1.     BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The accompanying interim consolidated condensed financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in Edwards Lifesciences Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted.

        In the opinion of management of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation ("Edwards Lifesciences" or the "Company"), the interim consolidated condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full year.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

        In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on fair value measurements to ensure that United States GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards have common requirements for fair value measurement and disclosures, including a consistent definition of fair value. The guidance was effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The guidance eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity, and instead requires that all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company elected to present two separate but consecutive statements.

        In September 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on goodwill to permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The guidance was effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will consider the use of the qualitative factors in its annual goodwill impairment test this year.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

        In July 2012, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on intangible assets to permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to calculate the fair value of the indefinite-lived asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying amount. The guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company will consider the use of the qualitative factors when performing its first impairment test under this guidance.

5

Table of Contents

2.     SPECIAL CHARGES

Licensing of Intellectual Property

        In April 2012, the Company obtained an exclusive license to a suturing device for minimally invasive surgery applications. The intellectual property is under development and there is uncertainty as to whether the product will ultimately be approved. The Company recorded a charge of $2.0 million related to the upfront licensing and royalty fees.

        In June 2012, the Company obtained a co-exclusive sublicense to intellectual property related to processing tissue and implanting cardiovascular valves. The intellectual property is under development and there is uncertainty as to whether the product will ultimately be approved. The Company recorded a charge of $5.0 million related to the upfront licensing fee.

European Receivables

        In June 2011, the Company recorded a $4.0 million charge to reflect the increased risk associated with its European receivables.

        The Company recorded an $8.1 million charge to gross profit due to the voluntary recalls of certain of the Company's heart valves and Critical Care catheters during the quarter. The majority of the affected products were still part of inventory at the time of the recalls.

6

Table of Contents

        The net carrying value of patents includes $16.5 million of capitalized legal costs related to the defense and enforcement of issued patents and trademarks for which success is deemed probable as of June 30, 2012.

        Amortization expense related to other intangible assets was $3.3 million and $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $6.6 million and $8.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for each of the years ending December 31 is as follows (in millions):

        The Company expenses costs incurred to renew or extend the term of acquired intangible assets.

        For the six months ended June 30, 2012, proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investments were $2.1 million, and the Company realized pre-tax gains from these sales of $0.4 million. There were no sales of available-for-sale investments during the six months ended June 30, 2011.

6.     FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

        The consolidated condensed financial statements include financial instruments for which the fair market value of such instruments may differ from amounts reflected on a historical cost basis. Financial instruments of the Company consist of cash deposits, bank time deposits, accounts and other receivables, investments in unconsolidated affiliates, accounts payable, certain accrued liabilities and borrowings under a revolving credit agreement. The carrying value of these financial instruments generally approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.

7

Table of Contents

        Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The Company prioritizes the inputs used to determine fair values in one of the following three categories:

Level 1—Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

        In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan

        The Company holds investments in trading securities related to its executive deferred compensation plan ("EDCP"). The amounts deferred under the EDCP are invested in a variety of stock and bond mutual funds. The fair values of these investments and the corresponding liabilities are based on quoted market prices and are categorized as Level 1.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

        Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are long-term equity investments in companies that are in various stages of development. Certain of the Company's investments in unconsolidated affiliates are designated as available-for-sale. These investments are carried at fair market value based on quoted market prices and are categorized as Level 1.

8

Table of Contents

Derivative Instruments

        The Company uses derivative financial instruments in the form of foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage foreign currency exposures. All derivatives contracts are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair value. The fair value for derivatives is determined based on quoted foreign currency exchange rates discounted to present as appropriate. The valuation procedures are based upon well recognized financial principles. Although readily observable data is used in the valuations, different valuation methods could have an effect on the estimated fair value. The derivative instruments are categorized as Level 2.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

        The Company has assets that are subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis, including assets acquired in a business combination, such as goodwill and intangible assets, and other long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying value of intangible and other long-lived assets whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the assets are impaired, the carrying value would be reduced to estimated fair market value. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company had no impairments related to assets subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis. In March 2011, the Company acquired Embrella Cardiovascular, Inc. This transaction resulted in an increase to " Goodwill " and " Other Intangible Assets, net " of $34.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively.

        The Company uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts to offset the changes due to currency rate movements in the amount of future cash flows associated with intercompany transactions and certain third-party expenses expected to occur within the next thirteen months. These foreign currency forward exchange contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. Certain of the Company's locations have assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies resulting from intercompany and third-party transactions. The Company uses foreign currency forward exchange contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments to offset the transaction gains and losses associated with certain of these assets and liabilities. All foreign currency forward exchange contracts are denominated in currencies of major industrial countries, principally the Euro and the Japanese yen. It is the Company's policy not to enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

        All derivative financial instruments are recognized at fair value in the consolidated condensed balance sheets. The Company reports in " Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income " ("OCI") the effective portion of the gain or loss on derivative financial instruments that are designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges. The Company reclassifies these gains and losses into earnings in the same period in which the underlying hedged transactions affect earnings. Any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which the changes in the fair value of the derivative exceed the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction) is recorded in current period earnings. For the six months ended

9

Table of Contents

June 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not record any gains or losses due to hedge ineffectiveness. The gains and losses on derivative financial instruments for which the Company does not elect hedge accounting treatment are recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of operations in each period, based upon the change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument. Cash flows from derivative financial instruments are reported as operating activities in the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows.

