Bard Updates Fourth Quarter Performance and Comments On 2001 Objectives.

Business Editors

MURRAY HILL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2000

C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR) announced today that it remains comfortable with previous guidance on fourth quarter revenue and earnings. The company continues to expect a fourth quarter revenue increase in the range of 6-8 percent on a constant currency basis, versus the fourth quarter of 1999. Additionally, the company said it remained comfortable with First Call Corporation earnings estimates in the range of $0.69 - $0.72 per share for the quarter, including the impact of one-time items of approximately $0.06 - $0.07 per share and excluding the impact of the company's recent decision on Endologix, Inc., communicated December 14, 2000.

For the full year 2000, the company expects foreign exchange and its dialysis catheter recall to have reduced earnings per share by approximately $0.20, resulting in earnings per share, before any one-time items, of approximately $2.45. Full-year reported revenue growth is expected to approximate 6 percent, including a 2 percent negative impact from foreign currency translation and a 1 percent negative effect from the dialysis catheter recall. Without the effects of foreign exchange and the recall, sales would have increased approximately 9 percent.

The company's objectives for 2001 include revenue growth in the range of 8-10 percent and earnings per share growth of 10-15 percent from its 2000 results before all one-time items. A full update on 2001 expectations is planned for the company's January meeting with analysts.

C. R. Bard, Inc., (www.crbard.com) headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of health care products in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology and surgical specialty products.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. Please refer to our September 30, 2000 Form 10-Q for a statement with regard to forward-looking statements, including disclosure of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.