e424b3
 

The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424 (b)(3)
File No. 333-136224
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 3, 2006
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated August 1, 2006)
$                            
(BAXTER LOGO)
Baxter International Inc.
              % Senior Notes due 2016
 
        We are offering $                     aggregate principal amount of      % Senior Notes due 2016. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on                     and  of each year, beginning on                     , 2007. The notes will mature on                     , 2016. We may at our option redeem the notes, at any time, in whole or in part, at a “make whole” redemption price as described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”
      The notes will be our general senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal in priority with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any existing and future subordinated indebtedness.
 
       Investing in the notes involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement.
 
       Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
                         
        Underwriting    
        Discounts and   Proceeds to
    Price to Public(1)   Commissions   Baxter(2)
             
  % Senior Notes due 2016
      %       %       %
Total
  $       $       $    
 
(1)  Plus accrued interest from                     , if settlement occurs after that date.
 
(2)  Before expenses in connection with this offering.
      Currently, there is no public market for the notes. The notes will not be listed on any national securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.
      The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Euroclear and Clearstream, on or about                     , 2006.
 
  Goldman, Sachs & Co.                                    JPMorgan
 
The date of this prospectus supplement is                     , 2006.


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
         
    Page
     
    ii  
    S-1  
    S-3  
    S-4  
    S-4  
    S-5  
    S-5  
    S-10  
PROSPECTUS
         
    Page
     
About This Prospectus
    1  
Where You Can Find More Information
    1  
The Company
    3  
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
    4  
Use of Proceeds
    4  
Description of Debt Securities
    5  
Plan of Distribution
    16  
Legal Matters
    16  
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    16  

i


 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
      This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read this entire prospectus supplement, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus that are described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to invest in the notes.
      You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the respective dates of those documents in which the information is contained. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
      Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references to “Baxter,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are to Baxter International Inc. and its subsidiaries.

ii


 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
      This summary highlights selected information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. As a result, it is not complete and does not contain all of the information that may be important to you or that you should consider when making an investment decision with respect to the notes. You should read the following summary in conjunction with the more detailed information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference, before making a decision to invest in the notes.
Baxter International Inc.
      Baxter International Inc. was incorporated under Delaware law in 1931. Our principal executive offices are located at One Baxter Parkway, Deerfield, Illinois 60015 and our telephone number is (847) 948-2000. We operate as a global diversified medical products and services company with expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology that assists healthcare professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, kidney disease, trauma and other conditions. Our products are used by hospitals, clinical and medical research laboratories, blood and plasma collection centers, kidney dialysis centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and by patients at home under physician supervision. We manufacture products in 28 countries and sell them in over 100 countries.
      We operate as a global leader in critical therapies for life-threatening conditions. Three segments comprise our operations: Medication Delivery, which provides a range of intravenous solutions and specialty products that are used in combination for fluid replenishment, general anesthesia, nutrition therapy, pain management, antibiotic therapy and chemotherapy; BioScience, which develops bio-pharmaceuticals, biosurgery products, vaccines and blood collection, processing and storage products and technologies for transfusion therapies; and Renal, which develops products and provides services to treat end-stage kidney disease. These businesses enjoy leading positions in the medical products and services fields.
      For additional information regarding our business, we refer you to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference. Please read the section in the accompanying prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
THE OFFERING
      The following is a summary of the notes and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more complete understanding of the notes, please refer to the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement and the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
Issuer Baxter International Inc., a Delaware corporation.
 
Notes Offered $                      aggregate principal amount of      % Senior Notes due 2016.
 
Issue Price            % of the principal amount, plus accrued interest from 2006.
 
Maturity The notes will mature on                      2016.
 
Interest Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of their issuance at the rate of      % per annum.
 
Interest Payments Dates Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on                     and                     of each year. The first interest payment on the notes will be made on                      2007.

S-1


 

Ranking The notes are senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of ours and rank equal in priority with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any existing and future subordinated indebtedness. See the section of this prospectus supplement entitled ”Description of the Notes — Ranking.”
 
Optional Redemption We may at our option redeem the notes, at any time, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price as described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”
 
Certain Covenants The indenture governing the notes contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create liens on our assets. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. See the section in the accompanying prospectus entitled ”Debt Securities — Certain Covenants.”
 
Further Issuances We reserve the right, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, to issue additional notes of the same series on terms and conditions substantially identical to those of the notes, which additional notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the notes.
 
Use of Proceeds We will use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.
 
Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association.
 
