Stryker (SYK) 424B5Prospectus supplement for primary offering

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated February 7, 2019)

$600,000,000

STRYKER CORPORATION

0.600% Notes due 2023

We are offering for sale $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 0.600% notes due 2023 (the “notes”). We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on each June 1 and December 1, commencing on June 1, 2021. The notes will mature on December 1, 2023.

We may redeem the notes prior to their maturity at our option for cash, any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the applicable redemption price described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” If a “Change of Control Repurchase Event” as defined in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event” occurs, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes from their holders for cash.

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with our other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount.

The notes will be a new issue of securities for which there is currently no established trading market. We do not intend to list the notes on any national securities exchange.

Investing in the notes involves risks that are described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 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.

The notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Euroclear Bank, as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, SA, on or about November 23, 2020.

Joint Book-Running Managers

The date of this prospectus supplement is November 18, 2020.

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Prospectus Supplement

Prospectus

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which contains information regarding this offering of notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus dated February 7, 2019, which is part of our Registration Statement on Form S-3.

It is important for you to read and consider all information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in the accompanying prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with information in the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede the information in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference, as applicable.

We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus we have provided to you or filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, in connection with this offering. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus supplement or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer, or an invitation on our behalf or the underwriters, to subscribe to or purchase any of the notes and may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. See “Underwriting—Selling Restrictions.”

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or (ii) are persons who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes offered hereby are only available to, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus relate will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person in the United

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Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus or any of their contents.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom

None of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any related free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may only do so with respect to Qualified Investors. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Prohibition of Sales To EEA and United Kingdom Retail Investors

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus supplement, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Stryker” refer to Stryker Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement will automatically modify and supersede the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that the subsequently filed information modifies or supersedes the existing information. Nothing in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC, unless specifically stated otherwise. We incorporate by reference:

Our Internet website address is www.stryker.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus supplement, at no cost to the requestor. To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, other than exhibits unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents, call or write:

Stryker Corporation

2825 Airview Boulevard

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Tel: (269) 385-2600

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

From time to time, in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as in other written reports and oral statements, we discuss our expectations regarding our future performance. Statements and financial discussion and analysis contained herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein that are not historical facts are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Reform Act, are based on current projections about operations, industry conditions, financial condition and liquidity. Words that identify forward-looking statements include words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “possible,” “plan,” “predict,” “forecast,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “may impact,” “on track,” “goal,” “strategy” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance, an acquisition or our businesses. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Those statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial results. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Some important factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statements include:

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While we believe that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that future events or developments will not cause such statements to be inaccurate. All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We expressly disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the notes involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding to purchase any notes, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties set forth below and the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and in other documents that we subsequently file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference.

These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us. There may be other risks that a prospective investor should consider that are relevant to that investor’s own particular circumstances or generally.

Risks Related to the Notes

The notes will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured debt and the existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The notes are our senior obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with our other existing and future senior unsecured obligations. The notes will not be secured by any of our assets. Any future claims of our secured lenders with respect to assets securing their loans will be prior to any claim of the holders of the notes with respect to those assets. Holders of secured debt that we have now or may issue in the future may foreclose on the assets securing such debt, reducing the cash flow from the foreclosed property available for payment of unsecured debt, including the notes. Holders of our secured debt also would have priority over unsecured creditors in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt. As a result, the notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured debt that we may issue in the future to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt.

Our operations are partially conducted through our subsidiaries that are separate and distinct legal entities from us. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds to meet our payment obligations on the notes, whether in the form of dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. In addition, any payment of dividends, loans or advances by our subsidiaries could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions. Payments to us by our subsidiaries are contingent upon the subsidiaries’ earnings, cash flow and other business considerations. Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization and, therefore, the right of the holders of the notes to participate in those assets will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors. In addition, even if we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our right as a creditor would be subordinated to any security interest in such assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior in right of payment to that held by us. At September 30, 2020, we had approximately $19 million of indebtedness outstanding on a consolidated basis that would rank structurally senior to the notes and approximately $13,108 million of indebtedness outstanding on a consolidated basis that would rank equally with the notes. At September 30, 2020, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to our entry into, and borrowing in full under, a $400 million term loan agreement on November 10, 2020, we had total debt of $13,527 million.

We may issue additional notes.

Under the terms of the Indenture that governs the notes, we may from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes of a new or existing series, which notes, if of an existing series, will be equal in rank to the outstanding notes of that series in all material respects so that the new notes may be consolidated and form a single series with such notes and have the same terms and conditions as to status, redemption or otherwise (except for the issue date, the public offering price and, in some cases, the first interest payment date as described under “Description of the Notes—General”) as such notes. If the additional notes, if any, are not fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

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Redemption may adversely affect your return on the notes.

