Trade News

Indianapolis, 17 November 2003

Roche Diagnostics recognizes suppliers for customers focus and quality

Indianapolis, November 17, 2003 - Roche Diagnostics, the world's leading diagnostics company, today announced nine Supplier Excellence Awards which were presented at Roche's annual Supplier Awards Conference. The winning companies demonstrated exemplary performance in the areas of Customer Focus, Quality, Teamwork, Cost, and Innovation.

"Roche Diagnostics is pleased to present these awards to our outstanding suppliers," said Bob Werner, Director of Indirect Materials, Roche Diagnostics. "We have a strong relationship with each of our Suppliers of the Year award winners, and we look forward to continued success with them."

Centralized Diagnostics Supplier of the Year - Raichem
Raichem is a division of Hemagen Diagnostics, Inc., a biotechnology Company that develops, manufactures and, markets more than 150 FDA-cleared proprietary medical diagnostic test kits used to aid in the diagnosis of certain autoimmune and infectious diseases.

Core Services Supplier of the Year - Staples, Inc.
As an office supply provider, Staples National Advantage is recognized as an industry leader in providing both quality service and systems. Staples works closely with the Fortune 1000 companies providing the knowledge and tools necessary for these top corporations to achieve a successful procurement program.

Customer Fulfillment/Physical Logistics Supplier of the Year - Schenker
With annual sales of 6.5 billion euros, 36,000 employees and about 1,100 offices around the world, the Stinnes subsidiary Schenker is one of the world's leading providers of integrated logistics services, offering land transport and air and sea freight services as well as comprehensive logistics solutions and global supply chain management from a single source. Stinnes is a Deutsche Bahn AG company.

Diabetes Care Supplier of the Year - Sanmina - SCI
Sanmina-SCI Corporation, the world's Premier Electronics Contract Manufacturer (EMS), serves the fastest growing segments of the $125 billion global EMS market. The Company provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions, delivering unsurpassed quality and support to large OEMs primarily in the automotive, communications, computing, defense and aerospace, industrial and semiconductor systems, medical systems, and multimedia markets. The Company is at the forefront of the industry due to its commitment to leading-edge technology, cost-effective manufacturing and unparalleled customer service.

Facilities Supplier of the Year - Crystal Food Services
Crystal Food Service is the premier caterer in Indiana and the 25th largest food service company in the United States. Crystal Food Service offers banquet facilities, catering services, corporate cafeteria management, vending, office coffee and custom food production.

Human Resources Supplier of the Year - Hire.com
Hire.com is a leading application service provider and talent-management software provider to some of the world's most recognized brands. Global 2000 companies use Hire.com's solutions to power their career Web sites, increasing the quality and speed of talent hired and retained while lowering costs.

Informational Technology Supplier of the Year - STI
As an IBM, e-certified premier business partner, headquartered in Indianapolis, STI brings together the knowledge, the experience, the skills and the technology needed to design, build and implement solutions that fit the customer's environment and solves their business problem.

Patient Care Supplier of the Year - Coppinger Exhibits, Inc.
Coppinger Exhibits is a full service designer and producer of tradeshow exhibits, graphics and permanent display installations. Coppinger's ongoing goal is to grow strong partnerships with customers, bring them the best of current trend developments in the marketplace and provide branding and product support.

Diverse Supplier of the Year - Dynamic Computer Corportation
For over 24 years Dynamic Computer Corporation has provided IT Hardware and Software solutions based on industry standard products to America's best companies. They provide customers with hardware and software from major brand manufacturers and also offer services for system integration, installation, configuration, maintenance, repair and kitting.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and research and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche's Diagnostics Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana (www.roche-diagnostics.us). For further information, please visit our websites www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com.