Governing Law The indenture and the notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

S-2


 

RISK FACTORS
      Before you decide to invest in the notes, you should carefully consider the following risk factors as well as the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.
The notes are our obligations and not obligations of our subsidiaries and will be effectively subordinated to the claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors.
      The notes are exclusively our obligations and not obligations of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company and, accordingly, we conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depends upon the earnings and operating capital requirements of our subsidiaries. We depend on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes or to make any funds available to us for such payment, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. The ability of our subsidiaries to make any payments to us will depend on our subsidiaries’ earnings, business and tax considerations and any legal restrictions.
      As a result of our structure, the notes will effectively rank junior to all existing and future indebtedness, trade payables and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and therefore the right of holders of the notes to participate in those assets, will be subject to the prior claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors, including trade creditors. In addition, even if we were a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.
An active trading market for the notes may not develop.
      Currently there is no public market for the notes and we do not plan to list the notes on any national securities exchange or automated dealer quotation system. As a result, an active trading market for the notes may not develop or, if one does develop, it may not be sustained. If an active trading market for the notes fails to develop or cannot be sustained, the trading price and liquidity of the notes could be adversely affected.
      The liquidity of any trading market in the notes, and the market price quoted for the notes, also may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for these securities and by changes in our financial performance or prospects. In addition, we may determine from time to time in the future, to purchase the notes through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, which would create a more limited market for the notes.
We could enter into various transactions that could increase the amount of our outstanding indebtedness, or adversely affect our capital structure or credit ratings, or otherwise adversely affect holders of the notes.
      The indenture governing the notes does not generally prevent us from entering into a variety of acquisition, change of control, refinancing, recapitalization or other highly leveraged transactions. As a result, we could enter into any transaction even though the transaction could increase the total amount of our outstanding indebtedness, adversely affect our capital structure or credit ratings or otherwise adversely affect the holders of the notes.

S-3


 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
      This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “expect,” and similar expressions. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including assumptions concerning:
  •  product quality or patient safety issues, leading to product recalls, withdrawals, launch delays, litigation or declining sales;
 
  •  future actions of regulatory bodies and other government authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, that could delay, limit or suspend product development, manufacturing or sale or result in seizures, injunctions and monetary or other sanctions, including any sanctions available under the Consent Decree entered with the United States concerning our COLLEAGUE and SYNDEO pumps;
 
  •  reimbursement policies of government agencies and private payers;
 
  •  product development risks, including satisfactory clinical performance, the ability to manufacture at appropriate scale, and the general unpredictability associated with the product development cycle;
 
  •  demand for and market acceptance risks for new and existing products, such as ADVATE and IVIG, and other therapies;
 
  •  the impact of geographic and product mix on the company’s sales;
 
  •  the impact of competitive products and pricing, including generic competition, drug reimportation and disruptive technologies;
 
  •  inventory reductions or fluctuations in buying patterns by wholesalers or distributors;
 
  •  the availability of acceptable raw materials and component supply;
 
  •  global regulatory, trade and tax policies;
 
  •  the ability to enforce the company’s patent rights;
 
  •  patents of third parties preventing or restricting the company’s manufacture, sale or use of affected products or technology;
 
  •  foreign currency fluctuations;
 
  •  change in credit agency ratings; and
 
  •  those factors described in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors” as well as other factors identified in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and available on our website.
      Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
      We estimate the net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes will be approximately $          , after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for the repayment of outstanding indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include acquisitions, additions to working capital, capital expenditures and investments in our subsidiaries. Pending any specific application, the net proceeds from the offering may be invested in short-term marketable securities.

S-4


 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
      The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years and period indicated:
                                                 
    Six Months    
    Ended   Years Ended December 31,
    June 30,    
    2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001
                         
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
    10.76       7.17       3.10       6.27       10.28       6.69  
 
(1)  For purposes of computing the ratios, (i) “earnings” consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting changes, plus fixed charges less capitalized interest costs, and less net gains of less than majority-owned affiliates, net of dividends and (ii) “fixed charges” consist of interest costs and estimated interest in rentals.
  “Income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting changes” includes certain significant items as follows:
  2006:  $76 million charge relating to infusion pumps.
 
  2005:  $109 million benefit relating to restructuring charge adjustments, charges of $126 million relating to infusion pumps and a charge of $50 million relating to the exit of hemodialysis instrument manufacturing.
 
  2004:  $543 million charge for restructuring, $289 million charge for impairments and $115 million for other special charges.
 
  2003:  $337 million charge for restructuring.
 
  2002:  $163 million charge for in-process research and development and $26 million charge for restructuring.
 
  2001:  $280 million charge for in-process research and development and other special charges and $189 million charge relating to discontinuing the A, AF and AX series dialyzers.
      Please refer to the financial statements and financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for more information relating to the foregoing. See the section of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
      The following description is a summary of the terms of the notes being offered by this prospectus supplement and supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities contained in the accompanying prospectus and, to the extent it is inconsistent, replaces the description in the accompanying prospectus. The descriptions in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain a description of certain terms of the notes and the indenture under which the notes will be issued, but do not purport to be complete. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the indenture and supplemental indenture No. 1 each to be entered into between us and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.
General
      We will issue the notes under an indenture to be entered into between us and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, and to be amended and supplemented by supplemental indenture No. 1 to be entered into between us and the trustee (as so amended and supplemented, the “indenture”). The indenture will have been qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of the indenture are those provided in the indenture and those made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act. The notes will constitute debt securities under the indenture as described in the accompanying prospectus. In addition to the notes, we may issue, from time to time, other