The notes are redeemable at our option and, therefore, we may choose to redeem the notes at times when prevailing interest rates are relatively low. As a result, you may not obtain your expected return on the notes and may not be able to reinvest the proceeds received from a redemption of the notes in an investment that yields a comparable return.

If active trading markets do not develop for the notes, you may be unable to sell your notes or to sell your notes at prices that you deem sufficient.

The notes will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is no established trading market. We do not intend to list the notes on any national securities exchange. While the underwriters of the notes have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may stop their market making at any time. No assurance can be given:

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to offer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of such repurchase. If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, there can be no assurance that we would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy our obligations to repurchase the notes or that the terms of other indebtedness will not preclude us from doing so. Our failure to repurchase the notes as required under the Indenture governing the notes would result in a default under the Indenture, which could result in other defaults under our and our subsidiaries’ various debt agreements and other arrangements and have material adverse consequences for us and the holders of the notes. See “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.”

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $596 million after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses related to the offering. We intend to use these net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include payments in connection with the redemption of Wright’s convertible debt, which we assumed upon completion of the acquisition of Wright.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 2020, our consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and capitalization (including current and other liabilities) on an actual basis and as adjusted to give effect to (1) entry into, and borrowing in full under, a $400 million term loan agreement on November 10, 2020 and (2) the sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses related to the offering, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. See “Use of Proceeds.” You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the “debt securities” set forth in the accompanying prospectus. References in this section to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to Stryker Corporation, the issuer of the notes, and not to its subsidiaries.

The notes will be issued under the indenture, dated as of January 15, 2010, and a supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and the indenture as so supplemented, the “Indenture”) to be entered into between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The terms of the notes include those provisions contained in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized selected terms and provisions of the Indenture below and in the accompanying prospectus. These summaries are not complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the actual provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions contained in the Indenture of some of the terms used below, and the notes. The Indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement under which the notes are being offered and sold. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of ours and will rank equally in right of payment with our other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The notes will not be secured by any of our assets. Any future claims of our secured lenders with respect to assets securing their loans will be prior to any claim of the holders of the notes with respect to those assets. Holders of secured debt that we have now or may issue in the future may foreclose on the assets securing such debt, reducing the cash flow from the foreclosed property available for payment of unsecured debt, including the notes. Holders of our secured debt also would have priority over unsecured creditors in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries, including trade payables. Because we conduct many of our operations through our subsidiaries, our right to participate in any distribution of the assets of a subsidiary when it winds up its business is subject to the prior claims of the creditors of that subsidiary. This means that your right to payment as a holder of our notes will also be subject to the prior claims of these creditors if a subsidiary liquidates or reorganizes or otherwise winds up its business. If we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our right as a creditor would be subordinated to any security interest in the assets of those subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior in right of payment to that held by us. At September 30, 2020, we had approximately $19 million of indebtedness outstanding on a consolidated basis that would rank structurally senior to the notes and approximately $13,108 million of indebtedness outstanding on a consolidated basis that would rank equally with the notes. At September 30, 2020, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to our entry into, and borrowing in full under, a $400 million term loan agreement on November 10, 2020, we had total debt of $13,527 million. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—The notes will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured debt and the existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries.”

The Indenture does not limit the amount of notes, unsecured debentures or other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue under the Indenture and provides that notes, unsecured debentures or other evidences of indebtedness may be issued from time to time in one or more series. We may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes having the same ranking and terms and conditions as the notes offered hereby, except for the issue date, the public offering price and, in some cases, the first interest payment date. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the notes offered hereby, will constitute a single series of securities under the Indenture. If the additional notes, if any, are not fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

The notes will be issued only in fully registered book-entry form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount.

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Principal of and interest on the notes will be payable, and the notes will be transferable or exchangeable, at the office or offices or agency maintained by us for these purposes. Payment of interest on the notes may be made at our option by check mailed to the registered holders.

No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange of the notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

The notes will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except as described under “Delivery and Form—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes,” the notes will not be issuable in certificated form.

Principal Amount, Maturity and Interest

The notes will initially be limited to $600,000,000 in aggregate principal amount and will mature on December 1, 2023. The notes will bear interest at the rate of 0.600% per annum from the date of original issuance or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.

