BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
We are a global medical technology company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public.
We are advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. We lead in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. We provide innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, and support the management of diabetes. We partner with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. We have more than 40,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health.
We were incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey in November 1906, as successor to a New York business started in 1897. Our executive offices are located at 1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880, and our telephone number is (201) 847-6800. Our Internet website is www.bd.com. The information provided on our Internet website is not a part of this prospectus and, therefore, is not incorporated herein by reference.
About this Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus together with additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access our SEC filings, including the registration statement (of which this prospectus forms a part) and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished but not filed in accordance with SEC rules), on or after the date of this prospectus until the termination of the offering under this prospectus and any applicable supplement:
(a) Annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016;
(b) The portions of our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC on December 15, 2016 that are incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016;
(c) Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017;
(d) Current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 1, 2016, December 2, 2016, December 5, 2016, December 9, 2016, January 19, 2017, January 26, 2017, April 24, 2017 and May 8, 2017; and