Form: 8-K

Current report filing

September 21, 2023

Documents

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 19, 2023
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
New Jersey
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-4802   22-0760120
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
   
1 Becton Drive,  Franklin Lakes,
New Jersey
   07417-1880
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
(201) 
847-6800
 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K Filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on
which registered
Common stock, par value $1.00 BDX New York Stock Exchange
1.900% Notes due December 15, 2026 BDX26 New York Stock Exchange
3.020% Notes due May 24, 2025 BDX25 New York Stock Exchange
1.208% Notes due June 4, 2026 BDX/26A New York Stock Exchange
1.213% Notes due February 12, 2036 BDX/36 New York Stock Exchange
0.034% Notes due August 13, 2025 BDX25A New York Stock Exchange


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company 
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐




ITEM 5.03. AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

On September 19, 2023, the Board of Directors of Becton, Dickinson and Company (the “Company”) amended Article II, Section 2.D. of the By-laws (the “By-laws”) of the Company to update certain procedural and disclosure requirements relating to the advance notice of nominations and other business at an annual meeting of shareholders. Among other revisions, the amended By-laws:

a.Enhance the disclosure requirements in connection with director nominations by shareholders to include additional information regarding the shareholder making the director nomination(s), the director nominee(s), and their affiliates;
b.Clarify that shareholders submitting a proposal or director nomination for vote at an annual meeting must maintain their ownership through the date of the meeting; and
c.Require shareholders directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other shareholders to use a proxy card color other than white, with the white proxy card being reserved for exclusive use by the Company’s Board of Directors.

In addition, the By-laws were amended to include updates to provisions related to quorum, the conduct of shareholder meetings and other matters, and to make certain conforming and clarifying revisions.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the By-laws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the By-laws, as amended as of September 19, 2023, which is filed hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated by reference.













ITEM 9.01    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
Exhibit 3.1    By-laws of Becton, Dickinson and Company, as amended as of September 19, 2023.
Exhibit 104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Gary DeFazio
  Gary DeFazio
  Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Date: September 21, 2023