8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

August 8, 2017 (August 8, 2017)

C. R. Bard, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey	001-6926	22-1454160
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
730 Central Avenue Murray Hill, New Jersey		07974
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

(908) 277-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☒ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders.

C. R. Bard, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”), held its special meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) on August 8, 2017 pursuant to a definitive merger proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2017. Descriptions of each of the proposals voted upon at the Special Meeting are contained in the definitive merger proxy statement. At the close of business on June 22, 2017, the record date of the Special Meeting, the Company had 72,613,245 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. The holders of a total of 52,103,843 shares of common stock were present at the Special Meeting, either in person or by proxy, which constituted a quorum for purposes of the Special Meeting.

The following is a summary of the proposals voted on at the Special Meeting, including the number of votes cast for and against, and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes, with respect to each proposal.

(1) The shareholders approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 23, 2017, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among the Company, Becton, Dickinson and Company, a New Jersey corporation (“BD”), and Lambda Corp., a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of BD (the “merger agreement”), as follows:

For	Against	Abstain	Broker Non-Votes
51,436,465	405,699	261,679	N/A

(2) The shareholders did not approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, certain compensation arrangements for the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the merger contemplated by the merger agreement, as follows:

For	Against	Abstain	Broker Non-Votes
23,640,843	28,101,995	361,005	N/A

(3) The shareholders approved the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the merger agreement, as follows:

For	Against	Abstain	Broker Non-Votes
46,853,594	4,982,135	268,114	N/A

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 8, 2017, the Company and BD issued a joint press release (the “Press Release”) announcing the results of the Special Meeting. A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release, dated as of August 8, 2017

SIGNATURE

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

	C. R. Bard, Inc.
	(Registrant)
Date: August 8, 2017	/s/ Richard C. Rosenzweig
	Name: Richard C. Rosenzweig
	Title:   Vice President, Law and Assistant Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release, dated as of August 8, 2017

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Bard Contacts:
Investor Relations:	Todd W. Garner Vice President, Investor Relations
	(908) 277-8065
Media Relations:	Scott T. Lowry Vice President and Treasurer (908) 277-8365
BD Contacts:
Investor Relations:	Monique N. Dolecki, Vice President, Investor Relations (201) 847-5378
Media Relations:	Kristen Cardillo Vice President, Global Communication (201) 847-5657

BARD SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE PROPOSED MERGER WITH BECTON, DICKINSON

MURRAY HILL, NJ and FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ – (August 8, 2017) – C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE: BCR) (“Bard”) and Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) (“BD”) today announced the results of Bard’s special meeting of shareholders, held on August 8, 2017 and at which a quorum was present, for Bard shareholders to consider and vote upon the proposed merger of Bard with BD. Bard shareholders approved the definitive merger agreement, with approximately 99% of shares voting cast in favor of the proposal.

As previously announced on April 23, 2017, Bard and BD entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which BD would acquire Bard in a stock and cash transaction. Bard shareholder approval was a condition to the transaction. The proposed transaction remains subject to certain other conditions and approvals, and is presently expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of 2017.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information presented herein contains estimates and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “outlook” and similar words, phrases or expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements that are not historical facts may also be considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements about the benefits of the merger, including anticipated future financial and operating results, synergies, accretion and growth rates, BD’s, Bard’s and the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and the expected timing of completion of the transaction. There are several factors which could cause actual plans and results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the failure of the closing conditions to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the proposed merger, including the risk that the required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed merger; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the proposed merger; risks relating to the integration of BD’s and Bard’s businesses, operations, products and employees, including the risk that this integration will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; the risk that the integration of the cost savings and any synergies from the merger may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized; the risk of higher than anticipated costs, fees, expenses and charges in relation to the proposed merger; access to available financing on a timely basis and reasonable terms; reputational risk and the reaction of BD’s and Bard’s employees, customers, suppliers or other business partners to the proposed merger, including a risk of loss of key senior management or other associates; developments, sales efforts, income tax matters, the outcomes of contingencies such as legal proceedings, and other economic, business, competitive and regulatory factors; as well as other risks, uncertainties

and factors discussed in BD’s and Bard’s respective filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. BD and Bard do not intend, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this communication to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable laws or regulations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed transaction, BD has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that includes a proxy statement of Bard that also constitutes a prospectus of BD. The registration statement became effective on June 30, 2017, and Bard commenced mailing of the proxy statement on such date. BD and Bard also plan to file other documents in connection with the proposed transaction with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF BARD ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BD, BARD, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by BD or Bard with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by BD at BD’s website at www.bd.com, in the “Investors” section by clicking the “Investors” link or by contacting BD Investor Relations at Monique_Dolecki@bd.com or calling 201-847-5378, and may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Bard at Bard’s website at www.crbard.com, in the “Investors” section by clicking the “Investors” link or by contacting Bard Investor Relations at Todd.Garner@crbard.com or calling 908-277-8065.

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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