S-5


 

series of debt securities under the indenture. Such other series will be separate from and independent of the notes.
      The notes will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of $                    . We may, from time to time, without the consent of the existing holders of the notes, issue additional notes under the indenture having the same terms as the notes in all respects, except for the issue date and the initial interest payment date. Any such additional notes will be consolidated with and form a single series with the notes being offered by this prospectus supplement.
      Each note will bear interest at the rate of      % per annum. Interest will be payable semiannually on                     and                     of each year commencing on                     , 2007. We will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the notes as of the close of business on the immediately preceding                     and                     (whether or not a business day). Interest on the notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The notes will mature on                     , 2016.
      If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, payment will be made on the next succeeding business day, and no interest will accrue for the period from and after the interest payment date to the next succeeding business day. As used in this prospectus supplement, the term “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by or pursuant to law, regulation or executive order to close.
      The notes will be issued in the form of one or more global securities registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (which we may refer to along with its successors in such capacity as the depositary). The notes will only be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples thereof. Payments on notes issued as a global security will be made to the depositary, the nominee of the depositary or in the event that no depositary is used, to a paying agent for the notes. See the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities — Book-Entry Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
      With certain exceptions and pursuant to certain requirements set forth in the indenture, we may discharge our obligations under the indenture with respect to the notes as described in the sections entitled “Description of Debt Securities — Satisfaction and Discharge” and “— Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.
      The indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of the notes protection in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction or other similar transaction that may adversely affect such holders.
      The notes will not be subject to a sinking fund provision.
      J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association is the trustee, registrar and paying agent with respect to the notes. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMorgan”) has entered into an agreement with The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (“BNY”) pursuant to which JPMorgan intends to exchange portions of its corporate trust business, including municipal and corporate trusteeships, for BNY’s consumer, small business and middle market banking businesses. This transaction has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors and is subject to regulatory approvals. It is expected to close in the late third quarter or fourth quarter of 2006.
Ranking
      The notes are our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal in priority of payment with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness. At June 30, 2006, we had approximately $1.841 billion of senior unsecured indebtedness outstanding. In addition to the notes, we may issue other series of debt securities under the indenture. There is no limit on the total aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we can issue under the indenture.

S-6


 

      The notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries. See the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities — Ranking” in the accompanying prospectus.
Optional Redemption
      The notes will be redeemable in whole at any time or in part, from time to time, at our option, at a “make whole” redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of the payment of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, as defined below, plus  basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
      “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
      “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.
      “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if we obtain fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
      “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that we shall appoint.
      “Reference Treasury Dealers” means (1) Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their successors; provided, however, that if Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer (“Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) at our option, additional Primary Treasury Dealers selected by us.
      “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
      To exercise our option to redeem the notes, we will give each holder of notes to be redeemed a notice in writing at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date. If we elect to redeem fewer than all the notes, the trustee will select the particular notes to be redeemed by such method as the trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with the indenture.
      Unless a default occurs in payment of the redemption price, from and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
Book-Entry and Settlement
      The notes will be represented by one or more fully registered global notes that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), the depositary for the notes, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. All interests in the global notes will be subject to the

S-7


 

operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”). A description of the DTC’s procedures is set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities — Book-Entry Securities.”
      Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear hold interests on behalf of their participating organizations through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which hold those interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. At the present time, Citibank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositaries”).
      Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream, Luxembourg interfaces with domestic markets in several countries.
      Clearstream, Luxembourg is registered as a bank in Luxembourg, and as such is subject to regulation by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and the Banque Centrale du Luxembourg, which supervise and oversee the activities of Luxembourg banks. Clearstream, Luxembourg participants are world-wide financial institutions including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, and may include the underwriters or their affiliates. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream, Luxembourg participant. Clearstream, Luxembourg has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear as the operator of the Euroclear system (the “Euroclear Operator”) in Brussels to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear Operator.
      Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg.
      Euroclear holds securities and book-entry interests in securities for participating organizations (“Euroclear Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Euroclear Participants and between Euroclear Participants and participants of certain other securities intermediaries through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of such participants or other securities intermediaries. Euroclear provides Euroclear Participants, among other things, with safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing, and related services. Euroclear Participants are investment banks, securities brokers and dealers, banks, central banks, supranationals, custodians, investment managers, corporations, trust companies and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters or their affiliates. Non-participants in Euroclear may hold and transfer beneficial interests in a global note through accounts with a participant in the Euroclear system or any other securities intermediary that holds a book-entry interest in a global note through one or more securities intermediaries standing between such other securities intermediary and Euroclear.
      Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear system and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

S-8


 

      Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.
      Transfers between Euroclear Participants and Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures. Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the global notes described herein or in the accompanying prospectus, cross-market transfers between direct participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.
      Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a Euroclear or Clearstream Participant purchasing an interest in a global note from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as a result of sales of interests in a global note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream Participant to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg following DTC’s settlement date.
      The information in this section concerning Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information.
      Although Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among Euroclear Participants and Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for the performance by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or their respective participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

S-9


 

UNDERWRITING
      We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement relating to the offering and sale of the notes. In the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter, and each underwriter has agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes set forth opposite the name of that underwriter below:
           
    Principal Amount
Underwriter   of Notes
     
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 
  $    
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. 
       
