Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l. (the “Issuer”) is offering €     aggregate principal amount of its    % Notes due 20    (the “notes”). Interest on the notes will be payable in cash annually in arrears on     of each year, beginning on     , 2021. The notes will mature on     , 20 .

The Issuer may, at its option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement. See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.” In addition, the Issuer may redeem the notes in whole, but not in part, at any time in the event of certain changes in the laws of a relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (as defined herein). See “Description of Notes—Redemption for Tax Reasons.” If a change of control triggering event occurs as described in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event,” the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase the notes from the holders.

Concurrently with this offering, Becton Dickinson and Company (“BD”) is offering $     aggregate principal amount of   % Notes due 20    (the “concurrent offering”). The closing of this offering and the concurrent offering are not conditioned on each other. The concurrent offering is being made by means of a separate prospectus supplement and not by means of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities being offered in the concurrent offering.

We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with cash on hand, to repay the entire €600 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Issuer’s 0.174% Euro Notes due 2021, and to pay accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses in connection therewith. We expect to use the net proceeds of the concurrent offering, together with cash on hand, to repay the entire $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of BD’s 3.125% Notes due 2021, and to pay accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses in connection therewith. See “Use of Proceeds.”

The notes will be the Issuer’s direct, senior and unsecured obligations and will be pari passu in right of payment with all of the Issuer’s other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “guarantees”) on a senior unsecured basis by BD, the indirect parent company of the Issuer. BD’s guarantees will be senior unsecured obligations of BD and will be pari passu in right of payment with all of BD’s other senior unsecured indebtedness and guarantees from time to time outstanding. The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof.

The notes constitute a new issue of securities for which there is no established trading market. The Issuer has applied to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

Investing in the notes involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement beginning on page S-7 and in BD’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement (as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in BD’s public filings).

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Luxembourg Financial Sector Supervisory Authority (the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers in book-entry form through the facilities of Clearstream Banking S.A. (“Clearstream”), and Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”) against payment on or about    , 2021 .

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to give any information not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus relating to this offering prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus relating to this offering prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you constitute an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectus relating to this offering prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you is current only as of the respective dates of such documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about     , 2021, which is third the U.S. business day following the date of the pricing of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes prior to the second business day preceding the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T + 3, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement which contains specific information about the terms of this offering. This prospectus supplement also adds and updates information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information about us and securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to this offering of notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus incorporate by reference important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus together with the additional information below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.” If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated herein or therein by reference, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

Pursuant to Rule 3-10(b) of Regulation S-X (“Rule 3-10(b)”), this prospectus supplement does not contain or incorporate by reference separate financial statements for the Issuer because it is a subsidiary of BD that is 100% owned by BD, and BD files consolidated financial information under the Exchange Act. The Issuer is a “finance subsidiary” of BD as defined in Rule 13-01(a) of Regulation S-X with no independent function other than financing activities. The financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Issuer are consolidated in the financial statements of BD.

As used in this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified or unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “Becton, Dickinson”, “BD,” “we,” “us,” and “our “refer to Becton, Dickinson and Company and its subsidiaries, including the Issuer, except where it is made clear that the terms mean Becton, Dickinson and Company or the Issuer only.

References herein to “$”and “dollars” are to the lawful currency of the United States. References to ^“€”and “euro” are to the lawful currency of the member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency. The financial information presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus has been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES, MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC IN ITS ROLE AS STABILIZING MANAGER (THE “STABILIZING MANAGER”) FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT MAY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS AND DIRECTIVES, OVER-ALLOT NOTES OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WITH A VIEW TO SUPPORTING THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES AT A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE STABILIZING MANAGER (OR PERSONS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE STABILIZING MANAGER) WILL UNDERTAKE ANY STABILIZATION ACTION. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION MAY BEGIN ON OR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH ADEQUATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE FINAL TERMS OF THE OFFER OF THE NOTES IS MADE, AND, IF BEGUN, MAY BE ENDED AT ANY TIME, BUT IT MUST END NO LATER THAN THE EARLIER OF 30 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES AND 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ALLOTMENT OF THE NOTES. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION OR OVER-ALLOTMENT COMMENCED WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

The notes are offered globally for sale only in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who receive this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any applicable restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation. See “Underwriting—Selling Restrictions”

MIFID II product governance / Professional investors and ECPs only target market — Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer’s product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the notes (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

PRIIPs Regulation / Prohibition of sales to EEA retail investors — The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in any Member State of the EEA (each, a “Relevant State”) will be made pursuant to an exemption under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”) from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in that Relevant State of the notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

UK MiFIR product governance / Professional investors and ECPs only target market: Solely for the purposes of the manufacturers’ product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook (the “COBS”), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“UK MiFIR”); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the notes (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”) is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

UK PRIIPs Regulation / Prohibition of sales to UK retail investors: The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision, a “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “EUWA”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in the United Kingdom will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”) from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in the United Kingdom of the notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a prospectus pursuant to the UK Prospectus Regulation in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and the contents of such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA by a person authorized under FSMA. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to or otherwise communicated with, and must not be passed on to, any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA will not apply. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or high net worth entities, unincorporated associations and other persons who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes offered hereby are only available to, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.

The notes are not being offered or sold to any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances which will not result in an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Part VI of FSMA.

This prospectus supplement has not been approved by and will not be submitted for approval to the Luxembourg Financial Services Authority (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, or the CSSF), or a competent authority of another Member State of the EEA for notification to the CSSF, for the purposes of a public offering or sale in Luxembourg. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold to the public in Luxembourg, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus supplement, the indenture nor any other circular, prospectus, form of application, advertisement or other material related to such offer may be distributed, or otherwise be made available in or from, or published in, Luxembourg except in circumstances where the offer benefits from an exemption to or constitutes a transaction not otherwise subject to the requirement to publish a prospectus in accordance with Prospectus Regulation and Luxembourg law dated July 16, 2019 on prospectuses for securities, as amended.

This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(a) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A)or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; (3) where the transfer is by operation of law; (4) as specified in Section 276 (7) of the SFA; or (5) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification – Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the Issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Notes are “prescribed capital markets products”(as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

BD files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access BD’s SEC filings, including the registration statement (of which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus form a part) and the exhibits and schedules thereto.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information BD files 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 supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and information that BD files later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings BD makes with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of 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 supplement until the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement:

You may request a copy of BD’s filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning the Office of the Corporate Secretary of Becton, Dickinson and Company, 1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880, telephone (201) 847-6800 or by going to BD’s Internet website at www.bd.com. BD’s Internet website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on BD’s Internet website is not part of this prospectus supplement and, therefore, is not incorporated herein by reference.

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,”“expect,”“believe,”“intend,”“will,”“may,”“anticipate,”“estimate”and other words of similar meaning in conjunction with, among other things, discussions of future operations and financial performance (including volume growth, pricing, sales and earnings per share growth, and cash flows) and statements regarding BD’s strategy for growth, future product development, regulatory approvals, competitive position and expenditures. All statements that address BD’s future operating performance or events or developments that BD expects or anticipates will occur in the future are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on BD’s management’s then-current views and assumptions regarding future events, developments and operating performance, and speak only as of their dates. Investors should realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from BD’s expectations and projections. Investors are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Furthermore, BD undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulations.

The following are some important factors that could cause BD’s actual results to differ from BD’s expectations in any forward-looking statements. For further discussion of certain of these factors, see “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in BD’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and BD’s future filings with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.”

The foregoing list sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could impact BD’s ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.

An investment in the notes involves a number of risks. You should carefully consider all the information set forth in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and incorporated by reference herein before deciding to invest in the notes. In particular, we urge you to consider carefully the factors set forth below and under “Part I, Item 1A—Risk Factors” in BD’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020,, which is incorporated by reference herein (as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in BD’s public filings, including BD’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference herein). Any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. While we believe we have identified and discussed below and in the documents incorporated by reference herein the material risks affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know or that we do not currently believe to be material that may adversely affect such business, financial condition and results of operations in the future.

BD is subject to risks associated with public health threats, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the travel restrictions, quarantines and other actions taken by governments and the private sector to slow the spread of the virus resulted in a global economic slowdown, and caused healthcare systems to divert resources to manage the pandemic. These measures led to unprecedented restrictions on and disruptions in businesses and personal activities. As a result, BD experienced significant reductions in the demand for certain of BD’s products, resulting from reductions in elective and non-essential procedures, lower utilization of routine testing and related specimen collection, reduced capital spend by customers and a decrease in research activity due to laboratory closures and reduced clinical testing.

While the United States and other countries have begun to reopen their economies, utilization rates for many of BD’s products have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. There may also be continued pressure on BD’s margins due to manufacturing variances resulting from lower demand for certain of BD’s products. In addition, in response to the pandemic, BD developed and launched multiple products for the detection and identification of COVID-19, including tests for BD’s BD Max™ molecular System and BD Veritor™ Plus System, and there are a number of factors, including the timing and availability of any COVID-19 vaccine and the entry of additional competitive products, that could impact the level of demand and pricing for BD’s COVID-19 diagnostics testing.

