Contacts:
Colleen T. White, Corporate Communications – 201-847-5369
Patricia A. Spinella, Investor Relations – 201-847-5453

BD Announces Results of Shareholder Votes at Annual Meeting

Franklin Lakes, NJ (January 29, 2008) – BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX) announced that its shareholders, at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders today, elected Basil L. Anderson, Marshall O. Larsen, Gary A. Mecklenburg, Cathy E. Minehan and Alfred Sommer to the Board of Directors. The BD Board currently consists of 13 members, all of whom are independent with the exception of Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Shareholders also ratified the selection of Ernst & Young as BD's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2008. In other business, shareholders rejected two proposals submitted by shareholders, one requesting that the Company provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors and the other asking the Company to publish a report on certain environmental activities. A third shareholder proposal, a non-binding recommendation requesting that the Company provide for the annual election of each director was approved by the shareholders.

“BD has a long-standing commitment to good corporate governance practices,” said Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “While we believe there are very positive benefits afforded by a staggered board, given the shareholders’ recommendation, BD’s Board will take this matter under serious consideration.”