Bausch & Lomb Surgical and Premier Purchasing Partners Enter Purchasing Agreement.

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1998--Bausch & Lomb Surgical, a business unit of Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL) has entered into an agreement with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing arm of Premier, Inc.

The three-year agreement, effective December 1, 1998, will provide a broad portfolio of Bausch & Lomb Surgical's ophthalmic surgical products to the 1,700 hospitals and health systems associated with Premier. The agreement includes a product purchasing program and educational programs for hospital medical and operating room staff.

Premier, Inc. is the largest strategic alliance of leading hospitals and healthcare systems across the U.S. Premier represents 215 owners and the 800 hospitals and healthcare facilities they operate, and approximately 900 other affiliated hospital and healthcare organizations. The alliance maintains corporate offices in Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, San Diego, and Washington.

The Bausch & Lomb Surgical product line encompasses the entire spectrum of products used by ophthalmologists in ophthalmic surgery. Products include ing consumers see, look and feel better through innovative technology and design. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable  contact lenses, lens-care products, premium sunglasses and ophthalmic pharmaceutical and surgical products. Founded in 1853 in Rochester, N.Y., where it continues to have its headquarters, the company has annual revenues of approximately $2.5 billion and approximately 15,000 employees in 35 countries. Bausch & Lomb products are available in more than 100 countries around the world.