UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 8-K
 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 12, 2016
 

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 

 Delaware
1-1136
22-0790350
(State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
(Commission File
Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification
Number)

345 Park Avenue
New York, NY, 10154
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 546-4000
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

(a)
Effective February 12, 2016, the Board of Directors of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (the “Company”) adopted and approved amended Bylaws of the Company to provide for a proxy access right for stockholders. Section 4(d) has been added to the Bylaws to permit a stockholder, or group of up to 20 stockholders, owning at least 3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock continuously for at least three years to nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials director nominees constituting up to the greater of two individuals or 20% of the Board, provided that the stockholders and the nominees satisfy the requirements specified in the Bylaws. Proxy access will first be available to stockholders in connection with the Company’s 2017 annual meeting.

The Bylaws were also amended to make certain clarifications and refinements to the advance notice bylaw for nominations contained in Section 4(a), and other technical and administrative changes.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the Company’s Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Bylaws, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

3.1
  
Bylaws, effective as of February 12, 2016.



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY
       
Dated: February 16, 2016
By:
/s/ Katherine. R. Kelly
   
Name:
Katherine R. Kelly
   
Title:
Corporate Secretary



EXHIBIT INDEX
  
Exhibit No.
 
Description
3.1
  
Bylaws, effective as of February 12, 2016.