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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following commentary should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes presented in this report. Within the tables presented throughout this discussion, certain columns may not add due to the use of rounded numbers for disclosure purposes. Percentages and earnings per share amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts. References to years throughout this discussion relate to our fiscal years, which end on September 30.

Company Overview

Description of the Company and Business Segments

Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”) is a global medical technology company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. The Company's organizational structure is based upon three principal business segments, BD Medical (“Medical”), BD Life Sciences (“Life Sciences”) and BD Interventional (“Interventional”).

BD’s products are manufactured and sold worldwide. Our products are marketed in the United States and internationally through independent distribution channels and directly to end-users by BD and independent sales representatives. We organize our operations outside the United States as follows: Europe, EMA (which includes the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and Africa); Greater Asia (which includes countries in Greater China, Japan, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Korea, and Australia and New Zealand); Latin America (which includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America); and Canada. We continue to pursue growth opportunities in emerging markets, which include the following geographic regions: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and certain countries within Greater Asia. We are primarily focused on certain countries whose healthcare systems are expanding.

Strategic Objectives

BD remains focused on delivering durable growth and creating shareholder value, while making appropriate investments for the future. BD 2025, our current phase of value creation, is anchored in three key pillars: grow, simplify and empower. BD's management team aligns our operations and investments with these key strategic pillars through continuous focus on the following underlying objectives:

Grow

•Developing and maintaining a strong portfolio of leading products and solutions that address significant unmet clinical needs, improve outcomes, and reduce costs;

•Focusing on our core products, services and solutions that deliver greater benefits to patients, healthcare workers and researchers;

•Investing in research and development that will result in category innovation and a robust product pipeline;

•Leveraging our global scale to expand our reach in providing access to affordable medical technologies around the world, including emerging markets;

•Supplementing our internal growth through strategic acquisitions;

•Driving an efficient capital structure and strong shareholder returns.

Simplify

•Working across our supply chain to minimize environmental impacts;

•Creating more resilient operations based on an enterprise-wide renewable energy strategy;

•Reducing complexity across our manufacturing network and rationalizing our product portfolio;

•Enhancing our quality and risk management systems;

•Simplifying our internal business processes;

•Focusing on cash and expense management in order to improve operating effectiveness and balance sheet productivity.

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Empower

•Fostering a purpose-driven culture with a focus on positive impact to all stakeholders–customers, patients, employees and communities;

•Improving our ability to serve customers and enhance customer experiences through the digitalization of internal processes and go-to-market approaches;

•Cultivating an inclusive work environment that welcomes and celebrates diverse talent and perspectives.

In assessing the outcomes of these strategies as well as BD’s financial condition and operating performance, management generally reviews quarterly forecast data, monthly actual results, segment sales and other similar information. We also consider trends related to certain key financial data, including gross profit margin, selling and administrative expense, investment in research and development, return on invested capital, and cash flows.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts and Response

A novel strain of coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) in March 2020. In efforts to slow and control the spread of COVID-19, governments around the world issued stay at home orders, travel restrictions as well as recommendations or mandates to avoid large gatherings or to self-quarantine. Many governments also instituted restrictions on certain businesses and their activities, particularly those that were deemed non-essential. These various measures led to a sudden and significant decline in economic activity within a number of countries worldwide. Although the global economy has shown signs of recovery, current economic data indicates that full recovery has stalled in some major economies. As further discussed below, disruptions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic unfavorably impacted our results of operations in fiscal year 2020. While certain of our organizational units realized positive benefits to revenues from the pandemic, total consolidated revenues in 2020 were unfavorably impacted by an estimated net $600 million.

Our financial position has remained strong and we continue to generate operating cash flows that are sufficient to meet our short-term liquidity needs. We also further secured our financial flexibility during the economic downturn by increasing the commitments available under our revolving credit facility by $381 million and issuing $3.0 billion of equity securities. Our fiscal year 2020 debt and equity transactions are further discussed in Notes 3 and 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. We believe that given our debt ratings and our capital allocation strategy, we would have access to additional short-term and long-term capital should the need arise. We have not observed any impairments of our assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impact on global economic activity in 2020.

As noted above, due to government restrictions and a shift in healthcare priorities, there was a significant decline in medical procedures that resulted in weakened demand for our products in our fiscal year 2020. A decline in procedure volumes across acute and non-acute settings led to a decline in demand for general medical devices. We also saw a deferral in elective procedures and delays in instrument placements relating to our medication management solutions, including PyxisTM. There was also a decrease in routine diagnostic testing and specimen collections, which was offset by demand for COVID-19 testing. Additionally, there was a decrease in research activity due to laboratory closures, delays in clinical trial enrollment and reduced clinical testing.

During the last half of our fiscal year 2020, we noted moderate recovery in the demand for certain products, including those products that are driven by the volume of elective procedures. However, demand for our products has not yet fully recovered and due to the continued, significant uncertainty that exists relative to the duration and overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our future operating performance, particularly in the short-term, will be subject to volatility. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows is dependent on future developments, which are uncertain at this time, including:

•The preparedness and effectiveness of countries around the world in preventing or responding to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, or in countries where the spread has been controlled, any resurgence of the virus;

•The degree to which COVID-19 testing solutions continue to be made available and are utilized by governments, healthcare providers and institutions, retail pharmacies and the general public;

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•The pace at which hospitals and clinical laboratories fully resume patient care that is not related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

•The timing of when research performed by research laboratories and institutions will resume to normal operations; and

•The timing and strength of any global economic recovery and the degree of pressure that the weaker macroeconomic environment will put on future healthcare utilization and the global demand for our products.

As part of our overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have deployed our capabilities, expertise and scale to address critical health needs related to COVID-19 as follows:

•Our COVID-19 antigen detection test that can provide results in 15 minutes using a simple nasal swab and our portable BD VeritorTM Plus System was approved for Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and received the CE marking for use in the European Union.

•In addition to this immunoassay test, BD's portfolio of molecular solutions for COVID-19 testing includes three other tests that have been registered for use with our BD MaxTM molecular system.

•We have leveraged our category leading position as a manufacturer of needles and syringes to enter into partnerships with governments around the world to help prepare for a future COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Additionally, we have been adhering to guidance provided by the WHO, as well as by health officials in various countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the health and safety of BD employees while ensuring continued availability of BD’s critical medical devices and technologies at this unprecedented time. We have worked closely with governmental officials to keep our manufacturing facilities (and those of our suppliers) open due to the essential nature of our products. Due to our enactment of business continuity plans, we have not experienced any significant disruption to our operations and supply chain to date. We also enacted certain cost containment measures to mitigate the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations. Such actions have included travel restrictions, temporary reductions in executive compensation, a temporary suspension of matching contributions to certain voluntary defined contribution and other benefit plans, as well as temporary work reductions for certain manufacturing teams.

Further discussion regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results in 2020 is provided below.

Summary of Financial Results

Worldwide revenues in 2020 of $17.117 billion decreased 1.0% from the prior-year period. This decrease reflected unfavorable impacts from foreign currency translation and price of approximately 1.0% and 0.2%, respectively. Volume increased by approximately 0.2%. We estimate that the COVID-19 pandemic reduced volume growth in 2020 by approximately 3.3%. Volume in 2020 reflected the following:

•The Medical segment’s revenues in 2020 reflected declines in the Medication Delivery Solutions, Medication Management Solutions and Diabetes Care units that were partially offset by growth in the Pharmaceutical Systems unit.

•The Life Sciences segment’s revenues in 2020 reflected growth that was driven by the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit’s sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing on the BD VeritorTM Plus and BD MaxTM Systems.

•Interventional segment revenues in 2020 were negatively impacted by decreased demand associated with the deferral of elective medical procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We continue to invest in research and development, geographic expansion, and new product market programs to drive further revenue and profit growth. Our ability to sustain our long-term growth will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to expand our core business (including geographical expansion), develop innovative new products, and continue to improve operating efficiency and organizational effectiveness. As discussed above, current global economic conditions are highly volatile due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, pricing pressure exists globally which could adversely impact our businesses.

As noted above, our financial position remains strong, with cash flows from operating activities totaling $3.539 billion in 2020. At September 30, 2020, we had $2.937 billion in cash and equivalents and short-term investments, including restricted cash. We continued to return value to our shareholders in the form of

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dividends. During fiscal year 2020, we paid cash dividends of $1.026 billion, including $888 million paid to common shareholders and $137 million paid to preferred shareholders.

