FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  Contact:

                  Barbara Lucas      Mark Rothleitner     Samuel Cypert
                  Media Contact      Investor Contact     Investor/Media Contact
                  Black & Decker     Black & Decker       Masco
                  410-716-2980       410-716-3979         313-792-6646



              MASCO CORPORATION AND THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
                         ANNOUNCE EARLY TERMINATION OF
                       HART SCOTT RODINO ANTITRUST REVIEW


     Taylor,  Michigan (August 11, 2003) - Masco Corporation  (NYSE:MAS) and The
Black & Decker  Corporation  (NYSE:BDK)  today announced that they have received
notification  from the Federal Trade  Commission that the Commission has granted
early  termination of the waiting period,  under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust
Improvements  Act of 1976,  with  respect  to Masco's  proposed  sale of Baldwin
Hardware  Corporation  and  Weiser  Lock  Corporation  to  The  Black  &  Decker
Corporation.

     Filings in foreign  countries  relating to this transaction  remain pending
and the  transaction  continues to be subject to negotiation  and execution of a
definitive purchase agreement and Board of Director approvals.

     Headquartered in Taylor,  Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's
leading  manufacturers  of home  improvement and building  products as well as a
leading  provider of services that include the  installation  of insulation  and
other building products.

     Masco  Corporation's  press  releases and other  information  are available
through the Company's toll free number, 1-888-MAS-NEWS, or you may visit Masco's
website at www.masco.com.

     Headquartered  in  Towson,  Maryland,  Black & Decker is a  leading  global
manufacturer  and  marketer of power tools and  accessories,  hardware  and home
improvement products, and technology-based fastening systems.
                                     (more)



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     Black & Decker's press releases and other information are available through
the  Company's  toll  free  number,  1-800-992-3042,  or you may  visit  Black &
Decker's website at www.bdk.com.

                                     # # # #



Statements  contained  herein may  include  certain  forward-looking  statements
regarding   Masco's   future  sales,   earnings   growth   potential  and  other
developments.  Actual results may vary  materially  because of external  factors
such as  interest  rate  fluctuations,  changes in consumer  spending  and other
factors over which management has no control.  Additional  information about our
products, markets and conditions,  which could affect our future performance, is
contained in the Company's  filings with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
and is available on Masco's website at www.masco.com.

Statements in this press release regarding Black & Decker Corporation's business
which are not historical  facts are  "forward-looking  statements"  that involve
risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements,  see the  "Forward-Looking  Statements"  sections  in the  Company's
reports filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  including but not
limited to its Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the most  recently  ended  fiscal
year.  These reports are available on Black & Decker's  website at  www.bdk.com.
Black & Decker undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.