Biomet Provides Antitrust Investigation Update.WARSAW, Ind. -- Biomet (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :BMET BMET Biomedical Engineering Technology BMet Bachelor of Metallurgy BMET Bio-Medical Equipment Repair Technician ) announced today that the scope of the antitrust investigation, previously disclosed by the Company on June 26, 2006, has currently been narrowed to a specific geographic region and specific product lines. It is the Company's belief that other orthopedic companies that received a subpoena subpoena (səpē`nə) [Lat.,=under penalty], in law, an order to a witness to appear before a court. A subpoena ad testificandum [Lat. issued at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, have received similar guidance regarding the scope of the investigation. It is the Company's belief that the investigation by the Antitrust Division was prompted by an unsolicited e-mail sent by a representative of one of Biomet's competitors that proposed a common pricing strategy in connection with a particular hospital. This e-mail was received by an independent sales representative of an independent Biomet distributor, but it was never transmitted to Biomet. Neither Biomet, its independent distributor, nor its independent sales representative took any action in response to the e-mail, and Biomet believes that no anticompetitive an·ti·com·pet·i·tive adj. That discourages competition among businesses: anticompetitive foreign trade restrictions. activity took place as a result of it. Biomet requires compliance by its employees and its independent distributors with its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and with applicable antitrust laws antitrust laws n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict business practices considered to be monopolistic or which restrain interstate commerce. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 declared illegal "every contract, combination.... . Biomet is cooperating fully with the Department of Justice inquiry. The information provided today is limited to the information available to the Company at the present time and Biomet cannot offer any assurances as to the scope and final outcome of this investigation. Because this is an ongoing investigation, the information provided herein should not be construed as an intention on Biomet's part to provide further updates except as legally required. Biomet, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market products used primarily by musculoskeletal musculoskeletal /mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal/ (-skel´e-t'l) pertaining to or comprising the skeleton and muscles. mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal adj. Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton. 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 Arthroscopy Definition Arthroscopy is the examination of a joint, specifically, the inside structures. The procedure is performed by inserting a specifically designed illuminated device into the joint through a small incision. products and softgoods and bracing products. Headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana Warsaw is a city in, and the county seat of, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United StatesGR6. The population was 12,415, as of the 2000 census. Cradled between Winona Lake, Pike Lake and Center Lake, Warsaw is nicknamed "Lake City , Biomet and its subsidiaries currently distribute products in more than 100 countries. For further information contact Greg W. Sasso, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Communications at (574)372-1528 or Barbara Goslee, Manager, Corporate Communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. at (574)372-1514. This press release contains certain statements that are "forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. " within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes that the assumptions, on which the forward-looking statements contained herein are based, are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate given the inherent uncertainties as to the occurrence or non-occurrence of future events. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will prove to be accurate. The inclusion of a forward-looking statement herein should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the Company's objectives will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All of Biomet's financial information may be obtained on our website at www.biomet.com or you may contact us by e-mail at investor.relations@biometmail.com. |
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