Edwards Lifesciences’ Board Approves New $500 Million Share Repurchase Program

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - February 11, 2010) - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), a world leader in products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, announced today that its board of directors has authorized a new share repurchase program to acquire up to an additional $500 million of the company’s outstanding common shares. Edwards expects to complete its current $250 million share repurchase program, which was authorized in July 2008, during the current quarter.

“This new program reaffirms the confidence we have in our long-term growth prospects, and provides us with an opportunity to continue returning value to shareholders,” said Michael A. Mussallem, Edwards Lifesciences’ chairman and CEO.

From January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009, Edwards repurchased a total of 7.3 million shares for approximately $402 million. As of December 31, 2009, the company had approximately 56.6 million shares of common stock outstanding.

The company may repurchase shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and extent of any repurchase will depend upon market conditions, corporate requirements and other factors.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, with more than five decades of experience in partnering with clinicians to develop life-saving innovations. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treats advanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valve therapies, and critical care and vascular technologies, which are sold in approximately 100 countries. The company’s global brands include Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” or other similar expressions and include, but are not limited to, the company’s financial goals and confidence in its long-term growth prospects. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. If the Company does update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company will make additional updates or corrections.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include the opportunities for the company’s transcatheter valve programs and the ability of the company to continue to lead in the development of this field; the company’s success in creating new market opportunities for its products and the timing of new product launches; the impact of currency exchange rates; the timing or results of pending or future clinical trials; actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies; and other risks detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Edwards and Magna Ease are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, Magna, PERIMOUNT, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.