Each reporting period, we face currency exposure that arises from translating the results of our worldwide operations to the U.S. dollar at exchange rates that fluctuate from the beginning of such period. A stronger U.S. dollar in 2020, compared with 2019, resulted in an unfavorable foreign currency translation impact to our revenues and earnings during 2020. We evaluate our results of operations on both a reported and a foreign currency-neutral basis, which excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. As exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of results on a foreign currency-neutral basis in addition to reported results helps improve investors’ ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Foreign currency-neutral (“FXN”) information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. We use results on a foreign currency-neutral basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. We calculate foreign currency-neutral percentages by converting our current-period local currency financial results using the prior-period foreign currency exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current-period results. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Results on a foreign currency-neutral basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of performance presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Results of Operations

Medical Segment

The following summarizes Medical revenues by organizational unit:

(a)The presentation of amounts in 2019 and 2018 reflects the reclassification of $11 million and $17 million, respectively, associated with the movement of certain products from the Medication Delivery Solutions unit to the Medication Management Solutions unit, which was effective on October 1, 2019.

The Medical segment’s revenues in 2020 reflected declines in the Medication Delivery Solutions, Medication Management Solutions and Diabetes Care units that were partially offset by growth in the Pharmaceutical Systems unit. The Medication Delivery Solutions unit's revenues in 2020 reflected an unfavorable impact relating to the COVID-19 pandemic due to a decline in healthcare utilization, particularly in the United States, China and Europe. As expected, the Medication Delivery Solutions unit's 2020 revenues in China were also unfavorably impacted by a new volume-based procurement process which has been adopted by several of China's provinces. The Medication Management Solutions unit's revenues in 2020 reflected a hold on U.S. shipments of BD AlarisTM infusion pumps pending compliance with certain 510(k) filing requirements of the FDA. This unfavorable impact was partially offset by international sales of infusion pumps and pandemic-related infusion pump orders placed in the United States with medical necessity certification. We continue to make progress on our regulatory filing related to the BD AlarisTM infusion pumps and we currently expect the filing to be made with the FDA either at the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter of BD's fiscal

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year 2021. Fiscal year 2020 revenues in the Diabetes Care unit were unfavorably impacted by pricing pressures in the United States. The Pharmaceutical Systems unit’s revenues in 2020 reflected continued strength in demand for prefillable products.

The Medical segment's revenues in 2019 were favorably impacted by the inclusion of revenues associated with certain C.R. Bard, Inc. ("Bard") products within the Medication Delivery Solutions unit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 but not in the first quarter of the prior-year period as operating activities of Bard, which was acquired on December 29, 2017, were not included in our consolidated results of operations until January 1, 2018. The Medication Delivery Solution unit's 2019 revenues also reflected strong growth in global sales of vascular access devices. The Medication Management Solutions unit's revenues in 2019 reflected sales growth attributable to the installations of infusion and dispensing systems, as well as growth in sales of disposables. The Pharmaceutical Systems unit's 2019 revenue growth was driven by sales of prefillable products and self-injection systems. Strength in the Diabetes Care unit's sales of pen needles in emerging markets was partially offset by lower growth in U.S. sales.

Medical segment operating income was as follows:

Segment operating income as % of Medical revenues 26.2 % 31.2 % 30.5 %

As discussed in greater detail below, the Medical segment's operating income in 2020 was primarily driven by a decline in gross profit margin. Operating income in 2019 was driven by improved gross profit margin and operating expense performance.

•The Medical segment's gross profit margin in 2020 was lower compared with 2019 which reflected a charge to record a probable estimate of future costs associated with incremental remediation efforts relating to BD AlarisTM infusion pumps. Gross profit margin in 2020 also reflected unfavorable product mix and increased levels of manufacturing overhead costs that were recognized in the period, rather than capitalized within inventory, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfavorable product mix in 2020 was also driven by the decline of sales in China due to the volume-based procurement process noted above. Gross profit margin in 2020 was also lower due to charges of $41 million recorded to write down the carrying value of certain fixed assets, primarily within the Medication Delivery Solutions and Pharmaceutical Systems units. These unfavorable impacts were partially offset by lower manufacturing costs resulting from continuous improvement projects which enhanced the efficiency of our operations. The Medical segment's gross profit margin in 2019 was higher as compared with 2018 primarily due to lower manufacturing costs resulting from continuous improvement projects which enhanced the efficiency of our operations. Additionally, the comparison of gross profit margin in 2019 with gross profit margin in 2018 reflected the unfavorable impacts in 2018 of a fair value step-up adjustment relating to Bard's inventory on the acquisition date and charges to write down the value of fixed assets, primarily in the Diabetes Care unit. These favorable impacts to the Medical segment's gross margin in 2019 were partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation, higher raw material costs and pricing pressures.

•Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 was slightly lower compared with 2019 primarily due to lower expenses resulting from cost containment measures. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was relatively flat compared with 2018.

•Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues was higher in 2020 which reflected the decline in revenues in 2020, as well as our continued commitment to drive innovation with new products and platforms. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues was lower in 2019 compared with 2018 due to recent completion of projects and the timing of project spending.

•The Medical segment's income in 2019 additionally reflected the estimated cumulative costs of a product recall of $75 million recorded within Other operating expense, net. The recall related to a product component, which generally pre-dated our acquisition of CareFusion in fiscal year 2015, within the Medication Management Solutions unit's infusion systems platform.

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Life Sciences Segment

The following summarizes Life Sciences revenues by organizational unit:

Integrated Diagnostic Solutions (a)

(a)Effective October 1, 2019, the Life Sciences segment's former Preanalytical Systems and Diagnostic Systems units were joined to create the new Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit. Additional disclosures regarding this change are provided in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The Life Sciences segment's revenue growth in 2020 was driven by the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit's sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing on the BD VeritorTM Plus and BD MaxTM Systems. This growth in the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit was partially offset by pandemic-related declines in routine diagnostic testing and specimen collections. The Biosciences unit's revenues in 2020 reflected a decline in demand for instruments and reagents as routine research and clinical lab activity slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Life Sciences segment's revenues in 2019 reflected continued strength in sales of the Preanalytical Systems unit's sales of core products in emerging markets. The Diagnostic Systems unit's 2019 revenues reflected growth in its BD MAXTM molecular platform as well as growth in sales of core microbiology products. This sales growth in the Diagnostic Systems unit was partially offset by an unfavorable comparison of the unit's U.S. revenues in 2019 to revenues in 2018, as the prior-year period benefited from a more severe influenza season. Revenues in the Biosciences unit in 2019 reflected growth in research reagent sales, as well as growth in U.S. research instrument sales, but were unfavorably impacted by the unit's divestiture of the Advanced Bioprocessing business. The Biosciences unit's results for 2018 included revenues associated with the Advanced Bioprocessing business of $106 million.

Life Sciences segment operating income was as follows:

Life Sciences segment operating income $ 1,405 $ 1,248 $ 1,207

Segment operating income as % of Life Sciences revenues 30.0 % 29.0 % 27.9 %

As discussed in greater detail below, the Life Sciences segment's operating income in 2020 reflected improved operating expense performance, partially offset by a decline in gross profit margin. Operating income in 2019 was driven by improved gross profit margin and operating expense performance.

•The Life Sciences segment's gross profit margin as a percentage of revenues in fiscal year 2020 was lower compared with the 2019 which primarily reflected unfavorable product mix and increased levels of manufacturing overhead costs that were recognized in the period, rather than capitalized within

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inventory, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gross margin in 2020 was also unfavorably impacted by a charge of $39 million recorded to write down the carrying value of certain intangible assets in the Biosciences unit and charges of $17 million recorded to write down fixed assets in the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit. These unfavorable impacts were partially offset by a favorable impact on product mix from the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit's sales related to COVID-19 testing. The Life Sciences segment's gross profit margin as a percentage of revenues in fiscal year 2019 was relatively flat compared with gross margin in 2018. Gross margin in 2019 was favorably impacted by lower manufacturing costs resulting from continuous improvement projects which enhanced the efficiency of our operations, as well as by the unfavorable prior-year impact of the Biosciences unit's write-down of certain intangible and other assets. These favorable impacts to gross margin in 2019 were offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation and higher raw material costs.

•Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of Life Sciences revenues in 2020 was lower compared to 2019 primarily due to the increase in revenues that was attributable to COVID-19 testing. Lower selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 was also the result of expense synergies realized from the combination of the Preanalytical Systems and Diagnostic Systems units, as noted above, and lower expenses resulting from cost containment measures. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of Life Sciences revenues in 2019 was lower compared to 2018 primarily due to reduced general and administrative spending.

•Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 was flat compared with 2019 as the increase in revenues that was attributable to COVID-19 testing was largely offset by investments in COVID-19 testing solutions. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was lower compared with 2018 primarily due to the Biosciences unit's recognition of write-downs in the prior-year period and also due to the timing of project spending.

Interventional Segment

The following summarizes Interventional revenues by organizational unit:

(a)The presentation of amounts in 2019 and 2018 reflects the reclassification of $185 million and $194 million, respectively, associated with the movement of certain products from the Surgery unit and the Urology and Critical Care unit to the Peripheral Intervention unit, which was effective on October 1, 2019.

