BD (company)

Becton, Dickinson and Company

BD logo
Company type	Public
Industry	Medical technology
Founded	1 January 1897 (1897-01-01) in New York City, United States
Founder	Maxwell Becton, Fairleigh S. Dickinson
Headquarters	Franklin Lakes, New Jersey , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Tom Polen (Chairman, CEO, President), Christopher DelOrefice (Executive Vice President, CFO)
Products	Medical instruments, devices, reagents; consulting and data analytics services
Revenue	US$20.248 billion (FY 2021)
Operating income	US$2.799 billion (FY 2021)
Net income	US$2.002 billion (FY 2021)
Total assets	US$53.866 billion (FY 2021)
Total equity	US$23.677 billion (FY 2021)
Number of employees	75,000 (2021)
Website	www.bd.com

Becton, Dickinson and Company (commonly known as BD, Becton Dickinson, or simply Becton) is a global American firm specializing in the production and distribution of medical instruments, devices, and reagents. In addition to its core manufacturing activities, BD provides specialized consulting and data analytics services in selected sectors.

Established in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson, the enterprise is based in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. As of 2021, BD employs around 75,000 individuals worldwide and is structured into three primary segments: BD Interventional, BD Life Sciences, and BD Medical.

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, BD reported revenues amounting to US$20.248 billion, with operating profits reaching US$2.799 billion and net earnings totaling US$2.002 billion. The company’s total assets were valued at US$53.866 billion, while shareholders’ equity stood at US$23.677 billion.

Top leadership includes Tom Polen serving as Chairman, CEO, and President, alongside Christopher DelOrefice as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. BD’s shares are publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BDX and form part of the S&P 500 index.

Ranked 211th on the 2024 Fortune 500 list based on fiscal year 2023 revenue figures, BD holds a prominent position within the medical device market. The company’s strategic focus emphasizes innovation in drug delivery systems, surgical instruments such as needles and syringes, as well as integrated analytics offerings to sustain its competitive edge globally.

History

The company was founded in New York City in 1897 by entrepreneurs Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson, before relocating its headquarters to New Jersey.

In 2004, BD agreed to a settlement payment of US$100 million related to accusations from competitor Retractable Technologies concerning anti-competitive behavior that hindered distribution of Retractable's safety syringes. This incident sparked ongoing litigation involving patent infringement allegations and claims of false advertising tied to BD’s retractable needle products.

In October 2014, BD expanded its portfolio by acquiring CareFusion for US$12.2 billion through a combination of cash and stock transactions.

The acquisition of C. R. Bard was announced in April 2017 for US$24 billion and finalized later that year, making Bard a fully owned subsidiary and bolstering BD’s footprint in the medical device sector.

In 2024, BD revealed plans to purchase Edwards Lifesciences' critical care division for US$4.2 billion, broadening its range of critical care products.

Finances

During fiscal year 2017, Becton Dickinson posted earnings of US$1.03 billion on revenues totaling US$12.09 billion, reflecting a 10.5% increase from the previous year. By November 2018, its stock price exceeded US$192 per share with a market capitalization surpassing US$63 billion.

Year	Revenue (in million USD)	Net Income (in million USD)	Total Assets (in million USD)	Share Price (USD)	Number of Employees
2005	5,341	722	6,133	44.55
2006	5,738	752	6,825	52.89
2007	6,283	890	7,329	63.81
2008	6,898	1,127	7,913	67.23
2009	6,987	1,232	9,305	58.34
2010	7,124	1,318	9,651	64.62
2011	7,584	1,271	10,430	70.38
2012	7,708	1,170	11,361	68.57
2013	8,054	1,293	12,149	90.12	29,979
2014	8,446	1,185	12,447	111.84	30,619
2015	10,282	695	26,478	137.28	49,517
2016	12,483	976	25,586	158.98	50,928
2017	12,093	1,030	37,734	192.11	41,933

Business divisions

BD's operations are divided into three primary business divisions.

BD Medical

The BD Medical division supplies medical devices and complements its offerings with consulting and analytics services, primarily targeting hospitals, healthcare networks, and provider systems. This approach integrates value-added services into its overall business strategy.

BD Life Sciences

This division encompasses Biosciences and Integrated Diagnostic Solutions. Its product range includes tools for preanalytical sample handling, immunology research instruments such as flow cytometry and multiomics platforms, microbiology and molecular diagnostic solutions, laboratory automation technologies, informatics, as well as specialized reagents and assay kits.

BD Interventional

BD Interventional is recognized for its plastic conical screwtop tubes marketed under the 'Falcon tubes' brand. It commands a substantial share of the laboratory consumables market, with the Falcon tube name frequently becoming a generic term within the industry.

Environmental and social performance

BD has shown a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, ranking 18th on the EPA Fortune 500 Green Power Purchasers list in 2010. In Newsweek's 2009 Green Rankings, BD was among the top 100 companies, securing third place within the healthcare sector and 83rd overall based on environmental policies and performance metrics. The company has also been consistently featured in both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and North America Index for several consecutive years. BD’s innovation in developing a needleless injection system highlights its leadership in generating shared value through technological advancement.

Health and safety matters

In April 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed a fine of US$112,700 on BD due to repeated serious safety violations that led to two employees experiencing partial finger amputations.

In 2020, BD along with its subsidiary C.R. Bard, Inc. faced a $60 million penalty for failing to properly inform patients about health risks associated with their transvaginal mesh products.

2007 Discardit II recall in Poland

In 2007, BD initiated a recall of its Discardit II syringe series 0607186 in Poland after detecting contamination from dark dust particles. Although other series were suspected, testing confirmed sterile particulate contamination in only 0.013% of units.

2010 Q-Syte Luer Access Device and IV Catheter partial recall

In February 2010, BD voluntarily recalled around five million units of BD Q-Syte Luer Access Devices and BD Nexiva Closed IV Catheter Systems worldwide due to potential risks of air embolism or leakage that could result in serious harm or fatality. This action followed complaints tied to manufacturing irregularities and was coordinated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alongside global health authorities.

2021 IV Giving Sets recall

In March 2021, BD announced a recall affecting infusion sets compatible with CC, GP, VP, GW/GW800, SE, and IVAC 590 Alaris Pumps as well as gravity infusion sets after discovering that a supplier had falsified sterilization documentation over a ten-year period. This incident impacted product reliability and necessitated prompt measures to preserve customer confidence.

See also

• Becton, Dickinson and Company headquarters
• List of biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the New York metropolitan area