We will make interest payments on the notes semi-annually in arrears on each June 1 and December 1, commencing on June 1, 2021, to the holders of record at the close of business (whether or not a business day) on the immediately preceding May 15 or November 15, respectively. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

If an interest payment date or the maturity date with respect to the notes falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the date the payment is made. Interest payments will include accrued interest from and including the date of issue or from and including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid, as the case may be, to, but excluding, the interest payment date or the date of maturity, as the case may be.

A business day means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which the trustee or banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.

Optional Redemption

Prior to December 1, 2021 (the “Par Call Date”), we may redeem the notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at our option for cash at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem the notes, in whole or from time to time in part, at our option for cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the notes that are due and payable on any interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the notes and the Indenture.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by a Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (as measured from the date of redemption) of the notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose that the notes matured on the Par Call Date) 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 such notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (2) if we can only obtain less than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations or (3) if we can only obtain one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation, such quotation.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors or their affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average 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., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual 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.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. We will calculate the redemption price as described in the terms of the notes to be redeemed and will deliver an officers’ certificate to the trustee setting forth the redemption price no later than two business days prior to the redemption date. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption. If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot by DTC, in the case of notes represented by a global security, or by the trustee by a method the trustee deems to be fair and appropriate, in the case of notes that are not represented by a global security.

Notice of any redemption may, at our discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering, a financing, or other corporate transaction. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in our discretion, such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date.

Sinking Fund

The notes will not be entitled to any sinking fund.

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Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described above under “—Optional Redemption,” we will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount) of that holder’s notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of such repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder, with a copy to the trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the purchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered; provided, that each new note will be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount.

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if (i) a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer or (ii) we have previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding notes as described under “Optional Redemption” above.

If holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes validly tender and do not withdraw such notes in a Change of Control Offer and we, or any third party making such an offer in lieu of us as described above, purchases all of the notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, we or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, provided that such notice is given not more than 30 days following such repurchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all notes that remain outstanding following such purchase on a date specified in such notice (the “Second Change of Control Payment Date”) and at a price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes repurchased to, but not including, the Second Change of Control Payment Date.

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We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we would decide to do so in the future. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control but that could increase the amount of debt outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings.

Definitions

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the notes are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period commencing upon the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or our intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following public notice of the occurrence of the related Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies, provided that no such extension shall occur if on such 60th day the notes are rated Investment Grade by at least one of such Rating Agency and are not subject to review for possible downgrade by such Rating Agency); provided further that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) we become a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(i) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of our Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (ii) immediately following that transaction, no person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by us.

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“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, selected by us as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings Inc., a division of S&P Global Inc. and its successors.

“Voting Stock” of any specified person as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our assets and those of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require us to repurchase the notes as a result of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another person or group may be uncertain.

Certain Covenants

Limitation on Liens

The Indenture contains a covenant that we will not, and we will not permit any of our Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined below) to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness (as defined below) secured by any Mortgage (as defined below) upon any of our Principal Properties (as defined below) or those of any of our Restricted Subsidiaries without equally and ratably securing the notes (and, if we so determine, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the notes) with such Indebtedness.

This covenant will not prevent us or any Restricted Subsidiary from issuing, assuming or guaranteeing:

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Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

The Indenture contains a covenant that we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property owned or acquired thereafter that has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary to such person with the intention of taking back a lease of such Principal Property, a “sale and leaseback transaction,” without equally and ratably securing the notes (and, if we so determine, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the notes), unless:

The foregoing restriction will not apply to:

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Exception to Limitations for Exempted Debt

Notwithstanding the limitations in the Indenture on liens and sale and leaseback transactions, we or any Restricted Subsidiary may, in addition to sale and leaseback transactions permitted under such restrictions and without equally and ratably securing the notes, create or assume and renew, extend or replace Mortgages, or enter into any sale and leaseback transaction without any obligation to retire any of our or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Senior Funded Debt (as defined below), provided that at the time of such creation, assumption, renewal, extension or replacement of a Mortgage or at the time of entering into such sale and leaseback transactions, and after giving effect thereto, Exempted Debt (as defined below) does not exceed 15% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below).

Definitions

For purposes of the Indenture:

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the imputed rate of interest of such transaction as determined in good faith by us) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended). The term “net rental payments” under any lease for any period means the sum of the rental and other payments required to be paid in such period by the lessee thereunder, not including any amounts required to be paid by such lessee (whether or not designated as rental or additional rent) on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges required to be paid by such lessee thereunder or any amount required to be paid by lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of (x) the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but shall not include any rent that would be required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or (y) the net amount determined assuming no such termination.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amounts of assets (less depreciation and valuation reserves and other reserves and items deductible from gross book value of specific asset accounts under generally accepted accounting principles) that under generally accepted accounting principles would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of us and our consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries after deducting (1) all current liabilities, excluding current liabilities that could be classified as long-term debt under generally accepted accounting principles and current liabilities that are by their terms extendable or renewable at the obligor’s option to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount of current liabilities is being computed; (2) investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and (3) all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights and goodwill, organizational and development costs, deferred charges, other than prepaid items such as insurance, taxes, interest, commissions, rents and similar items and tangible assets being amortized, and amortized debt discount and expense, less unamortized premium.

