SUNLINK ANNOUNCES LEASE EXTENSION ON DEXTER MISSOURI HOSPITAL
Atlanta, Georgia (April 28, 2003) - SunLink Health Systems, Inc. (AMEX: SSY) announced today that its subsidiary, Dexter Hospital, Inc., and the Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation have extended the existing lease on Missouri Southern Healthcare Center through March 2019. The lease extension provides for the same terms as the original lease entered into in 1999. Missouri Southern Healthcare Center is a 50-bed hospital in Dexter, Missouri, which has been operated by SunLink's subsidiary under an operating lease since its acquisition by SunLink in 2001.
"The renewed lease on this facility reflects our confidence that SunLink can continue providing quality healthcare to the Dexter community and also establishes a longer-term relationship which makes it more economic for SunLink to invest in new medical equipment and expanded service offerings," said Robert M. Thornton, Jr., SunLink's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are extremely pleased with the support shown for Missouri Southern Healthcare Center by the Foundation, the hospital's physicians and employees and look forward to serving the Dexter community for many years to come."
SunLink Health Systems, Inc. currently operates six community hospitals and related businesses in the southeast and midwest. Each SunLink facility is the only hospital in its community. SunLink's operating strategy is to link patients' needs with dedicated physicians and health professionals to deliver quality, efficient medical care in each community it serves.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements regarding the Corporation's business strategy, capital needs and financing initiatives. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those anticipated. Certain of those risks, uncertainties and other factors are disclosed in more detail in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2002.