<Page>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            TYCO BOARD UNANIMOUSLY REAFFIRMS THAT NINE CURRENT BOARD
                     MEMBERS WILL NOT STAND FOR RE-ELECTION

       BOARD ALSO NOMINATES ADMIRAL DENNIS C. BLAIR (U.S. NAVY, RET.) TO
                             FILL EXPECTED VACANCY

    PEMBROKE, BERMUDA--NOVEMBER 8, 2002--Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE--TYC,
BSX--TYC, LSE--TYI) announced that its Board of Directors today unanimously
reaffirmed its September 12, 2002, resolution under which the Board voted not to
nominate or support for re-election at the Company's 2003 annual meeting any of
the nine current Directors who were members of the Board prior to July of this
year. The Board also voted unanimously that Chairman and CEO Ed Breen will
select two of the outgoing members of the Board to become non-voting advisors to
the Board.

    "Today's decision confirms the Board's commitment to select a new slate of
independent Directors who will bring a wide range of perspectives to Tyco," said
Mr.Breen. "I believe the Board is acting in the best interest of the Company and
its shareholders. I'd like to thank all the members of the Board for making this
decision. I also wish to express my appreciation to Ira Millstein, who worked
with members of the Board and Tyco's counsel to achieve this result."

    The Board also nominated Admiral Dennis C. Blair (U.S. Navy, Ret.) to fill
one of the vacancies expected to open on the Board. Mr. Breen said, "I am
pleased to welcome Dennis Blair as the most recent nominee to the Tyco Board. He
has a lifetime of leadership experience to offer to this company and a
reputation for insightful and decisive action that is second to none. He is
known for his integrity and independent thinking and will be a fine addition to
this Company's Board of Directors."

    Admiral Blair retired as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in
1999 after more than 30 years of service in the armed forces. Previously, Blair
served as Vice Admiral and Director of the Joint Staff and member of the Reserve
Forces Policy Board for the Department of Defense. During his career he has also
worked closely with The White House, the National Security Council and the
Central Intelligence Agency and served as Rear Admiral and Commander of the
Kitty Hawk Battle Group. Blair graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a
Masters Degree from Oxford University.

    As Board vacancies occur, Admiral Blair and other nominees previously
announced will be among those to fill such vacancies. The other nominees are
Jerome York, Mackey McDonald, George Buckley, Bruce Gordon and Sandra Wijnberg.
Of the current directors, only Mr. Breen and Jack Krol, the Company's lead
outside director and Chairman of the Board's Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee, will be nominated and supported for re-election.

ABOUT TYCO INTERNATIONAL LTD.

    Tyco International Ltd. is a diversified manufacturing and service company.
Tyco is the world's largest manufacturer and servicer of electrical and
electronic components; the world's largest designer, manufacturer, installer and
servicer of undersea telecommunications systems; the world's largest
manufacturer, installer and provider of fire protection systems and electronic
security services and the world's largest manufacturer of specialty valves. Tyco
also holds strong leadership positions in medical device products, and plastics
and adhesives. Tyco operates in more than 100 countries and had fiscal 2002
revenues from continuing operations of approximately $36 billion.
<Page>
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject
to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated
results, performance or achievements. All statements contained herein that are
not clearly historical in nature are forward looking and the words "anticipate,"
"believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally
intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
in this release include statements addressing the following subjects: future
financial condition and operating results. Economic, business, competitive
and/or regulatory factors affecting Tyco's businesses are examples of factors,
among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements.

    More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in
Tyco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001,
and in Tyco's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.
Tyco is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to)
update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

                                       # # #

    Contact:  Gary Holmes (Media)
            212-424-1314
            Kathy Manning (Investors)
            603-778-9700