VESTAR, Grey Bruce Health Services Join Forces On Facility Renewal Project At 6 Hospitals.

Business Editors

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2000

VESTAR, Inc. announced today that its Canadian subsidiary, VESTAR, ltd., and Grey Bruce Health Systems, with head offices in Owen Sound, Ont., have signed an agreement for facility renewal projects at six hospitals owned by GBHS which will result in annual operating savings of $120,000 Canadian.

The work to be performed by VESTAR involves renovations and upgrades at GHBS' Owen Sound hospital and five others in counties in the surrounding area. The total cost of the project is about $582,000 CDN.

"We are very pleased that Grey Bruce has recognized VESTAR's leadership in the renewal of health care facilities in Canada," said Leland Smith, president of VESTAR. "This project will provide cost savings, environmental benefits through reduced energy consumption, and improved conditions for patients and staff at the hospitals."

"GBHS began the search in mid-1999 for a company to work with on our facility renewal needs and have found VESTAR to be an excellent partner," said Robert J. Belanger, corporate director of support services at GBHS. "When the work is complete in the late Spring of next year, we will have made substantial improvements that will pay for themselves in only five years."

The project scope includes installation of new energy management systems and expansion of certain existing systems, improvements to heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, retrofitting of interior and exterior lighting, and conversion of hot water heating equipment to natural gas. Construction is expected to begin in January, 2001.

Grey Bruce Health Systems is a hospital corporation with facilities in seven communities in northern Grey and Bruce Counties, in the Georgian Bay/Lake Huron region of Ontario, providing a range of primary and secondary care inpatient and ambulatory care services to the residents of its catchment areas. Hospitals are located in Owen Sound, Southampton, Lion's Head, Wiarton, Markdale and Meaford.

VESTAR, Inc. is a professional service firm specializing in facility and infrastructure solutions. VESTAR works to understand customer goals and apply ingenuity to develop and deliver facility infrastructure solutions that conserve resources and improve building performance. VESTAR was formed earlier this year through the acquisition of the leading Canadian performance contracting company by Cinergy Business Solutions and is an affiliate of Cinergy Corp. (NYSE:CIN) , one of the leading diversified energy companies in the U.S.