ConvaTec Receives U.K.'s Prestigious Queen's Award For

Technological Achievement Deeside, United Kingdom (PROTEXT) - ConvaTec, a world leaderin ostomy care and wound and skin care products, today washonored with the distinguished 1999 Queen's Award forTechnological Achievement. The honor was announced by the Queen'sAward Office in London on the occasion of Her Majesty's birthday. ConvaTec, which is part of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, adiversified worldwide health and personal care company, wasrecognized for the invention, development and marketing ofAquacel(R) Hydrofibre(TM) wound dressing. Aquacel combines thehealing advantages of hydrocolloids with advanced fluidmanagement within a soft, white dressing. As such, AquacelHydrofibre dressings represent an entirely new category in themodern wound care marketplace for the treatment of chronicwounds. Honored as well with a 1999 Queen's Award for TechnologicalAchievement is Acordis Specialty Fibres, the U.K.-based companywhich was ConvaTec's development partner in the creation ofAquacel. "We are proud and honored to receive this high level ofrecognition. This award is especially gratifying for manyreasons, most importantly because it is bestowed upon us by HerMajesty, the Queen, and it recognizes ConvaTec's commitment tocustomer service, superior execution, innovation andtechnological superiority," said John L. McGoldrick, president,Medical Devices Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb. The Queen's Award, which was established in 1966, recognizescompanies for Export Achievement, Technological Achievement, andEnvironmental Achievement. ConvaTec holds the distinction ofbeing a three-time Queen's Award recipient, having been honoredin 1993 for Export Achievement and in 1994 for TechnologicalAchievement. "The entire global ConvaTec organization is delighted to berecognized by this prestigious award. Since our founding 21 yearsago, we have been committed to meeting the needs of our customersthrough technological innovation. The success of Aquacel is anexcellent example of this commitment," said Patrice Froidure,president of ConvaTec, who is based at ConvaTec worldheadquarters in Skillman, New Jersey, U.S.A. "This recognition is especially meaningful to the Aquacel teamat ConvaTec's Wound Healing Research Institute in Deeside andConvaTec marketing groups worldwide. Team members' creativity andinitiative are really what drove Aquacel's success," said Dr.Michael Lydon, vice president, Wound & Skin Care Research &Innovation, who is based in Deeside. ConvaTec's presence in theU.K. also includes marketing offices in Ickenham andmanufacturing facilities in Deeside. ConvaTec products are available in more than 100 countriesaround the world. In addition to Aquacel, ConvaTec's wound careportfolio includes DuoDERM(R) Hydroactive(R) dressing (marketedas Granuflex(R) in the U.K.). Leading ConvaTec's extensive ostomycare portfolio are the SUR-FIT AutoLock(TM) (marketed asConsecura(TM) in the U.K.) and Natura(TM) systems. Along with the Zimmer orthopaedic implant business, ConvaTeccomprises the Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Devices Group.Bristol-Myers Squibb's other principal businesses arepharmaceuticals, consumer medicines, beauty care, andnutritionals. It is a leading maker of innovative therapies forcardiovascular, metabolic and infectious diseases, centralnervous system and dermatological disorder, and cancer. Thecompany is a leader in orthopaedic devices, ostomy care, woundmanagement, nutritional supplements, infant formulas, and hairand skin care products. Visit ConvaTec on the worldwide web at http://www.convatec.comand Bristol-Myers Squibb at http://www.bms.com. ots OriginalText Service: ConvaTec Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact: Bruce Serlen of Bristol-Myers Squibb, 212-546-4384,bruce.serlen@bms.com; or Dr. Michael Lydon of ConvaTec UK,244584314 Bristol-Myers Squibb press releases available throughCompany News On-Call by fax, 800-758-5804, ext. BMYFAX, or269329, or at http://www.prnewswire.com/cnoc/exec/menu?269329Web site: http://www.bms.com Web site: http://www.convatec.com

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