<PAGE>
THIS CONFORMING PAPER FORMAT DOCUMENT IS BEING SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO RULE
901(d) OF REGULATION S-T
___________________________________________________________________________
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
April 19, 1996
--------------
Date of Report
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
-------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
--------
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-4448 36-0781620
------------------------ ---------------------------------
(Commission file number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Baxter Parkway, Deerfield, Illinois 60015
--------------------------------------- ---------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 948-2000
______________________________________________________________________________
(Page 1 of 5 pages)
<PAGE>
Item 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On April 19, 1996, the Registrant issued a press release; the text of
which is attached hereto.
<PAGE>
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 thereunto duly authorized.
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
------------------------------
(Registrant)
By: /s/ A. Gerard Sieck
---------------------
A. Gerard Sieck
Secretary
Date: April 19, 1996
<PAGE>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Media Contacts: Jill Carter (847) 948-4555
Mary Thomas (847) 948-2815
Investor Relations Contacts: Neville Jeharajah (847) 948-2875
Jessica Fisher (847) 948-4639
BAXTER AND OTHER COMPANIES PROPOSE A $600 MILLION FUND
TO SETTLE U.S. HEMOPHILIA LITIGATION
DEERFIELD, Ill., April 19, 1996 -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced
today that it is participating with Bayer Corporation, Armour Pharmaceutical
Company/Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. and Alpha Therapeutic Corporation in a joint
settlement proposal to put an end to the U.S. hemophilia litigation.
The proposal, set forth in a letter to all plaintiffs' counsel of record,
includes a $600 million fund to be divided per capita by U.S. people with
hemophilia who were tragically infected with the AIDS virus through use of non
heat-treated blood-clotting therapies and an additional $40 million for legal
fees and administration costs. The company said the $640 million is a final,
firm offer. Baxter's share of the settlement would be $128 million, which is
within its previously established reserves for all plasma-based therapy claims
and litigation.
According to the proposal, the companies expect to hear within a month
whether it has been accepted by substantially all of the plaintiffs. If
accepted, the companies will work with designated representatives of the
plaintiffs' counsel to formalize the terms of the settlement and present it to
the appropriate court and to the companies' insurers for approval.
-more-
<PAGE>
Baxter said that a settlement is the best way to resolve the issue so that
immediate relief can be provided to those in need while also putting an end to
the protracted litigation. "Baxter has been a leader in the treatment of
hemophilia for more than 30 years. We deeply regret that early versions of the
therapies that were designed to save lives unknowingly carried the AIDS virus.
The virus had entered the blood supply before it was identified and this tragedy
could not have been predicted or prevented," said John Bacich, president of
Baxter's Hyland division. "This fund will provide support to those who have
unmet needs and will allow the hemophilia community to move past the existing
disputes," Bacich stated.
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter
International. Baxter, through its subsidiaries, is the leading manufacturer
and marketer of health-care products and services worldwide.
# # #
