Apogent Reschedules Its Second Quarter Earnings Release Date.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2004

Apogent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: AOT) announced today that it plans to release its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2004 after the market closes on Wednesday, April 28, 2004.

On March 17, 2004, Apogent and Fisher Scientific International Inc. (NYSE: FSH) entered into a definitive agreement to merge the two companies.

Apogent is aligning its announcement with the earnings release of Fisher Scientific after the market closes on Wednesday, April 28. The alignment will provide the financial community with the ability to process the information from both companies at the same time.

As a result of the pending merger, Apogent will not conduct its previously announced second quarter conference call.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In connection with the proposed merger, Apogent and Fisher Scientific have filed or will file relevant materials with the SEC, including one or more registration statement(s) that contain a prospectus and a joint proxy statement, including one that was filed by Fisher Scientific on April 16, 2004. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they contain and will contain important information about Fisher Scientific, Apogent, and the merger. Investors and security holders may obtain these documents (and any other documents filed by Fisher Scientific or Apogent with the SEC) free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed with the SEC by Apogent may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Director of Investor Relations, 30 Penhallow Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or from Apogent's website at www.apogent.com. The documents filed with the SEC by Fisher Scientific may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Corporate Secretary, One Liberty Lane, Hampton, NH 03842 or from Fisher Scientific's website at www.fisherscientific.com. Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger.

Apogent, Fisher Scientific, and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Apogent and Fisher Scientific in favor of the merger. Information about the executive officers and directors of Apogent and their ownership of Apogent common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Apogent's 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 23, 2003. Information about the executive officers and directors of Fisher Scientific and their ownership of Fisher Scientific common stock is set forth in the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus for Fisher Scientific's 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Apogent's Special Meeting of its Stockholders with respect to the merger, which was included in Fisher Scientific's registration statement on Form S-4 that was filed with the SEC on April 16, 2004. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Apogent, Fisher Scientific, and their respective executive officers and directors in the merger by reading the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the merger when it becomes available.