Moreover, any resurgence in COVID-19 infections could result in the imposition of new governmental lockdowns, quarantine requirements or other restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, which could weaken demand for certain of BD’s products, as discussed above. Such measures have begun to be implemented again in certain European countries and in the United States as infections have begun to increase again, in some cases significantly. These measures could include determinations that BD’s or BD’s suppliers’ facilities are not essential businesses that could result in closures or other restrictions that significantly disrupt BD’s operations or those of distributors or suppliers in BD’s supply chain. In addition, while BD undertook certain financing activities as a precautionary measure during this economic slowdown, no assurance can be given that BD will be able to access capital markets in the future without incurring significant costs and expense.

The scope and duration of the pandemic, including the current resurgences in various regions around the world and other future resurgences, the pace at which government restrictions are lifted or whether additional actions may be taken to contain the virus, the speed and extent to which global markets and utilization rates for BD’s products fully recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, and the impact of these factors on BD’s business, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence.

To the extent COVID-19 adversely affects BD’s operations and global economic conditions more generally, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section included in BD’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2020.

The notes and the guarantees will be senior in right of payment to the Issuer’s and BD’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the guarantees; pari passu in right of payment to the Issuer’s and BD’s existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated (including, with respect to the guarantees, BD’s outstanding senior unsecured notes and credit facility); effectively junior to any of the Issuer’s and BD’s secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and the guarantees will be structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness incurred by BD’s subsidiaries other than the Issuer. In the event of the Issuer’s or BD’s bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, the Issuer’s and BD’s assets that secure debt that is senior or pari passu in right of payment to the notes and the guarantees will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after the secured debt has been repaid in full from these assets. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the notes then outstanding. The indenture governing the notes and the guarantees does not prohibit the Issuer or BD from incurring additional senior debt, nor does it prohibit any of BD’s subsidiaries from incurring additional liabilities.

The Issuer is a finance subsidiary of BD that conducts no independent operations of its own other than financing activities, and a substantial portion of BD’s consolidated assets are held by its subsidiaries. The Issuer’s principal source of funds is its financing activities, and BD’s principal sources of funds, including funds to make payments pursuant to the guarantees of the notes, are dividends, distributions, loans or other payments from its subsidiaries. BD’s subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, other than the Issuer, have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay or otherwise fund amounts due on the notes or the guarantees, whether in the form of dividends, distributions, loans or other payments to BD. In addition, there may be statutory, regulatory and contractual limitations on the ability of BD’s subsidiaries to make distributions to it. If the Issuer has insufficient funds from its financing activities or BD has insufficient funds from its normal operations, and sufficient funds are not able to be transferred to BD from its other subsidiaries, or sufficient cash or liquidity is not otherwise available, the Issuer and BD may not be able to make principal or interest payments on outstanding debt, including under the notes and the guarantees.

The Issuer’s and BD’s ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, and to pay interest on or to refinance their indebtedness, including the notes, depends on BD’s future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond the Issuer’s or BD’s control. BD’s business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service the Issuer’s or BD’s debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If BD is unable to generate such cash flow, BD may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous.

The Issuer’s and BD’s ability to refinance their indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and the Issuer’s and BD’s financial condition at such time. The Issuer or BD may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on the Issuer’s or BD’s debt obligations.

Despite the Issuer’s and BD’s current debt levels, BD and its subsidiaries, including the Issuer, may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in applicable debt instruments, some of which may be secured debt. BD and the Issuer will be permitted under the terms of the

indenture governing the notes to incur additional debt, secure certain existing or future debt, recapitalize such debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the indenture; these actions could have the effect of diminishing the Issuer’s, or in the case of the guarantees, BD’s, ability to make payments on the notes when due.

Any credit ratings assigned to the notes are limited in scope, and do not address all material risks relating to an investment in the notes, but rather reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time the rating is issued. There can be no assurance that such credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lower, suspended or withdrawn entirely by the applicable rating agencies, if, in such rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant.

Agency credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Each agency’s rating should be evaluated independently of any other agency’s rating. Actual or anticipated changes or downgrades in the Issuer’s or BD’s credit ratings, including any announcement that the Issuer’s or BD’s ratings are under further review for a downgrade, could affect the market value of the notes and increase the Issuer’s or BD’s corporate borrowing costs.

The notes constitute a new issue of securities, for which there is no existing trading market. Although an application has been made to have the notes listed on the NYSE, neither the Issuer nor BD can assure you that the notes will remain listed. Neither the Issuer nor BD has an obligation to maintain such listing, and the Issuer may delist the notes at any time. If a trading market does not develop or is not maintained, you may find it difficult or impossible to resell the notes. Further, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes, your ability to sell such notes or the price at which you will be able to sell the notes. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, BD’s financial condition and results of operations, the then-current ratings assigned to the notes and the markets for similar securities. Any trading market that develops would be affected by many factors independent of and in addition to the foregoing, including:

The Issuer and BD believe that the value of the notes in any secondary market will be affected by the supply of, and demand for, the notes, interest rates and a number of other factors. Some of these factors are interrelated in complex ways. As a result, the effect of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. The following paragraphs describe what the Issuer expects to be the impact on the market value of the notes of a change in a specific factor, assuming all other conditions remain constant.

None of the Issuer, BD or any of BD’s subsidiaries is restricted from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including additional senior debt, under the indenture governing the notes. If the Issuer or BD incurs additional debt or liabilities, the Issuer’s and BD’s ability to pay their obligations on the notes and the guarantees could be adversely affected. The Issuer and BD expect that they will from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities. In addition, the Issuer and BD are not restricted under the indenture governing the notes from granting security interests over its assets, except to the extent described under “Description of Debt Securities of Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l.—Covenants—Restrictions on Secured Debt” in the accompanying prospectus, or from paying dividends, making investments or issuing or repurchasing the Issuer’s or BD’s securities.

In addition, there are no financial covenants in the indenture. You are generally not protected under the indenture in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you.

The Issuer has the right to redeem some or all of the notes prior to maturity, as described under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption” and “Description of Notes—Redemption for Tax Reasons.” The Issuer may redeem the notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low. Accordingly, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as that of the notes.

If a change of control triggering event occurs as described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Triggering Event,” the Issuer will be required to offer to repurchase the notes. The Issuer or BD may not have sufficient funds to repurchase the notes in cash at that time or have the ability to arrange financing on acceptable terms.

The initial investors in the notes will be required to pay for the notes in euro. None of the Issuer, BD or the underwriters will be obligated to assist the initial investors in obtaining euro or in converting other currencies into euro to facilitate the payment of the purchase price for the notes.

An investment in any security denominated in, and all payments with respect to which are to be made in, a currency other than the currency of the country in which an investor in the notes resides or the currency in which an investor conducts its business or activities (the “investor’s home currency”), entails significant risks not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in the investor’s home currency. In the case of the notes offered hereby, these risks may include the possibility of:

The Issuer and BD have no control over a number of factors affecting the notes offered hereby and foreign exchange rates, including economic, financial and political events that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their effects. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates between two currencies result from the interaction over time of many factors directly or indirectly affecting economic and political conditions in the countries issuing such currencies, and economic and political developments globally and in other relevant countries. Foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by, among other factors, existing and expected rates of inflation, existing and expected interest rate levels, the balance of payments between countries, and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in various countries. All of these factors are, in turn, sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of various countries important to international trade and finance. Moreover, global economic volatility and the actions to be taken by various national governments in response to the volatility could significantly affect the exchange rates between the euro and the investor’s home currency.

The exchange rates of an investor’s home currency for euro and the fluctuations in those exchange rates that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative of the exchange rates or the fluctuations therein that may occur in the future. Depreciation of the euro against the investor’s home currency would result in a decrease in the investor’s home currency equivalent yield on a note, in the investor’s home currency equivalent of the principal payable at the maturity of that note and generally in the investor’s home currency equivalent market value of that note. Appreciation of the euro in relation to the investor’s home currency would have the opposite effects. The European Union or one or more of its member states may, in the future, impose exchange controls and modify any exchange controls imposed, which controls could affect exchange rates, as well as the availability of euro at the time of payment of principal of, interest on, or any redemption payment or additional amounts with respect to, the notes.

This description of foreign exchange risks does not describe all the risks of an investment in securities, including, in particular, the notes, that are denominated or payable in a currency other than an investor’s home currency. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks involved in an investment in the notes.

The notes and the guarantees will be governed by New York law. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the notes or the guarantees would be required to render the judgment in euro. However, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the notes or the guarantees, investors would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a long time from the date the judgment is rendered. In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on the notes or the guarantees in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of euro into U.S. dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment.

The Issuer, or in the case of the guarantees, BD, will pay the principal of and interest on each note to the registered holder in euro in immediately available funds, provided that, if on or after the date of this prospectus supplement the euro is unavailable to the Issuer, or in the case of the guarantees, BD, due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the Issuer’s or BD’s control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes or the guarantees will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to the Issuer, or in the case of the guarantees, BD, or so used. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recent euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate available on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date, as determined by the Issuer or, in the case of the guarantees, BD, in its sole discretion. Any payment in respect of the notes so made

in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. See “Description of Notes—Issuance in Euro.” The exchange rate may be materially less favorable than the rate in effect at the time the notes were issued or as would be determined by applicable law. Such developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could materially adversely affect the value of the notes and you may lose a significant amount of your investment in the notes.

As a company organized under the laws of Luxembourg and with its registered office in Luxembourg, the Issuer is subject to Luxembourg insolvency and bankruptcy laws in the event any insolvency proceedings are initiated against it. If the Issuer is unable to pay its indebtedness, including its obligations under the notes, then the Issuer may become subject to bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings in Luxembourg. Luxembourg bankruptcy law is significantly different from, and may be less favorable to creditors than, the bankruptcy law in effect in the United States and make it more difficult for creditors to recover the amount they could expect to recover in a liquidation under U.S. insolvency and bankruptcy rules.

