Exhibit 99.1

BARD ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

DILUTED EPS OF $1.60, $1.61 ON ADJUSTED BASIS

MURRAY HILL, NJ — (April 24, 2012) — C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE: BCR) today reported 2012 first quarter financial results. First quarter 2012 net sales were $730.0 million, an increase of 4 percent over the prior-year period on a reported basis. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, first quarter 2012 net sales increased 5 percent over the prior-year period.

For the first quarter 2012, net sales in the U.S. were $496.2 million, an increase of 2 percent over the prior-year period. Net sales outside the U.S. were $233.8 million, an increase of 10 percent over the prior-year period on a reported basis. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, first quarter 2012 net sales outside the U.S. increased 11 percent over the prior-year period.

For the first quarter 2012, net income was $138.7 million and diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders were $1.60, an increase of 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively, as compared to first quarter 2011 results. Adjusting for items that affect comparability between periods as detailed in the tables below, first quarter 2012 net income was $139.5 million and diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders were $1.61, an increase of 4 percent and 7 percent, respectively, as compared to first quarter 2011 results.

Timothy M. Ring, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, “The results this quarter reflect a good start to the year. While we haven’t seen much change in the U.S. environment, our increased focus and investments in international markets have provided rapid returns and strengthened our growth profile. We remain focused on daily execution of our product leadership strategy to take advantage of current opportunities while positioning ourselves for stronger growth in the future.”

C. R. Bard, Inc. (www.crbard.com), headquartered in Murray Hill, NJ, 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.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current expectations, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are not historical in nature and use words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “forecast”, “plan”, “believe”, and other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results including product developments, sales efforts, income tax matters, the outcomes of contingencies such as legal proceedings, and other economic, business, competitive and regulatory factors. The company undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information in our December 31, 2011 Form 10-K for more detailed information about these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(dollars and shares in thousands except per share amounts, unaudited)

Product Group Summary of Net Sales

(dollars in thousands, unaudited)

Reconciliation of Earnings

(dollars in millions except per share amounts, unaudited)

Notes to Reconciliation of Earnings

This press release contains financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP measures are reconciled to their most directly comparable GAAP measures in the above tables.

This press release includes net sales excluding the impact of foreign exchange. 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 to both management and the company’s investors.

In addition, this press release includes the following non-GAAP measures: (1) cost of goods sold excluding charges for acquisition-related items; (2) marketing, selling and administrative expense excluding charges for acquisition-related items; (3) research and development expense excluding charges for acquisition-related items; (4) other (income) expense, net, excluding charges for acquisition-related items; (5) income tax provision excluding the tax effect of the items set forth in (1) through (4) above; (6) net income excluding the items set forth in (1) through (5) above; and (7) diluted earnings per share available to commons shareholders excluding the items set forth in (1) through (5) above.

The company excluded the items described above because they may cause certain statements of operations categories not to be indicative of ongoing operating results, and therefore affect the comparability of results between periods. The company therefore believes that these non-GAAP measures provide an additional and meaningful assessment of the company’s ongoing operating performance. Because the company has historically reported these non-GAAP results to the investment community, management also believes that the inclusion of these non-GAAP measures provides consistency in its financial reporting and facilitates investors’ understanding of the company’s historic operating trends by providing an additional basis for comparisons to prior periods. Management uses these non-GAAP measures: (1) to establish financial and operational goals; (2) to monitor the company’s actual performance in relation to its business plan and operating budgets; (3) to evaluate the company’s core operating performance and understand key trends within the business; and (4) as part of several components it considers in determining incentive compensation.

Management recognizes that the use of these non-GAAP measures has limitations, including the fact that they may not be comparable with similar non-GAAP measures used by other companies and that management must exercise judgment in determining which types of charges or other items should be excluded from the non-GAAP information. Management compensates for these limitations by providing full disclosure of each non-GAAP measure and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. All non-GAAP measures are intended to supplement the applicable GAAP disclosures and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures, please see the above tables.

Notes to Earnings per Share

(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)