       
 
Total
  $    
      The obligations of the underwriters under the underwriting agreement, including their agreement to purchase the notes from us, are several and not joint. Those obligations are also subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes if any of them are purchased. We will deliver the notes to the underwriters at the closing of this offering when the underwriters pay us the purchase price for the notes.
      In the underwriting agreement, we have agreed that we will indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
      We estimate that the offering expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance of the notes will be $                    .
      The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed on any securities exchange or to arrange for the notes to be quoted on any quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make markets in the notes. However, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time in their sole discretion. Therefore, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the notes, that you will be able to sell your notes at a particular time or that the prices that you receive when you sell will be favorable.
      The underwriters initially propose to offer the notes directly to the public at the offering prices described on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to certain dealers at prices that represent a concession not in excess of           % of the principal amount of the notes. Any underwriter may allow, and any such dealer may re-allow, a concession not in excess of           % of the principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes, the underwriters may from time to time vary the offering prices and other selling terms.
      In connection with this offering of the notes, the underwriters may engage in overallotments, stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the notes in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes, as applicable. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the notes to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. If the underwriters engage in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
      Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates perform investment banking and other capital markets services for us in the ordinary course of business. They have received customary fees and commissions for these services.
      In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed

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that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:
        (a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
 
        (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than 43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or
 
        (c) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
      For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/ EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
      Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:
        (a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the “FSMA”) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and
 
        (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
      The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
      The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an

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exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
      This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
      Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

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PROSPECTUS
(BAXTER LOGO)
Baxter International Inc.
Debt Securities
       By this prospectus, we may offer debt securities from time to time.
      We will provide specific terms of any offering in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, carefully before you invest.
 
      Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
      We may sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
This prospectus is dated August 1, 2006.


 

      You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. Baxter International Inc. has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents, as applicable. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
 
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
      This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. By using an automatic shelf registration statement, we may, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, sell debt securities under this prospectus. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
      This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
      References in this prospectus to Baxter, we, us and our are to Baxter International Inc. and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
      We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. In addition, our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). You may also inspect the information we file with the SEC at the NYSE’s offices at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information about us, including our SEC filings, is also available through our website at http://www.baxter.com. However, information on our website is not a part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement.
      This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed by us with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits filed with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for more information.
      The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus information that we file with it, which means that we are disclosing important business and financial information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents filed by us listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:
  •  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005;
 
  •  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006; and
 
  •  Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2006, May 18, 2006 and June 29, 2006.

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      You may also request a copy of those filings, excluding exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference, at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Corporate Secretary
Baxter International Inc.
One Baxter Parkway
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
(847) 948-2000

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THE COMPANY
      Baxter International Inc. was incorporated under Delaware law in 1931. Baxter assists healthcare professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, kidney disease, trauma and other conditions. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Baxter’s products are used by hospitals, clinical and medical research laboratories, blood and plasma collection centers, kidney dialysis centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and by patients at home under physician supervision.
      The Medication Delivery, BioScience and Renal segments comprise Baxter’s continuing operations.
      Medication Delivery. The Medication Delivery business manufactures intravenous (IV) solutions and administration sets, premixed drugs and drug reconstitution systems, pre-filled vials and syringes for injectable drugs, electronic infusion pumps, and other products used to deliver fluids and drugs to patients. The business also provides IV nutrition solutions, containers and compounding systems and services, general anesthetic agents and critical care drugs, contract manufacturing services, and drug packaging and formulation technologies.
      BioScience. The BioScience business manufactures plasma-based and recombinant proteins used to treat hemophilia, and other biopharmaceutical products, including plasma-based therapies to treat immune disorders, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and other chronic blood-related conditions; biosurgery products for hemostasis, wound-sealing, and tissue regeneration; and vaccines. The business also manufactures manual and automated blood and blood-component separation and collection systems.
      Renal. The Renal business manufactures products for peritoneal dialysis (PD), a home therapy for people with end-stage renal disease, or irreversible kidney failure. These products include a range of PD solutions and related supplies to help patients safely perform fluid exchanges, as well as automated PD cyclers that perform solution exchanges for patients overnight while they sleep. The business also distributes products (hemodialysis instruments and disposables, including dialyzers) for hemodialysis, a form of dialysis generally conducted several times a week in a hospital or clinic.
      Baxter manufactures products in 28 countries and sells them in over 100 countries. Baxter employs about 47,000 people. Baxter’s corporate offices are located at One Baxter Parkway, Deerfield, Illinois 60015, and the telephone number is (847) 948-2000.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
      The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years and period indicated:
                                                 
    Six Months Ended    
    June 30,   Years Ended December 31,
         
    2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001
                         
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
    10.76       7.17       3.10       6.27       10.28       6.69  
 
(1)  For purposes of computing the ratios, (i) “earnings” consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting changes, plus fixed charges less capitalized interest costs, and less net gains of less than majority-owned affiliates, net of dividends and (ii) “fixed charges” consist of interest costs and estimated interest in rentals.
      “Income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting changes” includes certain significant items as follows:
  2006:  $76 million charge relating to infusion pumps.
 
