Beckman Coulter Signs $104 Million in Hospital Network Agreements During Fourth Quarter 2001; Record $196.5 Million in Network Agreements Signed in 2001.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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FULLERTON, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 29, 2002

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE:BEC) announced today it signed 14 integrated health network (IHN) agreements valued at approximately $103.5 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2001. The total number of IHN contracts signed in 2001 is expected to generate a record $196.5 million in revenue over the next five years.

"Our record increase is due in part to continued efforts by hospital networks to standardize lab equipment for improved ease of use, cost savings and efficiency. We offer a broad range of instrument systems that perform 100 percent of all routine blood testing in labs," said Joseph A. Brogan, Beckman Coulter senior director of integrated health care networks, diagnostics in North America.

Brogan continued: "A major factor in the hospital networks' selection of Beckman Coulter as the key provider was the launch of several key instrument systems and products in 2001, including the COULTER(R) LH 700 series high-volume hematology platform, Access(R) 2 immunoassay system, Access(R) AccuTnI(TM) cardiac test, SYNCHRON CX(R) PRO series chemistry analyzers and SYNCHRON LX(R) PRO, the only chemistry analyzer on the market with closed-tube sampling technology. In addition, interest continues to increase for our automation solutions, which enable faster and more efficient delivery of patient results."

Under the terms of the agreements signed in the fourth quarter, Beckman Coulter is the sole-source supplier of diagnostic laboratory instrument systems, consumables and service to approximately 200 hospitals and reference laboratories across the United States.

Among the 14 IHN agreements, the top six contracts with hospital networks for equipment and supplies were:

-- $23-million agreement with Promina Health System in Atlanta, Georgia.

-- $17-million contract with Lake Erie Health Alliance in Toledo, Ohio.

-- $10-million contract with Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Mich.

-- $8-million contract with the University of Massachusetts Memorial Health
Care in Boston.

-- $8-million contract with DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

-- $8-million contract with Meridian Health System in Wall, N.J.

Many of these contracts covered virtually every area of Beckman Coulter's diagnostics business, including automation, chemistry, immunodiagnostics, hematology, hemostasis and flow cytometry.

The remaining eight sales contracts, with a total value of $29.5 million, were with Atlantic Health System in Florham Park, N.J.; Spectrum Labs in Greensboro, N.C.; Bay Care in Tampa Bay, Fla.; Orlando Regional Hospital in Orlando; Lovelace Health System, Inc. in Albuquerque, N.M.; Texas Health Resource in Arlington, Texas; Texas Oncology in Dallas; and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

Beckman Coulter is a leading provider of instrument systems and complementary products that simplify and automate processes in life science and clinical laboratories. The company's products are used throughout the world in all phases of the battle against disease, from pioneering medical research and drug discovery to diagnostic testing that aids in patient treatment. For more information, visit www.beckmancoulter.com.