£20M Acquisition of Elastomedic Pty

Aortech International PLC
14 March 2000


               AORTECH  INTERNATIONAL  plc
                            
            £20m Acquisition of Elastomedic pty
                            
                            
AorTech International plc, ('AorTech') the Scottish-based
manufacturer  of  cardiovascular devices,  announces  the
acquisition  of  Elastomedic Pty, the Australian  polymer
technology company, together with the acquisition of  the
Intellectual  Property and Patents relating  to  the  new
biomaterial, Elast-Eon by the Aortech Group.  AorTech  is
to  acquire the balance of the 67% of equity they do  not
own  for approximately £20 million.  This will be  funded
by  the issue of 2,000,000 new Ordinary Shares, with  the
balance  paid in cash.   1,046,393 of these new  Ordinary
Shares   are   being  vendor  placed  with  Institutional
Investors at 830p per share.

Eddie McDaid, Managing Director of AorTech commented:

'The   acquisition  of  Elastomedic  has  been  a   major
strategic  objective of AorTech over the last  12  months
since  evaluations and testing of the Elast-Eon  material
demonstrated  the unique property of this  material,  not
only for our New Synthetic Heart Valve but for a range of
other  potential implantable devices.  With  the  current
concerns  expressed  by  Environmentalists  and  by   the
European  Parliament  and  European  Commission  on   the
suitability  of  materials  presently  used  in   medical
products  this  can  only enhance the potential  uses  of
Elast-Eon'.


Mike Skalsky, Managing Director of Elastomedic said:

'We  are  delighted at the completion of this transaction
whereby  Elastomedic secures a sound  financial  base  to
grow  its  business.  Becoming part of the Aortech  group
further  cements  the  close working relationships  built
during  the  development work which we have  carried  out
with  AorTech in the New Tri-Leaflet Heart Valve project.
It  has confirmed to us that AorTech has a commitment  to
innovation and to ensuring the commercialisation of Elast-
Eon in a broad range of  medical device applications.  We
recognise the outstanding growth of AorTech over the last
12  months,  and are convinced that with the  outstanding
prospects  for  our Elast-Eon material, Elastomedic  will
contribute  to further significant growth in the  AorTech
group in future years'.


Dr Simon Carroll, speaking on behalf of CSIRO and the CRC
for  Cardiac  Technology, who  played  a  major  part  in
developing  the new Elast-Eon materials over  a  12  year
period said:

'Our  organisations have made a major commitment  in  the
research  and  development of these new  materials  since
1987  and we are delighted that our Research Centres have
succeeded   in   developing   biomaterials   with   these
outstanding properties, in particular their biostability.
During  the  last  2  1/2  years  AorTech  has  played  a
significant  role, through its investment in Elastomedic,
in evaluating and assessing the materials for its New Tri-
Leaflet  Heart Valve project. It is terrific to  see  the
technology  progressing so well  towards clinical  trials
and  commercialisation.  During this time Elastomedic and
ourselves  have enjoyed an excellent working relationship
with  the  AorTech team.  The combination of  fundamental
and  applied  research  with  the  experience  drive  and
commitment  of AorTech in commercialising the new  Elast-
Eon  materials provide an excellent springboard  for  the
internationalisation of the technology. We are  delighted
that this transaction has been concluded and look forward
to  the continued growth of Elastomedic in Australia  and
AorTech worldwide'.

The  2,000,000 new ordinary shares being issued rank pari
passu  in  all respects with the existing issued ordinary
shares  in  AorTech.  Application will be  made  for  the
shares  to  be  admitted to trading  on  AIM  and  it  is
expected that dealings will commence on 22 March, 2000.


                                            14 March 2000

Enquiries:

AorTech International plc               01698 746699
Gordon Wright, Chairman
Eddie McDaid, Managing Director

College Hill                            0171 457 2020
Michael Padley

   For further information, visit AorTech's website at
                     www.aortech.com
                            
                            


 Copies of this statement will be available for a period
of 14 days from the Company's registered office: Phoenix
Crescent, Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, Scotland
                        ML4 3NU.