The Interventional segment's revenues in 2020, particularly within the Surgery and Peripheral Intervention units, were negatively impacted by decreased demand associated with the deferral of elective medical procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-related revenue declines in the Urology and Critical Care unit were offset by demand for the unit's home care and targeted temperature management businesses.

The Interventional segment's revenues in 2019 were favorably impacted by the inclusion of revenues associated with Bard's products in the segment's results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, as noted above. Interventional segment revenues in 2019 also reflected growth in the Urology and Critical Care unit's sales of acute urology products and sales by the unit's home care and targeted temperature management businesses. Fiscal year 2019 revenues in the Surgery unit reflected growth in sales of the unit's biosurgery and infection prevention products. The Peripheral Intervention unit's 2019 revenues reflected growth in emerging

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market sales. This growth was partially offset by an unfavorable impact related to a letter issued in March 2019 by the FDA to healthcare professionals regarding the use of paclitaxel-coated devices in the treatment of peripheral artery disease, which impacted sales of our drug-coated balloon products.

Interventional segment operating income was as follows:

Interventional segment operating income $ 724 $ 903 $ 306

Segment operating income as % of Interventional revenues 19.2 % 23.0 % 10.1 %

As discussed in greater detail below, the Interventional segment's operating income in 2020 was primarily driven by a decline in gross profit margin. Operating income in 2019 was driven by improved gross profit margin and operating expense performance.

•Gross profit margin was lower in 2020 as compared with 2019 primarily due to unfavorable product mix and increased levels of manufacturing overhead costs that were recognized in the period, rather than capitalized within inventory, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gross profit margin was higher in 2019 as compared with 2018 primarily due to the unfavorable prior-year impact of recognizing a fair value step-up adjustment relating to Bard's inventory on the acquisition date and lower manufacturing costs resulting from continuous improvement projects, which enhanced the efficiency of our operations, and synergy initiatives. These favorable impacts to the Interventional segment's gross margin were partially offset by unfavorable product mix and unfavorable foreign currency translation.

•Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 was lower compared with 2019 primarily due to lower expenses resulting from cost containment measures. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was relatively flat compared with 2018.

•Lower research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 as compared with 2019 primarily reflected the prior-period impact of a write-down recorded by the Surgery unit. This write-down drove higher research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 as compared with 2018.

•The Interventional segment's lower income in 2020 additionally reflected the expiration in 2019 of a royalty income stream acquired in the Bard transaction.

Geographic Revenues

BD’s worldwide revenues by geography were as follows:

U.S. revenues in 2020 were relatively flat compared with 2019 as the Life Sciences segment's Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit's sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing largely offset the declines noted above for the Medical segment's Medication Management Solutions and Medication Delivery Solutions units, as well as for the Interventional segment's Surgery and Peripheral Intervention units.

U.S. revenues in 2019 reflected growth in all three segments. U.S. revenues in 2019 were favorably impacted by the inclusion of revenues associated with Bard's products in results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, as noted above. Revenue growth in 2019 was also attributable to sales in the Medical segment's Medication Management Solutions unit as well as to sales in the Interventional segment's Urology and Critical Care and Surgery units. U.S. revenue growth in 2019 was unfavorably impacted by results in the Medical

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segment's Diabetes Care unit, the Life Sciences segment's Diagnostic Systems unit and the Interventional segment's Peripheral Intervention unit, as previously noted in the discussions above.

International revenues in 2020 were favorably impacted by sales in the Medical segment's Pharmaceutical Systems and Medication Management Solutions units as well as by sales in the Life Sciences segment's Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit, as discussed further above. International revenues in 2020 were unfavorably impacted by revenue declines in China and Europe for the Medical segment's Medication Delivery Solutions unit, as previously discussed.

International revenue growth in 2019 reflected growth in all three segments. International revenues in 2019 were favorably impacted by the inclusion of revenues associated with Bard's products in results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, as noted above. Fiscal year 2019 international revenue growth was also driven by sales in the Medical segment's Medication Delivery Solutions and Pharmaceutical Systems units as well as by sales in the Life Sciences segment's Diagnostic Systems and Preanalytical Systems units.

Emerging market revenues were $2.42 billion, $2.71 billion and $2.53 billion in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted emerging market revenues in 2020 and 2019 by an estimated $100 million and $155 million, respectively. Revenues in emerging markets in 2020 were unfavorably impacted by a decline in healthcare utilization as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously discussed above, revenues in our Medication Delivery Solutions unit were also unfavorably impacted by a new volume-based procurement process which has been adopted by several of China's provinces. To date, the impact of these procurement initiatives to our revenues in China has been limited to our Medication Delivery Solutions unit. Emerging market revenue growth in 2019 was favorably impacted by the inclusion of revenues associated with Bard's products in our results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, as noted above. Underlying growth in 2019 was particularly driven by sales in China and EMA.

Specified Items

Reflected in the financial results for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were the following specified items:

Transaction costs (a) 1 1 56

Financing costs (b) — — 49

Investment gains/losses and asset impairments (e) 100 17 (151)

European regulatory initiative-related costs (f) 106 51 —

Impacts of debt extinguishment 8 54 16

Hurricane recovery-related impacts — (24) 17

Less: tax impact of specified items and tax reform (g) 395 622 (265)

(a)Represents integration, restructuring and transaction costs, recorded in Acquisitions and other restructurings, which are further discussed below.

(b)Represents financing impacts associated with the Bard acquisition, which were recorded in Interest income and Interest expense.

(c)Includes amortization and other adjustments related to the purchase accounting for acquisitions impacting identified intangible assets and valuation of fixed assets and debt. BD’s amortization expense is primarily recorded in Cost of products sold. The amount in 2018 also included fair value step-up adjustments of $478 million relating to Bard's inventory on the acquisition date.

(d)Includes amounts recorded to Other operating expense, net to record product liability reserves, including related legal defense costs, as further discussed below. The amount in 2020 also includes net charges, which were recorded to Cost of products sold and Other income, net, related to the estimates of probable future product remediation costs. Additional items recorded to Other operating expense, net in

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2019 included the estimated cumulative costs of a product recall, as well as the pre-tax gain related to BD's sale of its Advanced Bioprocessing business.

(e)The amounts in 2020, 2019 and 2018 included total charges of $98 million, $30 million and $139 million, respectively, recorded in Cost of products sold and Research and development expense to write down the carrying value of certain assets, as previously noted in the segment operating income discussions above. The amount in 2019 also included an unrealized gain of $13 million recorded within Other income, net relating to an investment. The amount in 2018 also included a net income amount of $303 million recorded to Other income, net related to BD's sale of its non-controlling interest in Vyaire Medical.

(f)Represents costs required to develop processes and systems to comply with emerging regulations such as the European Union Medical Device Regulation ("EUMDR") and General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"). These costs were recorded in Cost of products sold and Research and development expense.

(g)The amounts in 2019 and 2018 included additional tax (benefit) expense, net, of $(50) million and $640 million, respectively relating to new U.S. tax legislation which is further discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Gross Profit Margin

The comparison of gross profit margins in 2020 and 2019 and the comparison of gross profit margins in 2019 and 2018 reflected the following impacts:

Gross profit margin % prior-year period 47.9 % 45.5 %

Operating performance (1.5) % 0.1 %

Foreign currency translation (0.1) % (0.6) %

Gross profit margin % current-year period 44.3 % 47.9 %

The impacts of purchase accounting adjustments and other specified items include the following:

•The impact in 2020 includes a net full-year charge of $244 million to record a probable estimate of future costs within the Medication Management Solutions unit associated with remediation efforts related to BD AlarisTM infusion pumps. Based on the course of our remediation efforts, it is possible that this estimate could change over time. Any remediation actions will continue to be guided by our proactive commitment to patient safety and we will work closely with our customers to minimize the disruption of patient care.

•The impact in 2020 also includes $59 million of charges that were recorded to write down the carrying value of certain fixed assets in the Medical and Life Sciences segments, as discussed further above, and a $39 million charge to write down the carrying value of certain intangible assets in the Biosciences unit.

•The impact of purchase accounting adjustments and other specified items in 2019 was favorable due to a comparison to 2018, which included the recognition of fair value step-up adjustments relating to Bard's inventory on the acquisition date, as well as write-downs of certain assets in the Biosciences and Diabetes Care units in 2018 as further discussed above.

Operating performance in 2020 primarily reflected unfavorable product mix and increased levels of manufacturing overhead costs that were recognized in the period, rather than capitalized within inventory, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The higher levels of manufacturing overhead costs incurred in the current-year periods were driven, to a large extent, by the impact of lower plant utilization in our highly automated manufacturing sites. These unfavorable impacts to operating performance were partially offset by the favorable impact on product mix from the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions unit's sales related to COVID-19 testing, as further discussed above, as well as by lower manufacturing costs resulting from continuous operations improvement projects and synergy initiatives.

