NATICK, Mass., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced that Fitch Ratings has raised the Company's rating outlook to positive from stable, while affirming the Company's corporate credit rating at BB+.

Fitch said the revised rating outlook reflects:

• The success the Company has had in stabilizing its drug-eluting stent (DES) business and returning its cardiac rhythm management (CRM) business to growth, which has included the launch of a number of new DES and CRM products. Fitch noted that the Company's other businesses have been performing well.

• The Company's restructuring program, which is nearly completed and is expected to provide a lower cost structure going forward.

• The Company's paying down approximately $1.3 billion in debt during the last four quarters.

• The Company's research and development efforts, which are expected to provide a relatively steady stream of new product introductions across Boston Scientific's entire business.

"The Fitch upgrade is further testimony to the progress we are making in strengthening our financial fundamentals and driving profitable sales growth," said Sam Leno, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Boston Scientific. "It comes as additional welcome news after the March upgrades from Moody's and Standard and Poor's. We will continue working to improve our profit margins, free cash flow, debt repayment and financial discipline."

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our financial position and discipline, new product introductions, debt repayment and cost-savings initiatives, our growth strategy, and our market position. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and, future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file thereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

    CONTACT:  Paul Donovan
              508-650-8541 (office)
              508-667-5165 (mobile)
              Media Relations
              Boston Scientific Corporation

              Larry Neumann
              508-650-8696 (office)
              Investor Relations
              Boston Scientific Corporation

SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation

Web site: http://www.bostonscientific.com/