Section 240.14a-101 Schedule 14A.
Information required in proxy statement.
Schedule 14A Information
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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240.14a-12
Becton, Dickinson and Company
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..................................................................
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[BECTON DICKINSON LOGO]
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
1 Becton Drive
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880
www.bd.com
December 26, 2003
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Becton, Dickinson and Company to be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February
11, 2004 at The Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, New
Jersey. You will find directions to the meeting on the back cover of the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
The Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the matters to be acted
upon at the meeting. We will also report on matters of interest to BD
shareholders.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting
in person, we encourage you to vote so that your shares will be represented and
voted at the meeting. You may vote on the Internet or by telephone, or by
completing and mailing the enclosed proxy/voting instruction card in the return
envelope that has been provided. If you do not vote by Internet, telephone or
mail, you still may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
Thank you for your continued support of BD.
Sincerely,
/s/ EDWARD J. LUDWIG
------------------------
EDWARD J. LUDWIG
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
1 BECTON DRIVE
FRANKLIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY 07417-1880
The 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
will be held at 2:00 P.M., local time, on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at The
Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, to
consider and act upon the following proposals:
1. The election of directors;
2. The ratification of the selection of independent auditors;
3. The adoption of the 2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation
Plan;
4. A shareholder proposal relating to cumulative voting; and
5. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Shares represented by properly executed proxies that are hereby solicited by
the Board of Directors of Becton, Dickinson and Company will be voted in
accordance with instructions specified therein. Shares represented by proxies
that are not limited to the contrary will be voted in favor of the election as
directors of the persons nominated in the accompanying Proxy Statement, for
proposals 2 and 3, and against proposal 4.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2003
will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors,
[DEAN J. PARANICAS SIGNATURE]
DEAN J. PARANICAS
Vice President, Corporate Secretary
and Public Policy
Dated: December 26, 2003
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. YOU MAY REGISTER YOUR VOTE ON THE INTERNET OR BY
TELEPHONE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD,
OR BY PROMPTLY RETURNING YOUR SIGNED AND DATED PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PROXY STATEMENT
-------------------
2004 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 11, 2004
-------------------
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
1 BECTON DRIVE
FRANKLIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY 07417-1880
-------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION
The enclosed proxy/voting instruction card ('proxy') is solicited by the
Board of Directors (the 'Board') of Becton, Dickinson and Company, a New Jersey
corporation ('BD'), for use at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held at 2:00 P.M., local time, on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at The Woodcliff
Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. A proxy may be
revoked at any time before it is voted by sending written notice of revocation
to the Secretary of the Company, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a
later date or by voting in person at the meeting. If you vote by telephone or
Internet, you may also revoke your proxy with a timely and valid later telephone
or Internet vote, as the case may be. This proxy statement and the proxy/voting
instruction card are being mailed to shareholders of BD on or about
December 26, 2003.
At the close of business on December 15, 2003, the record date fixed by the
Board for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting, there were 253,077,570 shares of BD Common Stock (the 'Common Stock')
outstanding, each entitled to one vote.
In addition, on December 15, 2003, there were 570,699 shares of BD's Series
B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock (the 'ESOP Preferred Stock') outstanding, all
of which are held by State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee of BD's
Savings Incentive Plan ('SIP'). The shares of ESOP Preferred Stock are entitled
to be voted on all matters submitted to BD's shareholders and also carry one
vote per share. Participants in SIP are entitled to instruct the Trustee how to
vote all shares of Common Stock and ESOP Preferred Stock allocated to their SIP
accounts, as well as how to vote a proportionate number of such shares held in
SIP for which voting instructions are not received by the Trustee from other SIP
participants or which are not allocated to participants' accounts (the 'unvoted
and/or unallocated shares'). Unless otherwise instructed by a SIP participant,
the enclosed proxy will serve as voting instructions to the Trustee with respect
to both the allocated and the unvoted and/or unallocated SIP shares. SIP shares
for which no voting instructions are received from any SIP participants will be
voted by the Trustee in the same proportion as it votes the SIP shares for which
it has received voting instructions.
Participants in the Savings Incentive Plan of Med-Safe Systems, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of BD (the 'Med-Safe Plan'), also are entitled to
instruct the Trustee of the Med-Safe Plan how to vote all shares of Common Stock
allocated to their accounts, as well as how to vote a proportionate number of
shares held in the Med-Safe Plan for which voting instructions are not received
by the Trustee from other participants. Shares for which no voting instructions
are received from any Med-Safe Plan participants will be voted by the Med-Safe
Plan's Trustee in the same proportion as the Trustee votes the shares for which
the Trustee has received voting instructions.
The shares of Common Stock held by Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee of both
BD's Deferred Compensation Plan ('DCP') and BD's 1996 Directors' Deferral Plan
('DDP'), as well as the shares of Common Stock held by Banque Internationale a
Luxembourg ('BIL') in connection with BD's Global Share Investment Program
('GSIP'), also are entitled to be voted on all matters submitted to BD's
shareholders and carry one vote per share. Each director participating in DDP
and each employee participating in DCP and, if so provided under the terms of
the local country GSIP plan, in GSIP, is entitled to instruct the Trustee or
BIL, as the case may be, how to vote all shares of Common Stock allocated to
that person's account, as well as how to vote a proportionate number of shares
held in the relevant plan for which voting instructions are not received.
When returned properly dated and signed, the enclosed proxy will serve as
voting instructions by a Med-Safe Plan participant, a DDP participant, a DCP
participant and a GSIP participant with respect to both the allocated and the
unvoted Med-Safe Plan shares, DDP shares, DCP shares and GSIP shares, as the
case may be.
Proxies representing shares of Common Stock held of record also will serve
as proxies for shares held under the Direct Stock Purchase Plan sponsored and
administered by EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. and any shares of Common Stock and
ESOP Preferred Stock allocated to participants' accounts under the DDP, SIP,
DCP, the Med-Safe Plan and GSIP, if the registrations are the same. Separate
mailings will be made for shares not held under the same registrations.
Shareowners of record and participants in the BD plans described above may
cast their votes by:
(1) using the Internet and voting at the website listed on the enclosed
proxy/voting instruction card;
(2) using the toll-free telephone number listed on the enclosed
proxy/voting instruction card; or
(3) signing, completing and returning the enclosed proxy/voting
instruction card in the enclosed postage-paid addressed envelope.
The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate
votes cast by use of a personal identification number. The procedure allows
shareowners to appoint a proxy and the various plan participants to provide
voting instructions, and to confirm that their actions have been properly
recorded. Specific instructions to be followed are set forth on the enclosed
proxy/voting instruction card.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of shares representing a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting shall constitute a
quorum.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting.
Abstentions with respect to one or more of the nominees will be treated as
present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, but will not be
counted as votes cast and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of
the vote. Similarly, shares which brokers do not have the authority to vote in
the absence of timely instructions from the beneficial owners ('broker
non-votes'), if any, will not be counted and, accordingly, will have no effect
on the outcome of the vote.
Approval of Proposals 2, 3 and 4 requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast on such proposal. Under New Jersey law, in determining whether
the proposal has received the requisite number of affirmative votes, abstentions
and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and, accordingly, will
have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters to be presented at the
meeting other than those set forth in the accompanying notice. If any other
matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the proxy will
vote in accordance with their best judgment.
In addition to solicitation by mail, directors, officers and other employees
of BD may solicit proxies personally, by telephone or by telegram. Brokers and
other nominees will be requested to solicit proxies or authorizations from
beneficial owners and will be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in doing
so. BD has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc., to assist in soliciting proxies
for a fee not to exceed $15,000 plus expenses. The cost of soliciting proxies
will be borne by BD.
2
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth as of September 30, 2003, information
concerning those persons known to BD to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of BD's outstanding Common Stock. The information below is as reported by such
persons in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
'SEC'). No changes in these holdings have come to BD's attention since September
30, 2003. BD is not aware of any other beneficial owner of more than 5% of its
Common Stock.
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF PERCENTAGE OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS
------------------------------------ -------------------- -------------
FMR Corp.
One Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110.......................................... 15,083,851(1) 6.0%
Barclays Global Investors NA
45 Fremont Street, 17th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105................................... 15,038,210(2) 6.0%
Wellington Management Company LLP
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109.......................................... 14,117,464(3) 5.6%
---------
(1) FMR Corp. has shared investment power with respect to 15,083,851 shares, and
has sole voting power with respect to 1,535,211 of such shares.
(2) Barclays Global Investors NA has sole voting power with respect to
13,376,574 shares, sole investment power with respect to 59,886 shares, and
shared investment power with respect to 14,978,324 shares.
(3) Wellington Management Company LLP has sole voting power with respect to
2,698,898 shares, shared voting power with respect to 799,850 shares, sole
investment power with respect to 13,943,248 shares, and shared investment
power with respect to 174,216 shares.
-------------------
The table on the following page sets forth as of October 31, 2003,
information concerning the beneficial ownership of Common Stock by each director
and nominee for director, the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table on
page 20 (the 'named executives'), and by all directors and executive officers as
a group. In general, 'beneficial ownership' includes those shares a director or
executive officer has the power to vote or transfer, including shares which may
be acquired under stock options that are exercisable currently or within 60
days. Certain executive officers also have interests in a total of 24,104
deferred share units previously granted but undistributed under BD's Stock Award
Plan. While these shares may not be voted or transferred, they have been
included in the table below as they represent an economic interest in Common
Stock.
3
COMMON STOCK
TOTAL
SHARES WHICH BENEFICIAL
SHARES OWNED MAY BE ACQUIRED OWNERSHIP AS
DIRECTLY AND WITHIN 60 PERCENTAGE OF
NAME INDIRECTLY(1) DAYS(2) CLASS
---- ------------- --------------- -------------
Harry N. Beaty....................................... 30,453 4,545 *
Henry P. Becton, Jr.................................. 240,996(3) 4,545 *
Gary M. Cohen........................................ 33,612(4) 448,930 *
John R. Considine.................................... 61,616(4) 475,000 *
Edward F. DeGraan.................................... 676 0 *
Vincent A. Forlenza.................................. 30,548 408,918 *
William A. Kozy...................................... 40,169 409,930 *
Edward J. Ludwig..................................... 99,943(4)(5) 1,207,728 *
Frank A. Olson....................................... 72,707 4,545 *
James F. Orr......................................... 5,450 1,611 *
Willard J. Overlock, Jr.............................. 9,459 4,545 *
James E. Perrella.................................... 30,019 4,545 *
Bertram L. Scott..................................... 695 0 *
Alfred Sommer........................................ 8,828 4,545 *
Margaretha af Ugglas................................. 9,388 4,545 *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (16
persons), including those named above.............. 676,461(4) 3,058,431 1.5%
---------
* Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.
(1) Includes Common Stock allocated to individual accounts under the BD Savings
Incentive Plan ('SIP') and the Global Share Investment Program ('GSIP'),
where applicable, as follows: Mr. Ludwig -- 18,562 shares; Mr.
Cohen -- 10,257 shares; Mr. Considine -- 665 shares; Mr. Forlenza -- 4,653
shares; Mr. Kozy -- 4,732 shares; and all Executive Officers as a
group -- 40,770 shares. Also includes Common Stock allocated to individual
accounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Mr.
Ludwig -- 29,253 shares; Mr. Cohen -- 2,284 shares; Mr. Considine -- 33,641
shares; and all Executive Officers as a group -- 65,178 shares. Also
includes Common Stock allocated to individual accounts under the 1996
Directors' Deferral Plan as follows: Dr. Beaty -- 22,453 shares; Mr.
Becton -- 22,912 shares; Mr. DeGraan -- 676 shares; Mr. Olson -- 52,707
shares; Mr. Orr -- 4,450 shares; Mr. Overlock -- 7,459 shares; Mr.
Perrella -- 17,419 shares; Mr. Scott -- 695 shares; Dr. Sommer -- 8,828
shares; Mrs. af Ugglas -- 9,388 shares; and all Directors as a
group -- 146,968 shares. Includes undistributed shares under the Stock Award
Plan as follows: Mr. Ludwig -- 9,840 shares; Mr. Forlenza -- 4,904 shares;
and Mr. Kozy -- 9,360 shares.
(2) Consists of stock options available for exercise.
(3) Includes 212,872 shares held by trusts of which Mr. Becton is a co-trustee
with shared investment and voting power or held by a limited liability
company owned by one of such trusts. Does not include 32,120 shares owned by
Mr. Becton's spouse, 1,600 shares owned by a daughter, 106,940 shares held
in trusts for the benefit of his children or 73,500 shares held in a
charitable trust of which he is one of eight trustees, and as to each of
which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4) In addition to the share ownership indicated, the following named executives
have elected, on a discretionary basis, to defer under BD's Deferred
Compensation Plan ('DCP') the following portions of their 2003 bonuses into
a BD Common Stock account, which investment will be made under the DCP in
January 2004: Mr. Ludwig -- $280,000; Mr. Cohen -- $65,000 and Mr.
Considine -- $215,000. At an estimated share price of $40.00, this
investment would represent an aggregate additional ownership interest by
BD's executive officers in 14,000 shares. In addition, the following named
executives have elected, on a discretionary basis, to defer under the DCP
during fiscal 2004 the following portions of their monthly salaries into a
BD Common Stock account: Mr. Ludwig -- $8,350; Mr. Cohen -- $1,391; and Mr.
Considine -- $5,986. At an estimated share price of $40.00, this would
represent an aggregate monthly investment by BD's executive officers in 393
shares.
(5) Does not include 2,769 shares owned by Mr. Ludwig's son, as to which he
disclaims beneficial ownership.
4
The following table sets forth as of October 31, 2003, information
concerning the beneficial ownership of ESOP Preferred Stock held through the SIP
by the named executives, by all executive officers as a group, and by the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding ESOP Preferred Stock.
ESOP PREFERRED STOCK
SHARES OWNED
DIRECTLY AND
INDIRECTLY
----------
Edward J. Ludwig............................................ 558(1)
Gary M. Cohen............................................... 467(1)
John R. Considine........................................... 112(1)
Vincent A. Forlenza......................................... 517(1)
William A. Kozy............................................. 569(1)
All Executive Officers as a group (6 persons)............... 2,316(1)
State Street Bank and Trust Company......................... 578,133(2)
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(as Trustee of the Savings Incentive Plan)
---------
(1) Shares allocated to individual accounts under the ESOP component of the SIP.
Such shares constitute less than 1% of the total beneficial ownership of the
ESOP Preferred Stock. Each share of ESOP Preferred Stock is convertible into
6.4 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment.
(2) As trustee, holding 100% of the outstanding shares of ESOP Preferred Stock.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires BD's executive
officers and directors to file initial reports of their ownership of BD's equity
securities and reports of changes in such ownership with the SEC and the New
York Stock Exchange (the 'NYSE'). Executive officers and directors are required
by SEC regulations to furnish BD with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file. Based solely on a review of copies of such forms and written
representations from BD's executive officers and directors, BD believes that for
the period from October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003, all of its executive
officers and directors were in compliance with the disclosure requirements of
Section 16(a), except that Henry P. Becton, Jr. inadvertently failed to report a
gift made by him during the past fiscal year. Mr. Becton subsequently reported
the gift.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD MEETINGS; COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
BD is governed by a Board of Directors and various Committees of the Board
which meet regularly throughout the year. The Board of Directors, which held
nine meetings during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, has seven
principal standing Committees, which include the Executive Committee, the Audit
Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee, the Corporate Affairs
Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Finance and
Investment Committee and the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. All directors
attended at least 75% of Board and Committee meetings during the year. The Board
of Directors has adopted a written charter for each of the Committees (other
than the Executive Committee). Copies of these charters are posted on BD's
website at www.bd.com/investors/corporate_governance.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee reviews BD's financial statements and accounting
principles, the scope and results of the annual audit by the independent
auditors, and BD's internal audit process, including BD's internal controls and
accounting systems. The Audit Committee also retains and reviews the
qualifications, independence and performance of BD's independent auditors. The
Audit Committee met eleven times during the year, including quarterly conference
calls with management and BD's independent auditors to review BD's Annual Report
on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q prior to their filing. The
current members of this Committee are James F. Orr -- Chair, Harry N. Beaty,
Willard J. Overlock, Jr. and Bertram L. Scott.
5
The Board has considered and concluded that each of the members of the Audit
Committee satisfies the independence, financial literacy and expertise
requirements of the NYSE. The Board has determined that James F. Orr and Bertram
L. Scott qualify as audit committee financial experts under the rules of the
SEC. A copy of the Audit Committee's charter is attached hereto as Appendix A.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE
The Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees BD's compensation and
benefits policies generally, and also approves the compensation of the Chief
Executive Officer and those members of the BD Leadership Team who report to the
Chief Executive Officer, which includes all the executive officers. This
Committee also approves all employment and severance contracts of BD or any
subsidiary with senior executives who are not also directors. In addition, this
Committee serves as the granting and administrative committee for BD's equity
compensation plans. This Committee also oversees the administration of employee
benefits and benefit plans for BD. This Committee is composed entirely of
independent directors, as defined in BD's Corporate Governance Principles. The
current members of this Committee, which met seven times during the year, are
Frank A. Olson -- Chair, Henry P. Becton, Jr., Edward F. DeGraan, Willard J.
Overlock, Jr. and James E. Perrella.
CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
The Corporate Affairs Committee oversees BD's policies, practices and
procedures as a responsible corporate citizen, in the general areas of ethical
conduct and legal compliance, including, without limitation, issues relating to
communications, employment practices, community relations, environmental
matters, customer relations and business practices and ethics. The current
members of this Committee, which met five times during the year, are Margaretha
af Ugglas -- Chair, Henry P. Becton, Jr., Bertram L. Scott and Alfred Sommer.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommends candidates for
election as directors to the Board. It also reviews and makes recommendations
concerning the composition, organization, structure and function of the Board
and its Committees, as well as the performance and compensation of directors. It
monitors and considers BD's corporate governance and Board practices and
recommends matters for consideration by the Board, and periodically reviews BD's
shareholder rights plan. This Committee is composed entirely of independent
directors, as defined in BD's Corporate Governance Principles. The current
members of this Committee, which met seven times during the year, are Henry P.
Becton, Jr. -- Chair, Harry N. Beaty, James F. Orr and Margaretha af Ugglas.
