NASHVILLE, Tenn. AP – Hospital operator HCA Inc. has agreed to pay $20 million to shareholders who sued the company over claims that executives made false statements about the company’s growth, which had the effect of inflating HCA’s stock price.

Under the preliminary settlement that was approved by a federal judge in Nashville, HCA does not admit wrongdoing. U.S. District Judge William Haynes Jr. is set to consider making the settlement final after an Oct. 12 hearing.