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ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND KIMAL PLC ENTER AGREEMENT TO OFFER NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATIVE CRITICAL CARE TECHNOLOGY TO UK MARKET READING, PA, May 25, 2006 – Arrow International, Inc. (Arrow) (Nasdaq: ARRO), a global market leader in critical care products, has created Arrow International UK Limited (Arrow UK), a new organization with a direct sales and marketing team focused on Arrow’s critical care portfolio. This follows the purchase in April by Arrow of certain assets of Kimal PLC (Kimal) including distributorship rights, customer lists, inventory and specified contracts associated with the sale of Arrow's products. Arrow UK will maintain a close relationship with Kimal, which will continue to support the market with its extensive and reliable distribution and support network under a multi-year service contract. Kimal will also continue to support Arrow products in their specialty areas of Cardiology, Radiology and Renal Dialysis. Kimal will also continue to serve as Arrow’s exclusive distributor for the Middle East. Both companies’ supply chains to Ireland remain unchanged. For more than 27 years, Kimal has been one of Arrow’s flagship distributors in Europe, most recently with responsibility for the UK, Ireland and Middle East territories. With its strong position and expertise in the medical device market, Kimal has introduced and established a number of world-class health care devices developed by Arrow, including the first multi-lumen central venous catheters. Kimal has also been at the forefront of fighting infection with the distribution of ARROWg+ard, Arrow’s first anti-microbial catheter product. Carl G. Anderson Jr., Chairman and CEO of Arrow, said: “Arrow has had an excellent relationship with Kimal for many years, and we anticipate continuing to work together under this agreement to identify opportunities to provide customers with high quality, cost-effective medical devices in the future.” Additionally, Kimal Managing Director Alan Press said: “As an organization looking to the future, the decision to realign our relationship with Arrow fits in perfectly with our strategic goals. Kimal has just recorded a highly successful fiscal year 2006 reaching turnover of over £31 million, and Kimal can look forward with vigour and confidence knowing that our goals will be achieved and that our re-focussed association with Arrow will be beneficial to both Kimal and our customers.” Franc Wijdeveld, Arrow General Manager North Europe, commented, “We are implementing a seamless transition in forming Arrow UK, a new organization that will enhance our service and supply to our customers. Key personnel from Kimal’s critical care division have already transferred to Arrow UK, so there will be a number of familiar names and faces in both organizations to support our many loyal customers. We are committed to this new agreement, and Arrow UK’s activities will provide long-term benefits to all our customers and clinicians and their patients.” Further details are available from: Kimal Plc: Ken Findlay - Marcomms Manager Arrow International UK ltd: Paul Selby - Country Manager UK & Ireland Kimal PLC develops, manufactures, markets and distributes innovative medical device technology across the UK and International healthcare market. Their extensive range comprises products for diagnostic and interventional cardiology, radiology, renal disease and oncology. They are a premier provider of customized procedural solutions, being market leaders in over 12 countries. Their strategic vision allows them to develop their core existing business while opening up new opportunities across the world, whether via distributor or principal relationships, direct sales or by joint venture with other like minded organizations. Arrow International, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of clinically advanced, disposable catheters and related products for critical and cardiac care. The Company’s products are used primarily by anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, surgeons, emergency and trauma physicians, cardiologists, interventional radiologists, electrophysiologists, and other health care providers. Arrow International’s news releases and other company information can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.arrowintl.com. The Company’s common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the symbol ARRO. |
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