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million relating to a product recall in the Medical segment, as further discussed above, and a pre-tax gain of $336 million recognized on BD's sale of its Advanced Bioprocessing business. Additional disclosures regarding the product liability matters and divestiture transaction are provided in Notes 5 and 11, respectively, to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

## Net Interest Expense 

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Lower interest expense in 2020 and 2019 compared with the prior-year periods reflected debt repayments during fiscal year 2019, as well as lower overall interest rates on debt outstanding as a result of refinancing activities. The decrease in interest expense in 2019 compared with 2018 also reflected higher fees incurred in 2018 to draw from a term loan facility we entered in September 2018. Additional disclosures regarding our financing arrangements and debt instruments are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

The decrease in interest income in 2019 compared with 2018 reflected higher levels of cash on hand in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 in anticipation of closing the Bard acquisition at the end of the quarter. 

## Income Taxes 

The income tax rates in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows: 

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The impact from specified items in 2020 was less favorable compared with the benefit associated with specified items in 2019. The effective income tax rate in 2019 reflected a favorable impact relating to the timing of certain discrete items, as well as the recognition of $50 million of tax benefit recorded for the impacts of U.S. tax legislation that was enacted in December 2017, compared with additional tax expense of $640 million that was recognized as a result of this legislation in 2018. For further disclosures regarding our accounting for this U.S. tax legislation, refer to Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

