WARSAW, Ind., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. , a leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today it has received two Awards from independent researcher Frost & Sullivan. The Awards recognize Zimmer’s achievements in acquiring Centerpulse AG in 2003 and in developing a leadership position in the Asian market for joint replacement products and are based on a study conducted in 2004 titled U.S. & Asia Joint Replacement Markets.
“Key elements in the Zimmer success strategy are capturing growth in both geographic segments and product categories, and these Awards recognize our accomplishments in executing against those strategies,” said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Holdings Chairman, President and CEO. “The acquisition of Centerpulse provided us leadership in the European market and platform positions in the growing spine and dental product categories. We are continuing our expansion in Asia, where improving economies and medical systems and enormous populations should be positive for the future of orthopaedic markets.”
According to Frost & Sullivan, the Competitive Strategy Leadership Award, which recognized the Centerpulse acquisition, is presented each year to a company whose competitive strategy has yielded significant gains in market share during the research period. “This strategy catapulted Zimmer to the forefront of the orthopaedic race, allowing the company to become the dominant participant in the global orthopaedic industry with a combined annual (2003) revenue of $2.6 billion,” the research report said.
The Market Leadership Award was based on Zimmer’s performance in Asia, which accounted for approximately 15% of the Company’s total 2004 sales of approximately $3 billion. The Award is presented to a company who has exhibited market share leadership through the implementation of market strategy. Zimmer’s plan for expansion in Asia includes a major commitment to the emerging Chinese market for orthopaedic products, where it now has more than 60 full-time employees in place in five major cities.
About the Company
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer’s 2004 sales were approximately $3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,500 employees worldwide.
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com/ Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “targets,” “forecasts,” and “seeks” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005 and the pending informal SEC investigation of Centerpulse accounting, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, bradley.bishop@zimmer.com ,Investors: Marc Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515, marc.ostermann@zimmer.com , orSam Leno, +1-574-372-4790, sam.leno@zimmer.com , all of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
Web site: http://www.zimmer.com/