The terms of the notes provide that the notes will be issued with a minimum denomination of €100,000 and multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. It is possible that the clearing systems may process trades that could result in amounts being held in denominations smaller than the minimum denominations. If definitive notes are required to be issued in relation to such notes in accordance with the provisions of the relevant global notes, a holder who does not have the minimum denomination or a multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof in its account with the relevant clearing system at the relevant time may not receive all of its entitlement in the form of definitive notes unless and until such time as its holding satisfies the minimum denomination requirement.

If BD exercises its right as a guarantor to assume the notes as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l.—Guarantees” in the accompanying prospectus, such assumption may be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes to Holders. Prospective purchasers of the notes are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them in the event of such an assumption.

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately €    million (or $    million based on an exchange rate of €1 to $    on    , 2021, as reported by the London Stock Exchange), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated net offering expenses payable by us. We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the concurrent offering will be approximately $    million, after deducting underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with cash on hand, to repay the entire €600 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 0.174% Euro Notes due 2021 issued by the Issuer (the “0.174% Euro Notes”), and to pay accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses in connection therewith. We expect to use the net proceeds of the concurrent offering, together with cash on hand, to repay the entire $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 3.125% Notes due 2021 issued by BD (the “3.125% Notes”), and to pay accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses in connection therewith.

The 0.174% Euro Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.174% per annum and mature on June 4, 2021. The 3.125% Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.125% per annum and mature on November 8, 2021. The redemption price of the 0.174% Euro Notes and the 3.125% Notes will, in each case, be equal to the principal amount of thereof plus a make-whole premium as described in the indenture governing such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to the redemption date.

Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates hold a portion of the outstanding 0.174% Euro Notes and the 3.125% Notes. Accordingly, such underwriters or their affiliates will receive a portion of the proceeds of this offering. See “Underwriting.”

The following table sets forth BD’s cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2020 on:

You should read this table in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and BD’s unaudited financial statements and the accompanying notes, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement from BD’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Amounts associated with this offering have been translated using the exchange rate of €1 to $    on    , 2021, as reported by the London Stock Exchange.

The following description of the particular terms of the notes offered in this prospectus supplement (the “notes”) supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities in the accompanying prospectus. Unless the context otherwise indicates, in this section entitled “Description of Notes,” references to “the Issuer,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l., as issuer of the notes, and references to “BD” refer only to Becton, Dickinson and Company and not to any of the subsidiaries of Becton, Dickinson and Company (including the Issuer).

The notes will be issued by us under the indenture, dated as of May 17, 2019, between us, as issuer, BD, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”). The notes are unsecured and will be pari passu in right of payment with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

We may also enter into a paying agency agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as paying agent (the “paying agent”) concurrently with the delivery of the notes. Upon notice to the Trustee, we may change the paying agent at any time.

The following description is a summary, and does not describe every aspect of the notes and the indenture. The following description is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. Anyone who receives this prospectus supplement may obtain a copy of the indenture without charge upon request. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.” You should read the indenture and the notes because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of the notes.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as its owner for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the indenture governing the notes. The notes will be issued in fully registered form in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof.

The specific terms of the notes will be as follows:

An event of default for the notes under the indenture will not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of notes of debt securities under the indenture.

We may, without notice to or consent of the holders or beneficial owners of the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and/or other terms as the notes offered hereby. Any such additional notes issued should be considered under the indenture fungible with and part of the same notes under the indenture as the notes offered hereby. In the event any additional notes are not fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible additional notes will be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the notes offered hereby.

BD will fully and unconditionally guarantee to each holder and the trustee (1) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the indenture (including obligations to the trustee) and the notes, whether for payment of principal of, or interest on or premium, if any, on, the notes and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under the indenture and the notes and (2) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under the indenture and the notes. Any obligation of BD to make a payment may be satisfied by causing the Issuer to make such payment. The guarantees will be a senior unsecured obligation of BD and will be pari passu with all of its other senior unsecured obligations.

Initial holders of the notes will be required to pay for the notes in euros, and principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the notes, including any payments made upon any redemption of the notes, will be payable in euros. If, on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, the euro is unavailable to us or, in the case of the guarantees, BD, due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our or BD’s control or the euro is no longer used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes or the guarantees will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or, in the case of the guarantees, BD, or so used.

The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recent euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate available on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date, as determined by us in our sole discretion. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. Neither the trustee nor the paying agent shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing.

We or, in the case of the guarantees, BD, will make interest payments to the person in whose name the notes are registered on the     business day preceding the interest payment date of each year.

The rights of holders of beneficial interests of notes to receive the payments of interest on such notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.

If any interest payment date is not a business day, payment of interest will be made on the next day that is a business day and no interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment on amounts payable from and after such interest payment date to the next succeeding business day. For the purposes of the notes, “business day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close in the City of New York or London and on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 system), or any successor thereto, operates. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in

the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the notes (or from    , 2021, if no interest has been paid on the notes), to but excluding the next scheduled interest payment date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association.

We may, at our option, redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to    , 20   (   months prior to the maturity date (the “Par Call Date”)). The redemption price, as determined by us, will be equal to the greater of:

plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption on the principal balance of the notes being redeemed. The trustee shall have no responsibility for calculating the redemption price.

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem such notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption on the principal balance of the notes being redeemed.

The term “comparable government bond rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the comparable government bond (as defined below) on the basis of the middle market price of the comparable government bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by us.

The term “comparable government bond” means, in relation to any comparable government bond rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by us, a German federal government bond whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the notes to be redeemed (assuming that such notes to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date), or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German federal government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German federal government bonds selected by us, determine to be appropriate for determining the comparable government bond rate.

The term “remaining scheduled payments,” means the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest on the notes called for redemption that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption up to the Par Call Date; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such notes, the amount of the next scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream to the holders of the notes not less than 10 days and not more than 30 days before the redemption date of the notes being redeemed. Unless we default on payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, the notes or any portion of the notes called for redemption will stop accruing interest. On or before any redemption date, we will deposit with the paying agent or the trustee money sufficient to pay the accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed and their redemption price. A partial redemption of notes may be effected pursuant to applicable depositary procedures or by such method as the paying agent shall deem fair and appropriate in accordance with the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for such notes or any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof) of the principal amount of such notes of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for such notes.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described under “—Optional Redemption^” above or “—Redemption for Tax Reasons,” each holder of outstanding notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of that holder’s notes (in

integral multiples of €1,000) pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders of such notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred, or at our option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, we will be required to send in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, a notice to each holder of notes, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice will govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. The notice will state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date the notice is sent, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice, if sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, will state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

Holders of notes electing to have notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender their notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the note completed, to the paying agent at the address specified in the notice, or transfer their notes to the Trustee by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of the paying agent, prior to the close of business on the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. The Change of Control Offer may be accepted for less than the entire principal amount of a note, but in that event the principal amount of such note remaining outstanding after repurchase must be equal to €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by us and that third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions herein, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) BD becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b) (x) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of BD’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (y) immediately following that transaction, no Person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the notes are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing on the date of the first public announcement by BD of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of that Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as any of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings downgrade and the downgrade would result in a Change of Control Triggering Event). Unless at least two of the Rating Agencies are providing a rating for the notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the notes will be deemed to be rated below Investment Grade by the Rating Agencies during that Trigger Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with (i) any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated or (ii) any reduction in rating if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform us in writing at our request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, a Change of Control (whether or not the Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the reduction in rating).

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and its successors.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s); and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P); and a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Fitch) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by BD in accordance with the definition of “Rating Agency.”

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

“Rating Agency” means each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our or BD’s control, we may appoint a replacement for that Rating Agency.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings and its successors.

“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the capital stock of that Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of that Person.

We or, in the case of the guarantee, BD, will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay as additional interest on the notes such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net payment by us or a paying agent of the principal of and interest on each of the notes to a holder, after withholding or deduction solely with respect to any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by Luxembourg, the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer or BD or, in each case, any successor thereof (including a continuing Person formed by a consolidation with the Issuer or BD, into which the Issuer or BD is merged, or that acquires or leases all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or BD) may be organized, as applicable, or any political subdivision thereof or therein having the power to tax (a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), will not be less than the amount provided in the notes to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts will not apply:

Except as specifically provided under this heading “—Payment of Additional Amounts,” we or BD will not be required to pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge.

As used under this heading “—Payment of Additional Amounts” and under the heading “—Redemption for Tax Reasons,” the term “United States” means the United States of America, any state thereof, and the District of Columbia, and the term “United States person” means (i) any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes), (iii) any estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) any trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons can control all substantial trust decisions, or if a valid election is in place to treat the trust as a United States person.

If, as a result of a change in law, we become or, based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by us, will become obligated to pay additional amounts as described under the heading “—Payment of Additional Amounts” with respect to the notes, then we may at any time at our option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the notes on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. For this purpose, “change in law” means any change in, or amendment to, the laws of a Taxing Jurisdiction, or an official interpretation thereof that is announced or becomes effective on or after (i) with respect to the United States and Luxembourg as the initial applicable Taxing Jurisdictions, the date of this prospectus supplement or (ii) with respect to any other Taxing Jurisdiction, the date on which such jurisdiction becomes a Taxing Jurisdiction for us or the Guarantor, as applicable.

