2/3/2012
Symmetry Surgical Details

Dear Customers,

Earlier this month you received an announcement that Symmetry Medical, the parent company of Specialty Surgical Instrumentation (SSi), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the surgical instruments portfolio of Codman & Shurtleff, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. We are pleased to inform you that we have closed this transaction and are now beginning the integration process which will continue throughout 2012. As we progress through the integration, Specialty Surgical Instrumentation will be renamed Symmetry Surgical, Inc. as we integrate the portfolio of products purchased from Codman.

Soon, Symmetry Surgical will be able to offer you a wider array of products and services, including the following brands:
     BOOKWALTER® Retractor Systems
     OPTI-LENGTH® Extended Length Surgical Instruments
     QUAD-LOCK™ Sterilization Container Systems
     RAPIDCLEAN® Detachable Kerrison Rongeurs
     CLASSIC PLUS® and CLASSIC® Surgical Instruments
     GREENBERG™ Neurosurgical Retractor System
     KARLIN™ Surgical Instruments
     MAGNAFREE® Non-Magnetic Surgical Instruments

Combined with SSi’s existing portfolio which includes :
     ULTRA™ Surgical Instruments
     ULTRA™ System Sterilization Container Systems
     FLASHPAK™ Closed Flash Sterilization Trays
     RILEY™ Sterilization Case and Tray Solutions
     OLSEN™ Electrosurgical Instruments
     ACCESS SURGICAL™ Endoscopic Surgical Instruments

We will strive to complement this exciting range of products and well known brands with our efforts to bring you the best in quality and service in surgical instruments.

Our goal through the integration process is to minimize any disruptions to you, our customers, and to continue to deliver the high level of service you expect from us. We will inform you when changes to current practices become necessary and keep you informed as we increase our service offerings. At this time, our plan is to prepare our back office systems and global distribution center in Nashville to support our combined portfolio for a third quarter transition.

Until we complete our preparation work, we will continue business as usual: you will continue to be serviced by your current sales representatives and you will be able to use your current methods of order placement with the same vendor ID’s, contact points, and product codes that you use today.

Some Customers may have both SSi and representatives who have joined us from Codman Instruments servicing your facility. At this time there will be no change to this. You will continue to benefit from the talents and resources that each of these sales professionals bring you as each representative will continue to support the brands they currently support. Your SSi representative will continue to be called the SSi brand sales representative and you may order SSi products through SSi via your current methods of order placement. The representatives who have joined our company from Codman Instruments, will become a Symmetry Surgical representative. However, until our transition is complete, we will service your needs for the former Codman Instrument products through an agreement with Codman and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc and you will continue to order those products via your current methods of order placement.

Below is a detailed summary of the current process as well as some frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of our team should you have additional questions or concerns. Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition and to minimize changes to you. Once the back office integration is near completion, we will be updating you with next steps and any changes that are necessary on your part. All of us at Symmetry Surgical thank you for the opportunity to serve your needs and we look forward to doing so in the future.

Thank you,

Chris Huntington
Chief Operating Officer
Symmetry Surgical


Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Who do I contact for order placement, product information and customer service?
    
Brands: ULTRA™ Surgical Instruments, ULTRA™ System Sterilization Container Systems, FLASHPAK™ Closed Flash Sterilization Trays, RILEY™ Sterilization Case and Tray Solutions, OLSEN™ Electrosurgical Instruments, ACCESS SURGICAL™ Endoscopic Surgical Instruments
Customer Service: 1-800-251-3000
Sales Representative: Current SSi Sales Representative
Internet Ordering: www.specsurg.com

Brands: BOOKWALTER® Retractor Systems, OPTI-LENGTH® Extended Length Surgical Instruments, QUAD-LOCK™ Sterilization Container Systems, RAPIDCLEAN® Detachable Kerrison Rongeurs, CLASSIC PLUS® and CLASSIC® Surgical Instruments, GREENBERG™ Neurosurgical Retractor System, KARLIN™ Surgical Instruments, MAGNAFREE® Non-Magnetic Surgical Instruments, CODMAN Surgical Instruments
Customer Service: Codman Customer Service at 1-800-225-0460, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc at 1-800-255-2550
Sales Representative: Current Symmetry Surgical (formally Codman Instruments) Instrument Specialist
Internet Ordering: www.jnjgateway.com

2. Will my rep change? Who do I call if I need instruments?

Your current SSi and Symmetry Surgical (formerly Codman Instruments) representatives will both continue to serve you as they do today.

Your current formerly Codman Instrument specialist will now be called a Symmetry Surgical instrument specialist and will be your contact for the Surgical Instruments products formerly marketed by Codman. You may also contact Codman Customer Service at 1-800-225-0460 or Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc. at 1-800-255-2500.
Your SSi rep will remain an SSi rep until the transition is complete and you will contact them for SSi products. You may also contact SSi Customer Service at 1-800-251-3000.

3. Can I still use the internet (J&J Gateway, Specsurg.com) to place my orders?

Yes. During the transitional period you will use your current methods of order placement. We will inform you, with advanced notice, if & when changes to current practices become necessary and keep you informed as we increase our service offerings. In addition, other ordering methods such as the Global Health Care Exchange, EDI, or Fax will not change at this time.

4. Will I have any changes to my ordering, invoicing, payables, receiving or inventory processes?

Not in the immediate future. We will inform you, with advanced notice and appropriate support, if and when changes to current practices become necessary.

5. Are my product codes going to change?

No. During the transitional period you will use the same product codes and vendor ID’s. We will inform you, with advanced notice, if & when changes to current practices become necessary and keep you informed as we increase our service offerings.