“Exempted Debt” means the sum of the following items outstanding as of the date Exempted Debt is being determined (1) Indebtedness of us and our Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Mortgage and not permitted to exist under the Indenture and (2) Attributable Debt of us and our Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all sale and leaseback transactions not permitted under the Indenture.

“Funded Debt” means Indebtedness that matures more than one year from the date of creation, or that is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor so that it may become payable more than one year from

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such date. Funded Debt does not include (1) obligations created pursuant to leases, (2) any Indebtedness or portion thereof maturing by its terms within one year from the time of any computation of the amount of outstanding Funded Debt unless such Indebtedness shall be extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor in such manner that it may become payable more than one year from such time, or (3) any Indebtedness for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust either at or before the maturity date thereof.

“Indebtedness” means any and all of the obligations of a person for money borrowed that in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles would be reflected on the balance sheet of such person as a liability as of the date of which the Indebtedness is to be determined. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a change in generally accepted accounting principles subsequent to November 30, 2018 shall not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness.

“Investment” means any investment in stock, evidences of Indebtedness, loans or advances, however made or acquired, but does not include our account receivable or the accounts receivable of any Restricted Subsidiary arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, or any evidences of Indebtedness, loans or advance made in connection with the sale to any Subsidiary of our accounts receivable or the accounts receivable of any Restricted Subsidiary arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.

“Mortgage” means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance.

“Principal Property” means all real property and improvements thereon owned by us or a Restricted Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any manufacturing, warehouse, distribution or research facility, and improvements therein, having a net book value in excess of 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets that is located within the United States, excluding its territories and possessions and Puerto Rico. This term does not include any real property and improvements thereon that our Board of Directors declares by resolution not to be of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that owns a Principal Property.

“Senior Funded Debt” means all Funded Debt (except Funded Debt, the payment of which is subordinated to the payment of the notes).

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, partnership or other legal entity of which, in the case of a corporation, more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by us and one or more other Subsidiaries or, in the case of any partnership or other legal entity, more than 50% of the ordinary capital interests is, at the time, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by us or by one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means the equity interest that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees of an entity, or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of equity interest has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Restricted Subsidiary.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The consolidation, merger and sale of assets provisions with respect to the notes are described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.”

Events of Default

There are certain events of default relating to the notes, which are described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default.”

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Delivery and Form

The notes will be represented by one or more permanent notes in registered, global form without interest coupons, or the global notes. These global notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for DTC, or the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant as described below. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part for cash, only to the depositary, a nominee of the depositary or to a successor of the depositary or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below under “—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.” The trustee will act as registrar.

Book-Entry Procedures

DTC.    The depositary has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the 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 New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The depositary has advised us that it was created to hold securities for its participating organizations, or, collectively, the participants, and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between participants through electronic, computerized book-entry changes in accounts of participants. The participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the depositary’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers and dealers, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, or, collectively, indirect participants. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of the depositary only through participants or indirect participants. The ownership interest and transfer of ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security held by or on behalf of the depositary are recorded on the records of the participants and indirect participants.

The depositary also has advised us that pursuant to procedures established by it:

The depositary has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; the depositary’s records reflect only the identity of the participant to whose account such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owner. The participants and the indirect participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interest in a global note to such persons may be limited to that extent. Because the depositary can act only on behalf of participants, which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a global note to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the depositary system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

Except as described below, owners of interests in the global notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.

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Payments in respect of the principal and premium and liquidated damages, if any, and interest on a global note registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee will be payable by the paying agent to the depositary or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of a global note under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the global notes are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever.

Consequently, neither we, the trustee nor any agent of us have or will have any responsibility or liability for:

The depositary has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant participants with the payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in the relevant security such as the global notes as shown on the records of the depositary. Payments by participants and the indirect participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will not be the responsibility of the depositary, the trustee or us. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by the depositary or its participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and we and the trustee may rely conclusively on and will be protected in relying on instructions from the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global notes for all purposes.

Redemption notices shall be sent to the depositary or its nominee.

