St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced that FORTUNE Magazine has named the company among the "World's Most Admired Companies" for 2012. St. Jude Medical was named the most admired company in the Medical Equipment category.

The company has been named to FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired list in each of the last seven years, previously being ranked No. 1 in its category in 2007 and 2008. This year, St. Jude Medical tied with Stryker Corporation for first place in the Medical Equipment category, and is among the top 50 most admired companies in the world.

"It's an honor to once again be recognized by FORTUNE as one of the world's most admired companies," said Daniel J. Starks, chairman, president and chief executive officer of St. Jude Medical. "It's wonderful recognition for the work being done by St. Jude Medical's more than 16,000 employees around the world who are researching, treating and helping advance the practice of medicine for cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients through medical technology."

Largely viewed as a barometer of corporate reputation, FORTUNE comprises the "Most Admired" list after gathering a list of FORTUNE 1000 companies, Global 500 companies, and other major non-US companies. Next, top executives and directors from eligible companies, along with financial analysts, rate the companies using customized industry questionnaires to determine a company's overall reputation. Companies' complete ranking results are available online.

St. Jude Medical's ranking reflects scores received for each of the magazine's nine areas of assessment including:

  • Innovation
  • People management
  • Use of corporate assets
  • Social responsibility
  • Quality of management
  • Financial soundness
  • Long-term investment
  • Quality of products/services
  • Global competitiveness

The complete list of "Most Admired Companies" and related stories will be available in the March issue of FORTUNE magazine, on newsstands March 5, 2012.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. St. Jude Medical is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. and has four major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
J.C. Weigelt, 651-756-4347
Investor Relations
jweigelt@sjm.com
or
Amy Jo Meyer, 651-756-3029
Media Relations
ameyer@sjm.com