  2005:  $109 million benefit relating to restructuring charge adjustments, charges of $126 million relating to infusion pumps and a charge of $50 million relating to the exit of hemodialysis instrument manufacturing.
 
  2004:  $543 million charge for restructuring, $289 million charge for impairments and $115 million for other special charges.
 
  2003:  $337 million charge for restructuring.
 
  2002:  $163 million charge for in-process research and development and $26 million charge for restructuring.
 
  2001:  $280 million charge for in-process research and development and other special charges and $189 million charge relating to discontinuing the A, AF and AX series dialyzers.
      Please refer to the financial statements and financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus for more information relating to the foregoing. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
USE OF PROCEEDS
      Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, acquisitions, additions to working capital, capital expenditures and investments in our subsidiaries. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
      The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. We have summarized selected provisions of the indenture and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. For purposes of this summary, the terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to Baxter and not to any of our subsidiaries.
      You should carefully read the summary below, the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indenture before investing in our debt securities.
General
      We may issue debt securities at any time and from time to time in one or more series without limitation on the aggregate principal amount. The indenture gives us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of the same series. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. If any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supercede the terms described in this prospectus. The terms of our debt securities will include those set forth in the indenture and those made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
      Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the transfer of debt securities will be registrable, at any office or agency maintained by Baxter for that purpose. The debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of the debt securities, but Baxter may require you to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange.
Terms
      We will describe the specific terms of the series of debt securities being offered in a supplement to this prospectus. These terms will include some or all of the following:
  •  the title of the debt securities,
 
  •  any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities,
 
  •  the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities will be payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates,
 
  •  any interest rate on the debt securities, any date from which interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular record dates for interest payments, or the method used to determine any of the foregoing,
 
  •  any foreign currency, currencies or currency units in which payments on the debt securities will be payable and the manner for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. currency,
 
  •  any provisions for payments on the debt securities in one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be payable,
 
  •  any provisions that would determine payments on the debt securities by reference to an index, formula or other method,

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  •  the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable, the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt securities may be made,
 
  •  any provisions for redemption of the debt securities,
 
  •  any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities prior to their maturity pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of the holder,
 
  •  the terms of any right or obligation to convert or exchange the debt securities into any other securities or property,
 
  •  the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than denominations of an integral multiple of $1,000,
 
  •  the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount,
 
  •  the applicability of the provisions described below under “— Satisfaction and Discharge” or such other means of satisfaction or discharge,
 
  •  any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections of the indenture and the manner in which our election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by a board resolution,
 
  •  the appointment of any paying agents for the debt securities, if other than the trustee,
 
  •  if varying from the description herein, whether we will issue the debt securities in the form of temporary or permanent global securities, the depositories for the global securities, and provisions for exchanging or transferring the global securities,
 
  •  any deletion or addition to or change in the events of default for the debt securities and any change in the rights of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities arising from an event of default including, among others, the right to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable,
 
  •  any addition to or change in the covenants in the indenture,
 
  •  any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities,
 
  •  any subordination provisions and related definitions in the case of subordinated debt securities,
 
  •  any additions or changes to the indenture necessary to issue the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, and
 
  •  any other terms of the debt securities consistent with the indenture.
      Any limit on the maximum total principal amount for any series of the debt securities may be increased by resolution of our board of directors. We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If there are any special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities we sell at an original issue discount, we will describe them in the prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any special United States federal income tax considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. currency.

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Ranking
      Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
  •  be our general unsecured obligations,
 
  •  rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and
 
  •  with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank below all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries.
      A substantial portion of our assets are owned through our subsidiaries, many of which have significant debt or other liabilities of their own which will be structurally senior to the debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, none of our subsidiaries will have any obligations with respect to the debt securities. Therefore, Baxter’s rights and the rights of Baxter’s creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s other creditors.
      Subject to the exceptions, and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements set forth in the indenture, we may discharge our obligations under the indenture with respect to our debt securities as described below under “— Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”
Optional Redemption
      Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be redeemable in whole or in part, at the option of Baxter, at any time at a redemption price set forth in the prospectus supplement to be determined at the time the debt securities are issued. Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of debt securities to be redeemed. Unless a default occurs in payment of the redemption price, from and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or portions thereof called for redemption.
Certain Covenants
      Restrictions on the creation of secured debt. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, Baxter will not, and will not cause or permit any restricted subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness that is secured by a security interest in any principal facilities of Baxter or any restricted subsidiary or in shares of stock owned directly or indirectly by Baxter in any restricted subsidiary or in indebtedness for money borrowed by one of its restricted subsidiaries from Baxter or another of the restricted subsidiaries (“secured debt”) unless the debt securities then outstanding and any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by Baxter or such restricted subsidiary then entitled to be so secured is secured equally and ratably with or prior to any and all other obligations and indebtedness thereby secured, with exceptions as listed in the indenture. These restrictions do not apply to indebtedness secured by:
  •  any security interest on any property which is a parcel of real property at a manufacturing plant, a warehouse or an office building and which is acquired, constructed, developed or improved by Baxter or a restricted subsidiary, which security interest secures or provides for the payment of all or any part of the acquisition cost of the property or the cost of the construction, development or improvement of the property and which security interest is created prior to, at the same time as, or within 120 days after (i) in the case of the acquisition of property, the completion of the acquisition of the property and (ii) in the case of construction, development or improvement of property, the later to occur of the completion of such construction, development or improvement or the commencement of operation, use or commercial production of the property;
 
