News Releases

Health Benefit Manager ESI Canada Closes on CAPSS Acquisition

MISSISSAUGA, ON, and MONTREAL, March 2 /CNW/ - ESI Canada and five large
insurance companies jointly announced that ESI Canada has completed the
acquisition of Centre d'autorisation et de paiement des services de santé
(CAPSS) Inc. The transaction brings together the second and third largest
Canadian health benefit management companies. The transaction is valued at
approximately $25 million (CAD).

ESI Canada, a subsidiary of Express Scripts, Inc. (NASD: ESRX), has
gained an additional 1.5 million lives and its first Quebec operation. There
are plans to create new jobs by opening a call centre in Montreal to service
CAPSS' Quebec customers, and ESI Canada has stated its intent to continue the
superior service enjoyed by plan members, unions, associations and employers
under CAPSS.

CAPSS, based in Montreal, Quebec, was owned by six shareholders,
including five major insurance carriers: Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance
Inc., La Survivance, SSQ Vie, La Capitale Assurances MFQ Inc., and
Industrielle-Alliance Insurance and Financial Services. Since 1998, CAPSS has
been using ESI Canada services to process prescription drug claims outside
Quebec.

"The CAPSS shareholders are very pleased with the closing of this
transaction," noted Camille Fortier, executive senior vice president of the
Desjardins Network in the Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance Company, the
majority shareholder of CAPSS. "ESI Canada has already developed a partnership
with Quebec insurers. The company has a great understanding of how to respond
to our needs and the needs of plan members."

"Growing by acquisition and expanding service offerings are key
components of ESI Canada's strategic plan," said Jean Joubert, president of
ESI Canada and vice president for international operations, Express Scripts.
"The CAPSS purchase will deliver strong customer value by expanding the
company's pharmacy benefit management business."

Setting the pace in the Canadian pharmacy benefit market with world class
technology and innovative products, ESI Canada has experienced major growth in
membership and claims volume over the past five years. ESI Canada acts as an
intermediary among insurance companies, third-party administrators,
pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, physicians and patients, and provides a
total health benefit management solution to its clients.

Express Scripts, a Fortune 500 and Forbes Platinum 400 company, is one of
the largest independent pharmacy benefit managers in North America, providing
pharmacy services and pharmacy benefit plan design consultation for more than
10,000 clients and covering 43.5 million lives.

For further information:

Contacts:
Jean Joubert, ESI Canada,
(905) 712-6330,
jjoubert@express-scripts.com

Danny Faria, ESI Canada,
(905) 712-8615, ext. 2313,
dfaria@express-scripts.com

Jocelyne Douville, Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance Inc.,
(418) 838-7800, ext.7797,
jdouville@avdl.com