Smiths Medical Awarded Premier Contract

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, the healthcare group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc., has awarded Smiths Medical participation in a multi-source agreement which includes its line of Logical(R) pressure monitoring systems and TranStar(R) pressure monitoring transducers.

The three-year contract is effective July 1, 2005 and the award represents a $22 million opportunity over the contract period. “We are extremely pleased to have been selected,” said Dominick Arena, President of Smiths Medical Critical Care. “Participation in this contract, which provides outstanding value to Premier members, also represents an opportunity to build and strengthen our existing strong relationships. Smiths continues to have more to offer Premier and its membership.”

About Premier

Premier, Inc., a strategic alliance in U.S. healthcare, is owned by more than 200 of the nation’s leading hospital and healthcare systems. These systems operate, or are affiliated with nearly 1,500 hospital facilities and hundreds of health care sites. Premier provides an array of resources in support of healthcare services, including group purchasing, with more than $21 billion in annual sales of supplies and equipment. Other resources offered by Premier include insurance programs and performance improvement services of many kinds. Premier is headquartered in San Diego, CA, with other major facilities in Chicago, IL and Charlotte, NC. Advocacy and policy offices are located in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.premierinc.com.

About Smiths Medical

Smiths Medical is a clinically focused global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices used for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and surgical procedures. The company’s portfolio includes airway, pain and temperature management systems, infusion pumps, implantable access systems, safety I.V. catheters, critical care monitoring and insulin delivery systems. This product range offers customers clinical and economical advantages backed by experience, innovation, and value-added services, including extensive product training and support. Smiths press releases and other information can be found at www.smiths-medical.com.

Contact: Gregory Aranaga Director, Corporate Communications +1 (760) 602 4455 garanaga@medex.comhttp://www.medex.com

Smiths Medical

CONTACT: Gregory Aranaga, Director, Corporate Communications,+1-760-602-4455, garanaga@medex.com, for Smiths Medical