Now here is what I would consider a poor disclosure considering the size of Bristol Myers.

But of special note to the forum and Dale Way

"However, there can be no assurance that third parties will convert their systems in a timely manner and in a way that is compatible with the Company's systems."

You mean they don't know?

By the way Flint this is all of the disclosure. :o)

 BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO - Quarterly Report (SEC form 10-Q)

Worldwide sales for the third quarter of 1999 increased 11% over the
prior year to $5,040 million.

Sales in the medicines products segment, which is the largest segment at
70% of total Company sales, increased 14% over the third quarter of
1998 to $3,548 million.

Year 2000 -

The Company has reviewed its information, manufacturing, and research and development systems for Year 2000 compliance. The Year 2000 problem arises because many computer systems use only two digits to represent the year. These programs may not process dates beyond 1999, which may cause miscalculations or system failures.

The Company has completed a comprehensive compliance program used to assess the Year 2000 problem in the processing of data in the Company's information technology (IT) and non-IT systems, including manufacturing, and research and development systems. This program was executed in five phases which included: Assessment, Planning, Execution, Testing and Certification, and Implementation.

In connection with this compliance program, the Company also has asked critically important vendors, customers, suppliers, governmental regulatory authorities and financial institutions, whose incomplete or untimely resolution of the Year 2000 problem could potentially have a significant impact on the Company's operations, to assess their Year 2000 readiness. This assessment has been completed. The follow-up phase of this work (which includes ongoing monitoring of Year 2000 readiness of the third parties and developing contingency plans relating to those third parties whose responses raise issues or who did not respond) is being undertaken by the business continuity and contingency planning committees referred to below.

Contingency plans are in place to minimize any significant exposures from the failures of third parties to be Year 2000 compliant. The contingency plans include backup procedures, identification of alternate suppliers, and increases in inventory levels where appropriate. The contingency plans are complete and will continue to be tested during the rest of the year. In addition, the Company has formed business steering committees to monitor contingency planning activities at various business-unit and corporate levels. These committees proactively monitor critical internal systems as well as the external environment. The Company has set up procedures to receive relevant information regarding any Year 2000 related events from all of the markets during the year-end change. This information will be collected by these committees, who will initiate the implementation of contingency plans in a timely manner, as necessary.

As a result of the comprehensive compliance program, information received from critically important third parties regarding their Year 2000 readiness, and the contingency plans in place, the Company does not expect the Year 2000 problem, as well as the cost of the compliance program, to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that third parties will convert their systems in a timely manner and in a way that is compatible with the Company's systems.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 14, 1999

Answers

Response to BRISTOL MYERS Y2K disclosure SQUIBB CO

Our suppliers bit the dust, lets go to contingency plan B and implement ..."identification of alternate suppliers",... Gee I hope they haven't had any y2k problems and sure hope their systems are compatible with ours!!

-- identificationplease (karlacalif@aol.com), November 14, 1999.

Response to BRISTOL MYERS Y2K disclosure SQUIBB CO

BMS has done a well job(I'm a consultant there...but somethings are a bit scary. For example, just got done testing a drug packaging system...we didn't test leap year, plan to do that "later"...uh hello there are 47 days or so left! We got an internal memo that one data tracking program isn't Y2K compliant and won't be, Computer Associates bought it out and won't support it anymore...there is another one coming in, but all somepeople know are the old program. There are still a few things non-Y2k compliant, but the majority is cool and the company will not be going under by any stretch of the imagination...unless power goes out, etc...but in their own fairness, they do have backup generators, etc to handle the different sites. I hope other biz are as well as BMS...again their not done, but their in good shape.

-- Iworktherebut (cantsay@who.i.am), November 14, 1999.

Iworktherebut

Thanks for the inside stuff, anything on the supply lines?

Disclosures aren't really an indication of the health of a corp. One would hope they would put a bit more effort in to it considering how important they are though.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 14, 1999.

Response to BRISTOL MYERS Y2K disclosure SQUIBB CO

Well, don't really know about outside vendors...they are building up inventory though...lots of unpacked boxes that have been sitting for weeks in the drug production areas that have pipettes, etc in them.

-- Iworktherebut (cantsay@who.i.am), November 15, 1999.