BD Announces Edward J. Ludwig Elected to the Board of Directors and CEO.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1999--

The Board of Directors of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) ("BD") announced today that, effective immediately, it has elected Edward J. Ludwig to the BD Board of Directors. Mr. Ludwig, who was named President of BD last May, also was elected Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2000. Mr. Ludwig will succeed Clateo Castellini, who has announced that he will retire on December 31, 1999. Mr. Castellini will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Ludwig, 48, is a graduate of Holy Cross College and Columbia University Business School. He joined BD in 1979. In 1987, after five years' experience in the Company's medical segment, Mr. Ludwig assumed responsibility for corporate planning and development. From 1989 to 1994, he was President of Becton Dickinson Diagnostics in Baltimore, Maryland.

During the last five years, Mr. Ludwig has held positions of increasing responsibility at corporate headquarters. Mr. Ludwig served as Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 1995 to 1998 and more recently, in July 1998, was appointed Executive Vice President of the Company.

"Ed steps into his role as CEO with a breadth and depth of experience with BD across operations, finance and strategic planning. He has made his mark as a superb leader and manager, who has fully demonstrated his commitment to the continuing transformation of BD into a more entrepreneurial and performance-driven organization," said Clateo Castellini. "I am convinced he will continue to strengthen our profitability and sales growth by increasing our Company's relevance to patients and to health care systems around the world. We are all delighted to have an individual of Ed's professional competency, personal attributes and high energy lead BD into the new millennium."

Becton Dickinson manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies and devices and diagnostic systems for use by health professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, Becton Dickinson reported total revenues of $3.4 billion and net income of $276 million.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding the company's performance, including future revenues, products and income, which are based upon current expectations of the company and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described in any forward- looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions, changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates, delays in product introductions, year 2000 issues, and changes in health care or other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed herein and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.