8-K

   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 5, 2000


                              BECKMAN COULTER, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



                                    Delaware
                  ---------------------------------------------
                 (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


                  001-10109                  95-104-0600
          ------------------------ ---------------------------------
          (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)



              4300 N. Harbor Boulevard, Fullerton, CA    92834-3100
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)


                                 (714) 871-4848
                          -----------------------------
                          Registrant's Telephone Number

   2

Items 1-4 - Not Applicable

Item 5 - Other Events

         On October 5, 2000, the Board of Directors of Beckman Coulter, Inc., a
Delaware Company (the "Company"), declared a two-for-one split of the
outstanding $0.10 par value common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company. The
split will be effected in the form of a stock dividend, with one additional
share of the Company's Common Stock to be distributed for each share of Common
Stock outstanding. The distribution will be made to those who are stockholders
of record of the Company at the close of business on November 15, 2000 and the
issuance and distribution of the shares will be on December 7, 2000. The Board
also approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend from $0.16 per share to
$0.17 per share on a pre-split basis. This dividend will be paid on November 10,
2000, to stockholders of record on October 20, 2000.

Item 6 - Not Applicable

Item 7 - Exhibits

Exhibit 99 - Press Release "Beckman Coulter Announces Two-for-One Stock Split,
Increases Dividend" dated October 5, 2000.

Item 8 - Not Applicable

                                    SIGNATURE

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

                                            BECKMAN COULTER, INC.



                                            By: /s/ WILLIAM H. MAY
                                                --------------------------------
                                                William H. May
                                                Vice President, General Counsel,
                                                and Secretary

Dated:  October 6, 2000

EX-99

   1

                                                                      Exhibit 99

Contact:  Jeanie Herbert                                          (714) 773-7620
          Manager, Investor Relations


               BECKMAN COULTER ANNOUNCES TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT,
                               INCREASES DIVIDEND


         FULLERTON, California, -- October 5, 2000 -- Beckman Coulter, Inc.
(NYSE: BEC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a
two-for-one stock split of the Company's common stock in the form of a 100
percent stock dividend payable on December 7, 2000. The split entitles each
stockholder of record on November 15, 2000 to receive one additional share of
common stock for every share held on that date. Trading will begin on a
split-adjusted basis on December 8, 2000.

         The Board also approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend from
$0.16 per share to $0.17 per share on a pre-split basis, payable on November 10,
2000, to stockholders of record on October 20, 2000.

         "These actions by the Board of Directors reflect Beckman Coulter's
strengthening positions in our core markets of life science research and
clinical diagnostics. Beckman Coulter is well positioned to capitalize on the
explosion of science that is fueling the development of new therapeutics and
transforming the practice of medicine," commented Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer John P. Wareham.

         Beckman Coulter, Inc. is a leading provider of instrument systems and
complementary products that simplify and automate processes in life science and
clinical laboratories. The company's products are used throughout the world in
all phases of the battle against disease, from pioneering medical research and
drug discovery to diagnostic testing that aids in patient treatment. Annual
sales for the company totaled $1.8 billion in 1999, with approximately half of
this amount generated outside the United States. For more information visit
www.beckmancoulter.com.