NASHVILLE, Tenn. and WARSAW, Ind., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. , a leader in the orthopaedics industry, and HCA Inc. announced today that they have entered into a five year orthopaedic implant supply agreement at mutually beneficial terms.
“We share a mutual commitment to providing the best possible orthopaedic patient care while remaining vigilant about controlling costs,” said Jack O. Bovender, Jr., HCA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe the new agreement provides significant financial opportunities for both organizations.”
“This agreement trades discounts for achieved market share and growth,” said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Chairman, President and CEO. “As important, we will provide orthopaedic services utilizing our MIS(TM) procedures with the potential to improve patient outcomes while driving cost savings to benefit HCA.”
The agreement recognizes the value of several unique Zimmer technologies and provides for the opportunity to introduce Trauma products into additional HCA facilities.
About Zimmer
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer’s 2005 sales were approximately $3.3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,700 employees worldwide.
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com
About HCA
HCA, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services, is composed of locally managed facilities that include approximately 180 hospitals and more than 90 outpatient surgery centers in 22 states, England and Switzerland.
Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “assumes,” “guides,” “targets,” “forecasts,” and “seeks” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
HCA Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact, including statements with respect to our contractual relationships with our vendor partners and other risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond our ability to control or predict. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
All references to “HCA” and the “company” contained in this press release refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates. The term “facilities” refers to entities owned or operated by subsidiaries or affiliates of HCA.
Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Zimmer Contacts: Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291,bradley.bishop@zimmer.com , Investors: Marc Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515,marc.ostermann@zimmer.com , or Sam Leno, +1-574-372-4790,sam.leno@zimmer.com , all of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.; HCA Contacts: Media:Jeff Prescott, +1-615-344-5708, or Investors: Mark Kimbrough,+1-615-344-2688, both of HCA Inc.
Web site: http://www.zimmer.com/