The notes have been accepted for clearance through Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A. Luxembourg systems. The notes have the following codes:

The notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a common depositary and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective nominees. You may hold your interests in the global notes in Europe through Clearstream or Euroclear, either as a participant in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests in the global notes on behalf of their respective participating organizations or customers through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries. Book-entry interests in the notes and all transfers relating to the notes will be reflected in the book-entry records of Clearstream and Euroclear.

The distribution of the notes will be cleared through Clearstream and Euroclear. Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the notes will take place through Clearstream and Euroclear participants and will settle in same-day funds. Owners of book-entry interests in the notes will receive payments relating to their notes in euro, except as described in “Description of Notes—Issuance in Euro.”

Clearstream and Euroclear have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow the notes to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates. Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market.

The policies of Clearstream and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the notes held by them. The Issuer and BD have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by Clearstream or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. The Issuer and BD also do not supervise these systems in any way.

Clearstream and Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform or continue to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.

Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by the Issuer, BD or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of notes.

The Issuer has been advised by Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, as follows:

Clearstream advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant, either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to interests in the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures.

Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV (the “Euroclear Operator”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear Terms and Conditions”), and applicable Belgian law govern securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Specifically, these terms and conditions govern:

All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Euroclear Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to interests in the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Euroclear Terms and Conditions.

The Issuer and BD understand that investors that hold their notes through Clearstream or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. Notes will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

The Issuer and BD understand that secondary market trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form.

You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. United States investors who wish to transfer their interests in the notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.

Clearstream or Euroclear will credit payments to the cash accounts of Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, as applicable, in accordance with the relevant system’s rules and procedures, to the extent received

by its depositary. Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the indenture on behalf of a Clearstream customer or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures.

Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of Clearstream and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.

If the depositary for any of the notes represented by a registered global note is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, the Issuer will issue notes in definitive form in exchange for the registered global note that had been held by the depositary. Any notes issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global note will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the Trustee or other relevant agent of the Trustee. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global note that had been held by the depositary. In addition, the Issuer may at any time determine that the notes shall no longer be represented by a global note and will issue notes in definitive form in exchange for such global note pursuant to the procedure described above.

Notices to holders of the notes will be sent by mail to the registered holders, or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable depositary.

The following discussion is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of notes by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This discussion does not address specific tax consequences that may be relevant to U.S. Holders in light of their individual circumstances (including, for example, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or partners or members therein, banks or other financial institutions, broker-dealers, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt entities, common trust funds, U.S. expatriates, controlled foreign corporations, dealers in securities or currencies, persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the notes as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement, persons who hold notes though a foreign branch, and persons in special situations, such as those who hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, synthetic security, conversion transaction or other integrated investment comprised of the notes and one or more other investments). This discussion is limited to U.S. Holders that purchase the notes in the initial offering and that hold such notes as capital assets (generally, property held for investment purposes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, this discussion does not describe any tax consequences arising under U.S. federal gift and estate tax, Medicare contribution tax or other U.S. federal tax laws or under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction. This discussion also does not address tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations (the “Treasury Regulations”) promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning or disposing of the notes.

Prospective purchasers of the notes are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of acquiring, owning and disposing of the notes, as well was the application of other U.S. federal tax laws and state, local and foreign tax laws.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of notes who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation (or other entity that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or a trust (i) if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) that validly elects to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of notes, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of notes that is a partnership and partners in such a partnership are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of notes.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Issuer is treated as an entity that is not regarded as separate from (i.e., is treated as a division of) another non-U.S. BD affiliate. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Issuer intends to treat the notes as debt of such other non-U.S. BD affiliate and, does not intend to treat payments made by the Issuer on the notes as U.S. source income, and does not intend to withhold United States tax on payments made by the Issuer on the notes.

If a scheduled interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day (as defined above in “Description of Notes—Interest on the Notes”) and also is not a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday, and at least one of the intervals between interest payments will exceed one year, the status of such interest under current law is unclear. In such case, interest on the notes could, as a technical matter, give rise to original issue discount. We intend, however, to treat the notes as issued without original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not issued with original issue discount.

A U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of tax accounting will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value of the euro-denominated interest payment on a note based on the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt. No foreign currency exchange gain or loss will be recognized with respect to the receipt of such payment (other than foreign currency exchange gain or loss realized on the disposition of the euros so received; see “—Transactions in Euros,” below).

A U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of tax accounting will accrue interest income on a note in euros and translate the amount accrued into U.S. dollars based on:

Such election must be applied consistently by the U.S. Holder to all debt instruments from year to year and can be changed only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of tax accounting will recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss on the receipt of an interest payment equal to the difference between (i) the value of the euros received as interest, as translated into U.S. dollars using the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt and (ii) the U.S. dollar amount previously included in income with respect to such payment. Such foreign currency exchange gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss but will generally not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the notes.

Upon the sale, exchange, retirement at maturity, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (collectively, a “Disposition”), except as noted below with respect to foreign currency exchange gain or loss, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by such U.S. Holder (except to the extent such amount is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated as ordinary interest income if such interest has not been previously included in income) and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note.

Subject to the discussion below regarding notes that are traded on an established securities market, the adjusted tax basis of a note to a U.S. Holder will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the euro purchase price calculated at the spot rate of exchange on the date of purchase, and the amount realized by a U.S. Holder upon the Disposition of a note will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the euros received calculated at the spot rate of exchange on the date of Disposition. If the notes are traded on an established securities market, a U.S. Holder that uses the cash method of tax accounting, and a U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of tax accounting if it so elects, will determine the U.S. dollar values of its adjusted tax basis in the note and the amount realized on the Disposition of a note by translating euro amounts at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase or the Disposition, respectively. The election available to accrual basis U.S. Holders discussed above must be applied consistently by the U.S. Holder to all debt instruments from year to year and can be changed only with the consent of the IRS.

Any capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the notes exceeds one year on the date of Disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on a Disposition of a note will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss to the extent that the gain or loss is attributable to changes in the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate during the period in which the U.S. Holder held such note. Such foreign currency exchange gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the euro purchase price calculated at the spot rate of exchange on the date (1) the note is disposed of (or the spot rate on the settlement date, if applicable) and (2) of purchase (or the spot rate on the settlement date, if applicable). The recognition of such foreign currency exchange gain or loss will be limited to the amount of overall gain or loss realized on the Disposition of a note.

Euros received as interest on, or on a Disposition of, a note will have a tax basis equal to their U.S. dollar value determined using the spot rate of exchange on the date such interest or such proceeds from Disposition are received. The amount of gain or loss recognized on a subsequent sale or other disposition of such euros will be equal to the difference between (1) the amount of U.S. dollars, or the fair market value in U.S. dollars of the other property received in such sale or other disposition, and (2) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such euros. As discussed above, if the notes are traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. Holder (or an electing accrual basis U.S. Holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the euros by translating the euros received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase or the Disposition. A U.S. Holder that purchases a note with previously owned euros will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such euros and the U.S. dollar fair market value of such note on the date of purchase.

Any such gain or loss will generally be ordinary income or loss and will not be treated as interest income or expense. The conversion of U.S. dollars to euros and the immediate use of such euros to purchase a note will generally not result in any exchange gain or loss for a U.S. Holder.

Individual U.S. Holders (and certain entities treated as individuals for purposes of the foregoing rules) may be required to submit to the IRS certain information with respect to their beneficial ownership of the notes, if such notes are not held on their behalf by a financial institution. Penalties may also be imposed if an individual U.S. Holder is required to submit such information to the IRS and fails to do so. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Treasury Regulations that are intended to require the reporting of certain tax shelter transactions could be interpreted to cover transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions. Under the Treasury Regulations, certain transactions are required to be reported to the IRS, including, in certain circumstances, a Disposition of a note or a foreign currency received in respect of a note to the extent that such Disposition results in a tax loss in excess of a threshold amount. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors to determine the tax reporting obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the notes, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

The following section sets out certain important Luxembourg taxation principles that may be relevant to holders of the Notes. Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this section is based on laws, regulations, practice and decision in effect in Luxembourg at the date of this offering memorandum (as referred to herein, collectively, “Luxembourg Tax Laws”), and as such, may be superseded after such date. Any subsequent changes to Luxembourg Tax Laws could apply retroactively and could affect the continued accuracy of this information. This information does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all Luxembourg Tax Laws and Luxembourg tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to invest in, own, hold or dispose of the Notes and is not intended as tax advice to any particular holder of the Notes. This information also does not take into account the specific circumstances of particular investors. Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors about the tax consequences of investing in, owning, holding or disposing of the Notes (including with respect to receiving interest on and redeeming the Notes). This information does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, municipality or other taxing jurisdiction other than Luxembourg.

This overview assumes that each transaction with respect to the Notes is at arm’s length.

The residence concept used below applies for Luxembourg income tax assessment purposes only. Any reference in the present section to a tax, duty, levy, impost or other charge or withholding of a similar nature refers to Luxembourg tax law and/or concepts only. Any reference to Luxembourg income tax encompasses corporate income tax (impôt sur le revenu des collectivités), municipal business tax (impôt commercial communal), a solidarity surcharge (contribution au fonds pour l’emploi) as well as personal income tax (impôt sur le revenu) generally. Corporate holders of the Notes may further be subject to net wealth tax (impôt sur la fortune) as well as other duties, levies or taxes. Corporate income tax, municipal business tax as well as the solidarity surcharge invariably apply to most corporate taxpayers resident of Luxembourg for tax purposes. Individual taxpayers are generally subject to personal income tax, the solidarity surcharge as well as the temporary tax to balance the state budget. Under certain circumstances, where an individual taxpayer acts in the course of the management of a professional or business undertaking, municipal business tax may apply as well.

