BD Announces Results of Shareholder Votes at Annual Meeting

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) announced that at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders today, its shareholders approved a management proposal to amend BD's certificate of incorporation to declassify the Board that will result in each director being elected annually. Shareholders had approved a shareholder proposal to declassify the Board at BD's 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

"BD is committed to good corporate governance practices," said Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We listened to our shareholders and determined that this decision is in BD's and their best interests."

In other business, shareholders approved a shareholder proposal requesting that BD amend its By-Laws to allow 10 percent of the shareholders to call a special shareholders meeting; BD said it would take this under consideration. Shareholders also re-elected four directors to one-year terms and approved an increase in the number of shares available under BD's equity compensation plan.

About BD

BD, a leading global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Company's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 28,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

Released February 3, 2009