NEW YORK, May 25, 2000 - An international investment advisory firm has ranked Bristol-Myers Squibb Company number one among the nation's top 23 pharmaceutical companies for environmental performance.

Innovest Strategies Value Advisors gave Bristol-Myers Squibb its top rating, AAA, based on more than 60 factors including environmental management systems; emissions to air, water and soil; compliance records with government agencies; continued cleanup of superfund sites; and corporate oversight.

The firm then grouped the 12 companies with the best rankings and averaged the combined stock performances from February 1999 to February 2000 with stock performances of the 11 companies with lower environmental ratings. From this, Bristol-Myers Squibb received the highest rating.

"We believe the confluence of environmental and economic interests will continue to drive exceptional business performance in the future," said Thomas M. Hellman, vice president of environment, health and safety for Bristol-Myers Squibb. "We have worked hard to support this premise and take great pride in our environmental record."