American Medical Systems Names Doug Kohrs to Board Chairman; Company Also Announces New CFO and Appoints Marty Emerson to Position of President.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2004

American Medical Systems Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AMMD) today announced that Doug Kohrs has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in addition to his current role as Chief Executive Officer. The company also announced that Marty Emerson has been elevated from the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to President and COO.

In addition, the company announced that Carmen Diersen will be joining AMS as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Diersen was most recently a Vice President in both Financial and General Management capacities at Medtronic, Inc.

"Carmen will be a great addition to our senior management team and we are excited to welcome her to AMS," Kohrs said. "Marty brings to his new job a high level of experience, energy, and execution. Working together over the last 3+ years, Marty and I met the key milestones we set forth and I have full confidence in his ability to help lead AMS to the next phase," he added.

Mr. Emerson has more than 18 years of medical device experience and has contributed significantly to AMS' success. He has held increasingly significant roles at AMS that have included Vice President of International, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, and most recently, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. His career has included increasing levels of leadership at Baxter International and Boston Scientific where he had responsibilities in Finance and General Management.

Ms. Diersen has more than 21 years experience in increasingly responsible financial management roles at Honeywell, Inc. and Medtronic, Inc. Her 11 years in medical devices have included positions in cardiac surgery, cardiac rhythm management, and spinal surgery. Her most recent roles were as Vice President of Finance and Administration and later as General Manager of Musculoskeletal Tissue Services at Medtronic Sofamor Danek.

In other management appointments, Jim Call, the company's current Chief Financial Officer, will assume a new leadership role for the company as Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Development. In this new role, he will focus on supporting the development of corporate expansion strategies to create additional shareholder value and putting plans in place to create maximum value from current business opportunities.

About American Medical Systems

American Medical Systems, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a world leader in medical devices and procedures to treat erectile dysfunction (ED); other men's health problems, (including incontinence, BPH, and stricture); and women's health problems, including menorrhagia, incontinence, and other pelvic floor defects. Although not often life-threatening, these disorders can significantly diminish one's quality of life and profoundly affect social relationships. In recent years, the number of people seeking treatment has increased markedly as a result of longer life expectancy, higher quality-of-life expectations, and greater awareness of new treatment alternatives. Physicians use American Medical Systems' products to reduce or eliminate the incapacitating effects of these diseases, often through minimally invasive surgery. The company believes its products were used to treat over 100,000 patients in 54 countries during the last year. More information about the company and its products may be found at its website: www.AmericanMedicalSystems.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements about the company's future product availability, sales, and factors such as expected decisions of AMA committees which may affect financial results are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2002, and its other filings.