The Wright Medical Group Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer.

ARLINGTON, Tenn., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ --

The Wright Medical Group announced today that effective December 11, 2000, John K. Bakewell will assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Wright Medical Group was formed by the merger of Wright Medical Technology of Arlington, Tennessee and Cremascoli Ortho Group of Toulon, France in a transaction led by Warburg Pincus Equity Partners, L.P. and the Vertical Group in December 1999. The Wright Medical Group with over $140 million in pro forma 1999 sales, has world-wide distribution channels and a broad product line including prosthetic hip and knee systems, small joints and bone graft materials.

"We are very pleased to have a seasoned financial executive with John's experience join our organization and manage the global financial and administrative activities of the business," said F. Barry Bays, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Bakewell has a strong financial background in high-growth, public company and venture-backed emerging growth technology-oriented environments. His most recent experience is with a venture-backed e-commerce solutions provider and operator of the wholesale energy industry's largest internet-based business-to-business electronic marketplace. Previously, Mr. Bakewell was the Vice President of Finance, Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Cyberonics, Inc., a rapidly growing Nasdaq-traded medical device manufacturer commercializing a novel therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. He is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience with two Big Five accounting firms

"The Wright Medical Group is an extraordinary company and I am excited about the opportunities ahead," said Mr. Bakewell. "We have an excellent opportunity to leverage Wright's solid reputation, long-standing customer relationships and innovative product offerings while building outstanding shareholder value as the only remaining mid-sized independent 'pure play' global orthopaedic company. I am particularly impressed with the Company's industry-proven management team and its excellent financial partners, as well as the breadth and quality of its product lines."

Wright Medical Group is a global orthopaedic company providing innovative medical implantable devices for hips, knees and small joints and bone graft substitute materials.