FINANCE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The Finance and Investment Committee reviews the financial and accounting
affairs of BD, including BD's financial structure, dividend policy, financial
plans and capital expenditure budgets. The Committee also reviews and recommends
appropriate Board action with respect to acquisitions and divestitures of assets
meeting specified thresholds and oversees various matters related to certain of
BD's employee benefit plans which require funding. The current members of this
Committee, which met six times during the year, are Willard J. Overlock,
Jr. -- Chair, Edward F. DeGraan, Frank A. Olson, James E. Perrella and Alfred
Sommer.
6
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Each director who is not employed by BD is compensated for services as a
director by an annual retainer of $55,500. An annual fee of $5,500 also is paid
to each Committee chair.
Additional directors' fees of $1,500 are paid to non-management directors
for each half-day spent outside of regularly scheduled board meetings, or in
meetings of any particular committee of the Board in excess of five hours in any
year. Additional directors' fees of $1,500 per half-day are also paid for time
spent by a non-management director visiting BD's businesses or meeting with
representatives or officers of BD.
Directors may defer, in an unfunded cash account or an unfunded BD Common
Stock account, all or part of their annual retainer and other fees, until up to
10 years after separation from the Board, pursuant to the provisions of the 1996
Directors' Deferral Plan. The number of shares credited to the accounts of
directors is adjusted periodically to reflect the payment and reinvestment of
dividends on the Common Stock.
BD reimburses all directors for travel and other necessary business expenses
incurred in the performance of their services for BD.
Each non-management director elected at, or continuing as a director after,
each annual meeting of shareholders is granted stock options to purchase shares
of Common Stock at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. The options granted have a value of $35,000 (based on the Black-Scholes
option pricing model).
Directors' fees are the only form of compensation received by non-management
directors from BD.
Changes to Director Compensation
In November 2003, the Board reviewed the compensation for non-management
directors. In light of the Board's increasing workload and in order to provide
more competitive compensation to attract and retain qualified non-management
directors, the Board has decided to provide an annual grant of 1,200 restricted
stock units to each non-management director elected at, or continuing as a
director after, each annual meeting of shareholders. The distribution of the
shares of BD Common Stock represented by the restricted stock units will be
deferred until a director's separation from the Board. This grant would be in
addition to the existing compensation arrangements described above, and would
become effective beginning with the 2004 Annual Meeting, subject to shareholder
approval of the 2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan
discussed later in this proxy statement.
The Board determined to pay the additional compensation described above in
equity rather than cash, so as to more closely align the Board's interests with
those of BD's shareholders.
DIRECTORS' SHARE OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
Under the Board's formal share ownership guidelines for non-management
directors, each non-management director is required to own shares of Common
Stock valued at 50% of the amount obtained by multiplying the annual retainer
fee by the number of years such person has served as a director. Nine of BD's
ten non-management directors are in compliance with these guidelines. One
non-management director is substantially in compliance.
7
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
In November 2001, the Board adopted a set of Corporate Governance
Principles. The Corporate Governance Principles address a number of topics,
including director independence, Board and Committee self-assessment, mandatory
retirement, evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer, composition of the Board
and succession planning. The Corporate Governance Principles are reviewed by the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee on a regular basis and any
proposed additions or amendments to the Corporate Governance Principles are
reviewed and submitted to the Board for its consideration.
In order to provide shareholders with greater knowledge regarding the
Board's processes, the Mission Statement and Corporate Governance Principles
adopted by the Board of Directors are attached as Appendix B to this proxy
statement. The Corporate Governance Principles also are posted on BD's website
at www.bd.com/investors/corporate_governance.
The NYSE recently adopted rules that would require listed companies to adopt
governance guidelines covering certain matters. BD has carefully reviewed its
Corporate Governance Principles and believes that they comply with the NYSE
rules.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AND LEAD DIRECTOR
BD's Corporate Governance Principles require the non-management directors to
meet in executive session not less than three times per year. One of these
sessions is dedicated to the review of the Chief Executive Officer and the
recommendations of the Compensation and Benefits Committee regarding the Chief
Executive Officer's compensation.
The Corporate Governance Principles also provide for the appointment of a
presiding director (the 'Lead Director') by the independent members of the
Board. The Lead Director presides over any executive session of the
non-management directors. The Lead Director also serves as a liaison between the
non-management members of the Board and the Chairman, and discusses with the
Chairman, to the extent appropriate, matters discussed by the non-management
directors in executive session. The Lead Director also serves as a contact
person to facilitate communications by BD's employees, shareholders and other
constituents with the non-management members of the Board.
Mr. Frank A. Olson has been designated as the Lead Director based on his
many years of service as a director of BD. Shareholders wishing to communicate
with BD's non-management directors may contact the Lead Director either by mail,
addressed to BD Lead Director, c/o Corporate Secretary, 1 Becton Drive, Franklin
Lakes, NJ 07417-1880, or by calling the BD Ethics Help Line, an independent
toll-free service, at 1-800-821-5452 (available seven days a week, 24 hours a
day). Callers from outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico should use 'AT&T Direct'
to reach AT&T in the U.S. and then dial the above toll-free number. All
communications will be kept confidential and forwarded directly to the Lead
Director.
Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Chairman may contact Edward J.
Ludwig, BD's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, at 1 Becton Drive,
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417-1880, or by calling 1-201-847-6800.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Board assesses each director's independence annually in accordance with
BD's Corporate Governance Principles. A director's independence is determined by
the Board pursuant to the Corporate Governance Principles, which define an
independent director as one who has not been employed by BD or any of its
subsidiaries within the previous five years and has no significant financial or
personal relationship to BD or to its management that would interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment by such director. The Board has determined,
after careful review, that each member of the Board is independent as defined in
BD's Corporate Governance Principles, with the exception of Mr. Ludwig, who is
employed by BD, and Dr. Alfred Sommer, Dean, The Johns Hopkins University
('JHU') Bloomberg School of Public Health, as Mr. Ludwig currently serves as a
member of the JHU Board of Trustees. Accordingly, nine out of the eleven current
members of the Board are independent directors.
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Pursuant to BD's Corporate Governance Principles, any charitable
contributions, or pledges of charitable contributions, by BD in any given fiscal
year in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more to an entity for which a BD
director or a member of his or her immediate family serves as a director,
officer or employee, or as a member of such entity's fund-raising organization
or committee, is subject to the prior consideration and approval of the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board is provided
annually with a report by management of charitable contributions or pledges made
by BD during the fiscal year in an amount of $10,000 or more, to any entity for
which a BD director or executive officer or a member of his or her immediate
family, serves as a director, officer or employee, or as a member of such
entity's fund-raising organization or committee. The report for fiscal 2003 is
attached as Appendix C to this proxy statement.
BOARD EVALUATION
Each year, the Board conducts a self-assessment of the Board's performance
and effectiveness. This process commences with each director completing a Board
Evaluation Questionnaire. This questionnaire was developed by the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee and provides for a range of grades and trend
indicators to be completed by each director, as well as space for written
comments, with respect to each of the following seventeen criteria:
1. The Board understands and approves BD's mission statement,
values and objectives, as well as its strategic and
operating plans.
2. The Board understands the industries in which BD operates
and the implications of current general economic and
political trends to those businesses.
3. The Board evaluates BD's research and development
performance and level of commitment.
4. The Board considers the financial performance of peer
companies when assessing Company performance.
5. The Board evaluates and reviews the performance and values
of the Chief Executive Officer.
6. The Board reviews senior management development and
compensation and considers the correlation between
compensation levels and Company performance.
7. Board meetings foster open communication and timely
resolution of issues presented.
8. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews
and communicates the Board's expectations concerning
director responsibilities and monitors the productivity of
Board and Committee meetings.
9. The Board assesses and modifies, as necessary, the structure
of the Board and its Committees, as well as the frequency of
the Board and Committee meetings.
10. The Board establishes criteria and policies to ensure the
representation of characteristics and expertise among its
membership necessary to its effectiveness.
11. The Board seeks to optimally and appropriately utilize each
Board member's experiences in terms of Committee
appointments.
12. The Board reviews the availability, content and timeliness
of information provided to it, prepares appropriately for
Board meetings and requests additions or changes to the
material provided, when appropriate.
13. The Board verifies the independence of each non-management
director and considers the impact, if any, of changes in the
principal employment of non-management directors.
14. The Board monitors and understands current issues and trends
in corporate governance.
15. The Board reviews and adopts annual capital and operating
budgets and monitors Company performance against them during
the year.
16. The Board reviews the adequacy of existing accounting and
financial controls and oversees ethical conduct and legal
compliance by BD.
17. The Board reviews succession plans for the Chief Executive
Officer and senior management.
In some instances, the above criteria relate to Board functions, such as
senior management compensation, which are largely performed by a Committee of
the Board.
9
The collective ratings and comments of the directors are compiled and
presented by the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee to
the full Board for discussion, for the assessment of progress in the areas
targeted for improvement a year earlier, and for the development of
recommendations to enhance the Board's effectiveness over the next year.
In addition, each Board Committee conducted a self-evaluation of its
performance during fiscal 2003, with performance criteria for each Committee
developed on the basis of its purposes and mission, as set forth in its charter.
EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
When evaluating prospective candidates for director, the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee conducts individual evaluations against the
criteria enumerated in BD's Corporate Governance Principles, as well as criteria
designed to measure performance in five critical areas:
1. Personal Characteristics
2. Core Competencies
3. Independence
4. Level of Commitment
5. Board and Company Considerations
The Board assessed the characteristics and performance of the individual
directors standing for re-election to the Board at the 2004 Annual Meeting
against these criteria, and, to the extent applicable, considered the impact of
any change in the principal occupations of all directors during the last year.
Upon completion of the individual director evaluation process, the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee reported to the full Board its conclusions
and recommendations for nominations to the Board.
Any shareholder may recommend nominees for director for consideration by the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee by writing to the Secretary of BD.
Submissions should include the full name and address and a statement of the
qualifications of the proposed nominee.
BUSINESS CONDUCT AND COMPLIANCE GUIDE
In 1995, the Board adopted the BD Business Conduct and Compliance Guide (the
'Guide'). The Guide is a code of conduct and ethics applicable to all directors,
officers and employees of BD, including its Chief Executive Officer and its
Chief Financial Officer, Controller and other senior financial officers. The
Guide sets forth BD policies and expectations on a number of topics, including
without limitation, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, compliance with laws
(including insider trading laws), preservation and use of Company assets, and
business ethics. The Guide also sets forth procedures for communicating and
handling any potential conflict of interest (or the appearance of any conflict
of interest) involving directors or executive officers, and for the confidential
communication and handling of issues regarding accounting, internal controls and
auditing matters.
In 1995, BD instituted an Ethics Help Line for BD associates as a means of
raising concerns or seeking advice. The Help Line is serviced by an independent
contractor and is available to all associates worldwide, 7 days a week, 24 hours
a day. Translation services are also available to associates. Associates using
the Help Line may choose to remain anonymous and all inquiries are kept strictly
confidential. All Help Line inquiries are forwarded to the Director of Business
Ethics and Conduct (the 'Ethics Director') for investigation. Any reported
matters involving accounting, internal control or audit matters, or any fraud
involving management or persons who have a significant role in BD's internal
controls, are reported to the Audit Committee of the Board.
The Ethics Director leads the BD Ethics Office, an independent unit within
BD that administers BD's ethics program. In addition to the Help Line, the
ethics program provides for broad communication of BD's core values, associate
education regarding the Guide and its requirements, and ethics training
sessions.
BD regularly reviews the Guide and proposed additions or amendments to the
Guide are considered and subject to approval by the Board. The Guide is posted
on BD's website at www.bd.com/investors/corporate_governance. Any amendments to
the Guide, as well as any waivers from any provisions of the Guide relating to
BD's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Controller, will be
posted on BD's website at the foregoing website address.
The NYSE recently adopted rules that would require listed companies to adopt
a code of business conduct and ethics covering certain matters. BD has carefully
reviewed the Guide and believes that it complies with the NYSE rules.
10
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 24, 2003
The Audit Committee reviews BD's financial reporting process on behalf of
the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal
controls. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent
audit of BD's consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The Committee
monitors these processes.
In this context, the Committee met and held discussions with management and
the independent auditors. Management represented to the Committee that BD's
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States, and the Committee reviewed
and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the
independent auditors. The Committee also discussed with the independent auditors
the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU 380), as amended.
In addition, the Committee discussed with the independent auditors the
auditors' independence from the Company and its management, and the independent
auditors provided to the Committee the written disclosures and letter required
by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
With Audit Committees).
The Committee discussed with BD's internal and independent auditors the
overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee met with the
internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to
discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of BD's internal
controls, and the overall quality of BD's financial reporting.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the
audited financial statements be included in BD's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Committee and the Board also have recommended the
selection of BD's independent auditors for fiscal year 2004.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
JAMES F. ORR, CHAIR
HARRY N. BEATY
WILLARD J. OVERLOCK, JR.
BERTRAM L. SCOTT
11
PROPOSAL 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, the terms of which
expire alternately over a three-year period. The Board proposes the election of
Henry P. Becton, Jr., Edward F. DeGraan, James F. Orr and Margaretha af Ugglas
to serve for three years until the 2007 Annual Meeting and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified.
All of the nominees for election have consented to being named in this proxy
statement and to serve if elected.
Biographical information concerning each of the nominees and directors
continuing in office following the 2004 Annual Meeting is presented on this and
the following pages.
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR -- TERM TO EXPIRE 2007
[HENRY J. BECTON, Henry P. Becton, Jr., 60, has been a director since 1987. He
JR. PHOTO] is President and General Manager of WGBH Educational
Foundation, a producer and broadcaster of public television
and radio programs and books and other educational
materials. Mr. Becton is a director of Belo Corporation,
various Zurich Scudder mutual funds and Public Radio
International.
[EDWARD F.DEGRAAN Edward F. DeGraan, 60, has been a director since May 2003.
PHOTO] He is Vice Chairman of The Gillette Company. Prior thereto,
he served as Executive Vice President in various capacities
with Gillette, and then became President and Chief Operating
Officer in July 2000. Mr. DeGraan served as Acting Chief
Executive Officer of Gillette from October 2000 to February
2001. He is a trustee of the National Urban League.
[JAMES F. ORR
PHOTO]
James F. Orr, 58, has been a director since 2000. Mr. Orr is
the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Convergys Corporation, a provider of outsourced billing and
customer management services. Prior thereto, he served as
Chief Operating Officer and a director of Cincinnati Bell,
Inc. At Cincinnati Bell, he was Chairman and President of
Cincinnati Bell Information Systems and MATRIXX Marketing,
the businesses which now make up Convergys. In addition, Mr.
Orr is a director of Ohio National Financial Services, Inc.
12
[MARGARETHA UGLLAS Margaretha af Ugglas, 64, has been a director since 1997.
PHOTO] She is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden. Ms.
af Ugglas is a director of the Karolinska Institute and of
the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation.
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
TERM TO EXPIRE 2005
[HARRY N. BEATY Harry N. Beaty, M.D., 71, has been a director since 1985. He
PHOTO] is Emeritus Dean of the Northwestern University Medical
School and serves on the Board of the Northwestern Medical
Faculty Foundation. Dr. Beaty is a specialist in internal
medicine and a subspecialist in infectious diseases. He also
is a director of Banner Health, Arizona.
[FRANK A. OLSON Frank A. Olson, 71, has been a director since 1985. He is
PHOTO] Chairman Emeritus of The Hertz Corporation, a transportation
company. Mr. Olson also is a director of Amerada Hess
Corporation, White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and
various Franklin Templeton mutual funds.
[JAMES E. PERRELLA James E. Perrella, 68, has been a director since 1995. In
PHOTO] 2000, he retired as Chairman of the Board of Ingersoll-Rand
Company, a manufacturer of industrial machinery and related
products. Mr. Perrella also is a director of Milacron Inc.,
Bombardier Inc. and Arvin Meritor, Inc.
[ALFRED SOMMER, M.D. Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S., 61, has been a director since
PHOTO] 1998. He is Dean of The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg
School of Public Health, and Professor of Ophthalmology,
Epidemiology and International Health. Dr. Sommer was
founding Director of the Dana Center for Preventive
Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins, which focuses on clinical
epidemiology and public health aspects of blindness
prevention and child health. Dr. Sommer is also a director
of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
13
TERM TO EXPIRE 2006
[EDWARD J. LUDWIG Edward J. Ludwig, 52, has been a director since 1999. He was
PHOTO] elected President of BD in May 1999, and became President
and Chief Executive Officer in January 2000. Mr. Ludwig was
elected to the additional role of Chairman, effective
February 2002. Mr. Ludwig served as Executive Vice President
from July 1998 to May 1999 and prior thereto was Senior Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Ludwig is
a director of Aetna Inc., the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, and a
member of the Board of Trustees of The Johns Hopkins
University.
[WILLARD J. OVERLOCK Willard J. Overlock, Jr., 57, has been a director since
PHOTO] 1999. He retired in 1996 as a partner in Goldman, Sachs &
Co., where he served as a member of its management
committee, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Mr. Overlock also is an advisor to
the Parthenon Group.
[BERTRAM L. SCOTT Bertram L. Scott, 52, has been a director since 2002. He is
PHOTO] the President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA-CREF Life
Insurance Company and Executive Vice President of TIAA-CREF.
Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in November 2000, Mr. Scott
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Horizon/Mercy, a joint Medicaid managed care program between
Mercy Health Plan of Pennsylvania and Blue Cross/Blue Shield
of New Jersey.
14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board (the 'Committee')
reviews the overall compensation program for the members of the BD Leadership
Team who report to the Chief Executive Officer, including the individuals named
in the Summary Compensation Table (the 'Named Executives'), and determines and
administers their compensation. The Committee also oversees the administration
of employee benefits and benefit plans for the Company and its subsidiaries. An
independent consultant supports the Committee in fulfilling its mission.
The Committee is composed exclusively of non-employee directors, as defined
in applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
and none of the members of the Committee is an employee or former employee of
the Company or eligible to participate in any of the Company's executive
compensation programs. Each of the members of the Committee also satisfies the
criteria necessary to be considered an 'outside director' for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 'Code'),
and an 'independent' director under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
OVERVIEW
BD's purpose is to help all people live healthy lives while generating
superior total shareholder return. With this focus in mind, the Committee has
developed and implemented a compensation philosophy designed to reward and
support superior performance and attract and retain top talent. This objective
is achieved through a variety of compensation measures, described below, which
are designed to support the current and long-term performance of the Company.
The Committee believes that the structure of the Company's compensation
program, with its emphasis on long-term compensation, serves to focus Company
executives on attaining a sustained, high level of Company performance and
creating long-term shareholder value.
