BIOMET REPORTS RECORD THIRD QTR SALES AND EARNINGS.

Biomet, Inc., Warsaw, Ind., has reported record sales and earnings results for its third quarter ended February 28, 2005. Net sales increased 18% to $482,023,000, while operating income increased 9% to $144,270,000 and increased 14%, as adjusted, to $151,672,000. Net income increased 12% to $96,784,000 and increased 17%, as adjusted, to $101,615,000, while diluted earnings per share increased 12% to $0.38 and increased 18%, as adjusted, to $0.40. The company's reported results reflect the acquisition of Merck KGaA's interest in the Biomet Merck joint venture on March 19, 2004, as well as the acquisition of Interpore International, Inc. on June 18, 2004. Adjusted results, which are non-GAAP measures, exclude acquisition costs, including inventory step-up and write off of in-process research and development.

Additionally, the board of directors authorized the purchase of up to an additional $100 million of the company's outstanding Common Shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions. This is in addition to the July 2004 authorizations to repurchase $100 million, in which approximately $41.8 million is still available, and 2.5 million shares to be automatically purchased in equal increments on a daily basis through July 2005. Purchases of the additional $100 million of Common Shares, if any, will be dependant on market conditions and may be made from time to time between March 21, 2005 and March 20, 2006. In aggregate, the company has purchased approximately $764 million representing 24.3 million of its Common Shares in its previous share repurchase programs since December 2001.

Dane A. Miller, Ph.D., Biomet's president and CEO stated, "We are pleased with Biomet's third quarter operating results which continue to be led by strong growth in the company's reconstructive, spinal hardware and orthobiologic product lines. Continued market acceptance of recently introduced products and minimally invasive knee and hip instruments propelled the growth of the company's reconstructive product lines during the third quarter. In the important domestic market for reconstructive devices, Biomet's reconstructive product sales increased 22% during the third quarter. Worldwide reconstructive sales, excluding dental, increased 19% constant currency during the recently completed quarter. Additionally, sales of the company's spinal hardware and orthobiologic spinal products increased 117% worldwide during the third quarter as Biomet continues to broaden its line of spinal products and technologies through the recent acquisition of Interpore International, Inc."

Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which increased third quarter sales by $11.2 million, net sales increased 15% during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. United States and international sales, excluding the effects of foreign currency, increased 15% and 14%, respectively, during the third quarter. Additionally, excluding the impact of the acquisition of Interpore International, Inc., United States and international sales each increased 12%.

Reconstructive device sales increased 21% worldwide to $326,220,000 during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. On a constant currency basis, worldwide reconstructive device sales increased 17%. Knee sales increased 31% worldwide during the third quarter and 36% in the United States. Knee sales increased 27% worldwide, constant currency. Biomet's industry-leading knee sales growth continues to be driven by new product introductions, in addition to the company's broad line of total knee systems and minimally invasive, unicondylar knee systems. Additionally, Biomet's Microplasty minimally invasive and quad-sparing total knee instruments continue to receive excellent market acceptance.

During the third quarter, hip sales increased 11% worldwide and 5% in the United States. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, hip sales increased 8% worldwide. Biomet's M2a-38(TM) Metal-on-Metal System and the company's broad line of porous-coated stems continue to lead hip sales growth. Extremity sales increased 10% worldwide during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005 and 4% in the United States. On a constant currency basis, extremity sales increased 7% worldwide. Sales of dental reconstructive implants increased 10% worldwide and 11% in the United States during the third quarter. Worldwide dental reconstructive implant sales increased 6%, constant currency. Sales of bone cements and accessories increased 36% worldwide during the third quarter and 78% in the United States. Excluding the effect of foreign currency, sales of bone cements and accessories increased 30% worldwide.

Fixation sales were down 1% to $62,090,000 during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005 and decreased 2% worldwide, constant currency. Lorenz Surgical's craniomaxillofacial fixation sales increased 14% worldwide and 6% in the United States during the third quarter. Worldwide craniomaxillofacial fixation sales increased 12%, constant currency. Sales of electrical stimulation products decreased 8% worldwide and in the United States during the third quarter. External fixation sales decreased 6% during the third quarter and decreased 12% in the United States. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, external fixation sales decreased 7% worldwide. Internal fixation sales increased 5% worldwide during the third quarter and decreased 14% in the United States. On a constant currency basis, worldwide internal fixation sales increased 2% during the third quarter.

Spinal product sales increased 34% to $52,615,000 and increased 26% in the United States during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. Spinal sales increased 33% worldwide, constant currency. Domestic sales of spinal implants and orthobiological products for the spine increased 117%, while domestic spinal stimulation sales decreased 11% during the third quarter.

Sales of Biomet's "other products" increased 8% to $41,098,000 and increased 6% in the United States during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. On a constant currency basis, "other product" sales increased 6% worldwide. Arthroscopy sales increased 10% worldwide and in the United States during the third quarter. On a constant currency basis, arthroscopy sales increased 9% during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. Softgoods and bracing sales decreased 3% worldwide, in the United States and on a constant currency basis during the third quarter.

Dr. Miller concluded, "Biomet continues to experience strong growth in its reconstructive, spinal hardware and orthobiological product segments. Consequently, we remain comfortable with the range of the analysts' sales and earnings estimates of $503 million to $530 million and $0.42 to $0.44 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005." Biomet, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market products used primarily by musculoskeletal medical specialists in both surgical and non-surgical therapy. The company's product portfolio encompasses reconstructive products, including orthopedic joint replacement devices, bone cements and accessories, and dental reconstructive implants; fixation products, including electrical bone growth stimulators, internal and external orthopedic fixation devices, craniomaxillofacial implants and bone substitute materials; spinal products, including spinal stimulation devices, spinal hardware and orthobiologics; and other products, such as arthroscopy products and softgoods and bracing products. Headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Biomet and its subsidiaries currently distribute products in more than 100 countries.

For more information, call 574/372-1528.