  •  any security interest on property existing at the time of the acquisition of such property by Baxter or a restricted subsidiary which security interest secures obligations assumed by Baxter or a restricted subsidiary;

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  •  any security interest arising from conditional sales agreements or title retention agreements with respect to property acquired by Baxter or any restricted subsidiary;
 
  •  security interests existing on the property or on the outstanding shares or indebtedness of a corporation or firm at the time the corporation or firm becomes a restricted subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with Baxter or a restricted subsidiary or at the time the corporation or firm sells, leases or otherwise disposes of its property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to Baxter or a restricted subsidiary;
 
  •  security interests securing indebtedness of a restricted subsidiary to Baxter or to another restricted subsidiary;
 
  •  mechanics’ and other statutory liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations which are not due or which are being contested in good faith;
 
  •  security interests arising by reason of deposit with, or the giving of any form of security to, any governmental agency which is required by law as a condition to the transaction of any business;
 
  •  security interests for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or security interests for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies already delinquent but which are being contested in good faith;
 
  •  security interests arising in connection with legal proceedings, including judgment liens, so long as the proceedings are being contested in good faith and, in the case of judgment liens, the execution has been stayed;
 
  •  landlords’ liens on fixtures leased by Baxter or a restricted subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
 
  •  security interests arising in connection with contracts and subcontracts with or made at the request of the United States, any state, or any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or any state;
 
  •  security interests that secure an obligation issued by the United States or any state, territory or possession of the United States or any of their political subdivisions or the District of Columbia, in connection with the financing of the cost of construction or acquisition of a principal facility or a part of a principal facility;
 
  •  security interests by reason of deposits to qualify Baxter or a restricted subsidiary to conduct business, to maintain self-insurance, or to obtain the benefits of, or comply with, laws;
 
  •  the extension of any security interest existing on the date of the indenture on a principal facility to additions, extensions or improvements to the principal facility and not as a result of borrowing money or the securing of indebtedness incurred after the date of the indenture; or
 
  •  any extension, renewal or refunding, or successive extensions, renewals or refundings, in whole or in part of any secured debt secured by any security interest listed above, provided that the principal amount of the secured debt secured thereby does not exceed the principal amount outstanding immediately prior to the extension, renewal or refunding and that the security interest securing the secured debt is limited to the property which, immediately prior to the extension, renewal or refunding, secured the secured debt and additions to the property.
      For purposes of the indenture, “principal facilities” are any manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings and parcels of real property owned by Baxter or any restricted subsidiary, provided each such facility has a gross book value, without deduction for any depreciation reserves, in excess of 2% of Baxter’s consolidated net tangible assets other than any facility that is determined by Baxter’s board of directors to not be of material importance to the business conducted by Baxter and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. For purposes of the indenture, “consolidated net tangible assets” are the total amount of assets that would be included on Baxter’s consolidated balance sheet under generally accepted accounting principles after

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deducting all short-term liabilities and liability items, except for indebtedness payable more than one year from the date of incurrence and all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and unamortized expense incurred in the issuance of debt and other like intangibles, except for prepaid royalties.
      Notwithstanding the limitations on secured debt described above, Baxter and any restricted subsidiary may create, incur, assume or guarantee secured debt, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, provided that the sum of such secured debt and all other secured debt entered into after the date of the indenture, other than secured debt permitted as described in the bullet points above, does not exceed 15% of Baxter’s consolidated net tangible assets.
      For purposes of the indenture, a “restricted subsidiary” is any corporation in which Baxter owns voting securities entitling it to elect a majority of the directors and which is either designated as a restricted subsidiary in accordance with the indenture or:
  •  existed as such on the date of the indenture or is the successor to, or owns, any equity interest in, a corporation which so existed;
 
  •  has its principal business and assets in the United States;
 
  •  the business of which is other than the obtaining of financing in capital markets outside the United States or the financing of the acquisition or disposition of real or personal property or dealing in real property for residential or office building purposes; and
 
  •  does not have assets substantially all of which consist of securities of one or more corporations which are not restricted subsidiaries.
      Restrictions on Mergers, Consolidations and Transfers of Assets. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, Baxter will not consolidate with or merge into or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its respective properties and assets to another person unless:
  •  in the case of a merger, Baxter is the surviving corporation, or
 
  •  the person into which Baxter is merged or which acquires all or substantially all of the properties and assets of Baxter expressly assumes all of the obligations of Baxter relating to the debt securities and the indenture.
      Upon any of the consolidation, merger or transfer, the successor corporation will be substituted for Baxter under the indenture. The successor corporation may then exercise all of the powers and rights of Baxter under the indenture, and Baxter will be released from all of its obligations and covenants under the debt securities and the indenture. If Baxter leases all or substantially all of its assets, the lessee corporation will be the successor and may exercise all of the respective powers and rights under the indenture but Baxter will not be released from its obligations and covenants under the debt securities and the indenture.
Events of Default
      The indenture defines an “event of default” with respect to any series of debt securities. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will be an event of default under the indenture for any series of debt securities:
  •  our failure to pay interest on any of the debt securities when due, and continuance of the default for a period of 30 days;
 
