DUBLIN, Ohio, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardinal Health today announced its board of directors has approved an 11 percent increase in the company's quarterly dividend to $0.195 per share, or $0.78 per share on an annualized basis.

The regular quarterly dividend is payable on July 15 to shareholders of record on July 1. Cardinal Health has paid a $0.175 per share quarterly dividend since July 15, 2009.

The dividend is the 103rd consecutive regular quarterly dividend for Cardinal Health. The company had approximately 362 million shares outstanding as of April 30.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $96 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing profitability. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #17 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements addressing expectations, prospects, estimates and other matters that are dependent upon future events or developments. These matters are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. These risks and uncertainties include (but are not limited to) uncertainties and risks regarding: the effect of the CareFusion spinoff on Cardinal Health; the performance of CareFusion and the proceeds realized from future sales of CareFusion stock; uncertainties due to government health care reform including the recently enacted federal health care reform legislation; competitive pressures in Cardinal Health's various lines of business; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships or changes to the terms of those relationships; disruptions in the supply of medical isotopes for the nuclear pharmacy business; the timing of generic and branded pharmaceutical introductions and the frequency or rate of branded pharmaceutical price appreciation or generic pharmaceutical price deflation; changes in the distribution patterns or reimbursement rates for health care products and/or services; the results, consequences, effects or timing of any inquiry or investigation by any regulatory authority or any legal or administrative proceedings; the effects of disruptions in the financial markets, including uncertainties related to the availability and/or cost of credit on Cardinal Health's customers and vendors; with respect to future dividends, the decision by Cardinal Health's board of directors to declare such dividends, which decision will depend on Cardinal Health's surplus, earnings, cash flows, financial condition and prospects at the time any such action is considered; and conditions in the pharmaceutical market and general economic and market conditions. In addition, Cardinal Health is subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in Cardinal Health's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports. This news release reflects management's views as of May 5, 2010. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Cardinal Health undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE Cardinal Health, Inc.