EXHIBIT 99 R. Jasper - 201-847-7160 April 21, 1999 BECTON DICKINSON REPORTS 18 PERCENT REVENUE INCREASE FOR FISCAL SECOND QUARTER Franklin Lakes, NJ (April 21, 1999) - Becton Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) announced today results for its fiscal second quarter, which ended March 31, 1999. Diluted earnings per share were $.34 including a $.06 per share charge for in-process research and development related to the company's recent acquisition of Biometric Imaging, Inc. Excluding the one-time charge, earnings per share were $.40, an increase of 14 percent over last year's $.35. Reported revenues for the quarter increased by 18 percent from the second quarter of fiscal 1998 to $874 million. Recent acquisitions contributed to this growth. Excluding the estimated impact of foreign currency translation, revenue growth would have been approximately 17 percent. By business segment, medical supplies and devices revenues grew 26 percent to $484 million compared with $384 million in last year's second quarter. These revenues reflected strong growth from the company's infusion therapy business, which included $45 million from the April 1998 acquisition of the medical device business (MDD) of the BOC Group. This segment's performance also reflects significant growth in diabetes health care revenues primarily due to unusually low revenues in the prior year's second quarter after a January 1998 price increase. Diagnostic systems revenues increased to $390 million, a 10 percent increase over $355 million in last year's second quarter. Included in these results were strong performances from the flow cytometry, sample collection and tissue culture businesses. By geographic area, revenues in the United States were $438 million, a 9 percent increase over the prior year. Revenues outside the United States were $436 million, a 30 percent increase over last year's $336 million. The MDD acquisition contributed to the strong revenue growth outside the United States. Six-Month Results ----------------- For the six-month period ended March 31, 1999, revenues were $1.643 billion, a 14 percent increase over $1.440 billion a year ago. As previously noted, recent acquisitions contributed to revenue growth. Favorable foreign currency translation added an estimated $8 million in revenues for the six-month period. Diluted earnings per share were $.63 including the in-process research and development charge of $.06. Medical supplies and devices revenues for the six-month period were $909 million, while revenues from diagnostic systems totaled $734 million. Clateo Castellini, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased that we are seeing the results from our focus on revenue growth, and we expect this to continue in the second half of the year." * * * 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, or events or developments that the company expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements 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 from any 2 forward-looking statement 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. - Selected Financial Schedules Follow - 3 BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SELECTED FINANCIAL SCHEDULES Amounts in thousands, except per-share data Three Months Ended March 31, INCOME STATEMENTS 1999 1998 % Change - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVENUES $873,964 $738,433 18.4 Cost of products sold 429,260 364,080 17.9 Selling and administrative 233,004 186,017 25.3 Research and development 67,251 43,796 53.6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES 729,515 593,893 22.8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING INCOME 144,449 144,540 (0.1) Interest expense, net (18,758) (11,427) 64.2 Other income (expense), net 1,460 (3,064) NM - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 127,151 130,049 (2.2) Income tax provision 37,037 37,714 (1.8) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME $ 90,114 $ 92,335 (2.4) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic $ 0.36 $ 0.37 (2.7) Diluted $ 0.34 $ 0.35 (2.9) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic 249,276 244,952 Diluted 264,814 260,678 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NM - Not Meaningful Three Months Ended March 31, SUMMARY OF REVENUES 1999 1998 % Change - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY BUSINESS SEGMENT Medical Supplies and Devices $483,779 $383,685 26.1 Diagnostic Systems 390,185 354,748 10.0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL REVENUES $873,964 $738,433 18.4 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA United States $438,118 $402,162 8.9 International 435,846 336,271 29.6 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL REVENUES $873,964 $738,433 18.4 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SELECTED FINANCIAL SCHEDULES Amounts in thousands, except per-share data Six Months Ended March 31, INCOME STATEMENTS 1999 1998 % Change - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVENUES $1,642,930 $1,440,073 14.1 Cost of products sold 814,970 718,883 13.4 Selling and administrative 456,120 385,157 18.4 Research and development 116,561 88,426 31.8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES 1,387,651 1,192,466 16.4 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING INCOME 255,279 247,607 3.1 Interest expense, net (36,629) (21,668) 69.0 Other income (expense), net 2,485 (5,297) NM - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 221,135 220,642 0.2 Income tax provision 54,863 63,986 (14.3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME $ 166,272 $ 156,656 6.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic $ 0.66 $ 0.63 4.8 Diluted $ 0.63 $ 0.60 5.0 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic 248,793 244,282 Diluted 265,314 259,160 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NM - Not Meaningful Six Months Ended March 31, SUMMARY OF REVENUES 1999 1998 % Change - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY BUSINESS SEGMENT Medical Supplies and Devices $ 908,944 $ 756,250 20.2 Diagnostic Systems 733,986 683,823 7.3 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL REVENUES $1,642,930 $1,440,073 14.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA United States $ 817,351 $ 790,747 3.4 International 825,579 649,326 27.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL REVENUES $1,642,930 $1,440,073 14.1 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------