BD Discloses Notice of Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Proceedings

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., April 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, has been informed by bioMerieux SA that bioMerieux is initiating an arbitration proceeding with the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris against GeneOhm Sciences Canada, a subsidiary of BD. According to the letter, bioMerieux seeks in the arbitration proceeding to terminate a sublicense agreement under which it granted certain patent rights to the subsidiary. The patent rights relate to a method for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA). Although BD has not yet received the pleadings in this matter, BD believes that there is no basis to terminate the sublicense agreement, and GeneOhm Sciences Canada intends to vigorously defend its position in the arbitration proceedings.

Separately, BD received a letter from bioMerieux invoking the dispute resolution clause of a separate license agreement between BD and bioMerieux, under which bioMerieux grants patent rights to BD for certain licensed fields relating to BD's BACTEC(TM) products. In the letter, bioMerieux alleges that sales of BD's BACTEC(TM) products have been made in non-licensed fields and that such sales constitute a material breach of the license agreement. bioMerieux requests compensation for any non-licensed sales, as well as cessation of all future sales in non-licensed fields. BD believes there has been no material breach of the agreement and intends to follow the dispute resolution provisions to resolve the matter, while vigorously defending its position with respect to the alleged breach.

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 27,000 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 April 25, 2007