BECTON DICKINSON & CO - FORM 8-K - February 7, 2011

 
 
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) February 1, 2011
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
 
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
New Jersey
 
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
     
001-4802   22-0760120
 
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey   07417-1880
 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
(201) 847-6800
 
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
 
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K Filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230425)
o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
          The 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Becton, Dickinson and Company (the “Company”) was held on February 1, 2011. The final results for each of the matters submitted to a vote of shareholders at the Annual Meeting are as follows:
 
Item No. 1:   All of the Board of Directors’ nominees for director were elected to serve until the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting or until their respective successors are elected and qualified, by the votes set forth in the table below:
                         
Nominee   For   Withheld   Broker Non-Votes
Basil L. Anderson
     157,705,343       5,045,850       24,956,252  
 
                        
Henry P. Becton, Jr.
     159,896,563       2,854,630       24,956,252  
 
                        
Edward F. DeGraan
     157,818,968       4,938,225       24,956,252  
 
                        
Claire M. Fraser-Liggett
     160,063,162       2,688,031       24,956,252  
 
                        
Christopher Jones
     161,196,675       1,554,518       24,956,252  
 
                        
Marshall O. Larsen
     155,343,044       7,408,149       24,956,252  
 
                        
Edward J. Ludwig
     159,521,064       3,230,129       24,956,252  
 
                        
Adel A.F. Mahmoud
     161,205,210       1,545,983       24,956,252  
 
                        
Gary A. Mecklenburg
     161,286,812       1,464,381       24,956,252  
 
                        
Cathy E. Minehan
     94,341,304       68,409,889       24,956,252  
 
                        
James F. Orr
     157,206,953       5,544,240       24,956,252  
 
                        
Willard J. Overlock, Jr.
     157,086,651       5,664,542       24,956,252  
 
                        
Bertram L. Scott
     157,273,907       5,477,286       24,956,252  
 
                        
Alfred Sommer
     158,108,192       4,643,001       24,956,252  
 
Item No. 2:   The appointment of Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2011 was ratified by the shareholders, by the votes set forth in the table below:
             
For   Against   Abstain   Broker Non-Votes
185,584,573
   1,793,290   329,582   0
 
Item No. 3:   The shareholders approved, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of certain executive officers, by the votes set forth in the table below:
             
For   Against   Abstain   Broker Non-Votes
154,030,582
   6,996,888   1,723,598   24,956,377
 
Item No. 4:   The shareholders voted, on an advisory, non-binding basis, on how frequently advisory votes on executive compensation should be held as set forth in the table below:
                 
One-Year   Two-Year   Three-Year        
Frequency Vote   Frequency Vote   Frequency Vote   Abstain   Broker Non-Votes
124,724,590
   4,336,910   19,221,188   5,178,073   34,246,684
Based on the results of this vote, the Company will implement an annual advisory vote on executive compensation.
 
Item No. 5:   The shareholders rejected a shareholder proposal requesting the Board of Directors to take the steps necessary to allow holders of 10% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding capital stock to call a special meeting of shareholders, by the votes set forth in the table below:
             
For   Against   Abstain   Broker Non-Votes
80,254,187
   81,691,753   805,253   24,956,252
 
Item No. 6:   The shareholders rejected a shareholder proposal requesting the Board of Directors to take the steps necessary to provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors, by the votes set forth in the table below:
             
For   Against   Abstain   Broker Non-Votes
59,339,952
   102,588,351   822,890   24,956,252

 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
(Registrant)
 		  
  By:   /s/ Dean J. Paranicas    
    Dean J. Paranicas   
    Vice President, Corporate
Secretary and Public Policy 		  
 
Date: February 7, 2011

 

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