Aesculap Receives Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Award.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

CENTER VALLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003

Aesculap, Inc., a world leader in the manufacturing of surgical instruments and medical devices, announced today that it has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2002 Market Penetration Award for the U.S. Disinfection and Sterilization market. Aesculap was instrumental in successfully transforming the market focus from disposable sterilization wrap to rigid containers.

The Frost & Sullivan 2002 Market Penetration Award is presented each year to the company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing market share within its industry. The recipient has demonstrated strategic excellence in product innovation, marketing, and sales strategies that have resulted in the largest gain in market share over the past 2-3 years.

"Hospitals and surgical centers in the United States have preferred sterilization wrap over sterilization containers for decades," said Dhiraj Ajmani, Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "Innovative and cost effective sterilization containers from market leader Aesculap such as STERILCONTAINER(TM) coupled with its marketing strategies has impelled the end users to shift to containers."

Sterile containers provide a cost-effective and durable method for sterilization, storage and protection of valuable surgical instruments to help hospitals save money and operate more efficiently. The cost savings associated with Aesculap's STERILCONTAINER(TM) products yield a rapid return on investment. A wide variety of sizes and accessories are available to meet specific clinical needs.

"We are very proud to receive this award from Frost & Sullivan in recognition of our ongoing commitment to provide hospitals and surgical centers with a reliable means of packaging instruments for sterilization," said Dirk Kuyper, chief operating officer of Aesculap. "The award validates not only the clinical value our products deliver, but also our reputation for innovation, quality, and service to our customers."

About Aesculap

Aesculap, Inc. is a subsidiary of Aesculap AG & Co KG and is headquartered in Center Valley, PA. Based in Tuttlingen, Germany, Aesculap AG & Co KG is the world's largest manufacturer of surgical instruments and medical devices. For more than 135 years, the company has provided customers with surgical instrumentation and implants for neurosurgery, ENT, plastic and reconstructive, thoracic, micro-vascular, cardiovascular, orthopedic, laparoscopic and general surgery and central processing in a mission to provide "All it takes to operate." Aesculap is a member of the B. Braun family of healthcare companies, currently the fourteenth largest healthcare company in the world. For more information about Aesculap and its products, please contact Aesculap Customer Service at 1-800-282-9000 or visit the Aesculap website at www.aesculap-usa.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is recognized as a global leader in international strategic market consulting and training, with offices located worldwide. Frost & Sullivan presents Market Engineering Awards to companies that demonstrate excellence in their industry. The prestigious awards commend the diligence, commitment, and innovative business strategies required to advance in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine Market Engineering Award recipients in a variety of regional and global market landscapes. For further information, visit www.frost.com.