Brown Schools Announces Sale of Cumberland Hospital.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2002

The Brown Schools, the nation's largest provider of education and therapeutic services for adolescents with extraordinary needs, today announced the sale of Cumberland Hospital in New Kent, Va., to Nashville-based Ardent Health Services, a premier provider of community health care services.

The 84-bed facility treats children and young adults, ages 6 - 22 years, with complex medical and behavioral problems. Cumberland's specialized services include brain injury rehabilitation, diabetes management, neurobehavioral management, chronic illness and other physical rehabilitation for children with psychiatric diagnoses.

"The sale of Cumberland Hospital is the last of several important asset sales for our company," said Marguerite Sallee, president and chief executive officer of The Brown Schools. "With the completion of these strategic divestitures, we can now maintain an exclusive focus on our core business of providing education and therapeutic services for vulnerable adolescents. Also, the sale of non-core assets has allowed us to pay down debt and strengthen our balance sheet as we prepare for growth in the future.

"The mission of Cumberland Hospital, with its emphasis on treating complex medical as well as behavioral problems, is an important one; however, it falls outside of The Brown Schools' core business and our focus on education. With its strong reputation for delivering quality medical/surgical and behavioral healthcare, Ardent is a perfect match for ownership of Cumberland Hospital."

In 2001, The Brown Schools sold three other facilities as part of its strategic divestiture plan. The company does not plan to sell any other facilities.

Avondale Partners, LLC served as the investment banker for The Brown Schools in connection with all four transactions. The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

About The Brown Schools

Founded by Bert Brown in 1940, The Brown Schools is the largest national provider of education, therapeutic and family support services for children and adolescents with extraordinary needs. The privately held company, now serving approximately 1,500 young people daily, offers a variety of programs and specialty services through a national network of 22 facilities in 9 states and Puerto Rico. The company's broad spectrum of care includes residential treatment centers, alternative education programs, therapeutic wilderness programs and emotional growth boarding schools. In 1998, The Brown Schools acquired CEDU Family of Services, a pre-eminent provider of college preparatory education and emotional growth programs founded in 1967. The company has primary financial backing from McCown De Leeuw & Co., a leading private investment firm whose mission is to build companies that make a difference. Visit our Web site at www.brownschools.com.