CHALLENGING TARGETS
BD's management compensation program emphasizes the establishment of
challenging goals through a number of factors, including:
the Committee's active assessment of management's proposed
performance goals and the link between goal attainment and
short-term and long-term management incentives;
a significant proportion of total compensation being
contingent on achievement of predetermined goals; and
long-term compensation and performance being measured and
determined relative to that of a group of high-quality
healthcare institutions with which BD competes for
management talent (the 'Compensation Comparison Group').
The Compensation Comparison Group includes most of the companies in the
selected peer group of companies used in preparing the Performance Graph set
forth on page 25 (the 'Performance Peer Group'), as well as other companies that
compete with the Company for executive talent. The composition of the
Compensation Comparison Group can vary depending on changes in marketplace
dynamics and the extent to which the particular companies have positions similar
in breadth and scope of responsibilities to the Company. Presently, the
Compensation Comparison Group consists of Abbott Laboratories, Alcon, Allergan,
Apogent Technologies, Baxter International Inc., Beckman Coulter, Inc., Boston
Scientific Corporation, C.R. Bard, Guidant Corporation, Johnson & Johnson,
Medtronic, Inc., PerkinElmer, Roche Diagnostics and St. Jude Medical, Inc.
PRINCIPAL COMPENSATION ELEMENTS
The key elements of executive compensation are base salary, annual
performance incentive awards, and stock options. These components are
administered with the goal of providing total compensation that is competitive,
motivates the highest individual performance, rewards sustained performance, and
provides above-
15
average rewards when merited by individual, business unit and Company results.
In assessing the effectiveness and competitiveness of BD's executive
compensation structure, the Committee reviews compensation practices of the
Compensation Comparison Group with the assistance of its independent consultant.
BASE SALARY
The Committee annually reviews and determines the base salaries of the BD
Leadership Team members who report to the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee
evaluates management's salary recommendations based on the results achieved by
each executive, his or her future potential, scope of responsibilities and
experience, as well as competitive salary practices. The Company generally
targets executive officer salaries to approximate the median levels expected to
be paid by companies in the Compensation Comparison Group to persons holding
equivalent positions.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS
The Company's Performance Incentive Plan is structured to reward executives
based on the overall performance of the Company, as well as the performance of
each executive and that of his or her area of responsibility or business unit.
The Committee sets target incentives for each participating executive officer at
the beginning of each year. These targets are established as a percentage of the
executive's salary and are calculated to deliver compensation to the executive
at the median range for the Compensation Comparison Group companies.
The Committee adopted performance measures for fiscal 2003 to determine the
amount of incentives to be paid at different levels of performance. Funding for
award pools for all executive officers (and other members of the BD Leadership
Team) and corporate functions is based primarily on achieving a total Company
earnings per share target and net income target, respectively, set at the
beginning of the year. Funding for award pools for business units and
regions/countries is also based primarily on achieving targets established at
the beginning of the year for operating income with an additional measure for
working capital performance.
In addition to these financial targets, each business unit, region/country
and function has established certain objectives based on key Company initiatives
and desired improvements to competitive positions. Key Company initiatives for
fiscal 2003 included, among other things, continued growth in sales of
safety-engineered products, the launch of new product platforms in the areas of
blood glucose monitoring and cellular analysis and sorting, successful
implementation of Genesis (the Company's enterprise resource planning system) in
North America and the Europe and Asia Pacific regions, and initiatives to
strengthen operational effectiveness and organizational capabilities. These
objectives were required to have been met in order for full payouts to be made
under this plan.
Under the Performance Incentive Plan, the range of performance for which
awards are funded is between 80% (threshold) and 110% (maximum) of the target
goal. At the threshold level of performance, the pool is funded at 50%. Below
the threshold, the pool is 0%. For every 1% increase in performance between 80%
and 100% of goal, the pool is increased by 2.5%. For every 1% increase in
performance above 100% of goal, the pool is increased by 5%, to a maximum of
150% of target.
The Committee relies heavily, but not exclusively, on the above criteria.
The Committee does not use any fixed formula in determining incentive awards.
Instead, it exercises discretion in light of these measures and in view of
compensation objectives to determine overall incentive funds and individual
incentive amounts.
For fiscal 2003, the Company achieved 100% of its earnings per share target
established by the Committee, and 100% of its net income target, under the
Performance Incentive Plan. The level of achievement of applicable targets for
individual business units and regions varied. Awards to the Chief Executive
Officer and the other Named Executives are set forth in the Summary Compensation
Table. These awards were based on the performance of the individual, as well as
the performance of the Company and the relevant business unit or function.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The Company maintains a Deferred Compensation Plan ('DCP') that allows
employees, including executive officers, with a base salary of $100,000 or more,
to defer receipt of salary and/or annual incentive
16
awards into either Common Stock of the Company or in cash accounts that mirror
the gains and/or losses of a number of different investment funds selected by
the Company. Under the DCP, participants may defer up to 75% of their base
salary and up to 100% of their annual performance incentive awards, until the
date or dates specified by the participant.
The Company is not required to make any contributions to the DCP, other than
to the extent a participant who also is a participant in the Company's Savings
Incentive Plan ('SIP') would receive a lower matching contribution from the
Company under SIP as a result of his or her deferral of salary under the DCP.
Prior to January 1, 2002, participants in the DCP were only able to defer
compensation into either Common Stock of the Company or into a cash account that
provided a return equal to the Moody's Seasoned AAA Corporate Bond Rate. The DCP
was amended in November 2001 to eliminate the fixed rate of return investment
option for any compensation deferred after January 1, 2002. Neither the Chief
Executive Officer nor any of the other Named Executives has any deferred
compensation in a fixed return account.
The DCP is not funded by the Company, and participants have an unsecured
contractual commitment of the Company to pay the amounts due under the plan.
When such payments are due, the cash and/or stock will be distributed from the
Company's general assets.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee grants stock options broadly and deeply throughout the
organization, and thus provides additional incentives to employees to maximize
shareholder value. Grants are based on individual performance and long-term
contribution potential. It has been the Company's practice over the past five
years to grant on average approximately 82% of all option grants to associates
who are not members of the BD Leadership Team.
Stock option grant levels and terms are established to provide executives
with the opportunity for overall compensation levels targeted at the median of
the competitive range for comparable positions in the marketplace, provided
management is successful in achieving competitive growth in total shareholder
value.
For fiscal 2003, the Committee approved an indexed stock option program
intended to compensate senior executives, including executive officers, based on
total shareholder return relative to that of the Performance Peer Group. The
program is intended to focus management on the long-term creation of shareholder
value by linking incentive compensation to quantifiable measures that drive
shareholder value creation over time. The number of shares available for grant
to members of the BD Leadership Team, including the executive officers, may be
increased or decreased by as much as 25% from the executive's target grant based
on BD's annual total shareholder return compared to the Performance Peer Group.
Accordingly, for fiscal 2003, the Committee approved on November 25, 2002 a
grant to executive officers based on performance results for fiscal 2002. Based
on relative performance, the total executive stock option grant level was at
85.7% of target.
The Company has not re-priced options or issued additional options in
response to any decline in the Company's stock price. Vesting of stock option
awards made prior to November 2001 generally occurred over a three-year period
beginning from the date of grant (with 50% becoming vested two years, and the
remainder becoming vested three years, from the date of grant), while vesting of
stock option awards granted in November 2001 and thereafter generally occurs
over a four-year period (with 25% becoming vested on each anniversary of the
date of grant).
CHANGES TO LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION EFFECTIVE AS OF FISCAL 2004
Commencing in fiscal 2004, the Committee has approved a three-pronged
strategy aimed at delivering long-term incentives to certain members of the BD
Leadership Team that more closely link executive and shareholder interests while
rewarding executives for sustained long-term Company performance.
Accordingly, long-term incentives in the future will include some or all of
the following: stock options to align the interests of executives with
shareholders, performance-based stock awards to drive sustained Company
performance, and restricted stock units to encourage retention of key
executives. The combined value of these components will continue to be targeted
at the median of the competitive range for comparable positions in the
marketplace.
17
The use of stock options and performance-based stock awards each will
generally be targeted to deliver approximately 40% of the total long-term
incentive value, while restricted stock units will generally be targeted to
deliver the remaining 20%. Performance-based stock awards will be keyed to the
Company's performance against pre-established targets, which may include, among
others, its compound growth rate of consolidated revenues and average return on
invested capital over a three-year period. Performance-based stock awards will
become available to a grantee commencing at the end of the three-year
measurement period. Restricted stock units will be deferred until one year
following the grantee's retirement, or alternatively following his or her
involuntary separation or termination other than for cause.
In furtherance of this strategy, for fiscal 2004, the Committee made
long-term incentive compensation grants in November 2003 that are more fully
described under the caption 'November 2003 Long-Term Incentive Grants' on
pages 21 to 23 of this proxy statement. For years following fiscal 2004, the
Committee has recommended to the Board that it seek shareholder approval for the
2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan that is set forth as
Appendix D.
COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Each year, the non-management directors meet in executive session to
evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer. The results of this
evaluation are then used by the Compensation and Benefits Committee in
determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.
On November 25, 2002, the Committee approved a base salary increase for Mr.
Ludwig from $850,000 to $900,000, effective January 1, 2003. The Summary
Compensation Table sets forth the details regarding all compensation of the
Chief Executive Officer for fiscal 2003. The determination of the Chief
Executive Officer's salary, annual incentive award and stock option grant was
made by the Committee based on the same policies and calculations described
above applicable to all executive officers.
2003 COMPENSATION ACTIONS: OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The other executive officers, including the other Named Executives, received
salary increases effective January 1, 2003 that averaged 4.8%.
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Code precludes a public corporation from taking a
deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million for its chief executive
officer or any of its four other highest paid executive officers, unless certain
specific and detailed criteria are satisfied.
The Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to
the executive officers in its review and establishment of compensation programs
and payments. The deductibility of some types of compensation payments can
depend upon the timing of an executive's vesting or exercise of previously
granted rights. Interpretations of and changes in applicable tax laws and
regulations as well as other factors beyond the control of the Committee also
can affect deductibility of compensation. For these and other reasons, the
Committee has determined that it will not necessarily seek to limit executive
compensation to that deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee
will continue to monitor developments and assess alternatives for preserving the
deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably
practicable, consistent with its compensation policies and as determined to be
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
EXECUTIVE AND SHAREHOLDER ALIGNMENT
Each of the executives identified below is required to own within a
prescribed period of time a significant ownership stake in the Company,
representing varying multiples of the executive's base salary, depending on the
executive's position. The Company can extend the period of time within which the
guidelines are to be complied with when circumstances, such as a promotion,
significantly increase the target level of share ownership. The current
ownership guidelines are as follows:
18
Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer...................................... 5 times salary
Other BD Leadership Team Members (16
persons)..................................... 3 times salary
All Other Corporate Officers................... 2 times salary
The Company periodically monitors individuals' compliance with these
ownership guidelines. Stock options, including vested options, are not included
in determining whether an individual has met his or her ownership guidelines.
The Company does not, and has not, provided any loans to management for the
purpose of assisting them in complying with these ownership guidelines. Of the
17 current members of the BD Leadership Team, 15 are in substantial compliance
with the ownership guidelines, and the other two have plans in place to come
into compliance in a timely manner. Aggregate shareholdings by this group
increased by 20% during the course of fiscal 2003.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE
FRANK A. OLSON, CHAIR
HENRY P. BECTON, JR.
EDWARD F. DEGRAAN
WILLARD J. OVERLOCK, JR.
JAMES E. PERRELLA
19
COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVES
The following tables and graph set forth information on the compensation of
BD's Chief Executive Officer and the four most highly compensated officers other
than the Chief Executive Officer (collectively, the 'named executives').
GENERAL
The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003,
2002 and 2001, respectively, compensation provided by BD to each of the named
executives in all capacities in which they served.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM
AWARDS COMPENSATION
----------------------------- -----------------------
SECURITIES
RESTRICTED UNDERLYING
NAME AND FISCAL STOCK OPTIONS/ ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY(1) BONUS(1) AWARDS(2) SARS COMPENSATION(3)
------------------ ---- --------- -------- --------- ---- ---------------
Edward J. Ludwig.......................... 2003 $887,397 $800,000 0 220,000 $ 6,000
Chairman, President and Chief Executive 2002 850,000 750,000 0 300,000 87,456
Officer 2001 730,000 723,000 0 250,000 89,771
Gary M. Cohen............................. 2003 456,455 325,000 0 65,000 6,000
President -- BD Medical 2002 440,000 310,000 0 85,000 37,396
2001 418,000 290,000 0 50,000 33,176
John R. Considine......................... 2003 553,699 430,000 0 90,000 6,000
Executive Vice President and Chief 2002 535,000 410,000 0 125,000 6,411
Financial Officer 2001 508,356 410,000 0 90,000 8,499
Vincent A. Forlenza....................... 2003 405,274 290,000 0 45,000 6,000
President -- BD Biosciences 2002 385,000 245,000 0 65,000 27,429
2001 360,000 235,000 0 43,000 44,867
William A. Kozy........................... 2003 404,959 290,000 0 45,000 6,000
President -- BD Diagnostics 2002 378,164 245,000 0 65,000 51,647
2001 345,000 230,000 0 43,000 44,693
---------
(1) Amounts shown reflect salary and bonuses earned by the named executives for
the applicable fiscal year. Bonuses are paid in the fiscal year following
the fiscal year for which they are earned, unless deferred at the election
of the executive. The following named executives elected to defer, on a
discretionary basis, with respect to the years covered in the Summary
Compensation Table the following amounts of salary and bonus into a BD
Common Stock account under the Deferred Compensation Plan: Mr. Ludwig -- for
2003, $280,000 of bonus and $93,192 of salary, for 2002, $300,000 of bonus
and $74,539 of salary, and for 2001, $448,260 of bonus; Mr. Cohen -- for
2003, $65,000 of bonus; and Mr. Considine -- for 2003, $215,000 of bonus and
$69,135 of salary, for 2002, $205,000 of bonus and $84,832 of salary, and
for 2001, $205,000 of bonus and $124,559 of salary.
(2) The following table contains information relating to the undistributed
portions of stock awards previously granted to the named executives under
the Stock Award Plan.
MARKET
NUMBER OF VALUE OF
UNDISTRIBUTED UNDISTRIBUTED
NAME SHARES HELD SHARES HELD
---- ----------- -----------
Edward J. Ludwig............................................ 9,840 $355,420
Vincent A. Forlenza......................................... 4,904 $177,132
William A. Kozy............................................. 9,360 $338,083
Under the terms of the Stock Award Plan, none of the holdings reflected may
be distributed prior to retirement or termination of employment without
cause.
Market values are determined by multiplying the number of undistributed
shares by $36.12, the September 30, 2003 closing price for the Common Stock.
No discount has been taken to reflect (1) the continuing restrictions on
distribution and transferability, or (2) the fact that undistributed shares
are not dividend-bearing.
(3) Amounts shown represent BD's matching contributions to BD's Savings
Incentive Plan ('SIP'), a qualified defined contribution plan available to
U.S. employees at all levels, and the dollar value of split-dollar life
insurance policies that had been provided for certain of the named
executives up until July 2003.
During fiscal 2003, BD made contributions to SIP of $6,000 for each of
Messrs. Ludwig, Cohen, Considine, Forlenza and Kozy. These amounts represent
BD matching contributions at a 50% rate of the first 6% of base pay
contributed to SIP by each of the named executives, in accordance with
applicable SIP rules and subject to limits imposed by the IRS upon maximum
contributions to such tax-qualified plans.
20
STOCK OPTION GRANTS
The following table contains information relating to stock option and tandem
limited stock appreciation right ('SAR') grants made in fiscal 2003.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2003
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
---------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO GRANT DATE
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN EXERCISE EXPIRATION PRESENT
NAME GRANTED(1) FISCAL YEAR PRICE DATE VALUE(2)
---- ---------- ----------- ----- ---- --------
Edward J. Ludwig..................... 220,000 4.09% $ 29.99 11/25/12 $ 2,244,000
Gary M. Cohen........................ 65,000 1.21% $ 29.99 11/25/12 663,000
John R. Considine.................... 90,000 1.67% $ 29.99 11/25/12 918,000
Vincent A. Forlenza.................. 45,000 .84% $ 29.99 11/25/12 459,000
William A. Kozy...................... 45,000 .84% $ 29.99 11/25/12 459,000
--------- ------- ------- -------- -----------
TOTAL................................ 465,000 8.65% $ 29.99 11/25/12 $ 4,743,000
All Employee Optionees............... 5,372,143 100% Various Various $54,795,858
---------
(1) All option grants to the named executives are for a ten-year term. They
become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning one year from
the date of grant. The option grants to the named executives were issued in
tandem with limited SARs, which are exercisable only in the event of a
tender offer for the Common Stock or a change in control of BD, each as
defined in BD's Stock Option Plans.
(2) This estimate of value has been developed solely for purposes of comparative
disclosure in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission and is consistent with the assumptions BD is using
for Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ('SFAS') 123 reporting. The
estimated value has been determined by application of the Black-Scholes
option pricing model, based upon the terms of the option grant and BD's
stock price performance history as of the date of the grant. The key
assumptions are as follows: dividend yield: 1.21%; volatility: 33.2%;
risk-free rate of return: 3.66%; and expected exercise period: 6 years. No
adjustment has been made for risk of forfeiture or limitations on
transferability.
The assumptions used in the valuation are based upon experience, and are not
a forecast of future stock price or volatility, or of future dividend
policy.
NOVEMBER 2003 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE GRANTS
As more fully described in the Report of the Compensation and Benefits
Committee on Executive Compensation, which begins on page 15, the Compensation
and Benefits Committee (the 'Compensation Committee') has adopted changes to
BD's long-term incentive compensation program for most members of the BD
Leadership Team. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, stock options will generally be
targeted to deliver approximately 40% of the overall value of long-term
incentive compensation provided to these persons, as compared to 100% in fiscal
year 2003. In addition, performance-based stock awards will generally be
targeted to deliver approximately 40% of the value of long-term incentive
compensation. The performance shares are keyed to BD's performance against
pre-established performance targets over a three-year performance period.
Restricted stock units will generally be targeted to deliver the remaining 20%
of long-term incentive compensation.
