Orthofix To Open The NASDAQ Market; Company Celebrates Its 17th Annive

    Business Editors/Medical Editors

    HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2005--Orthofix International, N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) will open trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market tomorrow--Thursday, January 6--in celebration of its 17th year of operations and 12 years of being listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. Orthofix's Group President and CEO, Charles W. Federico, will preside over the NASDAQ opening bell ceremony at the NASDAQ MarketSite, located at 4 Times Square, New York City.
    "Opening The NASDAQ Stock Market is a very noteworthy event," said Mr. Federico, "because it recognizes that Orthofix is a superior-performing company--a growing, diversified and profitable orthopedic company competing very successfully in three key markets: Spine, Reconstruction and Trauma.
    "Our innovative products are widely distributed globally to hospitals, surgery centers, orthopedic offices and post-operative facilities--through the efforts of nearly 500 Company and independent sales reps; and via partnerships with other leading companies, such as Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Kendall Healthcare and Stryker Howmedica," added Federico.
    "But opening the NASDAQ recognizes, in particular, the great value of our 1,000 employees worldwide. Indeed, the ongoing success of Orthofix is directly attributable to our dedicated employees," said Federico.
    For those interested in watching the NASDAQ Market Open "live" on January 6, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. EST, please visit www.nasdaq.com.

    About Orthofix International, N.V.

    Orthofix International N.V., a global diversified orthopedic products company, offers a broad line of minimally invasive surgical, as well as non-surgical, products for the spine, reconstruction, and trauma market sectors that address the lifelong bone-and-joint health needs of patients of all ages--helping them achieve a more active and mobile lifestyle. Orthofix's products are widely distributed around the world to orthopedic surgeons and patients--via Orthofix's sales representatives and its subsidiaries, including Breg Inc., and via partnerships with other leading orthopedic product companies, such as Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Stryker Howmedica, and Kendall Healthcare. In addition, Orthofix is collaborating in R&D partnerships with leading medical institutions such as the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Innovative Spinal Technologies and National Osteoporosis Institute. For more information about Orthofix, please visit www.orthofix.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the projections, financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Orthofix, and are based on management's current expectations and estimates and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences may include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the integration of the businesses of Orthofix and Breg, unanticipated expenditures, changing relationship with customers, suppliers and strategic partners, risks relating to the protection of intellectual property, changes to the reimbursement policies of third parties, changes to governmental regulation of medical devices, the impact of competitive products, changes to the competitive environment, the acceptance of new products in the market, conditions of the orthopedic industry and the economy and other factors described in the most recent report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed by Orthofix with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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CONTACT: Orthofix International, N.V. Group President and CEO Charles W. Federico, 704-948-2600 or CFO Thomas Hein, 704-948-2600

KEYWORD: NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING MEDICAL DEVICES BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Orthofix International, N.V.

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