The summary in this Luxembourg taxation paragraph does not address the Luxembourg tax consequences for a holder of Notes who:

A holder of the Notes will not become resident, or deemed to be resident, in Luxembourg by reason only of the holding of the Notes or the execution, performance, delivery and/or enforcement of the Notes.

As a general rule, under Luxembourg tax laws currently in effect there is no withholding tax applicable to payments of interest to non-Luxembourg residents.

All, at arm’s length and non-profit sharing, payments by the Issuer and/or any guarantors/security grantors established in Luxembourg in the context of the holding, disposal or redemption of the Notes can be made free

and clear of any withholding or deduction for or on account of any taxes of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, withheld, or assessed by Luxembourg or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, in accordance with applicable Luxembourg law, subject however to the application as regards Luxembourg resident individuals of the Luxembourg law of 23 December 2005 (the “23 December 2005 Law”), as amended, which introduced:

The 20% withholding tax and the 20% tax will operate a full discharge of income tax for Luxembourg resident individuals acting in the context of the management of their private wealth. Responsibility for the withholding of taxing application of the above-mentioned 23 December 2005 Law is assumed by the Luxembourg paying agent (in the case of the 20% withholding tax) and by the Luxembourg resident holder of the Notes (in the case of the 20% tax).

Non-resident Noteholders, not having a permanent establishment, a permanent representative, or a fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which the Notes or income thereon are attributable, are not subject to Luxembourg income taxes on income accrued or received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the Notes nor on capital gains realized on the disposal or redemption of the Notes.

Non-residents holders who have a permanent establishment, a permanent representative, or a fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which the Notes or income therefrom are attributable are subject to Luxembourg income tax on interest accrued or received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the Notes and on any gains realized upon the sale or disposal of the Notes.

A resident individual acting in the course of the management of a professional or business undertaking must include any interest accrued or received, any redemption premium or issue discount, as well as any gain realized on the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the Notes, in its taxable income for Luxembourg income tax assessment purposes.

A resident Noteholder, acting in the course of the management of his/her private wealth, is subject to Luxembourg income tax in respect of interest or similar income received, redemption premiums or issue discounts, under the Notes, except if tax has been levied on such payments in accordance with the 23 December 2005 Law.

A gain realized by an individual Noteholder, acting in the course of the management of his/her private wealth, upon the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of Notes is not subject to Luxembourg income tax, provided this sale or disposal took place more than six months after the Notes were acquired. However, any portion of such gain corresponding to accrued but unpaid interest income is subject to Luxembourg income tax, except if tax has been levied on such interest in accordance with the 23 December 2005 Law.

A corporate resident holder of the Notes must include any interest accrued or received, any redemption premium or issue discount, as well as any gain realized on the sale or disposal, in any form whatsoever, of the Notes, in its taxable income for Luxembourg income tax assessment purposes.

Corporate holders of Notes resident in Luxembourg or a non-resident corporate holder of Notes that maintains a permanent establishment, permanent representative or a fixed place of business in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to which/whom such Notes are attributable are subject to annual net wealth tax on their unitary

value (i.e., non-exempt assets minus liabilities and certain provisions as valued according to valuation rules), levied at a rate of 0.5% if the unitary value does not exceed EUR 500,000,000 and 0.05% on the portion of the unitary value that exceeds EUR 500,000,000, in respect of the Notes.

The net wealth tax charge for a given year can be avoided or reduced if a specific reserve, equal to five times the net wealth tax to save, is created before the end of the subsequent tax year and maintained during the five following tax years. The net wealth tax reduction corresponds to one fifth of the reserve created, except that the maximum net wealth tax to be saved is limited to the corporate income tax amount due for the same tax year, including the employment fund surcharge, but before imputation of available tax credits.

Individuals are not subject to Luxembourg net wealth tax.

Non-resident corporate Noteholders, not having a permanent establishment, a permanent representative, or a fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which the Notes or income thereon are attributable, are not subject to Luxembourg wealth tax.

No Luxembourg value added tax is levied with respect to (i) any cash payment made in consideration of the issuance of the Notes, (ii) any payment of interest on the Notes, (iii) any repayment of principal or upon redemption of the Notes, and (iv) any transfer of the Notes.

Where the Notes are transferred for no consideration:

It is not compulsory that the Notes be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in Luxembourg or that registration tax, transfer tax, capital tax, stamp duty or any other similar tax or duty be paid in respect of or in connection with the issuance of the Notes. No Luxembourg registration tax, stamp duty or other similar tax or duty is due either in case of a subsequent repurchase, redemption or transfer of the Notes.

A fixed or ad valorem registration duty in Luxembourg may however apply (i) upon voluntary registration (présentation à l’enregistrement) of the Notes before the Registration and Estates Department (Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA) in Luxembourg, or (ii) if the Notes are (a) enclosed to a compulsory registrable deed under Luxembourg law (acte obligatoirement enregistrable) or (b) deposited with the official records of a notary (déposé au rang des minutes d’un notaire).

Under European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income (the “Savings Directive”), Member States were required to provide to the tax authorities of other Member States details of certain payments of interest or similar income paid or secured by a person established in a Member State to or for the benefit of an individual resident in another Member State or certain limited types of entities established in another Member State. The Savings Directive was repealed entirely from January 1, 2017 in order to avoid overlap with European Council Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (as amended by European Council Directive 2014/107/EU) (commonly referred to as the “Directive on Administrative Cooperation” or the “DAC”), which implements in the EU the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (the “OECD”) July 2014 Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”) on the automatic exchange of financial account information. The DAC requires Member States to apply new measures on mandatory automatic exchange of information with effect from January 1, 2016. The CRS covers not only interest income, but also dividends and other types of capital income, and the annual balance of the accounts producing such items of income. The DAC is therefore broader in scope than the Savings Directive, although it does not impose withholding taxes.

The CRS has also been implemented outside of the EU: as of November 25, 2020, 160 jurisdictions had committed to exchanging information under the CRS. The United States has not to date committed to exchanging information under the CRS.

On February 14, 2013, the European Commission published a proposal (the “Commission’s Proposal”) for a Directive for a common FTT in Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia (the “participating Member States”). The Commission’s Proposal has very broad scope and could, if introduced, apply to certain dealings in the notes (including secondary market transactions) in certain circumstances. The issuance and subscription of Notes should, however, be exempt. Under the Commission’s Proposal the FTT could apply in certain circumstances to persons both within and outside of the participating Member States. Generally, it would apply to certain dealings in the notes where at least one party is a financial institution, and at least one party is established in a participating Member State. A financial institution may be, or be deemed to be, “established” in a participating Member State in a broad range of circumstances, including (a) by transacting with a person established in a participating Member State or (b) where the financial instrument which is subject to the dealings is issued in a participating Member State.

On March 16, 2016, Estonia formally withdrew from enhanced cooperation on FTT leaving ten remaining participating Member States. On December 11, 2019, Germany issued a revised proposal for the FTT to the remaining participating Member States. The FTT proposal (including whether or not it comes into force as proposed or at all) remains subject to negotiation between the participating Member States and the scope of any such tax is uncertain. In an Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) report to the European Council dated December 5, 2019 it was noted that agreement among the participating Member States would represent a first step in the legislative process and that an inclusive and substantial debate between all EU Member States would need to take place at the European Council. Additional EU Member States may decide to participate.

Prospective holders of the notes are advised to seek their own professional advice in relation to the FTT.

The Issuer, BD and the underwriters for the offering named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase the principal amount of the notes indicated in the following table.

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to    % of the principal amount of the notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to    % of the principal amount of the notes. If all the notes are not sold at the initial public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about    , 2021, which is the third U.S. business day following the date of the pricing of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes prior to the second business day preceding the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T + 3 to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.

To the extent any underwriter that is not a U.S.-registered broker-dealer intends to effect sales of notes in the United States, it will do so through one or more U.S.-registered broker-dealers in accordance with the applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have applied to list the notes on the NYSE. Neither the Issuer nor BD can assure you that the notes will remain listed. Neither the Issuer nor BD has an obligation to maintain such listing and may delist such notes at any time. Neither the Issuer nor BD can provide you with any assurance regarding the liquidity of any trading market for the notes that develops, the ability of holders of the notes to sell their notes or the prices at which holders may be able to sell their notes. The underwriters have advised the Issuer that they currently intend to make a market in the notes. The underwriters, however, are not obligated to do so, and any market-making activity with respect to the notes may be discontinued at any time without notice.

In connection with the issue of the notes, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc in its role as stabilizing manager (the “Stabilizing Manager”) for its own account may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and directives, over-allot notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilizing Manager (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilizing Manager) will undertake any stabilization action. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the final terms of the offer of the notes is made, and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue of the notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the notes. Any stabilization action or over-allotment commenced will be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the other underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives (as defined in the underwriting agreement) have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The Issuer and BD estimate that their share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $    million.