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The operating performance impact in 2019 reflected lower manufacturing costs resulting from the continuous improvement projects and synergy initiatives, as well as the favorable impact of Bard on product mix. Operating performance in 2019 was unfavorably impacted by higher raw material costs and unfavorable product mix.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Increase (decrease) in basis points

Acquisitions and other restructurings $ 309 $ 480 $ 740

Other operating expense, net $ 363 $ 654 $ —

Selling and administrative

Slightly higher selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 compared with 2019 reflected the decline in revenues in 2020, higher shipping costs as a result of expedited shipments relating to COVID-19, as well as $25 million of funding for the BD Foundation. These unfavorable impacts were partially offset by lower selling expenses and favorable foreign currency translation. Selling and administrative spending in 2020 reflected our ongoing focus on disciplined spending and the achievement of cost synergies resulting from our acquisition of Bard, as well as cost containment measures we enacted to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was flat compared with 2018 as higher revenues and the achievement of cost synergies offset the impact of higher selling and general administrative costs attributable to Bard, which had a higher selling and administrative spending profile than BD, in our results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, as noted above.

Research and development

Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2020 was higher compared with 2019 primarily due to investments in compliance with emerging regulations and investments in COVID-19 testing solutions, as further discussed above. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was relatively flat compared with 2018. Spending in 2020, 2019 and 2018 reflected our continued commitment to invest in new products and platforms. As further discussed above, expenses in 2019 included certain write-down charges in the Surgery unit and expenses in 2018 included write-down charges in the Biosciences unit.

Acquisitions and other restructurings

Costs relating to acquisitions and other restructurings in 2020 and 2019 largely represented integration and restructuring costs incurred due to our acquisition of Bard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. Restructuring costs in 2020 also included costs related to simplification and other cost saving initiatives. Costs relating to acquisitions and other restructurings in 2018 also included integration and restructuring costs related to our fiscal year 2015 CareFusion acquisition and portfolio rationalization initiatives. For further disclosures regarding the costs relating to acquisitions and other restructurings, refer to Notes 10 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Other operating expense, net

Other operating expense in 2020 primarily represents charges of $378 million to record product liability reserves, including related legal defense costs. Net other operating expense in 2019 included charges of approximately $914 million relating to product liability matters, a charge to record the estimated cost of $75

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million relating to a product recall in the Medical segment, as further discussed above, and a pre-tax gain of $336 million recognized on BD's sale of its Advanced Bioprocessing business. Additional disclosures regarding the product liability matters and divestiture transaction are provided in Notes 5 and 11, respectively, to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Net Interest Expense

Lower interest expense in 2020 and 2019 compared with the prior-year periods reflected debt repayments during fiscal year 2019, as well as lower overall interest rates on debt outstanding as a result of refinancing activities. The decrease in interest expense in 2019 compared with 2018 also reflected higher fees incurred in 2018 to draw from a term loan facility we entered in September 2018. Additional disclosures regarding our financing arrangements and debt instruments are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The decrease in interest income in 2019 compared with 2018 reflected higher levels of cash on hand in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 in anticipation of closing the Bard acquisition at the end of the quarter.

Income Taxes

The income tax rates in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Effective income tax rate 11.3 % (4.8) % 73.5 %

Impact, in basis points, from specified items and tax reform (320) (1,920) 5,680

The impact from specified items in 2020 was less favorable compared with the benefit associated with specified items in 2019. The effective income tax rate in 2019 reflected a favorable impact relating to the timing of certain discrete items, as well as the recognition of $50 million of tax benefit recorded for the impacts of U.S. tax legislation that was enacted in December 2017, compared with additional tax expense of $640 million that was recognized as a result of this legislation in 2018. For further disclosures regarding our accounting for this U.S. tax legislation, refer to Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share

Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Net income (Millions of dollars) $ 874 $ 1,233 $ 311

Diluted Earnings per Share $ 2.71 $ 3.94 $ 0.60

Unfavorable impact-specified items $ (7.49) $ (7.74) $ (10.11)

Dilutive impact from share issuances $ — $ — $ (0.30)

The dilutive impact from share issuances in 2018 represents the impact of BD shares issued in connection with the Bard acquisition. Our equity transactions and the Bard acquisition are further discussed in Notes 3 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Financial Instrument Market Risk

We selectively use financial instruments to manage market risk, primarily foreign currency exchange risk and interest rate risk relating to our ongoing business operations. The counterparties to these contracts are highly rated financial institutions. We do not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign Exchange Risk

BD and its subsidiaries transact business in various foreign currencies throughout Europe, Greater Asia, Canada and Latin America. We face foreign currency exposure from the effect of fluctuating exchange rates on payables and receivables relating to transactions that are denominated in currencies other than our functional currency. These payables and receivables primarily arise from intercompany transactions. We hedge substantially all such exposures, primarily through the use of forward contracts. We also face currency exposure that arises from translating the results of our worldwide operations, including sales, to the U.S. dollar at exchange rates that have fluctuated from the beginning of a reporting period. From time to time, we may purchase forward contracts and options to hedge certain forecasted transactions that are denominated in foreign currencies in order to partially protect against a reduction in the value of future earnings resulting from adverse foreign exchange rate movements. Gains or losses on derivative instruments are largely offset by the gains or losses on the underlying hedged transactions. We did not enter into contracts to hedge cash flows against foreign currency fluctuations in fiscal year 2020 or 2019.

Derivative financial instruments are recorded on our balance sheet at fair value. For foreign currency derivatives, market risk is determined by calculating the impact on fair value of an assumed change in foreign exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. Fair values were estimated based upon observable inputs, specifically spot currency rates and foreign currency prices for similar assets and liabilities.

With respect to the foreign currency derivative instruments outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 2019, the impact that changes in the U.S. dollar would have on pre-tax earnings was estimated as follows:

Increase (decrease)

10% appreciation in U.S. dollar $ (52) $ (16)

10% depreciation in U.S. dollar $ 52 $ 16

These calculations do not reflect the impact of exchange gains or losses on the underlying transactions that would substantially offset the results of the derivative instruments.

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Interest Rate Risk

When managing interest rate exposures, we strive to achieve an appropriate balance between fixed and floating rate instruments. We may enter into interest rate swaps to help maintain this balance and manage debt and interest-bearing investments in tandem, since these items have an offsetting impact on interest rate exposure. For interest rate derivative instruments, fair values are measured based upon the present value of expected future cash flows using market-based observable inputs including credit risk and interest rate yield curves. Market risk for these instruments is determined by calculating the impact to fair value of an assumed change in interest rates across all maturities.

The impact that changes in interest rates would have on interest rate derivatives outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 2019, as well as the effect that changes in interest rates would have on our earnings or cash flows over a one-year period, based upon our overall interest rate exposure, were estimated as follows:

10% increase in interest rates $ 13 $ 19 $ — $ (4)

10% decrease in interest rates $ (14) $ (19) $ — $ 4

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table summarizes our consolidated statement of cash flows in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Net cash provided by (used for)

Financing activities $ 22 $ (3,223) $ (58)

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities in 2020 reflected net income, adjusted by a change in operating assets and liabilities that was a net source of cash. This net source of cash primarily reflected higher levels of accounts payable and accrued expenses and lower levels of prepaid expenses, partially offset by higher levels of inventory and trade receivables.

Cash flows from operating activities in 2019 reflected net income, adjusted by a change in operating assets and liabilities that was a net use of cash. This net use of cash primarily reflected lower levels of accounts payable and accrued expenses and higher levels of inventory, partially offset by lower levels of prepaid expenses. The lower levels of accounts payable and accrued expenses were primarily attributable to cash paid related to income taxes and our product liability matters, as well as the timing and amount of interest payments due in the period. Cash flows from operating activities in 2019 additionally reflected $200 million of discretionary cash contributions to fund our pension obligation.

Cash flows from operating activities in 2018 reflected net income, adjusted by a change in operating assets and liabilities that was a net source of cash. This net source of cash primarily reflected higher levels of accounts payable and accrued expenses, primarily due to higher income taxes payable as a result of new U.S. tax legislation , as well as lower levels of inventory, partially offset by higher levels of trade receivables. The change in cash flows from operating activities in 2018 also reflected a change to deferred tax asset and liability balances which were remeasured under new tax legislation, which is further discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The change in cash flows from operating activities in 2018 additionally reflected discretionary cash contributions of $287 million to fund our pension obligation.