To implement these changes, in November 2003, the Compensation Committee
granted awards under the Stock Award Plan to certain members of the BD
Leadership Team, including the named executives. The Stock Award Plan was used
for this grant, as it authorizes awards somewhat similar to those that the
Compensation Committee intends to award in the future. Under the Stock Award
Plan, at least 25% of the shares subject to an award are to be deferred and
distributed over a five-year period following retirement, involuntary separation
or discharge other than for cause (such shares being referred to herein as the
deferred shares). The remaining shares subject to an award are distributable
beginning three years from the date of grant, as discussed below, subject to
such conditions as may be set by the Compensation Committee (such shares being
referred to herein as the performance shares).
21
Set forth below is information regarding the long-term incentive
compensation grants provided to the named executives in November 2003.
STOCK OPTION/DEFERRED SHARE GRANTS
IN FISCAL YEAR 2004
% OF TOTAL
NUMBER OF OPTIONS/SARS GRANT DATE
SECURITIES GRANTED TO PRESENT GRANT DATE
UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES VALUE OF VALUE OF
OPTIONS/SARS TO DATE IN OPTION NUMBER OF DEFERRED
NAME GRANTED(1) FISCAL YEAR GRANTS(2) DEFERRED SHARES SHARES(3)
---- ---------- ----------- --------- --------------- ---------
Edward J. Ludwig....... 98,961 2.13% $ 1,313,212 13,835 $ 537,766
Gary M. Cohen.......... 30,000 65% 398,100 4,194 163,021
John R. Considine...... 40,000 .86% 530,800 5,592 217,361
Vincent A. Forlenza.... 26,000 .56% 345,020 3,635 141,292
William A. Kozy........ 26,000 .56% 345,020 3,635 141,292
--------- ------ ----------- ------ ----------
TOTAL.................. 220,961 4.76% $ 2,932,152 30,891 $1,200,732
All Employees.......... 4,645,011 100% $61,639,296 46,268 $1,798,437
---------
(1) The exercise price of all option grants to employees (including the named
executives) in November 2003 was $38.78. These grants are for a ten-year
term, and become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning one
year from the date of grant. The option grants to the named executives were
issued in tandem with limited SARs, which are exercisable only in the event
of a tender offer for the Common Stock or a change in control of BD, each as
defined in the 2002 Stock Option Plan.
(2) The estimated value of the stock options granted in November 2003 has been
determined by application of the Black-Scholes option pricing model, based
upon the terms of the option grant and BD's stock price performance history
as of the date of the grant. The key assumptions are as follows: dividend
yield: 1.13%; volatility: 32.6%; risk-free rate of return: 3.86%; and
expected exercise period: 6 years. No adjustments were made for risk of
forfeiture or restrictions on transferability. The assumptions used in the
valuation are based upon experience, and are not a forecast of future stock
price or volatility, or of future dividend policy.
(3) The dollar value of the deferred shares reflected in the above table is
calculated by multiplying the number of deferred shares awarded by $38.87,
the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of grant. In determining
the value of the deferred share component of the fiscal 2004 grants for
purposes of BD's long-term incentive compensation program, an adjustment for
risk of forfeiture was made by the Compensation Committee. No dividends will
be paid or accrue on the deferred shares with respect to the periods prior
to their distribution.
As described above, the deferred shares are distributable over a five-year
period after retirement or other events. If the 2004 Employee and Director
Equity-Based Compensation Plan is approved at the 2004 Annual Meeting, it is
anticipated that restricted stock units issued under that plan (which are
similar to deferred shares under the Stock Award Plan) will become fully
vested and be distributed one year following such retirement or other
events.
With respect to the above stock options grants, the named executives are
required to hold 75% of the net, after-tax gain received upon exercise of the
options in shares of BD stock for a period of one year following exercise.
PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANTS IN FISCAL 2004
PERFORMANCE ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS(1)
NUMBER OF PERIOD UNTIL -------------------------------
NAME SHARES(2) PAYOUT THRESHOLD TARGET MAXIMUM(3)
---- --------- ------------ --------- ------ ----------
Edward J. Ludwig.......................... 41,504 (4) 0 41,504 103,760
Gary M. Cohen............................. 12,582 (4) 0 12,582 31,455
John R. Considine......................... 16,776 (4) 0 16,776 41,940
Vincent A. Forlenza....................... 10,904 (4) 0 10,904 27,260
William A. Kozy........................... 10,904 (4) 0 10,904 27,260
---------
(1) Based on BD's performance against the pre-established performance targets
(which are tied to revenue growth and average return on invested capital),
the actual number of shares issuable may range from zero to 250% of the
target amount.
(2) Reflects the target number of shares under the grants.
(3) In accordance with the terms of the Stock Award Plan, 25% of any shares
issued in excess of the grantee's target amount will be treated as deferred
shares and will be distributable only following retirement, involuntary
separation or discharge other than for cause.
(4) 60% of the performance shares issuable will be distributed on the third
anniversary of the grant, and the remaining 40% will be distributed in two
equal annual installments beginning on the fourth anniversary of the grant.
The Compensation Committee also has
(footnotes continued on next page)
22
(footnotes continued from previous page)
the authority to defer the distribution of any performance shares otherwise
issuable under a grant, to the extent the tax deduction for those shares
would be limited under the Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. No
dividends will be paid or accrue on the performance shares with respect to
periods prior to their distribution.
If the 2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan is approved
at the 2004 Annual Meeting, future performance share grants will be issued
under that plan, and it is anticipated that all performance shares issuable
under future grants will be distributable upon completion of the performance
period.
The named executives are required to hold up to 50% of any performance
shares distributed under these grants (on an after-tax basis) to the extent they
are not in compliance with BD's share ownership guidelines at the time of
distribution. Additional information on the BD share ownership guidelines may be
found on pages 18-19.
STOCK OPTION EXERCISES
The following table contains information relating to the exercise of stock
options by the named executives in fiscal 2003, as well as the number and value
of their unexercised options as of September 30, 2003.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 2003 AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
NUMBER OF
VALUE SECURITIES UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
REALIZED UNEXCERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
SHARES (MARKET VALUE OPTIONS/SARS AT OPTIONS/SARS AT
ACQUIRED LESS FISCAL YEAR-END FISCAL YEAR-END
ON EXERCISE EXERCISE PRICE) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(1)(2)
----------- --------------- ------------------------- -------------------------------
Edward J. Ludwig........ 46,428 $1,232,908 1,077,728/445,000 $11,303,456/2,165,350
Gary M. Cohen........... 0 0 411,430/128,750 3,740,273/ 629,863
John R. Considine....... 0 0 421,250/183,750 2,999,798/ 892,013
Vincent A. Forlenza..... 84,428 1,975,420 381,418/ 93,750 3,697,058/ 452,813
William A. Kozy......... 54,988 1,377,936 382,430/ 93,750 4,104,176/ 452,813
---------
(1) All option grants to the named executives are for a ten-year term. Options
issued after November 2001 become exercisable over a four-year period (with
25% becoming vested on each anniversary of the date of grant). Options
issued after 1996 and prior to November 2001 are exercisable 50% two years
from the date of grant and 100% three years from the date of grant. All
options issued to the named executives prior to 1997 were exercisable
immediately. The above option grants were issued in tandem with limited
SARs, which are exercisable only in the event of a tender offer for the
Common Stock or a change in control of BD, as defined under BD's stock
option plans.
(2) The value of unexercised options represents the difference between the
closing price of the Common Stock on September 30, 2003 ($36.12) and the
exercise price of each unexercised in-the-money option held by the named
executives.
RETIREMENT PLAN
BD's Retirement Plan (the 'Retirement Plan') is a non-contributory defined
benefit plan. It provides for normal retirement at age 65 and permits earlier
retirement in certain cases. Benefits are based upon years of service and
compensation (comprised of salary, commissions, bonuses and stock awards granted
before January 1, 1994 ('Covered Compensation')) for the five consecutive
calendar years which produce the highest average compensation. The Retirement
Plan is integrated with Social Security.
The Code limits the maximum annual benefit which may be paid to any
individual from the Retirement Plan's trust fund and the amount of compensation
that may be recognized. Under BD's Retirement Benefit Restoration Plan (the
'Restoration Plan'), BD will make supplemental, unfunded payments to offset any
reductions in benefits which may result from such limitations. BD's obligations
to pay retirement benefits under the Restoration Plan, as well as deferred
amounts under BD's Deferred Compensation Plan, are secured by a trust. The trust
is currently secured by a letter of credit. The trustee is required to draw on
the letter of credit, up to specified limits, following a change in control of
BD (as defined in the trust agreement).
The table below shows the estimated annual retirement benefits payable under
the Retirement Plan and the Restoration Plan at normal retirement date to all
eligible employees, including the named executives, in specified remuneration
and years of service classifications.
23
ESTIMATED ANNUAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS
YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE
MAXIMUM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE
COMPENSATION 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
------------ -- -- -- -- -- -- --
$ 500,000 $ 72,914 $109,371 $145,828 $182,285 $218,742 $255,199 $ 291,656
600,000 87,914 131,871 175,828 219,785 263,742 307,699 351,656
700,000 102,914 154,371 205,828 257,285 308,742 360,199 411,656
800,000 117,914 176,871 235,828 294,785 353,742 412,699 471,656
900,000 132,914 199,371 265,828 332,285 398,742 465,199 531,656
1,000,000 147,914 221,871 295,828 369,785 443,742 517,699 591,656
1,100,000 162,914 244,371 325,828 407,285 488,742 570,199 651,656
1,200,000 177,914 266,871 355,828 444,785 533,742 622,699 711,656
1,300,000 192,914 289,371 385,828 482,285 578,742 675,199 771,656
1,400,000 207,914 311,871 415,828 519,785 623,742 727,699 831,656
1,500,000 222,914 334,371 445,828 557,285 668,742 780,199 891,656
1,600,000 237,914 356,871 475,828 594,785 713,742 832,699 951,656
1,700,000 252,914 379,371 505,828 632,285 758,742 885,199 1,011,656
1,800,000 267,914 401,871 535,828 669,785 803,742 937,699 1,071,656
1,900,000 282,914 424,371 565,828 707,285 848,742 990,199 1,131,656
Covered Compensation includes all components of each named executive's
Annual Compensation as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table on page 20
hereof. Amounts shown are calculated on a straight-life annuity basis, and are
not subject to any further deduction for Social Security benefits or other
offsets. Employees may elect to receive the actuarial value of their retirement
benefits in a lump sum in lieu of a lifetime pension.
Under the Retirement Plan and the Restoration Plan, years of credited
service as of December 31, 2003, and Covered Compensation for the calendar year
ending December 31, 2003, will be 24 years and $1,699,615 for Mr. Ludwig, 20
years and $786,831 for Mr. Cohen, 4 years and $989,807 for Mr. Considine, 23
years and $709,846 for Mr. Forlenza, and 29 years and $699,846 for Mr. Kozy.
In addition, Mr. Considine has an agreement with BD under which Mr.
Considine is entitled to receive an annual supplemental pension benefit of
$86,900 in the event his employment is terminated before the age of 55. In the
event Mr. Considine remains with BD beyond his 55th birthday, he will be
entitled to receive an actuarially increased annual supplemental pension
benefit. In addition, under a separate agreement, if Mr. Considine's employment
is terminated prior to age 55 other than for cause or as a result of a voluntary
termination, he will be entitled to participate in BD's retiree medical plan
upon the attainment of age 55. If Mr. Considine remains employed by BD beyond
his 55th birthday, he will be entitled to participate in the retiree medical
plan following termination of his employment for any reason.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Messrs. Ludwig, Cohen, Considine, Forlenza and Kozy have agreements with BD
that provide for the continued employment of those executives for a period of
three years following a change of control of BD. In the event of a termination
by BD other than for cause, or by any of these executives for good reason, at
any time during the three years following a change in control of BD, the named
executive would receive a payment equal to three times the executive's annual
compensation (salary and bonus), and certain of his fringe benefits (reduced to
the extent provided by any subsequent employer) would be continued for not less
than three years. In addition, in the event of termination by BD other than for
cause, or by the named executive for good reason, within three years following a
change in control, the named executive would be entitled to receive the
actuarial equivalent of the additional pension benefits which the named
executive would have earned had he remained an employee for an additional three
years following termination. The terms 'cause,' 'good reason' and 'change in
control' are defined in the agreements.
If any termination payments to a named executive pursuant to his agreement
should be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, BD
would reimburse the named executive in an amount such that the named executive
would retain the same amount, net of all taxes, that he would have retained had
the excise tax not been in effect.
24
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
The graph below presents a comparison of cumulative total return to
shareholders for the five-year period ended September 30, 2003 for BD, the S&P
500 Index, and for a peer group of companies, selected on a line-of-business
basis (the 'Performance Peer Group').
The comparison period presented is required by applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC. Cumulative total return to shareholders is measured by
dividing total dividends (assuming dividend reinvestment) plus per share price
change for the period by the share price at the beginning of the measurement
period. BD's cumulative shareholder return is based on an investment of $100 on
September 30, 1998 and is compared to the cumulative total return of the S&P 500
Index and the weighted, average performance of the Performance Peer Group over
the same period with a like amount invested.
The companies composing the Performance Peer Group are Abbott Laboratories,
Bausch & Lomb Inc., Baxter International Inc., Beckman Coulter, Inc., Boston
Scientific Corporation, Guidant Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Inc.,
St. Jude Medical, Inc. and Stryker Corporation.
COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY, THE S&P 500 INDEX
AND THE PERFORMANCE PEER GROUP
[GRAPH]
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY PERFORMANCE PEER GROUP S&P 500
Sep 98 100 100 100
Dec 98 104.01 114.3 121.3
Mar 99 93.55 120.79 127.34
Jun 99 73.46 123.89 136.32
Sep 99 68.93 110.45 127.8
Dec 99 66.39 111.5 146.82
Mar 00 65.08 106.57 150.19
Jun 00 71.18 131.03 146.2
Sep 00 65.83 132.1 144.78
Dec 00 86.45 142.8 133.45
Mar 01 88.42 126.27 117.63
Jun 01 89.84 133.62 124.52
Sep 01 93.11 143.27 106.24
Dec 01 83.67 156.44 117.59
Mar 02 95.45 160.18 117.92
Jun 02 87.42 130.45 102.12
Sep 02 72.32 131.61 84.45
Dec 02 78.4 134.94 91.6
Mar 03 88.24 137.49 88.72
Jun 03 99.79 142.8 102.38
Sep 03 93.04 141.41 105.08
PROPOSAL 2.
SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP has been selected to audit the accounts of BD and its
subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. A representative of
Ernst & Young LLP will attend the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate
questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement.
25
Fees billed to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP for services rendered during
fiscal years 2003 and 2002 were as follows:
2003 2002
---- ----
Audit Fees........................................... $3,340,600 $2,635,000
Audit Related Fees................................... 84,500 182,200
Tax Fees............................................. 981,500 1,066,200
All Other Fees....................................... 1,062,000 1,001,800
---------- ----------
Total................................................ $5,468,600 $4,885,200
The Audit Committee considered, in reliance on management and the
independent auditors, whether the provision of the services designated as 'All
Other Fees' above is compatible with maintaining the independence of Ernst &
Young LLP.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current
presentation.
A substantial proportion of the professional services fees for the years
ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 are denominated in a currency other than U.S.
dollars. For comparison purposes, professional services fees for both periods
have been translated at the exchange rates utilized for fiscal 2003, and are
presented on a constant-currency basis.
'Audit Fees' for audit services in 2003 and 2002 include fees associated
with the annual audit, the reviews of BD's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, debt
and stock option plan registration statements filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and foreign regulatory bodies, and statutory audits required
internationally.
'Audit Related Fees' in 2003 and 2002 consist of assurance and related
services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or interim
financial statement review and are not reported under Audit Fees. The services
for fees disclosed in this category include benefit plan audits and other audit
services requested by management which are in addition to the scope of the
financial statement audit.
'Tax Fees' includes tax compliance, assistance with tax audits, tax advice
and tax planning.
'All Other Fees' primarily relate to expatriate tax services.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
BD's Audit Committee is responsible for appointing BD's independent auditor
and approving the terms of the independent auditor's services. The Audit
Committee has established a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and
permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditor, as
described below.
Audit Services. Under the policy, the Audit Committee is to appoint BD's
independent auditor each fiscal year and pre-approve the engagement of the
independent auditor for the audit services to be provided.
Non-Audit Services. In accordance with the policy, the Audit Committee has
established detailed pre-approved categories of non-audit services that may be
performed by the independent auditor during the fiscal year, subject to the
dollar limitations set by the committee. The Audit Committee has also delegated
to the Chair of the Audit Committee the authority to approve additional
non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditor, subject to
certain dollar limitations. All other non-audit services are required to be pre-
approved by the Audit Committee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION
OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP. IF RATIFICATION IS WITHHELD, THE BOARD WILL RECONSIDER ITS
SELECTION.
PROPOSAL 3.
ADOPTION OF 2004 EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN
As discussed in the Report of the Compensation and Benefits Committee on
Executive Compensation, which begins on page 15, the Compensation and Benefits
Committee has adopted changes to BD's long-term incentive compensation program
for certain BD executives. Prior to these changes, long-term incentive
compensation consisted entirely of stock option grants. Beginning in fiscal year
2004, long-term incentive compensation for these persons will consist of some or
all of the following: stock options, performance-based awards and restricted
stock units. The purpose of these changes is to more closely align executive and
26
shareholder interests, while at the same time rewarding executives for sustained
long-term performance. It is also the Compensation and Benefits Committee's
current intent to change the form of long-term incentive compensation awarded to
certain other employees of BD, which may include some or all of the types of
awards discussed above.
At the 2004 Annual Meeting, BD shareholders will be asked to approve the
2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan (the '2004 Plan').
Approval of the 2004 Plan would provide BD the needed flexibility to implement
the redesign of BD's long-term incentive compensation program, as it would
broaden the types of equity-based awards that may be granted beyond those
authorized under BD's existing equity compensation plans. The Board believes the
2004 Plan will allow BD to strategically align its compensation programs, and at
the same time attract and retain outstanding individuals at all levels of BD's
organization, thereby positioning BD for long-term success.
As discussed earlier in this proxy statement, non-management directors
presently receive an annual grant of stock options. Also, as discussed earlier,
it is the Board's intention to increase the amount of equity-based compensation
to be received by BD's non-management directors. The 2004 Plan would authorize
the grant of these and other equity-based awards to BD's non-management
directors.