The Issuer and BD have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under certain circumstances to contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, engaged, and may in the future engage in, various investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Issuer, BD or their affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and commissions. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates hold a portion of the outstanding 0.174% Euro Notes and 3.125% Notes. Accordingly, such underwriters or their affiliates will receive a portion of the proceeds of this offering. Certain of the underwriters for this offering were also underwriters for the offerings of certain of our existing senior notes, including the 0.174% Euro Notes and the 3.125% Notes.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Issuer, BD or their affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with the Issuer or BD or their affiliates, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to the Issuer or BD consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in the Issuer’s, BD’s or their affiliates’ securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

The notes are offered globally for sale only in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who receive this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any applicable restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation.

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in any Relevant State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in that Relevant State of the notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

This prospectus supplement has not been approved by and will not be submitted for approval to the Luxembourg Financial Services Authority (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, or the CSSF), or a competent authority of another Member State of the EEA for notification to the CSSF, for the purposes of a public offering or sale in Luxembourg. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold to the public in Luxembourg, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus supplement, the indenture nor any other circular, prospectus, form of application, advertisement or other material related to such offer may be distributed, or otherwise be made available in or from, or published in, Luxembourg except in circumstances where the offer benefits from an exemption to or constitutes a transaction not otherwise subject to the requirement to publish a prospectus in accordance with Prospectus Regulation and Luxembourg law dated July 16, 2019 on prospectuses for securities, as amended.

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571,

Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

The offering of the notes has not been registered with the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (“CONSOB”) pursuant to Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no notes may be offered, sold or delivered, nor copies of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other documents relating the notes may be distributed in the Republic of Italy except:

Any offer, sale or delivery of the notes or distribution of copies of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other document relating to the notes in the Republic of Italy must be:

Any subsequent distribution of the notes in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and Regulation No. 11971, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such notes being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the notes for any damages suffered by the investors.

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea, including the Korea Securities and Exchange Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been registered with the Financial Services Commission of Korea for public offering in Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be resold

to Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with the purchase of the notes.

This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(a) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A)or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; (3) where the transfer is by operation of law; (4) as specified in Section 276 (7) of the SFA; or (5) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification – Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the Issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Notes are “prescribed capital markets products”(as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

The notes may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

The notes have not been, and will not be, registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China (“Taiwan”) and/or other regulatory authority of Taiwan pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within the Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer within the meaning of the Taiwan Securities and Exchange Act or relevant laws and regulations that requires a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or other regulatory authority of the Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan is authorized to offer, sell or distribute or otherwise intermediate the offering of the notes or the provision of information relating to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

The notes may be made available to Taiwan resident investors outside Taiwan for purchase by such investors outside Taiwan for purchase outside Taiwan by investors residing in Taiwan, but may not be issued,

offered sold or resold in Taiwan, unless otherwise permitted by Taiwan laws and regulations. No subscription or other offer to purchase the notes shall be binding on us until received and accepted by us or any underwriter outside of Taiwan (the “Place of Acceptance”), and the purchase/sale contract arising therefrom shall be deemed a contract entered into in the Place of Acceptance.

The offering of the notes has not been approved or licensed by the UAE Central Bank, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (“SCA”), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE, and the notes may not be offered to the public in the UAE (including the DIFC). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are being issued to a limited number of institutional and individual investors:

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available any notes to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

Gary DeFazio, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Becton, Dickinson and Company, will issue an opinion about certain New Jersey law matters in connection with the offering of the notes. The validity of the notes and the guarantees will be passed upon for Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l. and Becton, Dickinson and Company by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, and will be passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Particular matters with respect to Luxembourg law will be passed upon by Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à r.l.

The consolidated financial statements of Becton, Dickinson and Company appearing in Becton, Dickinson and Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2020, and the effectiveness of Becton, Dickinson and Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”) may offer, issue and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts, representing fractional shares of our preferred stock, which are called depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units that may include any of these securities or securities of other entities.

Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l. (“Becton Finance”) may offer, issue and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, its debt securities, which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BD.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to the securities to be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in supplements to this prospectus, which may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

BD’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “BDX.” If the applicable issuer of the securities to be offered decides to seek a listing of any securities offered by this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which such securities will be listed, if any, or where the applicable issuer has made an application for listing, if any.

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 3 and the supplemental risk factors contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference for a description of the risks you should consider when evaluating such investment.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Luxembourg financial sector supervisory authority (the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) or any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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, BD may, from time to time, in one of more offerings, sell any combination of its common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units, and Becton Finance may, from time to time, in one or more offerings, sell debt securities fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BD.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that the issuers may offer. Each time an issuer uses this prospectus to sell securities, it 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.”

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any supplement or in any free writing prospectus filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. The terms “BD,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Becton, Dickinson and Company and its subsidiaries, including Becton Finance, except where it is made clear that the terms mean Becton, Dickinson and Company or Becton Finance only. The term “Becton Finance” refers to Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l. only. The common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units of BD and the debt securities of Becton Finance and guarantees thereof by BD are collectively referred to as “securities” and each of BD and Becton Finance is referred to as an “issuer,” and they are collectively referred to as “issuers,” in this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before acquiring any offered securities pursuant to this prospectus, you should carefully consider the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the risk factors described in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in BD’s period reports and public filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we deem currently immaterial may also impair our business operations or adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or a part of your investment in the offered securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference.”

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used for general corporate purposes of BD, including working capital, acquisitions, retirement of debt and other business opportunities.

This prospectus contains a summary of the securities that the issuers may offer and sell from time to time. These summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the related prospectus supplement.

As used in this “Description of Capital Stock of Becton, Dickinson and Company” section, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to BD and not its subsidiaries.

The following description of BD’s capital stock is based upon our restated certificate of incorporation, our by-laws and applicable provisions of law. We have summarized certain portions of our restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws below. The summary is not complete. Our restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws are incorporated by reference in the registration statement for these securities, of which this prospectus forms a part, that we have filed with the SEC. You should read the restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws for the provisions that are important to you. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference” for information on how to obtain copies.

We have 640,000,000 shares of authorized common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of which 269,731,903 shares were outstanding as of March 31, 2019. We also have 5,000,000 shares of authorized preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share, of which we had outstanding 2,475,000 shares of our 6.125% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, liquidation preference $1,000 per share.

Our by-laws also provide that only the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the board of directors or shareholders who collectively own 25% or more of the voting power of BD’s outstanding stock entitled to vote on the matters to be brought may call special meetings of the stockholders.

Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “BDX.” Any additional common stock we issue also will be listed on the NYSE.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for dividends. We will pay dividends on our common stock only if we have paid or provided for dividends on any outstanding series of preferred stock for all prior periods.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share that they hold and are vested with all of the voting power except as our board of directors may provide in the future with respect to any class or series of preferred stock that the board of directors may hereafter authorize.

Outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional common stock we issue will also be fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of our common stock are not, and will not be, subject to any liability as stockholders.

We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders’ meetings according to applicable law. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business, either voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders. The holders of common stock have no preemptive rights to purchase our shares of stock. Shares of common stock are not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions and are not convertible into any of our other securities.

Our board of directors may, from time to time, authorize the issuance of one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval.

The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred stock. If we offer preferred stock, a description will be filed with the SEC and the specific designations and rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including the following terms:

The description of the terms of the preferred stock to be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete and will be subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the certificate of amendment to our restated certificate of incorporation relating to the applicable series of preferred stock. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will include the certificate of amendment as an exhibit or incorporate it by reference.

Undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and to thereby protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock. For example, any preferred stock issued may rank prior to our common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. As a result, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for our common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock or any existing preferred stock.

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.

Certain provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as certain provisions of New Jersey law, may make more difficult or discourage a takeover of our business.

We currently have the following provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws which could be considered “anti-takeover” provisions:

These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

We are subject to Section 14A-10A of the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act, a type of anti-takeover statute designed to protect stockholders against coercive, unfair or inadequate tender offers and other abusive tactics and to encourage any person contemplating a business combination with us to negotiate with our board of directors for the fair and equitable treatment of all stockholders. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the statute prohibits an interested stockholder of a corporation from effecting a business combination with the corporation for a period of five years unless the corporation’s board of directors approved the combination prior to the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. In addition, but not in limitation of the five-year restriction, if applicable, corporations covered by the New Jersey statute may not engage at any time in a business combination with any interested stockholder of that corporation unless the combination is approved by the board of directors prior to the interested stockholder’s stock acquisition date, the combination receives the approval of two-thirds of the voting stock of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder or the combination meets minimum financial terms specified by the statute.

An “interested stockholder” is defined to include any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any affiliate or associate of the corporation who within the prior five year period has at any time owned 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.

The term “business combination” is defined broadly to include, among other things:

The effect of the statute is to protect non-tendering, post-acquisition minority stockholders from mergers in which they will be “squeezed out” after the merger, by prohibiting transactions in which an acquirer could favor itself at the expense of minority stockholders. The statute generally applies to corporations that are organized under New Jersey law, and have a class of stock registered or traded on a national securities exchange or registered with the SEC pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

As used in this “Description of Depositary Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company” section, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to BD and not its subsidiaries.

BD may issue depositary shares representing fractional interests in shares of our preferred stock of any series. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the depositary shares, depositary agreements and depositary receipts described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable depositary agreement and depositary receipts for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our depositary shares.

In connection with the issuance of any depositary shares, we will enter into a depositary agreement with a bank or trust company, as depositary, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the related depositary agreement. Immediately following our issuance of the security related to the depositary shares, we will deposit the shares of our preferred stock with the relevant depositary and will cause the depositary to issue, on our behalf, the related depositary receipts. Subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest in the share of preferred stock represented by the related depositary share, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of, and will be subject to all of the limitations and restrictions on, the preferred stock represented by the depositary receipt (including, if applicable, dividend, voting, conversion, exchange, redemption, sinking fund, subscription and liquidation rights).

