CONTACT:
Norris Battin
E-mail: nbattin@usa.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       COOPER COMPANIES TO DIVEST CERTAIN BUSINESSES OF HOSPITAL GROUP OF
                  AMERICA TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

     IRVINE, Calif., October 21, 1998 - The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE/PCX:
COO) today announced that it has entered into a nonbinding letter of intent with
Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) to divest certain assets and
liabilities of its Hospital Group of America, Inc. (HGA) unit to Universal. The
transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive purchase agreement, due
diligence, approval of both boards of directors and, among other conditions, the
successful completion of certain pending transactions with unaffiliated parties.

     The letter of intent calls for Universal to acquire the following
businesses: HGA's management services business, its Hampton Behavioral Health
Center, its Hospital Group of Illinois Behavioral Health System, comprised of
Hartgrove Hospital and its ancillary programs, and its Midwest Center for Youth
and Families. Universal will not acquire HGA's MeadowWood Behavioral Health
System, and HGA is currently pursuing other alternatives for the disposition of
MeadowWood.

     Under the proposed transaction, Universal would pay $30 million in cash for
the businesses it is purchasing from HGA.

     With the successful exit from the psychiatric services business, Cooper
will become a pure medical device company with two business units, CooperVision
which markets contact lenses and CooperSurgical which markets products for the
gynecological market.

     Universal Health Services, Inc. is the nation's third largest hospital
management company and has a total of 68 facilities nationwide including
medical, surgical and behavioral health hospitals and ambulatory surgery and
radiation therapy centers. UHS acts as advisor to Universal Health Realty Income
Trust, a Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE:UHT).




Forward-Looking Statements

     Statements in this release not based on historical fact may be
"forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. They include words like "may," "will," "expect," "estimate,"
"anticipate," "continue" or similar terms and reflect Cooper's current analysis
of existing trends. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated
due to: major changes in business conditions and the economy, loss of key senior
management, major disruptions in the operations of Cooper's manufacturing
facilities or hospitals, new competitors or technologies, significant
disruptions caused by failure of third parties to address the Year 2000 issue or
by unforeseen delays in completing Cooper's Year 2000 compliance program,
acquisition integration costs, foreign currency exchange exposure, investments
in research and development and other start-up projects, dilution to earnings
per share from acquisitions or issuing stock, regulatory issues, changes in
reimbursement rates and payor mix, significant environmental clean-up costs
above those already accrued, litigation costs, costs of divestitures, and items
listed in the Company's SEC reports, including the section entitled "Business"
in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997.

     The Cooper Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and
market specialty healthcare products and services. Corporate offices are in
Irvine and Pleasanton, Calif. CooperVision, headquartered in Irvine, Calif.,
with manufacturing facilities in Huntington Beach, Calif., Rochester, N.Y.,
Toronto, Canada and Southampton, England, markets a broad range of contact
lenses. CooperSurgical, headquartered in Shelton, Conn., markets diagnostic
and surgical instruments, equipment and accessories for the gynecological
market. Hospital Group of America provides psychiatric services through
facilities in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey and satellite
locations.

     NOTE: A toll free interactive telephone system at 1-800-334-1986 provides
stock quotes, recent press releases and financial data. The Cooper Company's
Internet address is www.coopercos.com.


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