RNS Number:1452B
Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
23 July 2004



Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC


Increased shareholding in Ebiox Limited



Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC ("HCEG" or the "Group"), the healthcare products
and services company, has acquired an approximate further 2% in Ebiox Limited ("
Ebiox") giving HCEG an effective majority holding of 51% of Ebiox, which owns a
range of proprietary cleansing and decontamination products for use in the
healthcare industry.



HCEG will pay #50,000 in cash and #35,000 in HCEG shares to Keith MacGregor, the
vendor, contingent upon the achievement of specific agreed "milestones". These
milestones relate to, amongst other things, the further testing of the product.



Furthermore, HCEG has granted four put options to the vendor to require HCEG to
purchase the remaining 49% of the share capital of Ebiox in four tranches
contingent upon the achievement of further agreed milestones. The consideration
payable upon exercise of each put option will be #250,000 to be satisfied in
cash, or by the issuance of HCEG shares, for each of the four tranches.



The vendor has also agreed to grant HCEG a call option to acquire the remaining
share capital of Ebiox so as to give HCEG an effective 100% of the share capital
of Ebiox.  The consideration payable upon exercise of the call option will be up
to #1,000,000 to be satisfied in cash, or by the issuance of HCEG shares.



The put and call arrangements are in substitution for the option arrangements
entered into in February 2004 and announced at that time.



In the year end to 31 March 2003, the latest date for which accounts are
available, Ebiox made a loss of #51,161 on turnover of #57,643.



Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC, commented:



"Ebiox products are already being used in 50 National Health Service hospitals
in the UK and has achieved a range of important milestones, which makes this an
attractive transaction for HCEG.  Moreover, this new deal gives HCEG effective
control over the development of this exciting range of world class products.  It
also provides for the outright acquisition of Ebiox once it has produced the
relevant results."



                                                                    23 July 2004

Enquiries:

Healthcare Enterprise Group                                  020 7351 7500
    Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman
    Gordon Wood, Group Chief Operating Officer

College Hill                                                 020 7457 2020
    Nicholas Nelson
    Corinna Dorward



Notes to Editors

Ebiox



Ebiox produces a range of patented cleansing, decontamination and disinfectant
products.  The range includes hand hygiene products, hard surface cleaners,
disinfectants and products to clean and decontaminate surgical instruments.



The Ebiox antibacterial handwash and handrub are proven effective against MRSA,
E-coli and other important pathogens and are fully compliant with EU standards.
Uniquely, the products do not use alcohol, which has a drying effect and can be
a skin irritant.



The hard surface cleaners, particularly the TrionicPlus trigger spray and
Azowipe Active wipes are based on a lifting and removing concept, completely
removing biofilms and cleaning to molecular level.  The product continues to be
active after use and cleans through oxidation action, not toxification which
means that there is no need to rotate disinfectants because there is no chance
of resistance developing (cf GMP guidelines).



Ebiox also offers a range of products for the effective cleaning of re-usable
instruments.  Critically, these products remove all debris prior to the
sterilisation process thereby ensuring complete decontamination.  They have
proven to be more effective than natural detergents and enzymatic detergents
currently available.



As well as the current range of products, Ebiox also has products for the
decontamination of dental aspiration lines and a veterinary product range,
EbioxVET.



Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC



HCEG is quoted on the UK AIM stock market with its head office in London and
subsidiary offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire, Germany and the USA.
HCEG is a business engaged in medical product distribution, occupational health,
first aid and medical consultancy markets.  These businesses underpin a range of
innovative medical devices, which will be introduced to the market via HCEG's
own distribution network on an international  basis.





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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