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
            FINALIZE THE SALE OF MASCO'S BALDWIN HARDWARE AND WEISER
                       LOCK BUSINESSES TO BLACK & DECKER


     Taylor,  Michigan (October 1, 2003)--Masco  Corporation  (NYSE:MAS) and The
Black & Decker  Corporation  (NYSE:BDK) today announced that they have finalized
the purchase of Baldwin  Hardware  Corporation  and Weiser Lock  Corporation  by
Black & Decker  from  Masco.  The cash  purchase  price for the  transaction  is
approximately $275 million. The sale closed September 30, 2003.

     Baldwin Hardware  Corporation,  headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a leading
provider  of  architectural  and  decorative  products  for  the  home.  Weiser,
headquartered  in  Tucson,  Ariz.,  manufactures  a wide range of  locksets  and
decorative  exterior hardware and accessories.  Combined Baldwin and Weiser 2002
net sales were approximately $250 million.

     "The  addition  of Baldwin  and Weiser to our  leading  Kwikset  brand will
enable Black & Decker to offer our  customers  the broadest  range of styles and
price  points  available  from any  manufacturer,  and attests to our  long-term
commitment to the security hardware business," said Nolan D. Archibald, Chairman
and CEO of Black & Decker.  "We expect that the acquisition  will not materially
affect our 2003 results and will be accretive in 2004."
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Page Two


     Richard A.  Manoogian,  Masco Chairman and CEO commented,  "We believe this
transaction  will be  beneficial  to all  involved.  It  will  enable  Masco  to
concentrate  on businesses  that are core to our growth  strategies,  and should
provide Baldwin and Weiser with additional  growth  opportunities  given Black &
Decker's greater focus on the security hardware business."

     Headquartered  in Taylor,  Mich.,  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,   Md.,  Black  &  Decker  is  a  leading  global
manufacturer  and  marketer of power tools and  accessories,  hardware  and home
improvement products, and technology-based fastening systems.

     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.  Masco  undertakes  no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements,  whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

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 and  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the most  recently  ended  fiscal
quarter. 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.