As of November 30, 2003, there was an aggregate 8,684,252 shares of Common
Stock available for grant under BD's existing employee and director stock option
plans and the Stock Award Plan. IF THE 2004 PLAN IS APPROVED, THESE PLANS WOULD
BE TERMINATED (EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO OUTSTANDING GRANTS), AND THE 2004 PLAN
WOULD BE THE ONLY PLAN FROM WHICH NEW GRANTS OF STOCK OPTIONS AND OTHER
EQUITY-BASED AWARDS WOULD BE MADE.
The 2004 Plan is being presented for shareholder approval to comply with
certain regulatory requirements. If shareholders do not approve the 2004 Plan,
it will not be adopted and no grants will be made under it. In such case, BD's
existing stock option plans and the Stock Award Plan will remain in effect.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE THE ADOPTION
OF THE 2004 EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN.
The proposed 2004 Plan is attached as Appendix D to this proxy statement.
The principal features of the 2004 Plan are summarized below.
Shares Available for Awards
Under the 2004 Plan, 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for
issuance, subject to adjustment for stock splits and other events as set forth
in the plan. As stated earlier, if the 2004 Plan is adopted, BD's existing stock
option plans and the Stock Award Plan will be terminated with respect to future
grants. As of November 30, 2003, there were 8,684,252 shares available for
grants under these existing plans. Accordingly, the 2004 Plan will authorize
315,748 shares beyond what was authorized under these existing plans as of that
date (although the 2004 Plan will also authorize types of awards not presently
available under these existing plans). To the extent any outstanding stock
option or award granted under a terminated plan is canceled or expires, the
shares subject to the award will not be available for issuance under the 2004
Plan. The closing price of the Common Stock on December 18, 2003 was $40.10.
If an award under the 2004 Plan is exercised or settled without the delivery
by BD of the full number of shares underlying such award, only the net number of
shares actually delivered to the Participant will be counted against the 2004
Plan's authorized shares. Also, shares underlying awards issued in assumption of
or substitution for awards issued by a company acquired by BD ('Substitute
Awards') will not reduce the number of shares remaining available for issuance
under the 2004 Plan.
No participant may receive stock options and stock appreciation rights under
the 2004 Plan relating to more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment as noted above, in any calendar year.
Eligibility and Participation
Any employee of BD, including any officer or employee-director, will be
eligible to receive awards under the 2004 Plan. Additionally, any holder of an
outstanding equity-based award issued by a company acquired by BD may be granted
a Substitute Award under the 2004 Plan. BD had 24,783 employees as of September
30, 2003. Non-management directors of BD will also be eligible to participate in
the plan. There are currently 10 non-management members of the Board of
Directors.
27
Administration of the 2004 Plan
The 2004 Plan will be administered by a committee of the Board consisting of
not less than three directors (the 'Committee'). Each director on the Committee
shall be 'independent', as required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Committee will have, among other powers, the power to interpret and construe
any provision of the plan, to adopt rules and regulations for administering the
plan, and to perform other acts relating to the plan, including, at the
Committee's discretion, the delegation of any administrative responsibilities.
Decisions of the Committee are final and binding on all parties.
The Committee will have the sole discretion to grant to eligible
participants one or more equity awards, including options, restricted stock and
restricted stock units, performance units, 'other stock-based awards' or any
combination thereof. The Committee will have the sole discretion to determine
the number or amount of any award to be granted to any participant.
Awards
General. Awards will be granted for no cash consideration, or for minimal
cash consideration if required by applicable law. Awards may provide that upon
their exercise, the holder will receive cash, stock, other securities, other
awards, other property or any combination thereof, as the Committee determines.
Shares of stock deliverable under the plan may consist in whole or in part of
authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares. No awards may be granted
under the 2004 Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date.
Exercise Price. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price
of any stock option, the grant price of any stock appreciation right, and the
purchase price of any security which may be purchased under any other
stock-based award will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the
stock or other security on the date of the grant (with fair market value being
determined in accordance with the procedures set by the Committee). The
Committee may not amend an award to reduce the exercise, grant or purchase price
of the award ('repricing'), except in connection with stock splits and other
events, as described below.
Exercise of Award; Form of Consideration. The Committee will determine the
times at which options and other purchase rights may be exercised and the
methods by which and the forms in which payment of the purchase price may be
made. No loans will be extended by BD to any participant in connection with the
exercise of an award (although BD is permitted to maintain or establish
broker-assisted 'cashless exercise' programs).
Stock Options. The duration of options granted under the 2004 Plan will be
established by the Committee but may not exceed ten years. The Committee may
impose a vesting schedule on options. Options are exercisable following
termination of employment without cause for three months, to the extent such
options were exercisable at the time of termination. In the case of retirement,
death and disability, the options will become fully vested and otherwise remain
in effect in accordance with their terms. All other options will lapse upon
termination of employment. The Committee may establish provisions applicable
upon termination of employment that differ from those contained in the 2004
Plan. Options granted under the 2004 Plan may be 'incentive stock options'
('ISOs'), which afford certain favorable tax treatment for the holder, or
'nonqualified stock options' ('NQSOs'). See 'Tax Consequences' below.
Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may impose
restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units at its discretion.
Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, upon death, disability or
involuntary termination without cause, all restrictions on restricted stock and
restricted stock units will lapse, and in the case of voluntary termination or
involuntary termination with cause during the restriction period, all restricted
stock and restricted stock units will be forfeited. The Committee may waive any
restrictions if it finds a waiver to be in the best interests of BD.
Performance Units. Performance units will be granted and will vest upon the
attainment of performance goals established by the Committee. The Committee will
establish the performance criteria, the length of the performance period and the
form and time of payment of the award. Upon retirement during the performance
period, a holder of performance units will receive, following the expiration of
such period, a pro-rata portion of the amount payable under the award.
Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may establish the terms and
conditions of other stock-based awards, such as stock appreciation rights.
Performance Based Compensation Awards. Awards (other than options and stock
appreciation rights) to certain senior executives will, if the Committee intends
any such award to qualify as 'qualified performance based compensation' under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, become earned and payable only if
28
pre-established targets relating to one or more of the following performance
measures are achieved during a performance period or periods, as determined by
the Committee: (i) Return on Net Assets, (ii) Revenue Growth, (iii) Return on
Common Equity, (iv) Total Shareholder Return, (v) Earnings Per Share, (vi) Net
Revenue Per Employee, (vii) Market Share, (viii) Return on Invested Capital or
(ix) Net Income (each as defined in the plan). Such targets may relate to BD as
a whole, or to one or more units thereof, and may be measured over such periods,
as the Committee shall determine. The maximum number of shares that may be
earned pursuant to any such performance award is 150,000 shares.
Certain Adjustments. If the Committee determines that a recapitalization,
stock split, or other corporate event or transaction (more fully described in
Section 5(e) of the 2004 Plan) affects the Common Stock in such a way that an
adjustment is appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits, or
potential benefits, intended to be made available under the plan, the Committee
may adjust: (i) the number and type of shares (or other securities or property)
which may be available for awards, (ii) the number and type of shares (or other
securities or property) subject to outstanding awards, and (iii) the grant,
purchase or exercise price with respect to any award.
Transferability. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, awards
granted under the 2004 Plan are not transferable, other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution. An award will be exercisable during a participant's
lifetime only by the participant or by the participant's guardian or legal
representative.
Amendment and Termination
The Board of Directors may amend, discontinue or terminate the plan or any
portion of the plan at any time. However, no change will be made without
shareholder approval if shareholder approval is required to comply with any tax
or regulatory requirement with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable
to comply. Shareholder approval may also be required by New York Stock Exchange
requirements for certain other amendments.
New Plan Benefits
Any awards under the plan will be at the discretion of the Committee.
Therefore, it is not possible at present to determine the amount or form of any
award that will be available for grant to any individual during the term of the
2004 Plan or that would have been granted during the last fiscal year had the
2004 Plan been in effect.
Tax Matters
The following discussion is a brief summary of the principal United States
Federal income tax consequences under current Federal income tax laws relating
to awards under the 2004 Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive
and, among other things, does not describe state, local or foreign income and
other tax consequences.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. An optionee will not recognize any taxable
income upon the grant of an NQSO and BD will not be entitled to a tax deduction
with respect to the grant of an NQSO. Upon exercise of an NQSO, the excess of
the fair market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the exercise
date over the option exercise price will be taxable as compensation income to
the optionee and will be subject to applicable withholding taxes. BD will
generally be entitled to a tax deduction at such time in the amount of such
compensation income. The optionee's tax basis for the shares received pursuant
to the exercise of an NQSO will equal the sum of the compensation income
recognized and the exercise price.
In the event of a sale of shares received upon the exercise of an NQSO, any
appreciation or depreciation after the exercise date generally will be taxed as
capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holding
period for such shares is more than one year.
Incentive Stock Options. An optionee will not recognize any taxable income
at the time of grant or exercise of an ISO while an employee (or within 90 days
after termination of employment), and BD will not be entitled to a tax deduction
with respect to such grant or exercise. Exercise of an ISO may, however, give
rise to taxable compensation income subject to applicable withholding taxes, and
a tax deduction to BD, if the ISO is not exercised while the optionee is
employed by BD or within 90 days after termination of employment, or if the
optionee subsequently engages in a 'disqualifying disposition,' as described
below. Also, the excess of the fair
29
market value of the underlying shares on the date of exercise over the exercise
price will be an item of income for purposes of the optionee's alternative
minimum tax.
A sale or exchange by an optionee of shares acquired upon the exercise of an
ISO more than one year after the transfer of the shares to such optionee and
more than two years after the date of grant of the ISO will result in any
difference between the net sale proceeds and the exercise price being treated as
long-term capital gain (or loss) to the optionee. If such sale or exchange takes
place within two years after the date of grant of the ISO or within one year
from the date of transfer of the ISO shares to the optionee, such sale or
exchange will generally constitute a 'disqualifying disposition' of such shares
that will have the following results: any excess of (i) the lesser of (a) the
fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise of the ISO and (b) the
amount realized on such disqualifying disposition of the shares over (ii) the
option exercise price of such shares, will be ordinary income to the optionee,
subject to applicable withholding taxes, and BD will be entitled to a tax
deduction in the amount of such income. Any further gain or loss after the date
of exercise generally will qualify as capital gain or loss and will not result
in any deduction by BD.
Restricted Stock. A grantee will not recognize any income upon the receipt
of restricted stock unless the holder elects under Section 83(b) of the Code,
within thirty days of such receipt, to recognize ordinary income in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the restricted stock at the time of receipt,
less any amount paid for the shares. If restricted stock for which a
Section 83(b) election has been made is subsequently forfeited, the holder will
not be able to recover any taxes that were paid as a result of such election. If
the election is not made, the holder will generally recognize ordinary income,
on the date that the restrictions to which the restricted stock is subject are
removed, in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares on such
date, less any amount paid for the shares. At the time the holder recognizes
ordinary income, BD generally will be entitled to a deduction in the same
amount.
Generally, upon a sale or other disposition of restricted stock with respect
to which the holder has recognized ordinary income (i.e., a Section 83(b)
election was previously made or the restrictions were previously removed), the
holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference
between the amount realized on such sale or other disposition and the holder's
basis in such shares. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss
if the holding period for such shares is more than one year.
Restricted Stock Units and Performance Units. The grant of an Award of
restricted stock units or performance units will not result in income for the
grantee or in a tax deduction for BD. Upon the settlement of such an Award, the
grantee will recognize ordinary income equal to the aggregate value of the
payment received, and BD generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the
same amount.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2004 PLAN.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides certain information as of September 30, 2003
regarding BD's existing stock option plans and the Stock Award Plan, as well as
BD's 1994 Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors, 1996 Directors'
Deferral Plan, Deferred Compensation Plan and Global Share Investment Program
('GSIP').
This table does not include information concerning the proposed 2004
Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan that is being submitted to
shareholders for approval at the 2004 Annual Meeting. Also, this table does not
show the effect of the stock option and other equity-based awards made by BD in
November 2003, which are discussed earlier in this proxy statement. As stated
earlier in this proxy statement, if the 2004 Plan is approved at the 2004 Annual
Meeting, BD's existing option plans and the Stock Award Plan will be terminated
with respect to future grants.
30
(A) (B) (C)
-------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------
NUMBER OF SECURITIES NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING
TO BE ISSUED UPON WEIGHTED-AVERAGE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE
EXERCISE OF EXERCISE PRICE OF UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION
OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, PLANS (EXCLUDING SECURITIES
PLAN CATEGORY WARRANTS AND RIGHTS WARRANTS AND RIGHTS(1) REFLECTED IN COLUMN (A))
------------- ------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------
Equity compensation plans 30,174,992(2) $28.05 12,703,938(3)
approved by security holders
Equity compensation plans not 415,406(4) $32.75 899,690(5)
approved by security holders
Total 30,590,398 $28.07 13,603,628
---------
(1) Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under the Stock Award
Plan, as well as shares issuable under the 1996 Directors' Deferral Plan and
the Deferred Compensation Plan, are not included in the calculation of
weighted-average exercise price, as there is no exercise price for these
shares.
(2) Includes 159,001 shares relating to the undistributed portions of awards
previously granted under BD's Stock Award Plan.
(3) Includes 2,101,388 shares available for grants of awards under the Stock
Award Plan, and 212,484 shares available for issuance under the 1994
Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
(4) Includes 100,310 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options granted
under the Non-Employee Directors 2000 Stock Option Plan. Also includes
149,996 shares issuable under the 1996 Directors' Deferral Plan, and 165,100
shares issuable under the Deferred Compensation Plan, based on participant
account balances as of September 30, 2003.
(5) Does not include shares issuable under the 1996 Directors' Deferral Plan,
the Deferred Compensation Plan or the GSIP. There are no limits on the
number of shares issuable under these plans, and the number of shares that
may become issuable will depend on future elections made by plan
participants.
Employee Stock Option Plans. BD currently maintains the 1990 Stock Option
Plan, 1995 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan, and 2002 Stock Option Plan
(although no new grants may be made under the 1990 plan). Each of these plans
provides for the grant of stock options to employees of BD and its affiliates.
Under the plans, options may be granted either as ISOs or NQSOs. The exercise
price of any stock option granted under the plans must be at least 100% of the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and may not have a
term of longer than ten years. Upon a tender offer for 25% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock or a change in control of BD (as defined in the plans),
all outstanding options issued under the plans become immediately vested and
exercisable.
Stock Award Plan. The Stock Award Plan authorizes grants of awards to key
employees. The plan requires at least 25% of the shares subject to an award to
be deferred and paid out in five equal annual installments following retirement,
involuntary separation or discharge other than for cause. The balance of the
shares subject to an award are distributed over a five-year period from the date
of grant, subject to such conditions as may be set by the Compensation
Committee. Upon a change of control (as defined in the plan), each outstanding
award becomes immediately vested and the holder is entitled to a cash payment
for each share covered by an award equal to the closing price of the Common
Stock on the date of the change of control or the amount paid per share of the
Common Stock in connection with the change in control, whichever is higher.
1994 Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors. The 1994 Restricted
Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors permits non-employee directors to elect to
receive their quarterly retainer fees in shares of restricted stock rather than
cash. These restricted shares are subject to forfeiture in the event a
participant's service on the Board terminates for other than the reasons
enumerated in the plan.
Non-Employee Directors 2000 Stock Option Plan. The Non-Employee Directors
2000 Stock Option Plan provides for the granting of non-qualified stock options
at each annual meeting of BD shareholders to each non-employee director elected
at or continuing to serve after such meeting. The options have a monetary value
of $35,000 (or such other value established by the Board), using the Black
Scholes ratio used to calculate the value of the then most recent annual stock
option grants to executive officers of BD. The exercise price of stock options
granted under the plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of grant.
Each option granted under the plan has a term of 10 years, beginning from
its date of grant (or such shorter term as may have been provided for in the
then most recent annual stock option grants to BD's executive officers). The
options vest over the same period as provided for with respect to the then most
recent annual stock option grants to BD's executive officers. In the event of a
tender offer for more than 25% of the outstanding Common Stock, or a 'change in
control' of BD (as defined in the plan), all outstanding options under the plan
become immediately vested and exercisable.
31
1996 Directors' Deferral Plan. The 1996 Directors' Deferral Plan allows
non-management directors to defer, in an unfunded cash account or an unfunded BD
Common Stock account, all or part of their annual retainer and other fees, until
up to 10 years after separation from the Board. In the event a director elects
to have fees deferred in a BD Common Stock account, the director's account is
credited with a number of shares based on the prevailing market price of the
Common Stock. The number of shares credited to the BD Common Stock accounts of
participants is adjusted periodically to reflect the payment and reinvestment of
dividends on the Common Stock. Participants may elect to have amounts held in a
cash account converted into a BD Common Stock account, or convert amounts in a
BD Common Stock account into a cash account, subject to certain restrictions.
The plan is not funded, and participants have an unsecured contractual
commitment of BD to pay the amounts due under the plan. When such payments are
due, the cash and/or Common Stock will be distributed from BD's general assets.
Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan allows employees,
including executive officers, with a base salary of $100,000 or more, to defer
receipt of salary and annual incentive awards in either a BD Common Stock
account or in cash accounts that mirror the gains and/or losses of a number of
different investment funds. Under the plan, a participant may defer up to 75% of
the participant's base salary and up to 100% of the participant's annual
incentive award, until the date or dates specified by the participant. A
participant's BD Common Stock account is credited with shares based on the
prevailing market price of the Common Stock. The number of shares credited to
the BD Common Stock accounts of participants is adjusted periodically to reflect
the payment and reinvestment of dividends on the Common Stock. Once amounts are
deferred into a BD Common Stock account, such amounts may not be transferred
into a cash account.
The plan is not funded, and participants have an unsecured contractual
commitment of BD to pay the amounts due under the plan. When such payments are
due, the cash and/or Common Stock will be distributed from BD's general assets.
GSIP. BD maintains the GSIP for its non-U.S. employees in certain
jurisdictions outside of the United States. The purpose of the GSIP is to
provide non-U.S. employees with a means of saving on a regular and long-term
basis and acquiring a beneficial interest in BD. Participants may contribute a
portion of their base pay, through payroll deductions, to the GSIP for their
account. BD provides matching funds of up to 3% of the participant's base pay
through contributions to the participant's GSIP account, which contributions
will generally vest after five years. Contributions to the GSIP are invested in
shares of Common Stock.
A participant may withdraw the vested portion of the participant's account,
although such withdrawals must be in the form of a cash payment if the
participant is employed by BD at the time of withdrawal. Following termination
of service, withdrawals will be paid in either cash or shares, at the election
of the participant.
