Global healthcare products giant Covidien yesterday officially opened its new Front Street offices and marked the occasion by giving a $20,000 cheque to a Bermuda charity.

The Bermuda-domiciled company was formed last June after being part of industrial conglomerate Tyco for more than a decade and Health Minister Nelson Bascome was on hand last night to cut the ribbon at Covidien's 7,000-square-foot offices at 131 Front Street.

Covidein's financial director Mary-Lynn Robinson presented a $20,000 cheque from the company's philanthropic arm, Covidien Partnership for Neighbourhood Wellness, to the Committee of 25 for Handicapped Children. This group gives financial assistance to Bermuda children who are mentally or physically handicapped and helps pay for medical treatment overseas.

Among the guests were new Progressive Labour Party MP for Soutahmpton East Central, Zane DeSilva, who is Covidien's landlord, and Warren Jones, Permanent Secretary for Health.

Eric Kraus, Covidien's senior vice-president of corporate communications, said: "Our focus is to create innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and we aim to become the leading healthcare products company in the world. We have an outstanding workforce — especially here in Bermuda — and we look forward to a very successful future."

Covidien has four full-time staff at its Bermuda base, out of a global workforce of 43,000 in 57 countries. Its products, which range from medical devices and supplies, to imaging products and pharmaceuticals, generated sales of more than $10 billion in 2007.

It is a public company listed on both the New York and Bermuda stock exchanges.