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Net Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Capital expenditures

Our investments in capital expenditures are focused on projects that enhance our cost structure and manufacturing capabilities, and support our strategy of geographic expansion with select investments in growing markets. Capital expenditures of $810 million, $957 million and $895 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, primarily related to manufacturing capacity expansions. Details of spending by segment are contained in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Acquisitions

Cash outflows for acquisitions in 2020 primarily reflected our acquisition of Straub Medical AG in the third quarter of 2020. Cash outflows for acquisitions in 2018 primarily related to our acquisition of Bard. For further discussion regarding the Bard acquisition, refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Divestitures

Cash inflows relating to divestitures in 2019 and 2018 were $477 million and $534 million, respectively. For further discussion, refer to Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Net Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash from financing activities in 2020, 2019 and 2018 included the following significant cash flows:

Cash inflow (outflow)

Change in credit facility borrowings $ (485) $ 485 $ —

Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans $ 3,389 $ 2,224 $ 5,086

Payments of debt and term loans $ (4,664) $ (4,744) $ (3,996)

Proceeds from issuances of equity securities $ 2,917 $ — $ —

Additional disclosures regarding the equity and debt-related financing activities detailed above are provided in Notes 3 and 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Debt-Related Activities

Certain measures relating to our total debt were as follows:

Short-term debt as a percentage of total debt 3.9 % 6.8 % 12.1 %

Weighted average cost of total debt 2.8 % 2.9 % 3.2 %

Total debt as a percentage of total capital (a) 41.3 % 45.6 % 47.8 %

(a) Represents shareholders’ equity, net non-current deferred income tax liabilities, and debt.

The decreases in our total debt at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 reflected repayments and redemptions of certain notes, partially offset by issuances of long-term notes in 2020 and 2019. Additional disclosures regarding our debt instruments are provided in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Cash and Short-term Investments

At September 30, 2020, total worldwide cash and short-term investments were $2.937 billion, including restricted cash, which were largely held in the United States.

Financing Facilities

We have a five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility in place which will expire in December 2022. The facility agreement includes a provision that enabled BD, subject to additional commitments made by the lenders, to access up to an additional $500 million in financing through the facility for a maximum aggregate commitment of $2.75 billion. In April 2020, we entered into a supplement to the facility agreement which increased the revolving commitments available under the facility by $381 million. As such, borrowings provided for under the agreement increased from $2.25 billion to $2.63 billion. We are also able to issue up to $100 million in letters of credit under this revolving credit facility. We use proceeds from this facility to fund general corporate needs. There were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility at September 30, 2020.

The agreement for our revolving credit facility and the supplement entered into in April 2020 contained the following financial covenants. We were in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2020.

•We are required to maintain an interest expense coverage ratio of not less than 4-to-1 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter.

•We are required to have a leverage coverage ratio of no more than:

◦6-to-1 from the closing date of the Bard acquisition until and including the first fiscal quarter-end thereafter;

◦5.75-to-1 for the subsequent four fiscal quarters thereafter;

◦5.25-to-1 for the subsequent four fiscal quarters thereafter;

◦4.5-to-1 for the subsequent four fiscal quarters thereafter;

◦4-to-1 for the subsequent four fiscal quarters thereafter;

◦3.75-to-1 thereafter.

In March 2020, we entered into a 364-day senior unsecured term loan facility with borrowing capacity available of $2.0 billion. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, we repaid $1.9 billion of borrowings outstanding under this term loan with cash on hand and terminated the facility. We also have informal lines of credit outside the United States. We may, from time to time, access the commercial paper market as we manage working capital over the normal course of our business activities. We had no commercial paper borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2020. Also over the normal course of our business activities, we transfer certain trade receivable assets to third parties under factoring agreements. Additional disclosures regarding these sales of trade receivable assets are provided in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Access to Capital and Credit Ratings

Our corporate credit ratings with the rating agencies Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"), Moody's Investor Service (Moody's) and Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") were as follows at September 30, 2020:

S&P Moody’s Fitch

Ratings:

Senior Unsecured Debt BBB Ba1 BBB-

Commercial Paper A-2 NP

Outlook Negative Positive Stable

In March 2020, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services affirmed our September 30, 2019 ratings and revised the agency's outlook regarding the likely direction of these ratings from Stable to Negative.

Lower corporate debt ratings and further downgrades of our corporate credit ratings or other credit ratings may increase our cost of borrowing. We believe that given our debt ratings, our financial management policies, our ability to generate cash flow and the non-cyclical, geographically diversified nature of our businesses, we would have access to additional short-term and long-term capital should the need arise. A rating reflects only the view of a rating agency and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings can be revised

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upward or downward at any time by a rating agency if such rating agency decides that circumstances warrant such a change.

Contractual Obligations

In the normal course of business, we enter into contracts and commitments that obligate us to make payments in the future. The table below sets forth BD’s significant contractual obligations and related scheduled payments as of September 30, 2020:

(Millions of dollars)

Short-term debt $ 708 $ 708 $ — $ — $ —

Unrecognized tax benefits (c) — — — — —

(a)Long-term debt obligations include expected principal and interest obligations.

(b)Purchase obligations are for purchases made in the normal course of business to meet operational and capital requirements.

(c)Unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2020 of $620 million were all long-term in nature. Due to the uncertainty related to the timing of the reversal of these tax positions, the related liability has been excluded from the table.

(d)Required funding obligations for 2021 relating to pension and other postretirement benefit plans are not expected to be material.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following discussion supplements the descriptions of our accounting policies contained in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex and, consequently, actual results could differ from those estimates. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. For any given estimate or assumption made by management, it is possible that other people applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances could develop different estimates. Actual results that differ from management’s estimates could have an unfavorable effect on our consolidated financial statements. Management believes the following critical accounting policies reflect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition

Our revenues are primarily recognized when the customer obtains control of the product sold, which is generally upon shipment or delivery, depending on the delivery terms specified in the sales agreement. Revenues associated with certain instruments and equipment for which installation is complex, and therefore significantly affects the customer’s ability to use and benefit from the product, are recognized when customer acceptance of these installed products has been confirmed. For certain service arrangements, including extended warranty and software maintenance contracts, revenue is recognized ratably over the contract term. The majority of revenues relating to extended warranty contracts associated with certain instruments and equipment is generally recognized within a few years whereas deferred revenue relating to software maintenance contracts is generally recognized over a longer period.

Our agreements with customers within certain organizational units including Medication Management Solutions, Integrated Diagnostic Solutions and Biosciences, contain multiple performance obligations including

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both products and certain services noted above. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately may require judgment. The transaction price for these agreements is allocated to each performance obligation based upon its relative standalone selling price. Standalone selling price is the amount at which we would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer. We generally estimate standalone selling prices using list prices and a consideration of typical discounts offered to customers. The use of alternative estimates could result in a different amount of revenue deferral.

Our gross revenues are subject to a variety of deductions, which include rebates and sales discounts. These deductions represent estimates of the related obligations and judgment is required when determining the impact on gross revenues for a reporting period. Additional factors considered in the estimate of our rebate liability include the quantification of inventory that is either in stock at or in transit to our distributors, as well as the estimated lag time between the sale of product and the payment of corresponding rebates.

Impairment of Assets

Goodwill assets are subject to impairment reviews at least annually, or whenever indicators of impairment arise. Intangible assets with finite lives, including developed technology, and other long-lived assets, are periodically reviewed for impairment when impairment indicators are present.

We assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or

one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. Our reporting units generally represent one

level below reporting segments. Potential impairment of goodwill is generally identified by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. Our annual goodwill impairment test performed on July 1, 2020 did not result in any impairment charges, as the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value.

We generally use the income approach to derive the fair value for impairment assessments. This approach calculates fair value by estimating future cash flows attributable to the assets and then discounting these cash flows to a present value using a risk-adjusted discount rate. We selected this method because we believe the income approach most appropriately measures the value of our income producing assets. This approach requires significant management judgment with respect to future volume, revenue and expense growth rates, changes in working capital use, appropriate discount rates, terminal values and other assumptions and estimates. The estimates and assumptions used are consistent with BD’s business plans. The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value of the asset. Actual results may differ from management’s estimates.

Income Taxes

BD maintains valuation allowances where it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances are included in our tax provision in the period of change. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, management evaluates factors such as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carry back and carry forward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset.

BD conducts business and files tax returns in numerous countries and currently has tax audits in progress in a number of tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the exposure associated with various tax filing positions, we record accruals for uncertain tax positions based on the technical support for the positions, our past audit experience with similar situations, and the potential interest and penalties related to the matters. BD’s effective tax rate in any given period could be impacted if, upon resolution with taxing authorities, we prevailed in positions for which reserves have been established, or we were required to pay amounts in excess of established reserves.

