News Release

Baxter Healthcare Corporation to Acquire Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions

LETTER TO CUSTOMERS

June 20, 2001

Dear Valued Customer,

We are very pleased to announce that today Baxter Healthcare Corporation signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions, a unit of Cook Group Incorporated located in Bloomington, Indiana.

Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions provides a complete line of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing services that include a number of sterile product dosage forms such as solutions, suspensions and freeze-dried (lyophilized) powders in a variety of delivery systems including vials and pre-filled syringes. In addition, Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions offers clinical and commercial manufacturing and packaging, a full range of quality control analytical and microbiological services, as well as validation and assistance in regulatory submissions.

Upon closing, this acquisition will expand the range of drug delivery options we are able to offer you. The addition of vial filling, lyophilization and pre-filled syringe capabilities to our existing line of pre-filled bag and reconstitution technologies will enable us to more fully meet your needs.

We are excited about this pending opportunity with Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions and the additional benefits it will provide you. We anticipate this transaction will close by September 2001, subject to regulatory approval. At the appropriate time, we will send you additional, updated information. In the meantime, our partnership with you will remain business as usual.

Cook Pharmaceutical Solutions has approximately 300 employees including highly skilled manufacturing, research and development, and quality teams. We look forward to adding these talented people to our team.

For more information, please visit our web site at baxter.com to review the joint press release and find answers to some frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions at this time, please contact your Baxter representative or give me a call at (847) 270-3450.

Best Regards,

Joel Tune, General Manager
Global Drug Delivery Division
Baxter's Medication Delivery Business
(Formerly I.V. Systems Division)