  •  our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on that series of debt securities when due, whether at maturity or otherwise;
 
  •  our failure to perform, or our breach, of any covenant or warranty in the indenture in respect of that series, other than a covenant or warranty included in the indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities, and continuance of that failure or breach, without that failure or breach having been cured or waived, for a period of 90 days after the trustee gives notice to us or,

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  in the case of notice by the holders, the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series give notice to us and the trustee, specifying the default or breach;
 
  •  specified events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or
 
  •  any other event of default we may provide for that series.
      Additional or different events of default applicable to a series of debt securities may be described in a prospectus supplement. An event of default under one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default under any other series of debt securities. The indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of any default with respect to a series of debt securities, the trustee will mail to all holders of debt securities of such series notice of the default, unless the default has been cured or waived. However, the indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice of a default with respect to a series of debt securities, except a default in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, if the trustee considers it in the best interest of the holders to do so. In the case of a default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty in the indenture or in respect of a series of debt securities, no notice will be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence of the default or breach. As used in this paragraph, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities.
      The indenture provides that if an event of default, other than an event of default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with respect to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, the debt securities in that series to be due and payable immediately. The indenture also provides that if an event of default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to a series of debt securities occurs then the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all the debt securities of that series will automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of the debt securities. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may rescind and annul an acceleration of the debt securities of that series and its consequences.
      Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 requiring the trustee, during the continuance of an event of default under the indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities unless those holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by taking such action.
      Subject to this requirement, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series.
      The indenture requires the annual filing with the trustee of a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of Baxter that states whether Baxter is in default under the terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture.
      Notwithstanding any other provision of the indenture, the holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments, and this right will not be impaired without the consent of the holder.

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Modification and Waivers
      The indenture permits Baxter and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series affected by a modification or amendment, to modify or amend any of the provisions of the indenture or of the debt securities or the rights of the holders of the debt securities under the indenture. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected by the modification or amendment, among other things:
  •  change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, with respect to the debt securities;
 
  •  reduce the principal of or any premium on the debt securities or reduce the rate of interest on or the redemption or repurchase price of the debt securities;
 
  •  change any place where or the currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, any debt security is payable;
 
  •  impair the holder’s right to institute suit to enforce any payment on or after the stated maturity of the debt securities or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;
 
  •  reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of the indenture or specified defaults under the indenture and their consequences;
 
  •  make certain modifications to the provisions for modification of the indenture and for certain waivers, except to increase the principal amount of outstanding debt securities necessary to consent to any such change; or
 
  •  make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any debt security for common stock or other securities in accordance with its terms.
      The indenture also contains provisions permitting Baxter and the trustee, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, to modify or amend the indenture, among other things:
  •  to convey to the trustee as security for the debt securities any property or assets which Baxter may desire;
 
  •  to evidence succession of another corporation to Baxter, or its successors, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of Baxter;
 
  •  to add covenants and agreements of Baxter to those included in the indenture for the protection of holders of debt securities and to make the occurrence of a default of any such covenants or agreements a default or an event of default permitting enforcement of the remedies set forth in the indenture;
 
  •  to add, delete or modify the events of default with respect to any series of debt securities the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture;
 
  •  to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of debt securities under the indenture;
 
  •  to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions contained therein;
 
  •  to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture as are not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture or any supplemental indenture and shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities in any material respect;
 
  •  to establish the form and terms of debt securities of any series issued under the indenture; or

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  •  to evidence and provide for acceptance of appointment under the indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee.
      The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may waive our compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security.
      In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have taken an action under an indenture as of a specified date:
  •  the principal amount of an “original issue discount security” that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date,
 
  •  if, as of that date, the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of a debt security is not determinable, for example, because it is based on an index, the principal amount of the debt security deemed to be outstanding as of that date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for the debt security,
 
  •  the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the U.S. currency equivalent, determined as of that date in the manner prescribed for the debt security, of the principal amount of the debt security or, in the case of a debt security described in the two preceding bullet points, of the amount described above, and
 
  •  debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.
Satisfaction and Discharge
      Upon the direction of Baxter, the indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to any debt security specified, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the indenture, when:
  •  either
  •  all debt securities issued under the indenture, subject to exceptions, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or
 
  •  all debt securities issued under the indenture have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year and Baxter has deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds in United States dollars, or direct or indirect obligations of the United States (“government obligations”) in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities including the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, to the date of the deposit, if the debt securities have become due and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities, as the case may be;
  •  Baxter has paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to the outstanding debt securities issued under the indenture; and
 
  •  the trustee has received each officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel called for by the indenture.

