News & Events

To honor Becton Dickinson's 100th anniversary, CEO Clateo Castellini, Vice Chairman and General Counsel John (Jack) Galiardo, and Chairman Emeritus Henry Becton rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on September 9th. "The New York Stock Exchange welcomes the officers and guests of Becton Dickinson and Company on the occasion its 100th anniversary," read the lighted banner across the top of the room.

Senior executives of the Exchange joined their Becton Dickinson guests for the occasion, along with members of Spear, Leeds and Kellog, the firm that conducts all transactions in BDX on the Exchange floor. "Becoming a publicly held corporation in 1963 gave us the financial resources to grow in the sterile-disposable market," said Becton. "I was here when BDX was first listed and again nine years ago when we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our listing. Being here today gives me the opportunity to see the enormous changes at both the NYSE and Becton Dickinson."

At a champagne reception following the "bell-ringing," William R. Johnston, President and Chief Operating Officer of the New York Stock Exchange, presented Castellini with a medallion to honor Becton Dickinson's 100th anniversary, with the figure a bull, age-old symbol of rising stock market prices. "Here's to the continued growth of Becton Dickinson over the next 100 years and to the New York Stock Exchange--may we do as well as Becton Dickinson has done over the years," Johnston toasted.

In connection with these events, Castellini was interviewed by CNBC, CBS (Telenoticias) and CNN/FN. He spoke of the cultural transformation taking place at Becton Dickinson that will bring the company closer to customers and more responsive to their needs. "In the last three years the asset value of our company and the price of our stock has tripled, but revenues have not grown as fast," he said. "Our next ambition is to accelerate top-line growth."

Castellini predicted that growth will come from increased spending on technology, continued geographic expansion, and the use of Becton Dickinson's strong cash flow position to make selective acquisitions and form strategic partnerships. "Our centennial celebration provides an opportunity for us to establish goals that will lay the foundation for our next century and gives us the energy to grow the company for the next 100 years."