BARD REPORTS FIRST QTR 2006 NET SALES OF $467.5 MILLION.

C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE: BCR), Murray Hill, N.J., has reported 2006 first quarter financial results. First quarter 2006 net sales were $467.5 million, an increase of 9 percent over the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, first quarter 2006 net sales increased 11 percent over the prior-year period.

For the first quarter 2006, net sales in the U.S. were $330.0 million and net sales outside the U.S. were $137.5 million, up 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively, over the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, first quarter 2006 net sales outside the U.S. increased 13 percent over the prior-year period.

For the first quarter 2006, net income was $81.1 million and diluted earnings per share were 76 cents. Net income, as reported, was approximately equal to the prior-year period and diluted earnings per share were up 1 percent. Adjusting for certain items that affect comparability between periods, first quarter 2006 net income was $91.9 million and diluted earnings per share were 86 cents, up 16 percent and 18 percent, respectively, over first quarter 2005 results on a comparable basis. Adjustments to the first quarter 2006 results include charges of $4.5 million (after-tax), or 4 cents per diluted share for share-based compensation under FAS 123R and $6.3 million (after-tax), or 6 cents per diluted share, for purchased R&D.

Adjustments to the first quarter 2005 results include certain items that increased net income by $2.0 million (after-tax), or 2 cents per diluted share. Timothy M. Ring, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, "Bard is off to a solid start for 2006. Our first quarter operating results were strong and we continue to be pleased with the direction of the company. We were especially productive in the business development area, entering into five transactions this quarter. Our healthy constant currency revenue growth this quarter reflects both our broad product portfolio and our geographic diversification. We remain focused on our long-term growth strategy to enhance shareholder value."

C. R. Bard, Inc., headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, life-enhancing medical technologies in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology and surgical specialty products. Net sales, excluding foreign exchange, and net income and diluted earnings per share (EPS) excluding certain items are non-GAAP financial measures. The company analyzes net sales on a constant currency basis to better measure the comparability of results between periods. Because changes in foreign currency exchange rates have a non-operating impact on net sales, the company believes that evaluating growth in net sales on a constant currency basis provides an additional and meaningful assessment of net sales. Net income and EPS excluding certain items are used by the company to measure the comparability of results between periods. Certain items such as investment gains, acquisition-related charges and litigation outcomes may not reflect underlying operating results, and other items such as the FAS 123R stock option expense may affect the comparability of results between periods. As a result, the company believes the exclusion of these and similar items provides an additional and meaningful assessment of net income and EPS. The limitation of these non- GAAP measures is that, by excluding certain items, they do not reflect results on a standardized reporting basis. All non- GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement the applicable GAAP disclosures and should not be viewed as a replacement for GAAP results.

For the first quarter of 2006, research and development expense included payments of approximately $10.4 million pretax ($6.3 million after-tax) for purchased research and development. The results of the first quarter of 2006 also include a charge of $7.0 million pretax ($4.5 million after-tax) related to the incremental impact of the new accounting treatment for share based payments under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("FAS 123R"), as detailed in the table below. In total, these certain items decreased net income by $10.8 million after-tax, or $0.10 diluted earnings per share. -- For the first quarter of 2005, in addition to interest income and exchange gains and losses, other (income) expense, net included income of approximately $3.2 million pretax ($2.0 million after-tax; $0.02 diluted earnings per share) resulting from a milestone payment related to the company's sale of an investment during the second quarter of 2004.

For more information, call 908/277-8413 or visit http://www.crbard.com.