        Derivative financial instruments involve credit risk in the event the counterparty should default. It is the Company's policy to execute such instruments with global financial institutions that the Company believes to be creditworthy. The Company diversifies its derivative financial instruments among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities. The Company also uses International Swap Dealers Association master-netting agreements. Under the master-netting agreements, the Company's counterparty settlement risk is the net amount of any receipts or payments due between the Company and the counterparty financial institution.

        The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of derivative instruments reported in the consolidated condensed balance sheets (in millions):

        The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated condensed statements of operations and consolidated condensed statements of comprehensive income (in millions):

10

Table of Contents

        The Company expects that during the next twelve months it will reclassify to earnings a $4.1 million gain currently recorded in " Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ."

        At June 30, 2012, the total remaining compensation cost related to nonvested stock options, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), market-based restricted stock units ("MRSUs") and employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP") subscription awards amounted to $80.7 million, which will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of 33 months.

        During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company granted 1.0 million stock options at a weighted-average exercise price of $85.14 and 0.2 million shares of RSUs at a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $83.57. The Company also granted 47,275 shares of MRSUs at a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $109.78. The MRSUs vest based on a combination of certain service and market conditions. The actual number of shares issued will be determined based on the Company's total shareholder return relative to a selected industry peer group over a three-year performance period, and may range from 0 percent to 175 percent of the targeted number of shares granted.

11

Table of Contents

Fair Value Disclosures

        The fair value of the MRSUs was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which uses multiple input variables to determine the probability of satisfying the market condition requirements. The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the fair value of the MRSUs included a 0.3 percent risk-free interest rate and a 30.4 percent expected volatility rate.

        The Black-Scholes option pricing model was used with the following weighted-average assumptions for options granted during the following periods:

        The Black-Scholes option pricing model was used with the following weighted-average assumptions for ESPP subscriptions granted during the following periods:

10.   ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE

        In February 2012, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement with an investment bank to repurchase $54.0 million of the Company's common stock. The February ASR agreement provides for the repurchase of the Company's common stock based on the volume-weighted average price ("VWAP") of the Company's common stock during the term of the agreement, less a discount, and is subject to collar provisions that establish minimum and maximum number of shares to be repurchased. In March 2012, the Company paid the $54.0 million purchase price and received an initial delivery of 0.6 million shares, representing the minimum number of shares to be repurchased under the agreement. The initial shares were valued at $72.40 per share based on the VWAP of the Company's common stock on March 1, 2012, which was the date the major terms of the ASR agreement were finalized, and represented approximately 80 percent of the shares expected to be repurchased. In May 2012, upon conclusion of the February ASR agreement, the Company received an additional 0.1 million shares for a total of 0.7 million shares at an average price per share of $75.12 based on the VWAP of the Company's common stock during the term of the agreement.

12

Table of Contents

        In May 2012, the Company entered into another ASR agreement with the same investment bank to repurchase $50.0 million of the Company's common stock. The May ASR agreement provides for the repurchase of the Company's common stock based on the VWAP of the Company's common stock during the term of the agreement, less a discount, and is subject to collar provisions that establish minimum and maximum number of shares to be repurchased. In June 2012, the Company paid the $50.0 million purchase price and received an initial delivery of 0.5 million shares, representing the minimum number of shares to be repurchased under the agreement. The initial shares were valued at $84.81 per share based on the VWAP of the Company's common stock on June 1, 2012, which was the date the major terms of the May ASR agreement were finalized, and represented approximately 80 percent of the shares expected to be repurchased. At the conclusion of the May ASR agreement, the Company may receive additional shares, resulting in up to a maximum of 0.8 million shares. If the agreement had been settled on June 30, 2012, the investment bank would have been required to deliver 0.1 million additional shares to the Company based on an average VWAP, less the discount, of $93.43 per share for the period June 1 to June 30, 2012. The May ASR agreement has a termination date of August 31, 2012, although the termination date may be accelerated at the investment bank's option.

        The ASR agreements were accounted for as two separate transactions: (a) the value of the initial delivery of shares was recorded as shares of common stock acquired in a treasury stock transaction on the acquisition date and (b) the remaining amount of the purchase price paid was recorded as a forward contract indexed to the Company's own common stock and was recorded in " Additional Paid-in Capital " on the consolidated condensed balance sheet. The initial delivery of shares resulted in an immediate reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted earnings per share. The Company determined that the forward contract indexed to the Company's common stock met all the applicable criteria for equity classification and, therefore, was not accounted for as a derivative instrument.

