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<TYPE>EX-99.1
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<FILENAME>b40286peex99-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE, DATED AUGUST 28, 2001
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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


      PERKINELMER PUTS FLUID SCIENCES BUSINESS UNIT UNDER STRATEGIC REVIEW

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- August 28, 2001 -- PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI) today
announced that it will explore strategic alternatives for its Fluid Sciences
business unit, including its potential sale. The unit provides sealing solutions
and advanced fluid containment technologies to the aerospace, semiconductor and
power generation markets, and reported revenues of $252 million in the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2000. The Company has retained Merrill Lynch to assist
in the review.

"Over the past three years, PerkinElmer has successfully shifted its portfolio
into higher growth businesses and built an organization with a track record of
consistent financial performance," said Gregory L. Summe, Chairman and CEO of
PerkinElmer. "The intended divestiture of our Fluid Sciences business unit will
mark the culmination of the second phase of our portfolio evolution. The first
phase represented the transformation of the Company from a government services
supplier to a commercially driven enterprise. In the second phase, we have
narrowed our focus to three high-growth technology areas - Life Sciences,
Optoelectronics and Analytical Instruments. This, combined with our anticipated
acquisition of Packard BioScience Company, will leave us with a strong balance
sheet and exceptionally well positioned to continue to grow our core
businesses."

Summe continued, "While Fluid Sciences is a high performing business with a
seasoned management team, strong brands and an excellent customer base, it does
not fit with our long-term business strategy. We remain committed to supporting
the business throughout this process, and anticipate no interruptions in
customer service or support to result from this review."

CONFERENCE CALL

The management of PerkinElmer will be holding a conference call and simultaneous
Webcast on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's
review of the Fluid Sciences business unit. To access the call, please dial
913.981.5571. To access the Webcast, go to www.perkinelmer.com. A replay will be
available from August 29 at 1:00 p.m. until September 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and
can be accessed through the Web site or by dialing 719.457.0820 and entering the
passcode 749499.

                                    - more -
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FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE PERFORMANCE

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements. For this purpose, any
statements contained in this press release that relate to prospective events or
developments are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as
"believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While we may elect to
update forward-looking statements in the future, we specifically disclaim any
obligation to do so, even if our estimates change, and you should not rely on
these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date
subsequent to the date of this press release. The following important factors
and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in these forward-looking statements: our inability to
consummate a disposition of the Fluid Sciences business unit on favorable terms;
a downturn in our customers' markets or in general economic conditions; our
failure to introduce new products in a timely manner; economic, political and
other risks associated with international sales and operations; difficulties
integrating technologies, operations and personnel of recent acquisitions;
competition from third parties, including pricing pressure; governmental
regulation; and our level of debt and the possible incurrence of additional debt
in the future. These and other important factors that may affect our actual
results are discussed in detail in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis"
section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussion is expressly
incorporated by reference in this press release.

                                       ###


PerkinElmer, Inc. reported annual revenues of $1.7 billion in 2000. The high
technology company, based in Boston, Massachusetts, operates in four businesses
- Life Sciences, Optoelectronics, Instruments, and Fluid Sciences. The Company
has operations in over 125 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index.
Additional information is available at www.perkinelmer.com or at 1-877-PKI-NYSE.

For further information:

Investor Contact:  Diane J. Basile, PerkinElmer, Inc.
                   Tel. (781) 431-4306

Media Contact:     Kevin J. Lorenc, PerkinElmer, Inc.
                   Tel. (781) 431-4111

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