Covidien Statement on the Impact of the Japanese Earthquake

Company to commit at least $1 million to humanitarian efforts

DUBLIN - Friday, March 18th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global supplier of healthcare products, today provided an update on its operations in Japan.

The Company confirmed that all of its nearly 1,500 employees in Japan are safe and that its office in Tokyo is undamaged and functional. Covidien's manufacturing facility in Shizuoka and its distribution centers in Shizuoka and Tokyo did not suffer any damage.

Covidien also is in the process of evaluating access to utilities and transportation, which have been impacted throughout the country due to the earthquake and tsunami. Certain of Covidien’s local suppliers suffered damage, but the Company expects that raw material inventories will be sufficient to meet local demand until supply chain interruptions are resolved. The Company is working diligently to continue supplying medical devices and pharmaceuticals to its customers in Japan and is in contact with government officials and others in the medical device industry to expedite delivery of critical medical supplies into the country.

Japan represented approximately 8 percent of Covidien’s fiscal year 2010 net sales. Covidien also is working closely with disaster relief organizations to support the humanitarian aid effort. The Company will donate at least $1 million in products, corporate grants and employee matching gift funds to support the country.

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2010 revenue of $10.4 billion, Covidien has approximately 42,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

Contacts

Covidien

Eric Kraus, 508-261-8305

Senior Vice President

Corporate Communications

eric.kraus@covidien.com



Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372

Vice President

Public Relations

bruce.farmer@covidien.com



Coleman Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343

Vice President

Investor Relations

cole.lannum@covidien.com



Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363

Director

Investor Relations

todd.carpenter@covidien.com