We have reviewed our needs in the United States for possible repatriation of undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries and we continue to invest foreign subsidiaries earnings outside of the United States to fund foreign investments or meet foreign working capital and property, plant and equipment expenditure needs. As a result, we are permanently reinvested with respect to all of our historical foreign earnings as of September 30, 2020. Additional disclosures regarding our accounting for income taxes are provided in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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Contingencies

We are involved, both as a plaintiff and a defendant, in various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, product liability and environmental matters, as further discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. We assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of probable losses. We establish accruals to the extent probable future losses are estimable (in the case of environmental matters, without considering possible third-party recoveries). A determination of the amount of accruals for these contingencies is made after careful analysis of each individual matter. When appropriate, the accrual is developed with the consultation of outside counsel and, as in the case of certain mass tort litigation, the expertise of an actuarial specialist regarding the nature, timing and extent of each matter. The accruals may change in the future due to new developments in each matter or changes in our litigation strategy. We record expected recoveries from product liability insurance carriers or other parties when realization of recovery is deemed probable.

Given the uncertain nature of litigation generally, we are not able in all cases to estimate the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the litigation to which we are a party. In view of these uncertainties, we could incur charges in excess of any currently established accruals and, to the extent available, liability insurance. In the opinion of management, any such future charges, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on BD’s consolidated results of operations and consolidated net cash flows.

Benefit Plans

We have significant net pension and other postretirement and postemployment benefit obligations that are measured using actuarial valuations which include assumptions for the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets. These assumptions have a significant effect on the amounts reported. In addition to the analysis below, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional discussion.

The discount rate is selected each year based on investment grade bonds and other factors as of the measurement date (September 30). Specifically for the U.S. pension plan, we will use a discount rate of 2.80% for 2021, which was based on an actuarially-determined, company-specific yield curve to measure liabilities as of the measurement date. To calculate the pension expense in 2021, we will apply the individual spot rates along the yield curve that correspond with the timing of each future cash outflow for benefit payments in order to calculate interest cost and service cost. Additional disclosures regarding the method to be used in calculating the interest cost and service cost components of pension expense for 2021 are provided in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption, although reviewed each year, changes less frequently due to the long-term nature of the assumption. This assumption does not impact the measurement of assets or liabilities as of the measurement date; rather, it is used only in the calculation of pension expense. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets, we consider many factors, including our historical assumptions compared with actual results; benchmark data; expected returns on various plan asset classes, as well as current and expected asset allocations. We will use a long-term expected rate of return on plan assets assumption of 6.25% for the U.S. pension plan in 2021. We believe our discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumptions are appropriate based upon the above factors.

Sensitivity to changes in key assumptions for our U.S. pension and other postretirement and postemployment plans are as follows:

•Discount rate — A change of plus (minus) 25 basis points, with other assumptions held constant, would have an estimated $12 million favorable (unfavorable) impact on the total U.S. net pension and other postretirement and postemployment benefit plan costs. This estimate assumes no change in the shape or steepness of the company-specific yield curve used to plot the individual spot rates that will be applied to the future cash outflows for future benefit payments in order to calculate interest and service cost.

•Expected return on plan assets — A change of plus (minus) 25 basis points, with other assumptions held constant, would have an estimated $5 million favorable (unfavorable) impact on U.S. pension plan costs.

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. BD and its representatives may also, from time to time, make certain forward-looking statements in publicly released materials, both written and oral, including statements contained in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and our reports to shareholders. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,”, “may”, “anticipate,” “estimate” and other words of similar meaning in conjunction with, among other things, discussions of future operations and financial performance (including volume growth, pricing, sales and earnings per share growth, and cash flows) and statements regarding our strategy for growth, future product development, regulatory approvals, competitive position and expenditures. All statements that address our future operating performance or events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management’s then-current views and assumptions regarding future events, developments and operating performance, and speak only as of their dates. Investors should realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from our expectations and projections. Investors are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Furthermore, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulations.

The following are some important factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statements. For further discussion of certain of these factors, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in this report.

•Any impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including, without limitation, continued decreases in the demand for our products or disruptions to our operations and our supply chain, and factors that could impact the demand and pricing for our COVID-19 diagnostics testing.

•Weakness in the global economy and financial markets, which could increase the cost of operating our business, weaken demand for our products and services, negatively impact the prices we can charge for our products and services, or impair our ability to produce our products.

•Competitive factors that could adversely affect our operations, including new product introductions and technologies (for example, new forms of drug delivery) by our current or future competitors, consolidation or strategic alliances among healthcare companies, distributors and/or payers of healthcare to improve their competitive position or develop new models for the delivery of healthcare, increased pricing pressure due to the impact of low-cost manufacturers, patents attained by competitors (particularly as patents on our products expire), new entrants into our markets and changes in the practice of medicine.

•Risks relating tothe significant additional indebtedness we incurred in connection with the financing of the Bard acquisition and the impact it may have on our ability to operate the combined company.

•The adverse financial impact resulting from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

•Regional, national and foreign economic factors, including inflation, deflation, and fluctuations in interest rates, and their potential effect on our operating performance.

•Our ability to achieve our projected level or mix of product sales, as our earnings forecasts are based on projected sales volumes and pricing of many product types, some of which are more profitable than others.

•Changes in reimbursement practices of governments or third-party payers, or adverse decisions relating to our products by such payers, which could reduce demand for our products or the price we can charge for such products.

•Cost containment efforts in the U.S. or in other countries in which we do business, such as alternative payment reform and increased use of competitive bidding and tenders, including, without limitation, any expansion of the volume-based procurement process in China.

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•Changes in the domestic and foreign healthcare industry or in medical practices that result in a reduction in procedures using our products or increased pricing pressures, including the continued consolidation among healthcare providers.

•The impact of changes in U.S. federal laws and policy that could affect fiscal and tax policies, healthcare, and international trade, including import and export regulation and international trade agreements. In particular, tariffs or other trade barriers imposed by the U.S. or other countries could adversely impact our supply chain costs or otherwise adversely impact our results of operations.

•Increases in operating costs, including fluctuations in the cost and availability of oil-based resins and other raw materials, as well as certain components, used in our products, the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships (particularly with respect to sole-source suppliers), and the potential adverse effects of any disruption in the availability of such items.

•Security breaches of our information systems or our products, which could impair our ability to conduct business, result in the loss of BD trade secrets or otherwise compromise sensitive information of BD or its customers, suppliers and other business partners, or of customers' patients, or result in product efficacy or safety concerns for certain of our products, and result in actions by regulatory bodies or civil litigation.

•Difficulties inherent in product development, including the potential inability to successfully continue technological innovation, successfully complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals in the United States and abroad, obtain intellectual property protection for our products, obtain coverage and adequate reimbursement for new products, or gain and maintain market approval of products, as well as the possibility of infringement claims by competitors with respect to patents or other intellectual property rights, all of which can preclude or delay commercialization of a product. Delays in obtaining necessary approvals or clearances from United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory agencies or changes in the regulatory process may also delay product launches and increase development costs.

•The impact of business combinations or divestitures, including any volatility in earnings relating to acquisition-related costs, and our ability to successfully integrate any business we may acquire.

•Our ability to penetrate or expand our operations in emerging markets, which depends on local economic and political conditions, and how well we are able to make necessary infrastructure enhancements to production facilities and distribution networks.

•Conditions in international markets, including social and political conditions, civil unrest, terrorist activity, governmental changes, restrictions on the ability to transfer capital across borders, tariffs and other protectionist measures, difficulties in protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights and governmental expropriation of assets. This includes the possible impact of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union ("EU"), which has created uncertainties affecting our business operations in the United Kingdom and the EU, and possibly other countries. Our international operations also increase our compliance risks, including risks under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, as well as regulatory and privacy laws.

•Deficit reduction efforts or other actions that reduce the availability of government funding for healthcare and research, which could weaken demand for our products and result in additional pricing pressures, as well as create potential collection risks associated with such sales.

•Fluctuations in university or U.S. and international governmental funding and policies for life sciences research.

•Fluctuations in the demand for products we sell to pharmaceutical companies that are used to manufacture, or are sold with, the products of such companies, as a result of funding constraints, consolidation or otherwise.

•The effects of weather, regulatory or other events that adversely impact our supply chain, including our ability to manufacture our products (particularly where production of a product line or sterilization operations are concentrated in one or more plants), source materials or components or services from suppliers (including sole-source suppliers) that are needed for such manufacturing (including sterilization), or provide products to our customers, including events that impact key distributors.

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•Natural disasters (including pandemics), war, terrorism, labor disruptions and international conflicts that could cause significant economic disruption and political and social instability, resulting in decreased demand for our products, adversely affect our manufacturing and distribution capabilities, or cause interruptions in our supply chain.

•Pending and potential future litigation or other proceedings asserting, and/or subpoenas seeking information with respect to, alleged violations of law (including in connection with federal and/or state healthcare programs (such as Medicare or Medicaid) and/or sales and marketing practices (such as investigative subpoenas and the civil investigative demands received by BD and Bard)), antitrust claims, securities law claims, product liability (which may involve lawsuits seeking class action status or seeking to establish multi-district litigation proceedings, including claims relating to our hernia repair implant products, surgical continence products for women and vena cava filter products), claims with respect to environmental matters, and patent infringement, and the availability or collectability of insurance relating to any such claims.