PROPOSAL 4.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ON CUMULATIVE VOTING
Mrs. Evelyn Y. Davis, Watergate Office Building, 2600 Virginia Avenue N.W.,
Suite 215, Washington, D.C. 20037, owner of 800 shares of Common Stock, has
informed BD that she plans to introduce the following proposal at the meeting:
RESOLVED: 'That the stockholders of Becton Dickinson, assembled in
Annual Meeting in person and by proxy, hereby request the Board of Directors
to take the necessary steps to provide for cumulative voting in the election
of directors, which means each stockholder shall be entitled to as many
votes as shall equal the number of shares he or she owns multiplied by the
number of directors to be elected, and he or she may cast all of such votes
for a single candidate, or any two or more of them as he or she may see
fit.'
REASONS: 'Many states have mandatory cumulative voting, so do National
Banks. In addition, many corporations have adopted cumulative voting. Last
year the owners of 78,242,414 shares, representing approximately 45.8% of
shares voting voted FOR this proposal.'
This proposal has been submitted at the past seven annual meetings and has
been rejected by our shareholders each time.
Your Board continues to believe that directors should be elected through a
system that assures that directors will represent the interests of all
shareholders, not just those of particular groups. Cumulative voting could
enable individual shareholders or groups of shareholders with less than a
majority of the shares to pool their
32
votes to elect directors concerned with advancing the positions of the group
responsible for their election, rather than the positions that are in the best
interests of BD and of all of our shareholders. In addition, the support by
directors of the special interests of the constituencies that elected them could
create partisanship and divisiveness among Board members and impair the Board's
ability to operate effectively as a governing body, to the detriment of all BD
shareholders.
The Board believes that BD's current system of electing directors, with each
share entitled to one vote for each nominee, will continue to work successfully
in the future, as it has in the past. The Board consists predominately of
independent non-management directors, and the Board committee responsible for
identifying and recommending qualified individuals for director consists solely
of independent non-management directors. This ensures that the Board will
continue to exercise independent judgment and remain accountable to all of BD
shareholders, rather than to a particular group.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST PROPOSAL 4.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2005 ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposal that a shareholder wishes to submit for inclusion in BD's Proxy
Statement and proxy/voting instruction card for the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders ('2004-2005 Proxy Statement') pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8 must be
received by BD no later than August 28, 2004.
In addition, notice of any proposal that a shareholder wishes to propose for
consideration at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but does not seek to
include in BD's 2004-2005 Proxy Statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8, must be
delivered to BD no earlier than October 14, 2004, and no later than
November 13, 2004, if the proposing shareholder wishes for BD to describe the
nature of the proposal in the 2004-2005 Proxy Statement as a condition to
exercising its discretionary authority to vote proxies on the proposal. Any
shareholder proposals or notices submitted to BD in connection with the 2005
Annual Meeting of Shareholders should be addressed to: Secretary, Becton,
Dickinson and Company, 1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880.
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APPENDIX A
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
PURPOSE
The Audit Committee is created by the Board of Directors of the Company to:
assist the Board in its oversight of
the integrity of the financial statements of the Company;
the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company's
independent auditors;
the performance of the Company's internal audit function; and
compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements; and
prepare the audit committee report that Securities and Exchange Commission
rules require to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement.
MEMBERSHIP
The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three members, comprised
solely of independent directors meeting the independence and experience
requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. The Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee shall recommend nominees for appointment to the Audit
Committee annually and as vacancies or newly created positions occur. Audit
Committee members shall be appointed by the Board and may be removed by the
Board at any time. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall
recommend to the Board, and the Board shall designate, the Chair of the Audit
Committee.
AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to any other responsibilities which may be assigned from time to
time by the Board, the Audit Committee is responsible for the following matters:
Independent Auditors
The Audit Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate the
independent auditors of the Company (subject, if applicable, to shareholder
ratification), including sole authority to approve all audit engagement
fees and terms and all non-audit services to be provided by the independent
auditors. The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all engagements for audit
services and each non-audit service to be provided by the Company's
independent auditors. The Audit Committee may consult with management in
the decision making process, but may not delegate this authority to
management. The Audit Committee may, from time to time, delegate its
authority to pre-approve non-audit services to one or more Audit Committee
members, provided that such designees present any such approvals to the
full Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting. The independent
auditors shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall review and approve the scope and staffing of the
independent auditors' annual audit plan(s) and shall oversee the audit and
audit-related work of the independent auditors, including resolution of
disagreements, if any, between management and the auditor regarding
financial reporting.
The Audit Committee shall evaluate the independent auditors'
qualifications, performance and independence, and shall present its
conclusions and recommendations with respect to the independent auditors to
the full Board on at least an annual basis. As part of such evaluation, at
least annually, the Audit Committee shall:
obtain and review a report or reports from the Company's independent
auditors:
describing the independent auditors' internal quality-control
procedures;
A-1
describing any material issues raised by (i) the most recent
internal quality-control review or peer review of the auditing firm,
or (ii) any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities, within the preceding five years, regarding one or more
independent audits carried out by the auditing firm; and any steps
taken to deal with any such issues;
describing all relationships between the independent auditors and
the Company; and
assuring that Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 has
not been implicated;
review and evaluate the partners of the independent auditor team(s),
particularly the lead audit and reviewing partners;
consider whether to rotate the independent auditors; and
obtain the opinion of management and the internal auditors on the
independent auditors' performance.
The Audit Committee shall establish policies for the Company's hiring of
current or former employees of the independent auditors.
Internal Auditors
At least annually, the Audit Committee shall evaluate the performance,
responsibilities, budget and staffing of the Company's internal audit
function and review the internal audit plan. Such evaluation shall include
a review of the responsibilities, budget and staffing of the Company's
internal audit function with the independent auditors.
Financial Statements; Disclosure and Other Risk Management and Compliance
Matters
The Audit Committee shall review with management and the independent
auditors, in separate meetings if the Audit Committee deems it appropriate:
the annual audited financial statements, including the Company's
disclosures under 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations', prior to the filing of the
Company's Form 10-K;
the quarterly financial statements, including the Company's disclosures
under 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations', prior to the filing of the Company's Form 10-Q;
any analyses or other written communications prepared by management,
the internal auditors and/or the independent auditors setting forth
significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection
with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of
the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements;
the critical accounting policies and practices of the Company;
off-balance sheet transactions and structures;
any major issues regarding accounting principles and financial
statement presentations, including any significant changes in the
Company's selection or application of accounting principles; and
regulatory and accounting initiatives or actions applicable to the
Company (including any SEC investigations or proceedings).
The Audit Committee shall review, in conjunction with management, the
Company's policies with respect to the Company's earnings press releases
and all financial information, such as earnings guidance, provided to
analysts and rating agencies, including the types of information to be
disclosed and the types of presentation to be made and paying particular
attention to the use of 'pro forma' or 'adjusted' non-GAAP information.
The Audit Committee shall, in conjunction with the CEO and CFO of the
Company, review the Company's internal controls and disclosure controls and
procedures, including whether there are any significant deficiencies in the
design or operation of such controls and procedures, material weaknesses in
such controls and procedures, any corrective actions taken with regard to
such deficiencies and
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weaknesses and any fraud involving management or other employees with a
significant role in such controls and procedures.
The Audit Committee shall review and discuss with the independent auditors
any audit problems or difficulties and management's response thereto,
including those matters required to be discussed with the Audit Committee
by the auditors pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, such
as:
any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors' activities
or access to requested information;
any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditors
but were 'passed' (as immaterial or otherwise);
any communications between the audit team and the audit firm's national
office regarding auditing or accounting issues presented by the
engagement;
any management or internal control letter issued, or proposed to be
issued, by the auditors; and
any significant disagreements between the Company's management and the
independent auditors.
The Audit Committee shall review the Company's policies and practices with
respect to risk assessment and risk management, including discussing with
management the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps that
have been taken to monitor and control such exposures.
The Audit Committee shall establish procedures for:
the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the
Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters, and
the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
The Audit Committee shall review any significant complaints regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters received
pursuant to such procedures.
The Audit Committee shall prepare the audit committee report that
Securities and Exchange Commission rules require to be included in the
Company's annual proxy statement.
Reporting to the Board
The Audit Committee shall report to the Board periodically. This report
shall include a review of any issues that arise with respect to the quality
or integrity of the Company's financial statements, the Company's
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications,
independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors, the
performance of the internal audit function, compliance by the Company with
legal and regulatory requirements and any other matters that the Audit
Committee deems appropriate or is requested to be included by the Board.
At least annually, the Audit Committee shall evaluate its own performance
and report to the Board on such evaluation.
The Audit Committee shall periodically review and assess the adequacy of
this charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee.
PROCEDURES
The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines is appropriate to
carry out its responsibilities under this charter, but not less frequently than
quarterly. The Chair of the Audit Committee, in consultation with the other
committee members and management, shall determine the frequency and length of
the committee meetings and shall determine meeting agendas consistent with this
charter.
The Audit Committee shall meet separately, periodically, with management,
with internal auditors or other personnel responsible for the internal audit
function and with the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee is authorized (without seeking Board approval) to retain
special legal, accounting or other advisors and may request any officer or
employee of the Company or the Company's outside counsel or independent auditors
to meet with any members of, or advisors to, the Audit Committee.
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The Audit Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees or the Chair
of the Audit Committee when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of
the Company.
LIMITATIONS INHERENT IN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE'S ROLE
While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in
this Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct
audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and
accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
This is the responsibility of management and the independent auditor. Nor is it
the duty of the Audit Committee to conduct investigations or to ensure
compliance with laws and regulations and the Company's Code of Conduct. This is
the responsibility of management, subject to oversight by the Board of
Directors.
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APPENDIX B
THE MISSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of BD believes that in keeping with its duties and
its goal of achieving high standards of corporate governance, and in order to
further the Core Values and Envisioned Future of BD, it must:
-- Represent the owners' interest in perpetuating a successful
business, including optimizing long- term financial returns;
-- Ensure that the corporation is managed in such a way as to
achieve this result;
-- Serve in an active and not a passive fashion;
-- Regularly monitor the effectiveness of management policies
and decisions, including the execution of strategies; and
-- Consider the needs of BD's customers, employees, suppliers,
and the communities in which BD conducts business, in
addition to fulfilling its obligations for increased
shareholder value.
To achieve the foregoing, the Board believes that certain oversight
responsibilities should be given priority on its agenda, including a periodic
review of: BD's strategy and results, management structure, performance and
succession planning, Board effectiveness, ethical conduct and legal compliance,
accounting and financial control, and the financial structure and preservation
of assets.
To assist it in discharging these responsibilities, the Board, from time to
time, has established standing Committees. The Board delegates to these
Committees the authority to consider matters within each Committee's area of
responsibility and to report to the Board with appropriate recommendations.
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BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY (BD)
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED NOVEMBER 27, 2001,
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED MAY 20, 2003
1) BOARD COMMITTEES, THEIR NUMBER, STRUCTURE, AND CHARTERS
The Board has the following standing committees: Audit, Compensation and
Benefits, Finance and Investment, Corporate Governance and Nominating, Executive
and Corporate Affairs. The structure and charter of each committee is reviewed
on an annual basis, first by the committee, and then by the Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee, who recommends any changes it deems necessary or
appropriate to the Board for consideration. The Board has the flexibility to
form a new committee, disband a current committee or establish ad hoc committees
to address particular issues or circumstances, as the need may arise.
2) INDEPENDENCE OF COMMITTEES
It is the policy of the Board that only independent directors serve on the
Audit, Compensation and Benefits and Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee.
3) ASSIGNMENT AND ROTATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CHAIRS
The Board, after consultation with the Chairman, designates the members of
the committees, taking into account their particular expertise, experience and
preferences.
The Board does not believe in mandating the fixed rotation of committee
members and/or Committee chairs, since there may be reasons at a given point in
time for maintaining continuity. Ideally, however, the Board will seek to rotate
committee members and chairs, on a staggered basis within each committee, on an
average of every five years. The Board seeks thereby to avoid director
entrenchment while ensuring continuity and the availability of experience
derived through longevity.
4) SEPARATION OF CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROLES
The Board believes it important to retain its flexibility to allocate the
responsibilities of the offices of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer
in any way that seems best for the Company at a given point in time.
5) LEAD DIRECTOR (AMENDED SEPTEMBER 23, 2003)
The Board notes that all BD directors are elected by the shareholders and
all have an equal voice.
The Board as a whole is free, should a special need arise, to call upon any
one or more directors to provide leadership in a given situation. The Board
understands that leadership in certain subject areas falls to the committee
chair(s) responsible for the subject matter giving rise to the need, and that
the chairs function as the committee liaisons to the Chairman and the rest of
the Board.
The Board also believes it is appropriate and necessary for the independent
directors to designate a Lead Director, who would be expected to serve in such
capacity for several years. In circumstances in which the non-management
directors meet without any management present, the director designated by the
independent directors as the Lead Director shall preside over such meeting. The
Lead Director also shall serve as a liaison between the non-management members
of the Board and the Chairman, and as a contact person to facilitate
communications by BD's employees and shareholders with the non-management
members of the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall
review the designation of the Lead Director from time to time and recommend any
change in the Lead Director it deems appropriate to the Board.
6) MIX OF INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
It is BD's policy that the Board be composed predominantly of independent
directors who do not hold management responsibilities within the Company,
thereby ensuring their availability to serve on the Audit,
B-2
Compensation and Benefits, and Corporate Governance and Nominating committees
and that no more than two persons with Company management responsibilities shall
be members of the Board at any given point in time.
7) BOARD DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Board assesses each director's independence on an annual basis, and for
purposes of membership on the Audit, Compensation and Benefits and Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committees, determines its directors' independence
based on applicable regulatory requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.
For all other purposes, including determining whether the Board is comprised
of a predominant majority of independent directors, 'independence' shall be
defined to mean a director who has not been employed by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries within the previous five years, and has no significant
financial or personal relationship to BD or to its management that would
interfere with the exercise of independent judgment by such director, provided,
however, that the Board believes all directors should hold meaningful equity
ownership positions in the Company.
The Board, in its business judgment, will determine, based on the relevant
facts and circumstances, whether a director has a relationship to BD or to its
management that would interfere with such director's exercise of independent
judgment.
8) BOARD SIZE
The Board periodically reviews its size to consider that most effective for
its operation. In general, the Board believes that its appropriate size consists
of between ten and thirteen members, recognizing that retirements, resignations
and recruiting delays, as well as the availability of one or more outstanding
candidates, may result periodically in the Board consisting, for some
transitional period, of a slightly greater or lesser number of directors than
the Board may have targeted.
9) DIRECTOR RETIREMENT POLICY
It is BD's policy that directors retire from the Board effective at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders following their seventy-second birthday. Under
special circumstances, with the approval of the Board, exceptions can be made to
this policy. The Board believes, however, that any exceptions should be rare.
10) TERM LIMITS
It is the policy of the Company to avoid term limits which have the
disadvantage of discontinuing the availability and contributions of directors
who have developed experience with and insight into, the Company and its needs
over a period of time.
11) CHANGES IN DIRECTORS' PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OUTSIDE COMMITMENTS
It is BD's policy that every director, including the Chief Executive Officer
and any other inside directors, must notify the Chairman of the Board of his or
her retirement, of any change in employer, and of any other significant change
in the director's principal professional occupation, and in connection with any
such change, offer his or her resignation from the Board for consideration by
the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board, upon
recommendation from the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, then
considers the continued appropriateness of Board membership under the new
circumstances and the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the offer of
resignation.
As a corollary, it is the policy of the Board that every director should
seek the consent of the Chairman of the Board and the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee and confirm the absence of any actual or potential
conflict, prior to accepting any invitation to serve on another corporate or
not-for-profit board or with a government or advisory group.
While a director's service on the boards of other public companies may
provide experience that benefits both the director and BD, directors are
expected to devote sufficient time to effectively fulfill their duties as
directors. Accordingly, while a director may serve on the board of directors of
other public companies, such
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service should be limited to a reasonable number of companies so as not to
conflict with his or her responsibilities as a director of the Company.
In addition, no director who is a member of the Audit Committee may, at the
same time, serve on the audit committees of more than two other public
companies.
12) EVALUATION BY OUTSIDE DIRECTORS OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
It is BD's policy that the outside directors meet privately no less than
once a year to evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer. The
evaluation is based on objective and subjective criteria, including an
assessment of the performance of the businesses, accomplishment of long-term
strategic objectives, and management development. A clear understanding between
the outside directors and the Chief Executive Officer regarding BD's expected
performance and how that performance is to be measured is critical to the
process.
The Compensation and Benefits Committee uses the results of the evaluation
when considering the Chief Executive Officer's compensation, and the Chairman of
the Compensation and Benefits Committee communicates the results of this
evaluation to the Chief Executive.
13) MEETINGS OF NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS
The non-management directors shall meet privately as a matter of course,
without any management present, not less than three times a year, with one of
these sessions dedicated to the review of the Chief Executive Officer and the
recommendations of the Compensation and Benefits Committee regarding Chief
Executive Officer compensation. These meetings should be scheduled as a matter
of course for each fiscal year by the Corporate Secretary.
The non-management directors also may meet in executive session at other
times during the year to consider issues they deem important to address without
management present.
Following each meeting of the non-management directors, the director then
designated by the independent directors as the Lead Director will discuss with
the Chairman, to the extent appropriate, matters addressed in or arising from
the private meeting.
14) EVALUATION OF THE BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEES
It is the policy of the Board to review on an annual basis its performance
and effectiveness as a whole, with each Director completing a questionnaire
developed by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee with respect to
seventeen criteria. The collective ratings and comments are compiled in advance
of the review session and are presented by the Chairman of the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee to the full Board for discussion.
Beginning in 2001, this practice has been expanded to include annual
self-assessments by each Board committee, relying on a review process similar to
that used by the Board, with performance criteria for each committee established
on the basis of their charters.
15) EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE
It is BD's policy to have the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
assess, at least once every three years, on the basis of pre-established
criteria, the performance of each individual director standing for re-election
at the next shareholders' meeting. The pre-established criteria address each
director's core competencies, independence and level of commitment.
All directors are expected to attend Board meetings and meetings of the
committees on which they serve, to review all materials provided to them in
advance of any meeting, to be knowledgeable about the strategies and affairs of
the Company and the industry and competitive environment in which it operations,
and to actively participate in deliberations of the Board and of each committee
on which they serve.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers not only an
individual's qualities, performance and professional responsibilities, but also
the then composition of the Board and the challenges and needs of the Board as a
whole at that time. If applicable, the Committee also considers the impact of
any change
B-4
in the principal occupation of the directors during their prior terms of
service. This evaluation process allows each director the opportunity to
conveniently confirm his or her interest to continue as a member of the Board.