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Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
      Baxter may elect with respect to the debt securities issued under the indenture either
  •  to defease and be discharged from all of its obligations with respect to the outstanding debt securities (“defeasance”), except for, among other things,
  •  the obligation to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities,
 
  •  the obligation to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities,
 
  •  the obligation to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities, and
 
  •  the obligation to hold monies for payment in trust, or
  •  to be released from its obligations with respect to the debt securities under specified covenants in the indenture including those described under the heading “Certain Covenants — Restrictions on the creation of secured debt”, and any omission to comply with those obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities (“covenant defeasance”),
in either case upon the irrevocable deposit by Baxter with the trustee, or other qualifying trustee, in trust for that purpose, of an amount in United States dollars and/or government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the due dates for those payments.
      The defeasance or covenant defeasance described above will only be effective if, among other things:
  •  it will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which Baxter is a party or is bound;
 
  •  in the case of defeasance, Baxter will have delivered to the trustee an opinion of independent counsel confirming that
  •  Baxter has received from or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
 
  •  since the date of the indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law,
  in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change in law, the opinion of counsel will confirm that the holders of the debt securities then outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had not occurred;
  •  in the case of covenant defeasance, Baxter will have delivered to the trustee an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities then outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred;
 
  •  if the cash and/or government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to the debt securities provided the debt securities are redeemed on a particular redemption date, Baxter will have given the trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem the debt securities on that date; and
 
  •  no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the debt securities will have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust, and, solely in the case of defeasance, no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default arising from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Baxter will have occurred and be

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  continuing during the period through and including the 91st day after the date of the deposit into trust.
      In the event covenant defeasance is effected with respect to the debt securities and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which would no longer be applicable to the debt securities after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of any acceleration resulting from that event of default. However, Baxter would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
Book-Entry Securities
      Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depositary Trust Company, New York, New York (the “DTC”) and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. Global notes are not exchangeable for definitive note certificates except in the specific circumstances described below. For purposes of this prospectus, “Global Note” refers to the Global Note or Global Notes representing an entire issue of debt securities.
      Except as set forth below, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of the DTC or to a successor of the DTC or its nominee.
      The DTC has advised us that it is:
  •  a limited-purpose trust company under New York Banking law;
 
  •  a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking law;
 
  •  a member of the Federal Reserve System;
 
  •  a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and
 
  •  a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement of transactions among its participants in such securities, through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.
      Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on the records maintained by DTC or its nominee. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security will be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. These beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct and indirect participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.

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      To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will not change the beneficial ownership of the debt securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
      So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a Global Note, DTC or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities under the indenture. Except as provided below, you will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owner or holder thereof under the indenture.
      Each person who owns a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC, and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
      Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
      Neither DTC nor its nominee will consent or vote with respect to the debt securities. Under its usual procedures DTC mails an omnibus proxy to Baxter as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns DTC or its nominee’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts interests in the debt securities are credited on the record date (identified in the listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
      Principal and interest payments, if any, on the debt securities will be made to Cede & Co, as nominee of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from Baxter or the trustee, on the applicable pay date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. We also expect that payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, Baxter or the trustee, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
      No person other than DTC will have any responsibility or obligation to participants, or the persons for whom they act as nominees, with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant with respect to any ownership interest in the debt securities, or payments to, or the providing of notice to participants or beneficial owners.
      In a few special situations described in the next paragraph, the debt securities will terminate and interests in them will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions to find out how to have their interests in the debt securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be a direct holder.
      The special situations for termination of the debt securities are:
  •  when DTC notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depository;
 
  •  when we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate the debt securities; and
 
  •  when an event of default on the debt securities has occurred and has not been cured, disregarding for this purpose any requirement of notice or that the default exist for a specified period of time.

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      The descriptions of the operations and procedures set forth above are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlements systems and are subject to change from time to time. We are not responsible for these operations or procedures, and investors are urged to contact the relevant system or its participants directly to discuss these matters.
      Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the debt securities among participants of DTC, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.
Governing Law
      The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Regarding the Trustee
      J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, or any successor thereto, will serve as trustee under the indenture. J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, acts as trustee under certain other indentures with Baxter and its affiliates. Baxter and other affiliates of Baxter maintain various commercial and investment banking relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its affiliates in their ordinary course of business.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
      We may sell the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in any of the following ways:
  •  directly to one or more purchasers;
 
  •  through agents;
 
  •  through underwriters or dealers; or
 
  •  through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
      We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
LEGAL MATTERS
      Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, David P. Scharf, Baxter’s Corporate Vice President and Associate General Counsel, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, D.C., special counsel to Baxter, will pass upon certain legal matters for us with respect to the securities. Mr. Scharf owns shares of, and options on, Baxter common stock, both directly and as a participant in various stock and employee benefit plans. Certain legal matters for the underwriters with respect to the securities will be passed upon by Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Sidley Austin LLP has represented us from time to time on various unrelated legal matters.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
      The financial statements, the financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting), incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Baxter International Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

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      With respect to the unaudited consolidated financial information of Baxter International Inc. for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However their separate report dated (i) May 2, 2006, with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2006, and (ii) August 1, 2006, with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2006, each of which is incorporated by reference herein, stated that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited financial information because those reports are not “reports” or “parts” of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

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