•New or changing laws and regulations affecting our domestic and foreign operations, or changes in enforcement practices, including laws relating to trade, monetary and fiscal policies, taxation (including tax reforms that could adversely impact multinational corporations), sales practices, environmental protection, price controls, and licensing and regulatory requirements for new products and products in the postmarketing phase. In particular, the U.S. and other countries may impose new requirements regarding registration, labeling or prohibited materials that may require us to re-register products already on the market or otherwise impact our ability to market our products. Environmental laws, particularly with respect to the emission of greenhouse gases, are also becoming more stringent throughout the world, which may increase our costs of operations or necessitate changes in our manufacturing plants or processes or those of our suppliers, or result in liability to BD.

•Product efficacy or safety concerns regarding our products resulting in product holds or recalls, regulatory action on the part of the FDA or foreign counterparts (including restrictions on future product clearances and civil penalties), declining sales and product liability claims, and damage to our reputation. As a result of the CareFusion acquisition, we are operating under a consent decree with the FDA relating to our U.S. infusion pump business. The consent decree authorizes the FDA, in the event of any violations in the future, to order us to cease manufacturing and distributing products, recall products or take other actions, and we may be required to pay significant monetary damages if we fail to comply with any provision of the consent decree. We are undertaking remediation of our BD Alaris System and cannot fully commercialize the product until a 510(k) filing has been submitted and cleared by the FDA. No assurances can be given as to when clearance of the submission will be obtained from the FDA.

•The effect of adverse media exposure or other publicity regarding BD’s business or operations, including the effect on BD’s reputation or demand for its products.

•The effect of market fluctuations on the value of assets in BD’s pension plans and on actuarial interest rate and asset return assumptions, which could require BD to make additional contributions to the plans or increase our pension plan expense.

•Our ability to obtain the anticipated benefits of restructuring programs, if any, that we may undertake.

•Issuance of new or revised accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing list sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could impact our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The information required by this item is included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in Notes 1, 14 and 15 to the consolidated financial statements contained in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Reports of Management

Management’s Responsibilities

The following financial statements have been prepared by management in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include, where required, amounts based on the best estimates and judgments of management. The integrity and objectivity of data in the financial statements and elsewhere in this Annual Report are the responsibility of management.

In fulfilling its responsibilities for the integrity of the data presented and to safeguard the Company’s assets, management employs a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance, at appropriate cost, that the Company’s assets are protected and that transactions are appropriately authorized, recorded and summarized. This system of control is supported by the selection of qualified personnel, by organizational assignments that provide appropriate delegation of authority and division of responsibilities, and by the dissemination of written policies and procedures. This control structure is further reinforced by a program of internal audits, including a policy that requires responsive action by management.

The Board of Directors monitors the internal control system, including internal accounting and financial reporting controls, through its Audit Committee, which consists of eight independent Directors. The Audit Committee meets periodically with the independent registered public accounting firm, the internal auditors and management to review the work of each and to satisfy itself that they are properly discharging their responsibilities. The independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee and meet with its members, with and without management present, to discuss the scope and results of their audits including internal control, auditing and financial reporting matters.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Act of 1934. Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework).

Based on the Company's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the criteria noted above, management concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2020.

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The financial statements and internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Ernst & Young’s reports with respect to fairness of the presentation of the financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, are included herein.

/s/ Thomas E. Polen /s/ Christopher Reidy /s/ Thomas J. Spoerel

Thomas E. Polen Christopher Reidy Thomas J. Spoerel

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Becton, Dickinson and Company (the Company) as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated November 25, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

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Estimation of Product Liability Reserves

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Income taxes - Uncertain tax positions

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Goodwill impairment - Interventional segment

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 1959.

New York, New York

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Becton, Dickinson and Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, (2013 framework), (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Becton, Dickinson and Company (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020, and the related notes and our report dated November 25, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

New York, New York

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Consolidated Statements of Income

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Years Ended September 30

Acquisitions and other restructurings 309 480 740

Other operating expense, net 363 654 —

Income tax provision (benefit) 111 (57) 862

Net income applicable to common shareholders $ 767 $ 1,082 $ 159

Diluted Earnings per Share $ 2.71 $ 3.94 $ 0.60

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Years Ended September 30

Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax

Foreign currency translation adjustments (161) (93) (161)

Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans (35) (275) (26)

Cash flow hedges (67) (6) 1

Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax (265) (374) (186)

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Balance Sheets

Becton, Dickinson and Company

September 30

Millions of dollars, except per share amounts and numbers of shares 2020 2019

Assets

Current Assets

Restricted cash 92 54

Short-term investments 20 30

Prepaid expenses and other 891 1,119

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 5,923 5,659

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Current Liabilities

Salaries, wages and related items 993 987

Long-Term Employee Benefit Obligations 1,435 1,272

Deferred Income Taxes and Other Liabilities 5,753 5,676

Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 5)

Shareholders’ Equity

Preferred stock 2 2

Deferred compensation 23 23

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,548) (2,283)

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity $ 54,012 $ 51,765

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Years Ended September 30

Operating Activities

Adjustments to net income to derive net cash provided by operating activities:

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

Trade receivables, net (48) (51) (170)

Prepaid expenses and other 81 299 (46)

Accounts payable, income taxes and other liabilities 205 (470) 867

Excess tax benefits from payments under share-based compensation plans 52 55 78

Gain on sale of Vyaire interest — — (303)

Gain on sale of business — (336) —

Product liability-related charges 378 914 —

Investing Activities

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (164) — (15,155)

Proceeds from divestitures, net — 477 534

Net Cash Used for Investing Activities (1,232) (741) (15,733)

Financing Activities

Change in credit facility borrowings (485) 485 —

Proceeds from long-term debt and term loans 3,389 2,224 5,086

Proceeds from issuance of equity securities 2,917 — —

Net Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities 22 (3,223) (58)

Opening Cash and Equivalents and Restricted Cash 590 1,236 14,179

Closing Cash and Equivalents and Restricted Cash $ 2,917 $ 590 $ 1,236

Non-Cash Investing Activities

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Millions of dollars, except per share amounts or as otherwise specified

Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Becton, Dickinson and Company (the “Company” or "BD") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). Within the financial statements and tables presented, certain columns and rows may not add due to the use of rounded numbers for disclosure purposes. Percentages and earnings per share amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts. Our fiscal year ends on September 30.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and those of its majority-owned subsidiaries after the elimination of intercompany transactions. The Company has no material interests in variable interest entities.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at time of purchase.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of cash restricted from withdrawal and usage and largely represents funds that are restricted for certain product liability matters assumed in the acquisition of C.R. Bard, Inc. ("Bard"), which are further discussed in Note 5.

Trade Receivables

The Company grants credit to customers in the normal course of business and the resulting trade receivables are stated at their net realizable value. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents the Company’s estimate of probable credit losses relating to trade receivables and is determined based on historical experience and other specific account data. Amounts are written off against the allowances for doubtful accounts when the Company determines that a customer account is uncollectable.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of approximate cost determined on the first-in, first-out basis or market.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are principally provided on the straight-line basis over estimated useful lives, which range from 20 to 45 years for buildings, four to 13 years for machinery and equipment and one to 20 years for leasehold improvements. Depreciation and amortization expense was $646 million, $633 million and $600 million in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company’s unamortized intangible assets include goodwill which arise from acquisitions of businesses. The Company currently reviews goodwill for impairment using quantitative models. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. The Company’s reporting units generally represent one level below reporting segments. Potential impairment of goodwill is generally identified by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit, estimated using an income approach, with its carrying value. The annual impairment review performed on July 1, 2020 indicated that all identified reporting units’ fair values exceeded their respective carrying values.

Amortized intangible assets include developed technology assets which arise from acquisitions. These assets represent acquired intellectual property that is already technologically feasible upon the acquisition date or acquired in-process research and development assets that are completed subsequent to acquisition. Developed technology assets are generally amortized over periods ranging from 15 to 20 years, using the straight-line method. Customer relationship assets are generally amortized over periods ranging from 10 to 15 years, using the straight-line method. Other intangibles with finite useful lives, which include patents, are amortized over periods principally ranging from one to 40 years, using the straight-line method. Finite-lived intangible assets, including developed technology assets, are periodically reviewed when impairment indicators are present to assess recoverability from future operations using undiscounted cash flows. The carrying values of these finite-lived assets are compared to the undiscounted cash flows they are expected to generate and an impairment loss is recognized in operating results to the extent any finite-lived intangible asset’s carrying value exceeds its calculated fair value.