Upon completion of the individual director evaluation process, the Committee
reports to the full Board its conclusions and recommendations for nominations to
the Board.
It is BD's policy that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
also should review and consider the performance of any individual director if a
situation were to arise that interfered with the proper performance of his or
her duties as a member of the Board.
16) COMPANY PERFORMANCE AND CORPORATE STRATEGY
The Board reviews BD's financial performance on a regular basis at Board
meetings and through periodic updates, with a particular focus on peer and
competitive comparisons. These reviews include the views of management as well
as those of key investors and securities analysts.
The Board also conducts an annual off-site meeting, normally in November of
each year, to review and approve BD's long-term strategy, and assess its
strategic, competitive and financial performance, on both an absolute basis and
in relation to the performance, practices and policies of its peers and
competitors.
Each Committee of the Board in addition should assess BD's performance on an
annual basis from the perspective of its charter's mission and purpose, and
report the assessment results to the full Board.
17) COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD AND BOARD MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for
reviewing with the Board the appropriate skills and characteristics required of
Board members in the context of the composition of the Board at any given point
in time. The assessment of the overall composition of the Board considers issues
of judgment, diversity, age, skills, international background, and experience in
areas such as technology, change management and finance.
On an annual basis the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
considers the composition, challenges and needs of the Board as a whole, both in
connection with recommending candidates for election to the Board and in
analyzing the composition of the Board committees.
18) SELECTION AND INVITATION OF NEW DIRECTORS
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for
recommending for Board consideration candidates for election to the Board. On
behalf of the Board, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer generally extends
the invitation to a candidate to join the Board.
19) ORIENTATION OF DIRECTORS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
BD has developed an orientation and training process available to new
members of the Board and to new members of each Board committee. For new
directors, this includes background information on the Company, its products and
its industries, meeting with senior management to familiarize the director with
BD's management and its strategies and significant policies, and site visits.
Orientation of a new director or new committee member is coordinated by the
Corporate Secretary and the Chief Financial Officer and is tailored to the
requirements of the individual.
In addition, BD directors are encouraged to visit the Company and its
subsidiaries from time to time, to locations selected in consultation with the
Chief Executive Officer, to familiarize him/herself with the business of the
Company and its subsidiaries. These visits should be set up through the Office
of the Corporate Secretary, and directors are requested to report to the full
Board following any such visit.
BD directors also are encouraged to attend director education courses at
BD's expense. As a matter of practice, BD management from time to time, directly
or with the assistance of outside advisors, arranges presentations to the Board
of Directors on current issues or topics relevant to directors of public
companies, including current corporate governance trends and practices.
B-5
20) DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board receive and
review periodic reports from management on trends in director compensation. In
addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee conducts a thorough
analysis of director compensation and stock ownership at least every three years
and makes recommendations to the Board for any adjustments deemed appropriate.
Generally, the Board seeks to set director compensation at levels that fairly
compensate directors for their responsibilities as directors and that are
consistent with compensation levels at companies of similar size and nature as
the Company.
Since 1996, BD director compensation has focused increasingly on equity
compensation for directors. This has included eliminating both the director
retirement plan and the payment of meeting fees, and establishing an
equity-based director deferral plan and a director stock option plan. Under the
director deferral plan, directors can elect to defer into BD stock up to the
full amount of their annual retainer and committee chair fees. The Board also
believes that the director share ownership guidelines ensure adequate share
ownership by directors.
21) DIRECTOR EQUITY OWNERSHIP
The Board believes that directors should hold meaningful equity ownership
positions in the Company. In 1996 the Company adopted director share ownership
guidelines. In 2000 the director share ownership guidelines were adjusted to
reflect a director's tenure on the Board. The current share ownership guidelines
require each outside director to own shares of BD common stock valued at fifty
percent of the amount obtained by multiplying the annual retainer fee in effect
from time to time by the number of years a person has served as a director.
22) CLASSIFIED BOARD
Since 1984, the BD Board comprises three classes of directors, with
approximately one-third of the directors assigned to each class. The members of
each class are elected to terms of three years.
The Board reviews its classified board structure no less than once every two
years.
After careful review and consideration, the BD Board has concluded that a
classified board provides continuity, stability and experience in the
composition of the Board, while still providing for the election of a portion of
the Board each year. It also enables the Board to represent more effectively the
interests of all shareholders in a wide variety of circumstances.
23) WELL-INFORMED DIRECTORS
In order for the Board to exercise fully its oversight functions, management
provides the Board access to information regarding the Company and the markets
in which the Company operates. This information comes from a variety of sources,
including management reports, security analysts' reports, information regarding
peer performance, direct interaction with senior management and visits to
Company facilities.
24) BOARD MATERIALS AND PRESENTATIONS
As a general rule, presentations on specific subjects are sent to the Board
members in advance so that Board meeting time may be conserved and discussion
time focused on questions and discussion of key issues.
25) BOARD AND COMMITTEE AGENDAS
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, together with the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee, establishes on an annual basis an agenda of
topics for consideration and review by the Board during the following year. This
annual schedule of topics is then provided to the full Board for review and
comment and is adjusted, as appropriate, during the year.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer establish the agenda and schedule
for each Board meeting, allowing for an appropriate mix of presentation and
discussion. Each Board member is encouraged to suggest topics they wish to have
addressed for inclusion on the Board agenda.
B-6
Each Committee of the Board, on an annual basis, sets an agenda of topics to
be discussed by the Committee during the following year. The chair of each
Committee, in consultation with other members and management, develops the
agenda for each Committee meeting.
26) SUCCESSION PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
The Board, with the input of the Chief Executive Officer, conducts an annual
assessment of the performance and development of senior management. The Board
also conducts periodic discussions, no less than once a year, regarding
succession of the Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management
and, with the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, identifies
potential successor candidates for these roles.
As a matter of policy, the Chief Executive Officer should provide to the
Board, on an ongoing basis, his or her recommendation as to a successor in the
event of an unexpected disability.
27) ATTENDANCE OF NON-DIRECTORS AT BOARD MEETINGS/BOARD ACCESS TO SENIOR
MANAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENT ADVISORS
A limited number of members of the BD Leadership Team attend Board meetings
and Board dinners on a regular basis. In addition, other BD leaders attend Board
and Committee meetings when appropriate to provide additional expertise and to
expose the Board to a broader pool of management.
The Board has open access to senior management.
The Board and each Committee of the Board has the authority to retain its
own independent legal, financial and other advisors, as the Board or Committee
deems necessary or appropriate, at BD's expense.
28) BOARD'S INTERACTION WITH INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, PRESS AND CUSTOMERS
In general, BD management speaks for the Company. Individual Board members
may, from time to time at the request of management, meet or otherwise
communicate with various constituencies that are involved with BD.
29) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ETHICS COMPLIANCE
If an actual or potential conflict of interest develops because of a change
in the business operations of the Company or a subsidiary, or in a director's
circumstances (for example, significant and ongoing competition between the
Company and a business with which the director is affiliated), the director
should report the matter immediately to the Chairman and the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee for evaluation and appropriate resolution.
If a director has a personal interest in a matter before the Board, the
director shall disclose the interest to the full Board, excuse himself or
herself from participation in the discussion, and shall not vote on the matter.
Each of BD's directors is required to comply with BD's Business Conduct and
Compliance Guide (the 'Guide'). Concerns regarding violations of the Guide by
non-management directors of BD are referred to the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee and to the Chairman; violation of the Guide by management
directors of BD are referred to BD's General Counsel.
30) DISCLOSURE REGARDING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND BOARD
EVALUATION
BD provides disclosure in its annual Proxy Statement concerning stock
ownership guidelines for directors and senior management, a comprehensive
description of the board's self-evaluation processes and the composition of
director compensation.
So that shareholders may gain greater knowledge of the Board's processes,
beginning in 2001 BD's annual proxy statement disclosure was expanded to also
include the publication of this Statement of Corporate Governance Principles.
B-7
31) CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Proposed charitable contributions, or pledges of charitable contributions,
by the Company within any given fiscal year in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or
more, to an entity for which a BD director or a member of any of their immediate
families serves as a director, officer, employee, or member of such entity's
fund-raising organization or committee, shall be subject to prior review and
approval by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee; and
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board shall be
provided on an annual basis with a report from management of the charitable
contributions or pledges made by the Company during the fiscal year in an amount
of $10,000 or more, to an entity for which a BD director or executive officer,
or a member of any of their immediate families, serves as a director, officer,
employee, or member of such entity's fund-raising organization or committee and
such report of contributions made shall be included and disclosed in BD's annual
proxy statement;
provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether the $50,000
approval threshold or $10,000 disclosure threshold is reached, no contributions
by the Company under its established Matching Gift Program shall be included or
reported.
32) EXECUTIVE OFFICER MEMBERSHIP ON PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
It is BD's policy that prior to an executive officer agreeing to join any
board of another publicly-traded company, the executive officer first must seek
the agreement of BD's Chief Financial Officer and of its General Counsel that
any such proposed service would not present undue conflict of interest or
financial risk, to either BD or to the executive officer. Once such agreement is
secured, the executive officer then shall seek the approval of the Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee.
As a general rule, the Board believes that executive officers should be
limited at any given time to serving on the board of not more than one
publicly-traded company. Any exceptions to this general rule require the prior
approval of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
33) NO PROVISION OF PERSONAL SERVICES BY BD EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
It is the policy of BD that neither BD, nor any director, may engage the
external auditor of BD for the purpose of the external auditor providing
financial planning, tax preparation (including expatriate tax services) or other
personal services ('Services') to a director. This policy prohibits the
engagement of the external auditor for such purposes, regardless of whether the
person or persons proposed to provide the Services to a director previously
participated in a BD audit.
For purposes of this policy, the 'external auditor' of BD is defined as any
firm engaged by the Audit Committee of the BD Board of Directors to provide
audit, review or attest services, or to otherwise provide 'audit services' to BD
within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
34) NO SALES OF BD SHARES BY DIRECTORS WHEN THE COMPANY IS REPURCHASING SHARES
It is the policy of the Company that directors of BD should not sell any
shares of BD common stock on any day on which BD is repurchasing shares of BD
common stock under a Company stock repurchase program. For purposes of this
policy, the term 'sell' includes entering into any contract to sell, pledge or
otherwise transfer or dispose of shares of BD stock, other than gifts or other
transfers of shares for no value.
Therefore, any director intending to sell shares of BD Common Stock shall
provide as much advance notice as is reasonably practicable to the Office of the
Corporate Secretary, so as to ensure that the Company is not engaging in share
repurchases on the same days on which any such sales are made by directors.
B-8
APPENDIX C
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
2003 ANNUAL REPORT OF CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
NOVEMBER 24, 2003
The following report lists charitable contributions or pledges made by BD
during fiscal 2003 in an amount of $10,000 or more, to an entity for which a BD
director or executive officer, or a member of any of their immediate families,
serves as a director, officer or employee, or as a member of such entity's
fund-raising organization or committee.
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT
NAME OF DIRECTOR NAME OF AMOUNT OF DONATED
OR OFFICER ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION PLEDGES IN FY03
---------- ------------ ----------- ------- -------
Gary M. Cohen, Rutgers University Board of Advisors of $10,300
President -- BD Medical the Business School
John R. Considine, St. Joseph's Hospital Board of Trustees $13,500
Executive Vice President and Medical Center (until June 30, 2003)
and Chief Financial Foundation
Officer
Vincent A. Forlenza, American Diabetes Corporate Advisory $101,907 (including
President -- BD Association Board $100,000 under prior
Biosciences pledge)
William A. Kozy, Morristown Memorial Executive Advisory $150,000 (pursuant to
President -- BD Hospital Board prior pledge)
Diagnostics
Edward J. Ludwig, Inter-Religious Development Committee $32,500 (including
Chairman, President and Fellowship for the $25,000 under prior
Chief Executive Officer Homeless pledge)
Board of Trustees $20,000 over 2 years $110,000
The Johns Hopkins FY03-FY04
University
$155,000 over 4 years
FY03-FY06
$845,000 of product
FY04-FY06
U.S. Fund for UNICEF Board of Directors $1 Million over 4 $861,857 (includes
years FY03-FY06 cash and product under
prior pledges)
Frank A. Olson, Director Save The Children Board of Trustees $200,000 of cash and $122,819
product over 2 years
FY03-FY04
Willard J. Overlock, Jr., Juvenile Diabetes Katharine Overlock, $500,000 over 2 years $531,442
Director Research Foundation spouse, is a Board FY03-FY04
member
Alfred Sommer, M.D., The Johns Hopkins Dean of The Johns See above
M.H.S., Director University Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of
Public Health
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APPENDIX D
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
2004 EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR EQUITY-BASED
COMPENSATION PLAN
Section 1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Becton, Dickinson and Company 2004 Employee and Director
Equity-Based Compensation Plan is to provide an incentive to employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to achieve long-range goals, to aid in attracting
and retaining employees and directors of outstanding ability and to closely
align their interests with those of shareholders.
Section 2. Definition.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:
(a) 'AFFILIATE' shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is
controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.
(b) 'AWARD' shall mean any Option, award of Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) 'AWARD AGREEMENT' shall mean any written agreement, contract or other
instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan, which may,
but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
(d) 'BOARD' shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
(e) 'CAUSE' shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure of a
Participant to perform substantially the Participant's duties with the Company
or any Affiliate (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), or (ii) the willful engaging by the Participant in
illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is materially and demonstrably
injurious to the Company. No act, or failure to act, on the part of the
Participant shall be considered 'willful' unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Participant in bad faith or without the reasonable belief that the
Participant's action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
(f) 'CHANGE IN CONTROL' means:
(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the 'EXCHANGE ACT')) (a 'Person') of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 25%
or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company (the 'OUTSTANDING COMPANY COMMON STOCK') or (B) the combined voting
power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (the 'OUTSTANDING COMPANY VOTING
SECURITIES'); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 2(f),
the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any
acquisition directly from the Company; (ii) any acquisition by the Company,
or (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliated company, (iv) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with
Section 2(f)(iii)(A), Section 2(f)(iii)(B) and Section 2(f)(iii)(C), or (v)
any acquisition that the Board determines, in good faith, was inadvertent,
if the acquiring Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
amount of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and/or the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as applicable, to reverse such acquisition of 25%
or more thereof.
(ii) individuals who, as of the day after the effective time of this
Plan, constitute the Board (the 'INCUMBENT BOARD') cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to such time whose election, or
nomination for election as a director by the Company's shareholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a
member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
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election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation
of proxies or consent by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.
(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale or
other disposition of all or subsequently all of the assets of the Company (a
'BUSINESS COMBINATION'), in each case, unless, following such Business
Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of the
then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation
that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or
more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company
or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent
that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board
at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of
the Board providing for such Business Combination; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Company.
(g) 'CODE' shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
(h) 'COMMITTEE' shall mean the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the
Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board.
(i) 'COMPANY' shall mean Becton, Dickinson and Company.
(j) 'EARNINGS PER SHARE' shall mean earnings per share calculated in
accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
(k) 'EXECUTIVE GROUP' shall mean every person who is expected by the
Committee to be both (i) a 'covered employee' as defined in Section 162(m) of
the Code as of the end of the taxable year in which payment of the Award may be
deducted by the Company, and (ii) the recipient of compensation of more than
$1,000,000 for that taxable year.
(l) 'FAIR MARKET VALUE' shall mean, with respect to any property (including,
without limitation, any Shares or other securities) the fair market value of
such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established
from time to time by the Committee.
(m) 'INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION' shall mean an option representing the right to
purchase Shares from the Company, granted under and in accordance with the terms
of Section 6, that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or any
successor provision thereto.
(n) 'MARKET SHARE' shall mean the percent of sales of the total available
market in an industry, product line or product attained by the Company or one of
its business units during a time period.
(o) 'NET INCOME' shall mean net income calculated in accordance with U.S.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
(p) 'NET REVENUE PER EMPLOYEE' in a period shall mean net revenue divided by
the average number of employees of the Company, with average defined as the sum
of the number of employees at the beginning and ending of the period divided by
two.
(q) 'NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION' shall mean an option representing the right
to purchase Shares from the Company, granted under and in accordance with the
terms of Section 6, that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(r) 'OPTION' shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock
Option.
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(s) 'OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARD' shall mean any right granted under Section 9.
(t) 'PARTICIPANT' shall mean an individual granted an Award under the Plan.
(u) 'PERFORMANCE UNIT' shall mean any right granted under Section 8.
(v) 'RESTRICTED STOCK' shall mean any Share granted under Section 7.
(w) 'RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT' shall mean a contractual right granted under
Section 7 that is denominated in Shares. Each Unit represents a right to receive
the value of one Share (or a percentage of such value, which percentage may be
higher than 100%) upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and the
applicable Award Agreement. Awards of Restricted Stock Units may include,
without limitation, the right to receive dividend equivalents.
(x) 'RETURN ON COMMON EQUITY' for a period shall mean net income less
preferred stock dividends divided by total shareholders' equity, less amounts,
if any, attributable to preferred stock.
(y) 'RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL' for a period shall mean earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization divided by the difference of
total assets less non-interest bearing current liabilities.
(z) 'RETURN ON NET ASSETS' for a period shall mean net income less preferred
stock dividends divided by the difference of average total assets less average
non-debt liabilities, with average defined as the sum of assets or liabilities
at the beginning and ending of the period divided by two.
(aa) 'REVENUE GROWTH' shall mean the percentage change in revenue (as
defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 6, published by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board) from one period to another.
(bb) 'PLAN' shall mean this Becton, Dickinson and Company 2004 Employee and
Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan.
(cc) 'SHARES' shall mean shares of the common stock of the Company, $1.00
par value.
(dd) 'SUBSTITUTE AWARDS' shall mean Awards granted in assumption of, or in
substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by
the Company or with which the Company combines.
(ee) 'TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN' shall mean the sum of the appreciation in
the Company's stock price and dividends paid on the common stock of the Company
over a given period of time.
Section 3. Eligibility.
(a) Any individual who is employed by (including any officer), or who serves
as a member of the board of directors of, the Company or any Affiliate shall be
eligible to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan.