As used in this “Description of Debt Securities of Becton, Dickinson and Company” section, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to BD and not its subsidiaries.

The following description sets forth general terms and provisions of the debt securities that BD may offer. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the debt securities being offered and the extent to which these general provisions may apply to those debt securities.

The debt securities will be issued under the indenture, dated March 1, 1997, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as trustee. A copy of the indenture is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to this prospectus and you should refer to the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference” for information on how to obtain copies.

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our senior unsecured obligations. The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities we can issue. The indenture provides that debt securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

The debt securities will be issued in registered form without coupons unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or board resolution. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal (unless the context otherwise requires, “principal” includes premium, if any) of and any interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable, at an office or agency designated for the debt securities, provided that, at our option, payment of interest may be made by check to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the security register. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Debt securities may be issued under the indenture as original issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the principal amount. If any debt securities are original issue discount securities, special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may apply and will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. “Original Issue Discount Security” means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity due to the occurrence and continuation of an event of default.

Under the indenture, we have agreed not to consolidate or merge with any other person, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety unless:

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, the surviving corporation will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power that we have under the indenture and under the debt securities.

The following are “events of default” under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may require us to repay immediately:

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on that acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, waive all defaults with respect to that series and rescind and annul the acceleration.

We are required to furnish to the trustee annually an Officers’ Certificate as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture. We must notify the trustee within five days of any default or event of default.

The indenture provides that the trustee will, within 60 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, give to the holders of the debt securities notice of all defaults. In certain instances, the trustee may withhold that notice if and so long as a responsible officer of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities. By “default” we mean any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an event of default.

The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities, by notice to the trustee, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

Subject to the further conditions contained in the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding of the debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, any past default or event of default and its consequences except a default or event of default:

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any provisions for events of default applicable to the debt securities of any series in addition to, in substitution for, or in modification of, the provisions described above.

We have agreed to some restrictions on our activities for the benefit of holders of the debt securities. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement , the restrictive covenants summarized below will apply so long as any of the debt securities are outstanding, unless the covenants are waived or amended. The applicable prospectus supplement may contain different covenants. We have provided the definitions to define the capitalized words used in describing the covenants.

“Attributable Debt” means, with respect to a lease which we or any Restricted Subsidiary is at any time liable as a lessee, the total net amount of rent (discounted at a rate per annum equivalent to the interest rate inherent in such lease, as we determine in good faith, compounded semiannually) required to be paid during the remaining term of such lease, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” with respect to any Person means the total amount of such Person and the Subsidiaries’ assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting (i) all current liabilities (excluding any liabilities constituting funded debt by reason of being renewable or extendible), (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like

intangibles, (iii) investments in and advances to Subsidiaries which are not Restricted Subsidiaries, and (iv) minority interests in the equity of Restricted Subsidiaries, all as determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP and set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

“Funded Debt” means all indebtedness for borrowed money maturing more than 12 months after the time of computation thereof, guarantees of such indebtedness of others (except guarantees of collection arising in the ordinary course of business), and all obligations in respect of lease rentals which, under generally accepted accounting principles, are shown on a balance sheet as a non-current liability.

“Principal Property” means any building, structure or other facility (together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) now owned or hereafter acquired by us or any Restricted Subsidiary and used primarily for manufacturing, processing or warehousing and located in the United States (excluding its territories and possessions, but including Puerto Rico), the gross book value (without deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which is in excess of 2.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of BD, other than any such building, structure or other facility or portion which, in the opinion of our board of directors, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any subsidiary that substantially all of the property and operations of which are located in the United States (excluding its territories and possessions, but including Puerto Rico), and which owns or leases a Principal Property, except a subsidiary which is primarily engaged in the business of a finance company.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more other subsidiaries, or by us and by one or more other subsidiaries.

If we or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, issues, assumes or guarantees any debt secured by a mortgage on any Principal Property or on any shares of stock or debt of any Restricted Subsidiary, we will secure, or cause such Restricted Subsidiary to secure, the debt securities (and, if we choose, any other debt of ours or that Restricted Subsidiary which is not subordinate to the debt securities) equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured debt. However, we may incur secured debt without securing this debt, if the aggregate amount of all such debt so secured, together with all our and our Restricted Subsidiaries’ Attributable Debt in respect of certain sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties, would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. This restriction will not apply to, and we will exclude from our calculation of secured debt for the purposes of this restriction, debt secured by:

We have agreed that we will not, and we will not permit any of our Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving the taking back of a lease, for a period of three or more years, of any Principal Property, the acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operation of which has occurred more than 120 days prior thereto, unless:

These restrictions will not apply to any sale and leaseback transactions between us and a Restricted Subsidiary or between a Restricted Subsidiary and another Restricted Subsidiary.

Under the indenture we and the trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities in order to:

We and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series, amend the indenture and the debt securities of any series for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any provisions of the indenture or modifying the rights of holders of debt securities under the indenture. However, without the consent of each holder of any debt security affected, we may not amend or modify the indenture to:

When we use the term “defeasance,” we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. Unless the terms of the debt securities of any series provide otherwise, we may elect either:

As a condition to defeasance of any debt securities of any series payable later than one year from the time of defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and/or a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of that defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred.

We may exercise either defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of any series may not be accelerated because of a default or an event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of any series may not be accelerated by reason of an event of default with respect to the covenants to which the covenant defeasance applies. If acceleration were to occur by reason of another event of default, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and U.S. Government obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on the debt securities. In other words, the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors. We will, however, remain liable for such payments at the time of the acceleration.

The indenture and the debt securities are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

We maintain a banking relationship with the trustee or its affiliates. An affiliate of the trustee is also one of the broker-dealers we use in connection with our share repurchase program.

As used in this “Description of Warrants of Becton, Dickinson and Company” section, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to BD and not its subsidiaries.

BD may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, debt securities or common stock, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities in the unit prior to the warrants’ expiration date. Below is a description of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Further terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:

As used in this “Description of Purchase Contracts of Becton, Dickinson and Company” section, the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to BD and not its subsidiaries.

BD may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

We may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to holders, a specified or varying number of securities, currencies or commodities at a purchase price, which may be based on a formula, at a future date. Alternatively, we may issue purchase contracts obligating us to purchase from holders, and obligating holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of securities, currencies or commodities at a purchase price, which may be based on a formula, at a future date. We may be entitled to satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of that purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell those securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract. The purchase contracts may be entered into separately or as a part of units.

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or deferred basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued.

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, BD may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock or any combination of these securities, or securities of other entities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

The following description sets forth general terms and provisions of the debt securities that Becton Finance may offer and guarantees thereof by BD (in its role as guarantor under the Finance Indenture (as defined below), the “Guarantor”). The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the debt securities and guarantees thereof being offered and the extent to which these general provisions may apply to those debt securities.

The debt securities of Becton Finance are to be issued under the indenture, dated May 17, 2019 (the “Finance Indenture”), among Becton Finance, BD, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N. A., as trustee. The Finance Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to this prospectus and you should refer to the Finance Indenture for provisions that may be important to you. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference” for information on how to obtain copies. When used under this “Description of Debt Securities of Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l.” section, the terms “debt security” and “debt securities” refer to the debt securities issued under the Finance Indenture.

The debt securities of Becton Finance covered by this prospectus will be Becton Finance’s direct, senior and unsecured obligations and will be pari passu in right of payment with all of Becton Finance’s other senior and unsecured obligations outstanding from time to time. The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee (1) the full and punctual payment, when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of Becton Finance under the finance indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder and (2) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of Becton Finance under the Finance Indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder. Each guarantee of debt securities will be a senior unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will be pari passu in right of payment with all of its current and future senior unsecured indebtedness unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement. The guarantee provides that a holder of a debt security of Becton Finance may initiate action against the Guarantor to enforce the guarantee without first proceeding against Becton Finance. The Finance Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that Becton Finance can issue. The Finance Indenture provides that debt securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities of Becton Finance being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

The debt securities will be issued in registered form without coupons unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or board resolution. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal (unless the context otherwise requires, “principal” includes premium, if any) of and any interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable, at an office or agency designated for the debt securities, provided that, at Becton Finance’s option, payment of interest may be made by check to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the security register. Subject to the limitations provided in the Finance Indenture, such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Debt securities may be issued under the Finance Indenture as original issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the principal amount. If any debt securities are original issue discount securities, special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may apply and will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. “Original Issue Discount Security” means any security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity due to the occurrence and continuation of an event of default.

Under the Finance Indenture, Becton Finance and the Guarantor have agreed not to consolidate or merge with any other person, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety unless:

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, the surviving entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power that Becton Finance has under the Finance Indenture and under the debt securities.

The Finance Indenture provides that the Guarantor will not consolidate or merge with any other person, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety unless:

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, the surviving entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power that the Guarantor has under the Finance Indenture and under the debt securities.

The following are “events of default” under the Finance Indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may require Becton Finance to repay immediately:

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on that acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, waive all defaults with respect to that series and rescind and annul the acceleration.

Becton Finance is required to furnish to the trustee annually an officer’s certificate as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Finance Indenture. Becton Finance must notify the trustee within five days of any default or event of default.

