INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. and WESTMINSTER, Colo.— August 3, 2006— GHX, LLC has acquired NoInk, LLC, a privately held company that enables medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms to automate field sales processes and improve efficiencies in order, inventory and contract management. NoInk will continue to deliver its current product line and services through its Indianapolis-based office. As a wholly owned subsidiary of GHX, NoInk will retain its current workforce and plans to double its headcount by adding new positions in both professional services and product development. GHX will also provide additional support in both sales and marketing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“NoInk is a perfect fit for GHX. We share many of the same customers, but individually we have designed products and services that address different aspects of the healthcare supply chain. Similar to other companies acquired by GHX, NoInk offers a product that meets a critical supply chain need that we did not previously offer. By combining resources we can further enhance NoInk’s product offering and market share, while providing a more complete supply chain solution for both suppliers and providers,” says GHX Chief Executive Officer Mike Mahoney. NoInk's handheld applications, combined with the GHX exchange technology, can help automate orders for medical devices, physician preference items, which typically are not purchased through materials management and still primarily handled manually

Ten of the 21 largest medical implant manufacturers are currently customers of both GHX and NoInk. NoInk enables supplier sales representatives to streamline the sales and inventory process, allowing them to spend more time assisting physicians in the selection and use of medical devices. NoInk provides handheld applications for Sales Force Automation (SFA) to more medical device manufacturers than any other mobile solution provider, with over 3500 sales representatives currently using the company’s technology. GHX provides products and services to automate and improve the accuracy of the healthcare supply chain from contract commitment to payment. GHX currently delivers supply chain solutions to approximately one-half of the hospitals in the United States and 200 supplier divisions representing 85 to 90 percent of the products purchased on a regular basis by U.S hospitals, while providing similar services in Europe and Canada.

“W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. utilizes both GHX and NoInk for supply chain automation tools that not only improve efficiencies, but also enable us to better meet the needs of our customers. Both companies have a keen understanding of the complexities of the healthcare supply chain and have demonstrated their ability to transform customer feedback into product enhancements that further the value of their respective product offerings. By combining their expertise and resources, this acquisition will enable GHX and NoInk to better serve their customer needs on a global basis,” says Gene Tierney, North American Sales Operation Leader for W. L. Gore & Associates.

Companies using the NoInk solution have reported the following results:

• Sales representatives report saving up to 2 hours per day by automating the process to check inventory and product pricing, place and confirm orders, and obtain necessary customer information
• Electronic order submissions through the handheld account for 80 percent or more of all order submissions
• Increased accuracy in case scheduling, loaner kit management and replenishment order submissions
• A 25 percent reduction in calls from sales representatives to Customer Service.

Medical device sales representatives can improve relations with surgeons by providing immediate access to detailed product information, including streaming video, through NoInk’s handheld technology. NoInk’s ability to improve inventory management has saved medical device companies millions of dollars by reducing the amount of product that either expires or is lost.

About GHX
Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) provides an open and neutral electronic trading exchange, as well as complementary products and services, designed to improve the procurement-to-payment process in the healthcare supply chain. Service offerings include:

• Exchange services that support trading partner connectivity and provide electronic transaction sets, order validation and reporting tools
• Content services utilizing the GHX AllSource® product content repository as the foundation for data synchronization and advanced content services
• Contract services that allow users to maximize contract utilization
• Procurement services that enable automation of the requisitioning process
• Business Intelligence reports designed to provide strategic decision-making data

Through these services, healthcare providers and suppliers can improve efficiencies, automate processes and reduce operating expenses. Equity owners of GHX are Abbott Exchange, Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Corp.; Baxter Healthcare Corp.; B Braun Medical Inc.; Becton, Dickinson & Co.; Boston Scientific Corp.; Cardinal Health, Inc.; C.R. Bard, Inc.; Fisher Scientific International, Inc.; GE Healthcare; HCA; Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.; McKesson Corp.; Medtronic USA, Inc.; Owens & Minor; Premier, Inc.; Siemens; Tyco Healthcare Group, LP; University HealthSystem Consortium.; and VHA Inc. For more information, visit www.ghx.com.

About NoInk
NoInk provides integrated handheld and Web-based sales, marketing and logistics applications for medical device and pharmaceutical professionals. Its software solutions provide sales reps with the data, tools and support systems they need to enhance knowledge, increase productivity and improve performance in the field. NoInk's applications also increase management's visibility into daily selling activities, improving the sales, marketing and inventory/supply chain functions in pharmaceutical and medical device organizations. NoInk's entire line of sales task automation solutions is compatible with Pocket PC, Windows, Web and Tablet PC platforms. It includes inventory and sample management; sales call planning and surgical case scheduling; electronic product catalogs; competitive product comparisons; interactive presentations; automated order entry; document management; event management; field communications; and new product launch management. NoInk is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about the company is available at www.noink.com or by calling 317-522-0524.