(b) An individual who has agreed to accept employment by the Company or an
Affiliate shall be deemed to be eligible for Awards hereunder as of the date of
such agreement.
(c) Holders of options and other types of Awards granted by a company
acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines are eligible for
grant of Substitute Awards hereunder.
Section 4. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall be
appointed by the Board and shall consist of not less than three directors, each
of whom shall be independent, within the meaning of and to the extent required
by applicable rulings and interpretations of the New York Stock Exchange and the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and each of whom shall be a 'NON-EMPLOYEE
DIRECTOR', as defined from time to time for purposes of Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated thereunder. The Board
may designate one or more directors as alternate members of the Committee who
may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the Committee.
No member or alternate member of the Committee shall be eligible, while a member
or alternate member, for participation in the Plan. The Committee may issue
rules and regulations for administration of the Plan. It shall meet at such
times and places as it may determine. A majority of the members of the Committee
shall constitute a quorum.
(b) Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall
have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the
type or types of Awards (including Substitute Awards) to be granted to each
Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered
by (or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be
calculated in connection with) Awards; (iv)
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determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what
extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash,
Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or canceled,
forfeited or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be
settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to
what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other
Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under
the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder
thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any
instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii)
establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such
agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan;
(ix) determine whether and to what extent Awards should comply or continue to
comply with any requirement of statute or regulation; and (x) make any other
determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or
desirable for the administration of the Plan.
(c) All decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding
upon all parties, including the Company, the stockholders and the Participants.
Section 5. Shares Available For Awards.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided below, the number of Shares available
for issuance under the Plan shall be 9,000,000 shares. Notwithstanding the
foregoing and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(e), no Participant
may receive Options and stock appreciation rights under the Plan in any calendar
year that relate to more than 250,000 Shares.
(b) If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award
other than a Substitute Award, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited,
or if such an Award otherwise terminates without the delivery of Shares or of
other consideration, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such
Award relates, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, shall again
be, or shall become, available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder (other
than a Substitute Award) is exercised through the delivery of Shares, or in the
event that withholding tax liabilities arising from such Option or Award are
satisfied by the withholding of Shares by the Company, the number of Shares
available for Awards under the Plan shall be increased by the number of Shares
so surrendered or withheld.
(d) Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.
(e) In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or
other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or
other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of
warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company,
or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an
adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent
dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be
made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it
may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or
other securities or property) which thereafter may be made the subject of
Awards, including the aggregate and individual limits specified in Section 5(a),
(ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to
outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with
respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash
payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, however, that the
number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares shall always be a
whole number.
(f) Shares underlying Substitute Awards shall not reduce the number of
Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan.
Section 6. Options.
The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Participants with the
following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions, in
either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine:
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(a) The purchase price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the
Committee; provided, however, that, except in the case of Substitute Awards,
such purchase price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the date of grant of such Option.
(b) The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee but shall not
exceed 10 years from the date of grant thereof.
(c) The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may
be exercised in whole or in part, and the method or methods by which, and the
form or forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards, or
other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the
exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, in which, payment of the
exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.
(d) The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall
comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, or any
successor provision thereto, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e) Section 10 sets forth certain additional provisions that shall apply to
Options.
Section 7. Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units.
(a) The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock
and Restricted Stock Units to Participants.
(b) Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject
to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation,
any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to
receive any dividend or other right or property), which restrictions may lapse
separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or
otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.
(c) Any share of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in
such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate including, without limitation,
book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In
the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of shares of Restricted
Stock granted under the Plan, such certificate shall be registered in the name
of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms,
conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time the Award is
granted or in any amendment thereto, upon a Participant's (i) death, disability
or involuntary termination without Cause, any and all remaining restrictions
with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted to
the Participant shall lapse, and (ii) voluntary termination or involuntary
termination without Cause, all Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units held by the Participant shall be forfeited as of the date of termination.
(e) The Committee may in its discretion, when it finds that a waiver would
be in the best interests of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all
restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units; provided, that the Committee's authority under this Section 7(d) is
limited in the case of Awards subject to Section 11(f) as set forth in Section
11(f).
Section 8. Performance Units.
(a) The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Units to
Participants.
(b) Subject to the terms of the Plan, a Performance Unit granted under the
Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without
limitation, Restricted Stock), other securities, other Awards, or other property
and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof rights valued as determined by the
Committee and payable to, or exercisable by, the holder of the Performance Unit,
in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such
performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of
the Plan, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period,
the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Unit granted
and the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance
Unit shall be determined by the Committee.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (i) in the
event of a Participant's retirement prior to the expiration of any performance
period applicable to a Performance Unit granted to the Participant, the
Participant shall be entitled to receive following the expiration of such
performance period, a pro-rata portion of any amounts otherwise payable with
respect to, or a pro-rata right to exercise, the Performance Unit, (ii) in
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the event of a Participant's death, disability or involuntary termination
without Cause prior to the expiration of any performance period applicable to a
Performance Unit granted to the Participant, the Participant shall receive upon
such termination a partial payment with respect to, or a partial right to
exercise, such Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee in its
discretion, and (iii) upon a Participant's voluntary termination or involuntary
termination with Cause, all Performance Units held by the Participant shall be
canceled as of the date of termination.
Section 9. Other Stock-Based Awards.
The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Participants such other
Awards (including, without limitation, stock appreciation rights and rights to
dividends and dividend equivalents) that are denominated or payable in, valued
in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares
(including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares) as are
deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject
to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions
of such Awards. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase
right granted under this Section 9 shall be purchased for such consideration,
which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms,
including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or
other property, or any combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine,
the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall, except
in the case of Substitute Awards, not be less than the Fair Market Value of such
Shares or other securities as of the date such purchase right is granted.
Additional terms applicable to certain Other Stock-Based Awards are set forth in
Section 10.
Section 10. Effect Of Termination On Certain Awards.
Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time an Option or stock
appreciation right is granted or in any amendment thereto, if a Participant
ceases to be employed by, or serve as a non-employee director of, the Company or
any Affiliate, then:
(a) if termination is for Cause, all Options and stock appreciation rights
held by the Participant shall be canceled as of the date of termination;
(b) if termination is voluntary or involuntary without Cause, the
Participant may exercise each Option or stock appreciation right held by the
Participant within three months after such termination (but not after the
expiration date of such Award) to the extent such Award was exercisable pursuant
to its terms at the date of termination; provided, however, if the Participant
should die within three months after such termination, each Option or stock
appreciation right held by the Participant may be exercised by the Participant's
estate, or by any person who acquires the right to exercise by reason of the
Participant's death, at any time within a period of one year after death (but
not after the expiration date of the Award) to the extent such Award was
exercisable pursuant to its terms at the date of termination;
(c) if termination is (i) by reason of retirement at a time when the
Participant is entitled to the current receipt of benefits under any retirement
plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate (or alternatively, in the case
of a non-employee director, at a time when the Participant has served for five
full years or more and has attained the age of sixty), or (ii) by reason of
disability, each Option or stock appreciation right held by the Participant
shall, at the date or retirement or disability, become exercisable to the extent
of the total number of shares subject to the Option or stock appreciation right,
irrespective of the extent to which such Award would otherwise have been
exercisable pursuant to the terms of the Award at the date of retirement or
disability, and shall otherwise remain in full force and effect in accordance
with its terms;
(d) if termination is by reason of the death of the Participant, each Option
or stock appreciation right held by the Participant may be exercised by the
Participant's estate, or by any person who acquires the right to exercise such
Award by reason of the Participant's death, to the extent of the total number of
shares subject to the Award, irrespective of the extent to which such Award
would have otherwise been exercisable pursuant to the terms of the Award at the
date of death, and such Award shall otherwise remain in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms.
Section 11. General Provisions Applicable To Awards.
(a) Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal
cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.
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(b) Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone
or in addition to or in tandem with any other Award. Awards granted in addition
to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or
at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(c) Subject to the terms of the Plan, payments or transfers to be made by
the Company upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such
form or forms as the Committee shall determine including, without limitation,
cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or any
combination thereof, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in
installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and
procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include,
without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable
interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of
dividend equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company extend any loan to
any Participant in connection with the exercise of an Award; provided, however,
that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Company from maintaining or
establishing any broker-assisted cashless exercise program.
(d) Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, no Award and no right
under any Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable or transferable by a
Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable during the
Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or, if permissible under
applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative. The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Award which has been fully
exercised, earned or paid, as the case may be, and shall not preclude forfeiture
of an Award in accordance with the terms thereof.
(e) All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan
pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop
transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under
the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other
securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities laws,
and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such
certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(f) Every Award (other than an option or stock appreciation right) to a
member of the Executive Group shall, if the Committee intends that such Award
should constitute 'qualified performance-based compensation' for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Code, include a pre-established formula, such that
payment, retention or vesting of the Award is subject to the achievement during
a performance period or periods, as determined by the Committee, of a level or
levels, as determined by the Committee, of one or more of the following
performance measures: (i) Return on Net Assets, (ii) Revenue Growth, (iii)
Return on Common Equity, (iv) Total Shareholder Return, (v) Earnings Per Share,
(vi) Net Revenue Per Employee (vii) Market Share, (viii) Return on Invested
Capital, or (ix) Net Income. For any Award subject to any such pre-established
formula, no more than 150,000 Shares can be paid in satisfaction of such Award
to any Participant, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(e).
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall
not be authorized to increase the amount payable under any Award to which this
Section 11(f) applies upon attainment of such pre-established formula.
(g) Unless specifically provided to the contrary in any Award Agreement,
upon a Change in Control, all Awards shall become fully vested and exercisable,
and any restrictions applicable to any Award shall automatically lapse.
Section 12. Amendments And Termination.
(a) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise
expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan, the Board may amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any
time; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) shareholder approval if
such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for
which or with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or
comply or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would
adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may amend the
Plan in such manner as may be necessary to enable the Plan to achieve its stated
purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States in a tax-efficient manner
and in compliance with local rules and regulations.
D-7
(b) The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms
of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore
granted, prospectively or retroactively, without the consent of any relevant
Participant or holder or beneficiary of an Award, provided, however, that no
such action shall impair the rights of any affected Participant or holder or
beneficiary under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan; and provided
further that, except as provided in Section 5(e), no such action shall reduce
the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of any Award established at
the time of grant thereof and provided further, that the Committee's authority
under this Section 12(b) is limited in the case of Awards subject to Section
11(f), as set forth in Section 11(f).
(c) Except as noted in Section 11(f), the Committee shall be authorized to
make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in,
Awards in recognition of events (including, without limitation, the events
described in Section 5(e)) affecting the Company, or the financial statements of
the Company, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting
principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
(d) Any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in connection with a Business Combination, the Committee may
cause any Award granted hereunder to be canceled in consideration of a cash
payment or alternative Award made to the holder of such canceled Award equal in
value to the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award.
(e) The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile
any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it
shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
(a) No employee, Participant or other person shall have any claim to be
granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of
treatment of employees, Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards
under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with
respect to each recipient.
(b) The Committee may delegate to one or more officers or managers of the
Company, or a committee of such officers or managers, the authority, subject to
such terms and limitations as the Committee shall determine, to grant Awards to,
or to cancel, modify, waive rights with respect to, alter, discontinue, suspend
or terminate Awards held by, employees who are not officers or directors of the
Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; provided, however, that any delegation to management shall conform with
the requirements of the corporate law of New Jersey and with the requirements,
if any, of the New York Stock Exchange, in either case as in effect from time to
time.
(c) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or
any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any
compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares,
other securities, other Awards, or other property) of withholding taxes due in
respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under such Award
or under the Plan and to take such other action (including, without limitation,
providing for elective payment of such amounts in cash, Shares, other
securities, other Awards or other property by the Participant) as may be
necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the
payment of such taxes.
(d) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting or
continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such
arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific
cases.
(e) The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the
right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the
Company or the applicable Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from
employment, free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, unless
otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement or in any
other agreement binding the parties. The receipt of any Award under the Plan is
not intended to confer any rights on the receiving Participant except as set
forth in such Award.
(f) If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to
be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person
or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed
applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended
without, in the determination of
D-8
the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such
provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the
remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a
trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such
right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of
the Company.
(h) No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan
or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities
or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares,
or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled,
terminated or otherwise eliminated.
Section 14. Effective Date Of Plan.
The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval by the
stockholders of the Company.
Section 15. Term Of The Plan.
No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the
effective date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in
an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond
such date, and the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate any such Award, or to waive any conditions or rights
under any such Award, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan, shall
extend beyond such date.
D-9
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
DIRECTIONS TO
THE WOODCLIFF LAKE HILTON
FROM WESTERN NJ
Route 80 East to Garden State Parkway North. Take Garden State Parkway to Exit
171 (Woodcliff Lake). Turn left onto Glen Road. Turn right onto Chestnut Ridge
Road. Proceed approximately one-half mile and turn left onto Tice Boulevard.
Proceed to hotel on the left.
FROM NEWARK AIRPORT
Route 78 West to Garden State Parkway North. Take Garden State Parkway to Exit
171 (Woodcliff Lake). Turn left onto Glen Road. Turn right onto Chestnut Ridge
Road. Proceed approximately one-half mile and turn left onto Tice Boulevard.
Proceed to hotel on the left.
FROM TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE
Over Tappan Zee onto New York Thruway (287 West). Take Thruway to Exit 14A to
Garden State Parkway. Take first exit (School House Road-Pearl River). Turn left
onto School House Road, and turn right at light onto Summit Avenue. Turn left at
light onto Chestnut Ridge Road. Proceed 1.5 miles and turn right onto Tice
Boulevard. Proceed to hotel on the left.
FROM LAGUARDIA AIRPORT
Grand Central Parkway West (follow signs for George Washington Bridge) to
Tri-Boro bridge. Over bridge onto Major Deegan Expressway to Interstate 95 West.
Proceed over the GW Bridge, onto Route 80 West, to Garden State Parkway North.
Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 171 (Woodcliff Lake). Turn left onto Glen
Road. Turn right onto Chestnut Ridge Road. Proceed approximately one-half mile
and turn left onto Tice Boulevard. Proceed to hotel on the left.
PARKING WILL BE AVAILABLE
[RECYCLED LOGO]
Appendix 1
[BECTON DICKINSON LOGO] Helping people live health lives
Dear Shareholder:
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) encourages you to take advantage of
convenient ways by which you can vote your shares. You can vote your shares 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, using either a touch-tone telephone or through the
Internet. If you choose to vote your shares by telephone or through the
Internet, there is no need to mail back your proxy/voting instruction card. To
vote your shares electronically, please have this voting form in hand and follow
the instructions:
1. To vote over the Internet, log on to the Internet and go to the Web Site
http://www.eproxyvote.com/bdx.
2. To vote by touch-tone telephone, dial 1-877-PRXVOTE (1-877-779-8683). If
calling from outside of the U.S. or from Canada, shareholders should call
1-201-536-8073.
YOUR INTERNET OR TELEPHONE VOTE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12:01 A.M., NEW YORK CITY
TIME, ON FEBRUARY 11, 2004.
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the proxies named on the below
proxy/voting instruction card in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated
and returned the proxy/voting instruction card. Again, if you choose to vote
telephonically or through the Internet, there is no need to mail back your
proxy/voting instruction card.
Your vote is important. Thank you for voting.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
P R O X Y
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors for
Annual Meeting on February 11, 2004
The undersigned hereby appoints Edward J.Ludwig, John R.Considine, and Dean
J.Paranicas, and any of them, with full power of substitution, proxies to attend
the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held at 2:00 PM, on
Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at The Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Boulevard,
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, and any adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares
of the Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote
upon each of the matters referred to in this proxy and, in their discretion,
upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
This card constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee and BIL, respectively,
for any shares of Common Stock allocated to the undersigned under the Company's
1996 Directors'Deferral Plan ("DDP"), the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan
("DCP"), the Med-Safe Systems, Inc.Savings Incentive Plan (the "Med-Safe Plan")
and, when so provided, under the Company's Global Share Investment Program
("GSIP"), and also constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee and BIL for a
proportionate number of shares of Common Stock in the DDP, DCP, the Med-Safe
Plan and GSIP, respectively, for which no instruction card has been received
from other participants.
This card also constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee for any shares of
Common Stock and Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock allocated to the
undersigned under the Company's Savings Incentive Plan ("SIP"). In addition,
unless the box on the reverse side of this card is checked, this card also
constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee for a proportionate number of
shares of Common Stock and Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock in the SIP
that have not been allocated to participants or for which no instruction card
has been received from other participants ("unallocated/unvoted SIP shares").
You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE
REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance
with the Board of Directors'recommendations. If you do not vote by telephone or
over the Internet, please sign and return this card using the enclosed envelope.
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
SEE REVERSE SEE REVERSE
SIDE (Continued and to be dated and signed on reverse side.) SIDE
Becton, Dickinson and Company
C/O EQUISERVE
P.O. BOX 8225
Edison, NJ 08818-8225
The EquiServe Vote by Telephone and Vote by Internet systems can be accessed 24
hours a day, seven days a week until the day prior to the meeting.
Your vote is important. Please vote immediately.
Vote-by-Internet Vote-by-Telephone
OR
1. Log on to the Internet and go to 1. Call toll-free 1-877-PRX-VOTE
http://www.eproxyvote.com/bdx (1-877-779-8683)
If you vote over the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your card.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[X] Please mark votes as in this example. 1508
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein.
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Election of Directors, FOR
Proposals 2 and 3 and AGAINST Proposal 4.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1,2 and 3.
1. Election of Directors 2. Ratification of independent FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Term to Expire 2007 Nominees: auditors. [ ] [ ] [ ]
01-Henry P.Becton, Jr.,
02-Edward F.DeGraan, 3. Adoption of 2004 Employee
03-James F.Orr, and Director Equity-Based [ ] [ ] [ ]
04-Margaretha af Ugglas Compensation Plan.
[ ] FOR [ ] WITHHELD
[ ]
--------------------------------------
For nominees except as noted above
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST Proposal 4.
4. Cumulative voting. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
If this box is checked, this card does NOT [ ]
constitute voting instructions to the Trustee with
respect to unallocated/unvoted SIP shares.
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners
should each sign.When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title
as such.
Please mark here if address changes are noted on [ ]
reverse side.
Signature ___________________________Date: ________________ Signature ____________________________Date:________________
Signatures for all shares (OTHER THAN unallocated/unvoted SIP shares if the box
above is checked):