11.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        In February 2008, Edwards Lifesciences filed a lawsuit against CoreValve, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that its ReValving System infringes three of Edwards' U.S. Andersen patents, later narrowed to one patent ("the '552 patent"). Medtronic, Inc. ("Medtronic") acquired CoreValve, Inc. ("Medtronic CoreValve") in April 2009. In April 2010, a federal jury found the '552 patent to be valid and found that Medtronic CoreValve willfully infringes it. The jury also awarded Edwards $73.9 million in damages. In February 2011, the District Court reaffirmed the jury decision and ruled that Edwards is entitled to recover additional damages due to Medtronic CoreValve's continued infringing sales from the trial through the life of the patent, plus interest. In the same ruling, the court denied Edwards' motions for a permanent injunction, as well as its motion for increased damages relating to Medtronic CoreValve's willful infringement. Both Edwards and Medtronic CoreValve have appealed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard the appeals in January 2012 and the parties are awaiting its decision. A second lawsuit is pending in the same trial court against Medtronic CoreValve and Medtronic alleging infringement of three of Edwards' U.S. Andersen patents. In September 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") granted Medtronic's third request to reexamine the validity of the claim of the '552 patent and in July 2011 confirmed the validity of that patent. Medtronic has since filed another request for reexamination of the '552 patent and that request has been partially granted by the USPTO.

        In June 2011, Medtronic filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota alleging that certain surgical valve holders and a surgical embolic filter device infringe its patents. Edwards counterclaimed against Medtronic, alleging that the Medtronic Contour 3D annuloplasty ring infringes an Edwards ring patent. Edwards subsequently added two more patents to its counterclaim. In February and March 2012, the USPTO granted Edwards' request to reexamine the validity of three of the four Medtronic patents involved in this lawsuit.

13

Table of Contents

        In June 2011, Medtronic CoreValve also filed another lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging that the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve infringes a Medtronic CoreValve patent. Edwards counterclaimed against Medtronic CoreValve and Medtronic, alleging that the Medtronic CoreValve heart valve infringes Edwards' U.S. Letac-Cribier transcatheter heart valve patent. Edwards' counterclaim was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, where proceedings continue. In April 2012, the USPTO granted Edwards' request to reexamine the validity of the Medtronic CoreValve patent.

        In March 2012, Medtronic filed another lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging that the methods of implanting the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve in the United States infringes two Medtronic patents relating to methods of pacing the heart. The Company plans to vigorously defend against this claim.

        In March and September 2010, the Company received grand jury subpoenas for documents from the United States Attorney's Office in the Central District of California in connection with an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. The subpoenas to the Company seek records relating to the Vigilance I Monitor model with software release 5.3 that was the subject of a voluntary field recall by the Company in June 2006. The Company is cooperating fully with the investigation.

        In addition, Edwards Lifesciences is or may be a party to, or may otherwise be responsible for, pending or threatened lawsuits related primarily to products and services currently or formerly manufactured or performed, as applicable, by Edwards Lifesciences. Such cases and claims raise difficult and complex factual and legal issues and are subject to many uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the facts and circumstances of each particular case or claim, the jurisdiction in which each suit is brought, and differences in applicable law. Upon resolution of any such legal matter or other claim, Edwards Lifesciences may incur charges in excess of established reserves. The Company is not able to estimate the amount or range of any loss for legal contingencies for which there is no reserve or additional loss for matters already reserved. While any such charge could have a material adverse impact on Edwards Lifesciences' net income or cash flows in the period in which it is recorded or paid, management does not believe that any such charge relating to any currently pending lawsuit would have a material adverse effect on Edwards Lifesciences' financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

        Edwards Lifesciences is subject to various environmental laws and regulations both within and outside of the United States. The operations of Edwards Lifesciences, like those of other medical device companies, involve the use of substances regulated under environmental laws, primarily in manufacturing and sterilization processes. While it is difficult to quantify the potential impact of continuing compliance with environmental protection laws, management believes that such compliance will not have a material impact on Edwards Lifesciences' financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

14

Table of Contents

13.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

        Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during a period. Employee equity share options, nonvested shares and similar equity instruments granted by the Company are treated as potential common shares in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive effect of RSUs, MRSUs, and in-the-money options. The dilutive impact of the RSUs, MRSUs, and in-the-money options is calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount that the employee must pay for exercising stock options, the amount of compensation expense for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in " Additional Paid-in Capital " when the award becomes deductible are assumed to be used to repurchase shares. Potential common share equivalents have been excluded where their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

15

Table of Contents

        The table below presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in millions, except for per share information):