Abbott Announces Increase In Quarterly Dividend

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Abbott today increased the company’s quarterly common dividend to 27.5 cents per share.

This marks the 325th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924. The cash dividend is payable May 15, 2005, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15, 2005.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s Web site at http://www.abbott.com/ .

Abbott

CONTACT: Media, Jonathon Hamilton, +1-847-935-8646, or FinancialCommunity, Larry Peepo, +1-847-935-6722, both of Abbott