Consorta Awards Tyco Healthcare Sole Source Needle and Syringe Contract

MANSFIELD, Mass. -- Tyco Healthcare and

Consorta have agreed to a three-year sole source contract for conventional

needle and syringe products. Tyco Healthcare is also one of three approved

manufacturers chosen by Consorta to supply safety needle and syringe products.

The agreements become effective on July 1, 2004 and have an aggregate

estimated annual value of $12 million.

"We are thrilled Consorta has displayed a high level of confidence in the

people, products, and programs offered by the Kendall SharpSafety division,"

said Jim Clemmer, president of Kendall's SharpSafety Division. "This move

reflects the significant investments made to enhance the MONOJECT franchise,

and our ability to provide total hypodermic solutions to Consorta members."

Brands covered by these agreements include MONOJECT needles and syringes,

MAGELLAN safety needles, and other related items.

Consorta, Inc., based in suburban Chicago, is a leading healthcare

resource management and group purchasing organization, whose shareholders are

faith based or non-profit health systems. As a cooperative, Consorta's

shareholders and participants share fully in the organization's bottom-line

performance, as well as receive significant discounts through scale purchasing

economies.

Tyco Healthcare is a business segment of Tyco International Ltd. Tyco Healthcare is a leading manufacturer, distributor and servicer of medical devices worldwide. Its broad portfolio includes disposable medical supplies, monitoring equipment, medical

instruments and bulk analgesic pharmaceuticals, sold under such names as Auto

Suture, Kendall, Mallinckrodt, Nellcor, Puritan Bennett, United States

Surgical, Valleylab and others.

Source: Tyco Healthcare