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) June 7, 2005
| 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) |
o 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 8.01OTHER EVENTS.
On June 3, 2005, Jabo’s Pharmacy, Inc., a business located in Tennessee, filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”) in the United States District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee (2:05-CV-00162). The complaint, which is similar to the complaint filed in March 2005 against BD in Federal Court in Newark, New Jersey by Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, alleges that BD violated federal and various state antitrust laws, resulting in the charging of higher prices for certain BD products to plaintiff and other proposed class members. Unlike the Louisiana Wholesale Drug complaint, which is brought on behalf of direct purchasers such as distributors, this new complaint is brought on behalf of indirect purchasers of BD products. BD believes that the plaintiffs’ allegations in this lawsuit are without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously.
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: June 7, 2005
