The following are some important factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statements:

• Regional, national and foreign economic factors, including inflation and fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and the potential effect of such fluctuations on revenues, expenses and resulting margins.
  
  
• Competitive product and pricing pressures and our ability to gain or maintain market share in the global market as a result of actions by competitors, including technological advances achieved and patents attained by competitors as patents on our products expire. While we believe our opportunities for sustained, profitable growth are considerable, actions of competitors could impact our earnings, share of sales and volume growth.
  
  
• Changes in domestic and foreign healthcare resulting in pricing pressures, including the continued consolidation among healthcare providers; trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment; and government laws and regulations relating to sales and promotion, reimbursement and pricing generally.
  
  
• The effects, if any, of governmental and media activities relating to U.S. Congressional hearings regarding the business practices of group purchasing organizations, which negotiate product prices on behalf of their member hospitals with BD and other suppliers.
  
  
• Fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials and the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships.
  
  
• Our ability to obtain the anticipated benefits of restructuring programs, if any, that we may undertake.
  
  
• Adoption of or changes in government laws and regulations affecting domestic and foreign operations, including those relating to trade, monetary and fiscal policies, taxation, environmental matters, sales practices, price controls, licensing and regulatory approval of new products, or changes in enforcement practices with respect to any such laws and regulations.
  
  
• Difficulties inherent in product development, including the potential inability to successfully continue technological innovation, complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals in the United States and abroad, or gain and maintain market approval of products, as well as the possibility of encountering infringement claims by competitors with respect to patent or other intellectual property rights, all of which can preclude or delay commercialization of a product.
  
  
• Pending and potential litigation or other proceedings adverse to BD, including product liability claims, patent infringement claims and antitrust claims, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
  
  
• The effects, if any, of adverse media exposure or other publicity regarding BD’s business or operations.
  
  
• Our ability to achieve earnings forecasts, which are generated based on projected volumes and sales of many product types, some of which are more profitable than others. There can be no assurance that we will achieve the projected level or mix of product sales.
  
  
• The effect of market fluctuations on the value of assets in BD’s pension plans and the possibility that BD may need to make additional contributions to the plans as a result of any decline in the value of such assets.
  
  
• Our ability to effect infrastructure enhancements and incorporate new systems technologies into our operations.
  
  
• Product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls, regulatory action on the part of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (or foreign counterparts) or declining sales.
  
  
• Economic and political conditions in international markets, including civil unrest, governmental changes and restrictions on the ability to transfer capital across borders.
  
  
• Our ability to penetrate developing and emerging markets, which also depends on economic and political conditions, and how well we are able to acquire or form strategic business alliances with local companies and make necessary infrastructure enhancements to production facilities, distribution networks, sales equipment and technology.
  
  
• The impact of business combinations, including acquisitions and divestitures, both internally for BD and externally in the healthcare industry.
  
  
• Our ability to successfully complete the divestiture of Clontech within the expected timeframe.
  
  
• The structure of any transaction involving the divestiture of Clontech and the sales price and other terms relating thereto.
  
  
• Issuance of new or revised accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
  

     The foregoing list sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could impact our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.