investigation.

“Our aim is to have a nationwide network of Lumino dental practices in two years,
and we are well on track to meet this objective.”

- Ends -

For more information, please contact:

Mr Alan Clarke
Managing director, Abano Healthcare Group
Tel: 09 361 0482 or mob: 021 368818