Foreign Currency Translation

Generally, foreign subsidiaries’ functional currency is the local currency of operations and the net assets of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. The U.S. dollar results that arise from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the foreign currency translation adjustments in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the customer obtains control of the product, which is generally upon shipment or delivery, depending on the delivery terms specified in the sales agreement. Revenues associated with certain instruments and equipment for which installation is complex, and therefore significantly affects the customer’s ability to use and benefit from the product, are recognized upon customer acceptance of these installed products. Revenue for certain service arrangements, including extended warranty and software maintenance contracts, is recognized ratably over the contract term. When arrangements include multiple performance obligations, the total transaction price of the contract is allocated to each performance obligation based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services underlying each performance obligation. Variable consideration such as rebates, sales discounts and sales returns are estimated and treated as a reduction of revenue in the same period the related revenue is recognized. These estimates are based on contractual terms, historical practices, and current trends, and are adjusted as new information becomes available. Revenues exclude any taxes that the Company collects from customers and remits to tax authorities.

Equipment lease transactions with customers are evaluated and classified as either operating or sales-type leases. Generally, these arrangements are accounted for as operating leases and therefore, revenue is recognized at the contracted rate over the rental period defined within the customer agreement.

Additional disclosures regarding the Company's accounting for revenue recognition are provided in Note 6.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company considers its shipping and handling costs to be contract fulfillment costs and records them within Selling and administrative expense. Shipping expense was $551 million, $511 million and $479 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivatives are recorded in the balance sheet at fair value and changes in fair value are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Any deferred gains or losses associated with derivative instruments are recognized in income in the period in which the underlying hedged transaction is recognized. Additional disclosures regarding the Company's accounting for derivative instruments are provided in Note 14.

Income Taxes

The Company has reviewed its needs in the United States for possible repatriation of undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries and continues to invest foreign subsidiaries earnings outside of the United States to fund foreign investments or meet foreign working capital and property, plant and equipment expenditure needs. As a result, the Company is permanently reinvested with respect to all of its historical foreign earnings as of September 30, 2020. Deferred taxes are not provided on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are indefinitely reinvested. The determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings is not practicable because of the complexities associated with its hypothetical calculation.

The Company conducts business and files tax returns in numerous countries and currently has tax audits in progress in a number of tax jurisdictions. In evaluating the exposure associated with various tax filing positions, the Company records accruals for uncertain tax positions based on the technical support for the positions, past audit experience with similar situations, and the potential interest and penalties related to the matters.

The Company maintains valuation allowances where it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances are included in the tax provision in the period of change. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, management evaluates factors such as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carryback and carryforward periods and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset. Additional disclosures regarding the Company's accounting for income taxes are provided in Note 17.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. In computing diluted earnings per share, only potential common shares that are dilutive (i.e., those that reduce earnings per share or increase loss per share) are included in the calculation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates or assumptions affect reported assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Note 2 — Accounting Changes

New Accounting Principles Adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued a new lease accounting standard which requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, as well as

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. The Company adopted this standard on October 1, 2019, and elected certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, including a transition method which allows application of the new standard at its adoption date, rather than at the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company also elected not to perform any reassessments relative to its expired and existing leases upon its adoption of the new requirements. The Company's adoption of this standard did not materially impact its consolidated financial statements. Additional disclosures regarding the Company’s lease arrangements are provided in Note 18.

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The Company early adopted this standard as of April 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In July 2018, the FASB issued accounting standard update (“ASU”) ASU 2018-09, "Codification Improvements", which, among other items, amended an illustrative example of a fair value hierarchy disclosure to indicate that a certain type of investment should not always be considered to be eligible to use the net asset value ("NAV") per share practical expedient. Also, it further clarified that an entity should evaluate whether a readily determinable fair value exists or whether its investments qualify for the NAV practical expedient. The Company early adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 on a prospective basis, which is reflected in the fair value hierarchy classification of pension assets in Note 9, but does not change the fair value measurements of the investments.

On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606") using the modified retrospective method. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of goods or services to customers and reflects the amount of consideration to which a reporting entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company assessed the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements based upon a review of contracts that were not completed as of October 1, 2018. Amounts presented in the Company's financial statements for the prior-year periods were not revised and are reflective of the revenue recognition requirements which were in effect for those periods. This accounting standard adoption, which is further discussed in Note 6, did not materially impact any line items of the Company's consolidated income statements and balance sheet.

On October 1, 2018, the Company retrospectively adopted an accounting standard update which requires all components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs to be disaggregated from the service cost component and to be presented on the income statement outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. Upon the Company's adoption of the accounting standard update, which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, all components of the Company’s net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs, aside from service cost, are recorded to Other income, net on its consolidated income statements for all periods presented. Revisions of prior-year amounts were estimated based upon previously disclosed amounts.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which requires that the income tax effects of intercompany sales or transfers of assets, except those involving inventory, be recognized in the income statement as income tax expense (or benefit) in the period that the sale or transfer occurs. The Company adopted this accounting standard update, which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, using the modified retrospective method.

In the second quarter of its fiscal year 2018, the Company prospectively adopted an accounting standard update relating to the stranded income tax effects on items within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the enactment of new U.S. tax legislation, which legislation is further discussed in Note 17. Additional disclosures regarding this accounting standard adoption are provided in Note 3.

New Accounting Principle Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which requires earlier recognition of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by entities, including trade receivables. The new standard requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at each reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Adoption of this new accounting standard on October 1, 2020 will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Note 3 — Shareholders’ Equity

Changes in certain components of shareholders’ equity were as follows:

(Millions of dollars) Shares (inthousands) Amount

Net income — — 311 — — —

Cash dividends:

Common ($3.00 per share) — — (775) — — —

Preferred — — (152) — — —

Common stock issued for:

Share-based compensation and other plans, net — (246) (2) 3 2,982 62

Share-based compensation — 328 — — — —

Common stock held in trusts, net (a) — — — — (6) —

Net income — — 1,233 — — —

Cash dividends:

Common ($3.08 per share) — — (832) — — —

Preferred — — (152) — — —

Share-based compensation — 261 — — — —

Common stock held in trusts, net (a) — — — — 48 —

Effect of change in accounting principle (see Note 2) — — 68 — — —

Net income — — 874 — — —

Cash dividends:

Common ($3.16 per share) — — (888) — — —

Preferred — — (107) — — —

Common stock issued for:

Preferred shares converted to common shares 12 (9) — — — —

Public equity offerings 6 2,909 — — — —

Share-based compensation and other plans, net — (143) — — 1,597 52

Share-based compensation — 244 — — — —

Common stock held in trusts, net (a) — — — — 41 —

(a)Common stock held in trusts represents rabbi trusts in connection with deferred compensation under the Company’s employee salary and bonus deferral plan and directors’ deferral plan.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Common and Preferred Stock Conversions and Offerings

In accordance with their terms, the Company's 2.475 million mandatory convertible preferred shares that were issued in May 2017 in connection with the Company's acquisition of Bard were converted into 11.703 million shares of BD common stock on the mandatory conversion date of May 1, 2020.

Also in May 2020, the Company completed registered public offerings of equity securities including:

•6.250 million shares of the Company's common stock for net proceeds of $1.459 billion (gross proceeds of $1.500 billion).

•1.500 million shares of the Company's mandatory convertible preferred stock (ownership is held in the form of depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of preferred stock) for net proceeds of $1.459 billion (gross proceeds of $1.500 billion). If and when declared, dividends on the mandatory convertible preferred stock will be payable on a cumulative basis at an annual rate of 6.00% on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per preferred share ($50 per depositary share). The shares of preferred stock are convertible to a minimum of 5.2 million and up to a maximum of 6.2 million shares of Company common stock at an exchange ratio, based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of conversion, and no later than the mandatory conversion date of June 1, 2023.

The net proceeds from these offerings have been and will be used by the Company for general corporate purposes, which may include funding for the Company's growth strategy through organic investments and acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures and repayment of outstanding indebtedness.

The components and changes of Accumulated other comprehensive income(loss) were as follows:

Amounts reclassified into income, net oftaxes 57 — 52 5

Tax effects reclassified to retained earnings (103) — (99) (4)

Amounts reclassified into income, net oftaxes 52 — 49 3

Amounts reclassified into income, net oftaxes 74 — 66 8

The amount of foreign currency translation recognized in other comprehensive income during the years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 included net gains (losses) relating to net investment hedges, as further discussed in Note 14. The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income relating to cash flow hedges in 2020 and 2019 related to forward starting interest rate swaps. Additional disclosures regarding the Company's derivatives are provided in Note 14.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, as permitted under U.S. GAAP, the Company reclassified stranded income tax effects on items within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the enactment of new U.S. tax legislation, which legislation is further discussed in Note 17, to Retained earnings. The reclassified tax effects related to prior service credits and net actuarial losses relating to benefit plans, as

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