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EXHIBIT 99(b)
NEWS RELEASE DATED AUGUST 31, 2000
ALARIS MEDICAL COMPLETES SALES OF ITS INSTROMEDIX DIVISION
TO CARD GUARD SCIENTIFIC SURVIVAL, LTD.
SAN DIEGO, CA, AUGUST 31, 2000 -- ALARIS Medical, Inc. (AMEX:AMI) announced
today that its ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc. subsidiary has completed the
sale of its Instromedix-Registered Trademark- division to Card Guard
Scientific SurvivaL Ltd. (SWX New Market: CARDG).
Over the next several months, ALARIS Medical will assist Card Guard in setting
up a fully independent headquarters and manufacturing facility in San Diego.
During this transition, ALARIS Medical will continue to manufacture Instromedix'
products for Card Guard on an OEM basis.
Net cash proceeds, after taxes and other estimated costs, have been used by
ALARIS Medical to repay $18 million of its bank debt.
ALARIS Medical, Inc., through its operating subsidiary ALARIS Medical
Systems, Inc., is known for its IMED-Registered Trademark- and
IVAC-Registered Trademark- brand names of intravenous infusion therapy
systems. The Company's principal line of business is the design, manufacture
and marketing of intravenous infusion therapy products, patient monitoring
instruments and related disposables. In addition to its San Diego world
headquarters and manufacturing facility, the Company also operates
manufacturing facilities in Creedmoor, NC; Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK; and
Tijuana, Mexico. Additional information on ALARIS Medical can be found at
www.alarismed.com.
Instromedix-Registered Trademark- is a leader in telecardiology, specializing
in non-invasive, portable cardiac event monitoring and pacemaker follow-up
systems. Instromedix products include the CarryAll-Registered Trademark-
pacemaker follow-up system and the HeartCard-Registered Trademark-and King of
Hearts Express-Registered Trademark- cardiac event recording product lines.
Instromedix-Registered Trademark- was acquired by ALARIS Medical SystemsTM in
July 1998. Additional information on Instromedix-Registered Trademark- can be
found at www.instromedix.com.
Card Guard Scientific Survival Ltd. is a leading medical technology company
specializing in advanced telemedicine systems for patient populations, ranging
from high risk and chronically ill patients to ordinary consumers of health
products. Card Guard, based in Rehovot, Israel, with wholly-based subsidiaries
in the United States, Europe, and Brazil and offices in Japan and Italy, was
incorporated in 1986 and commenced operations in 1990. In November 1999, Card
Guard successfully completed an initial public offering on the Swiss Stock
Exchange New Market. In January of 2000, Card Guard acquired the assets of
Lifewatch, Inc., a provider of telemedicine services.
This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Safe
Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Persons reading this release are cautioned that such forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, including the effect of legislative and
regulatory changes affecting the health care industry, the potential of
increased levels of competition, technological changes, the dependence of ALARIS
Medical upon the success of new products and ongoing research and development
efforts including obtaining regulatory approvals, restrictions contained in the
instruments governing ALARIS Medical's indebtedness, and the significant
leverage to which it is subject. Such risk factors are detailed in the
Securities and Exchange Commission filings of ALARIS Medical, Inc., including
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. ALARIS Medical assumes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new
information or future events or developments.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
AT THE COMPANY
William C. Bopp, Sr. VP & CFO, (858) 458-7994
AT KETCHUM
Melissa Kinch, Trade Contact, (310) 444-1306
E-mail any comments or requests to INVESTOR RELATIONS.
