LifeStream International Announces Letter Of Intent to Acquire Polystan AS of Denmark

Haverhill, Mass. (PROTEXT) - LifeStream International, Inc., aleading global cardiopulmonary products company, today announcedit has signed a letter of intent to acquire Polystan AS, amanufacturer and marketer of a wide range of cardiopulmonaryproducts headquartered in Vaerloese, Denmark. Terms of thetransaction, which is expected to close during the first quarterof 2000, were not disclosed. "With the acquisition of Polystan, LifeStream will offer abroader and deeper product line that enhances our globalleadership position," said Robert W. Kleinert Jr., LifeStream'spresident and chief executive officer. "This expanded productline, featuring new and complementary products, willdifferentiate LifeStream further in the market. Polystan alsoadds new research and development capabilities to our company. "This acquisition will help our European operationssignificantly and offer several new products for our NorthAmerican customers," Kleinert said. "We also expect to leveragePolystan's technology in improving our products and enhancing ourmanufacturing capabilities." Polystan, one of the oldest cardiopulmonary productscompanies, is known in the industry for innovation since foundingin 1958. The company is one of the leading marketers ofoxygenators for the neonatal and pediatric markets, vacuumassisted venous drainage controllers, and sensors and monitors.Polystan's products also include adult oxygenators, custom tubingpacks and cannulae products. Polystan employs approximately 120 persons and has production,distribution and marketing offices in Denmark, the U.K. and TheNetherlands. Polystan managing director Henning Larsen will takean active role with LifeStream, Kleinert said, particularly inthe area of product development. Polystan will also occupy a seaton the LifeStream board of directors. LifeStream International markets a range of blood-circulationand oxygenation devices and related products, includingoxygenators, custom tubing packs, hemoconcentrators, bloodfilters, reservoirs, cardioplegia products, cannulae andcatheters. It is the largest company in the industry solelydedicated to cardiopulmonary products. Following the completionof the Polystan acquisition, more than half of LifeStream'srevenue, which is estimated to reach approximately $100 millionin 2000, will be derived from outside the United States. Thecompany currently employs approximately 400 people and hasmanufacturing facilities in the United States, Mexico andGermany. LifeStream International was formed in July 1999 by thepartnership of Banc One Equity Capital (formerly First ChicagoEquity Capital) and Garrett Capital Advisors LLC through theacquisition of the assets of the cardiopulmonary productsdivision of C.R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE: BCR), Surgimedics, Inc. andcertain assets of the cardiosurgery business of MinntechCorporation (Nasdaq: MNTX). The formation of LifeStreamInternational was the partnership's first transaction. Banc OneEquity Capital and Garrett Capital Advisors created thepartnership to pursue investments in health care and lifesciences. Specific fields of interest within the medical devices,analytical instruments and clinical diagnostic equipment marketsinclude cardiovascular medicine, urology, surgical instrumentsand devices, orthopedics and blood products. ots Original TextService: LifeStream International, Inc. Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Fred Nachman, ext. 202, orSarah Smith, ext. 208, both of Corporate.TechnologyCommunications, Inc., (USA) 312-832-9300

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