The Finance Indenture provides that the trustee will, within 60 days after a responsible officer of the trustee receives written notice of the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, give to the holders of the debt securities notice of all defaults. In certain instances, the trustee may withhold that notice if and so long as a responsible officer of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities. As used in this “Description of Debt Securities of Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l.” section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an event of default.

The Finance Indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities, by notice to the trustee, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

Subject to the further conditions contained in the Finance Indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding of the debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, any past default or event of default and its consequences except a default or event of default:

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any provisions for events of default applicable to the debt securities of any series in addition to, in substitution for, or in modification of, the provisions described above.

The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee all obligations of Becton Finance under the Finance Indenture and the related debt securities. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, each guarantee will be a senior unsecured obligation of the Guarantor.

The Guarantor may, without the consent of holders, assume all of the rights and obligations of Becton Finance under the Finance Indenture and the applicable debt securities if, after giving effect to such assumption, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Guarantor is required to assume all rights and obligations of Becton Finance under the Finance Indenture with respect to a series of debt securities if, upon a payment default by Becton Finance with respect to such series, the Guarantor is prevented by judicial proceeding from fulfilling its obligations under the guarantee with respect to such series of debt securities. Upon any such assumption by the Guarantor, the Guarantor will execute a supplemental indenture evidencing the assumption and Becton Finance shall be released from its liabilities as obligor on the applicable debt securities.

The Guarantor has agreed to certain restrictions on its activities for the benefit of holders of the debt securities. Unless stated otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, the restrictive covenants summarized below will apply so long as any of the debt securities are outstanding, unless the covenants are waived or amended. The applicable prospectus supplement may contain different covenants. The definitions to define the capitalized words used in describing the covenants have been provided.

“Attributable Debt” means as to any particular lease which the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is at any time liable as lessee and at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended) discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such date at a rate per annum equivalent to the interest rate inherent in such lease (as determined in good faith by the Guarantor’s board of directors) compounded semi-annually.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” with respect to any Person means, as at any date of determination, the total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of such Person and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP and set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries preceding such date of determination after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding liabilities constituting Funded Debt by reason of being renewable or extendible), (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles, (c) investments in and advances to Subsidiaries which are not Restricted Subsidiaries, and (d) minority interests in the equity of Restricted Subsidiaries, all as determined on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP and set forth on such most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

“Funded Debt” means (a) all indebtedness for money borrowed (including the debt securities of Becton Finance) which by its terms matures more than twelve months after the time of the computation of the amount thereof or which is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor on such indebtedness to a time more than twelve months after the time of the computation of the amount thereof (excluding any amount thereof which is included in current liabilities), (b) all guarantees, direct or indirect, of any such indebtedness of others, other than any guarantee of collection arising in the ordinary course of business, and (c) all obligations in respect of lease rentals which, under generally accepted accounting principles, are shown on a balance sheet of the obligor as a liability item other than a current liability.

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“Principal Property” means any building, structure or other facility, together with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof, now owned or hereafter acquired by the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary and used primarily for manufacturing, processing or warehousing and located in the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the gross book value (without deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which at the time the determination is being made exceeds 2.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Guarantor, other than any such building, structure or other facility or portion thereof which, in the opinion of the Guarantor’s board of directors expressed in a board resolution, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor (a) substantially all of the property of which is located, and substantially all of the operations of which are conducted in the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and (b) which owns or leases a Principal Property, except a Subsidiary which is primarily engaged in the business of a finance company.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

If the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, issues, assumes or guarantees any debt secured by a mortgage on any Principal Property or on any shares of stock or debt of any Restricted Subsidiary, the Guarantor will secure, or cause such Restricted Subsidiary to secure, the debt securities (and, if the Guarantor chooses, any other debt of ours or that Restricted Subsidiary which is not subordinate to the debt securities) equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured debt.

However, the Guarantor may incur secured debt without securing this debt, if the aggregate amount of all such debt so secured, together with all Attributable Debt in respect of certain sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties, would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. This restriction will not apply to, and the Guarantor will exclude from its calculation of secured debt for the purposes of this restriction, debt secured by:

The Guarantor has agreed that it will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving the taking back of a lease, for a period of three or more years, of any Principal Property, the acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operation of which has occurred more than 120 days prior thereto, unless:

These restrictions will not apply to any sale and leaseback transactions among Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof.

Becton Finance will not engage in any activities or take any action that would be inconsistent with the definition of “finance subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

Under the Finance Indenture, Becton Finance, the Guarantor and the trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities in order to:

Becton Finance, the Guarantor and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series, amend the Finance Indenture and the debt securities of any series for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any provisions of the Finance Indenture or modifying the rights of holders of debt securities under the Finance Indenture. However, without the consent of each holder of any debt security affected, Becton Finance, the Guarantor and the trustee may not amend or modify the Finance Indenture to:

As used in this “Description of Debt Securities of Becton Dickinson Euro Finance S.à r.l.” section, the term “defeasance” means discharge from some or all of Becton Finance’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under the Finance Indenture. Unless the terms of the debt securities of any series provide otherwise, Becton Finance or the Guarantor may elect either:

As a condition to defeasance of any debt securities of any series payable later than one year from the time of defeasance, Becton Finance or the Guarantor must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and/or a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of that defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred.

Becton Finance may exercise either defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If Becton Finance exercises its defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of any series may not be accelerated because of a default or an event of default. If Becton Finance exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the debt securities of any series may not be accelerated by reason of an event of default with respect to the covenants to which the covenant defeasance applies. If acceleration were to occur by reason of another event of default, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and U.S. Government obligations (or foreign governmental obligations, in the case of debt securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars) in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on the debt securities. In other words, the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors. Becton Finance will, however, remain liable for such payments at the time of the acceleration.

The Finance Indenture, the guarantees by the Guarantor and the debt securities are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The provisions of articles 470-1 to 470-19 (inclusive) of the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended, are expressly excluded.

Becton Finance and BD maintain a banking relationship with the trustee or its affiliates. An affiliate of the trustee is also one of the broker-dealers BD uses in connection with its share repurchase program.

Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

The debt securities of each series will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global debt securities that are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or its nominee, as depositary, unless another depositary is designated for the debt securities of that series. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities in definitive form will not be issued. Unless and until a global security is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form, it may not be registered for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the depositary for that global security to a nominee of the depositary.

Upon the issuance of any global security, and its deposit with or on behalf of the depositary, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions, the participants that are entitled to the registered global security that have accounts with the depositary designated by the underwriters or their agents engaging in any distribution of the debt securities. The depositary advises that pursuant to procedures established by it:

The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and these laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.

As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or its nominee, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as specified below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not:

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person holds its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities under the indenture. The depositary may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a holder of debt securities is entitled to give or take under the indenture.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders of debt securities or any owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder of debt securities is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give that notice or take that action, and the participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through them to give the notice or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of the beneficial owners owning through them.

The depositary or a nominee thereof, as holder of record of a global security, will be entitled to receive payments of principal and interest for payment to beneficial owners in accordance with customary procedures established from time to time by the depositary. The agent for the payment, transfer and exchange of the securities is the trustee, acting through its corporate trust office located in Chicago, Illinois.

We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of a global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through the participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, and will be the responsibility of the participants. We, the trustee, our agents and the trustee’s agents shall not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

If we determine that debt securities will no longer be maintained as global securities, or, if at any time an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture, or if the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue debt securities in definitive certificated form in exchange for the registered global securities.

In the event that the book-entry system is discontinued, the following provisions shall apply. The trustee or any successor registrar under the indenture shall keep a register for the debt securities in definitive certificated form at its corporate trust office. Subject to the further conditions contained in the indenture, debt securities in definitive certificated form may be transferred or exchanged for one or more debt securities in different authorized denominations upon surrender of the debt securities at a corporate trust office of the trustee or any successor registrar under the indenture by the registered holders or their duly authorized attorneys. Upon surrender of any debt security to be transferred or exchanged, the trustee or any successor registrar under the indenture shall record the transfer or exchange in the security register and we will issue, and the trustee shall authenticate and deliver, new debt securities in definitive certificated form appropriately registered and in appropriate authorized denominations. The trustee shall be entitled to treat the registered holders of the debt securities in definitive certificated form, as their names appear in the security register as of the appropriate date, as the owners of the debt securities for all purposes under the indenture.

The issuers may sell the securities in one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:

The applicable prospectus supplement will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If an issuer uses underwriters in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

The issuers may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions paid to them by the applicable issuer. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

The applicable issuer may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from such issuer at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions paid by such issuer for solicitation of these contracts.

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with one or both of the issuers to indemnification by such issuer against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters or agents may be required to make. Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for such issuer and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

Each new series of securities other than the common stock, which is listed on the NYSE, will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for

public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities, other than the common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement with respect to any securities, the validity of the securities to be offered hereby will be passed upon for BD by Samrat S. Khichi, BD’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and particular matters with respect to Luxembourg law will be passed upon by Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à r.l.

The consolidated financial statements of Becton, Dickinson and Company appearing in Becton, Dickinson and Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2018, and the effectiveness of Becton, Dickinson and Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2018, excluding the internal control over financial reporting of C.R. Bard, Inc., have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, which as to the report on the effectiveness of Becton, Dickinson and Company’s internal control over financial reporting contains an explanatory paragraph describing the above referenced exclusion of C.R. Bard, Inc. from the scope of such firm’s audit of internal control over financial reporting, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.