1.04.2005 ET

(CSRwire) FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a global medical technology company, announced today that it is donating $250,000 in support of relief efforts to assist the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Southeast Asia. The financial donation will be split equally between the American Red Cross and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. BD will also match donations to those organizations from employees around the world, up to $250,000. BD associates worldwide have already made individual contributions to many relief organizations, and the corporate match will encourage further generosity.

Additionally, BD announced that it has authorized immediate product donations of up to $1 million of medical equipment, including needles and syringes, through two leading charitable organizations, Direct Relief International and AmeriCares.

The financial assistance and product contributions are in addition to the many efforts taking place at BD locations around the world, including offices in India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Regional and country managers are working with local relief organizations and governments to provide cash, product and other needed supplies.

"On behalf of BD's 25,000 employees around the world, I'd like to express our condolences and deepest sympathy to those impacted by this unimaginable tragedy," stated Edward J. Ludwig, BD Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We're committed to working with our partners to do what we can to provide relief to this devastated region."


BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, BD reported total revenues of $4.935 billion.

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