Interests in the global notes will trade in the depositary’s same-day funds settlement system, and secondary market trading activity in such interest will, therefore, settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of the depositary and its participants. Transfers between participants in the depositary will be effective in accordance with the depositary’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.

The depositary has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the interests in the global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given direction.

Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes

A global note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form:

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In addition, beneficial interests in a global note may be exchanged for certificated notes upon request by the depositary but only upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice given to the trustee by or on behalf of the depositary in accordance with customary procedures. In all cases, certificated notes delivered in exchange for any global note or beneficial interest therein will be registered in names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).

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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

This section describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the notes we are offering. It applies to you only if you acquire notes at the offering price and you hold your notes as capital assets for tax purposes. This section addresses only U.S. federal income taxation and does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your individual circumstances, including foreign, state or local tax consequences, tax consequences arising under the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or the alternative minimum tax. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

If you purchase notes at a price other than the offering price, the amortizable bond premium or market discount rules may also apply to you. You should consult your tax advisor regarding this possibility.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These authorities are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. If an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the notes should consult its tax advisor with regard to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in the notes.

U.S. Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a U.S. holder. You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of a note and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

If you are not a U.S. holder, this subsection does not apply to you and you should refer to “Non-U.S. Holders” below.

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As described under “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event,” the amount and timing of the scheduled payments on the notes may differ if there is a Change of Control Repurchase Event. This contingency may implicate the provisions of the Treasury regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments.” Under these regulations, however, a contingency will not cause a debt instrument to be treated as a contingent payment debt instrument if, as of the issue date, such contingency is “remote,” “incidental” or if certain other exceptions apply. We believe the contingency described will qualify under one or more of these exceptions. Accordingly, we believe, and intend to take the position, that such contingency will not cause the notes to be treated as contingent payment debt instruments. You may not take a contrary position unless you disclose such contrary position in the proper manner to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). You should consult your own tax advisors with respect to the contingency described herein. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

Payments of Interest.    You will be taxed on interest on your note as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes.

Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Notes.    Your tax basis in your note generally will be its cost. You will generally recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or retirement of your note equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the sale or retirement, excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest (which will be treated as interest payments), and your tax basis in your note. Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Non-U.S. Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder. You are a Non-U.S. Holder if you are a beneficial owner of a note and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

If you are a U.S. holder, this subsection does not apply to you.

Interest.    Other than as described below under “—FATCA,” and “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” no U.S. federal income or withholding tax generally will apply to a payment of interest on a note to a Non-U.S. Holder, provided that:

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If all of the foregoing requirements are not met, payments of interest on a note will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower applicable treaty rate, provided certain certification requirements are met), subject to the discussion below concerning interest that is effectively connected with a Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the U.S.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption, Retirement or Other Disposition of a Note.    A Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the receipt of payments of principal on a note, or on any gain recognized upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of a note (except to the extent such amount is attributable to accrued interest, which will be taxable as described above), unless in the case of gain (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the U.S. and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder within the U.S. (in which case the gain will be subject to tax as described below) or (ii) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and certain other conditions are met (in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to a flat income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on any capital gain recognized on the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses).

U.S. Trade or Business.    If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the U.S., and if interest or gain on a note is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder within the U.S., the Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the receipt or accrual of such interest or the recognition of gain on the sale or other taxable disposition of the note in the same manner as if such holder were a U.S. holder. Such interest or gain recognized by a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to an additional U.S. federal branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). If such treatment is applicable, any such gain will not be subject to withholding tax and any such interest will not be subject to withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder delivers to the withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI in order to claim an exemption from withholding tax. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors with respect to other U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of notes.

FATCA.    Pursuant to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), withholding at a rate of 30% generally will be required in certain circumstances on interest payments in respect of notes held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution otherwise qualifies for an exemption or (i) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (ii) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and an applicable foreign country, or other guidance, may modify these requirements. Similarly, in certain circumstances, interest payments in respect of notes held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies that such entity does not have any “substantial U.S. owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial U.S. owners,” which we will in turn provide to the IRS. Accordingly, the entity through which the notes are held will affect the determination of whether withholding under the rules described in this paragraph is required. We will not pay any additional amounts to Non-U.S. Holders in respect of any amounts withheld. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in the notes.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, if you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, we and other payors are required to report to the IRS all payments of principal, any premium and interest on your note. In addition, we and other payors are required to

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report to the IRS any payment of proceeds of the sale of your note before maturity within the U.S. Additionally, backup withholding would apply to any payments, if you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number, or (in the case of interest payments) you are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns.

In general, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder, we and other payors are required to report payments of interest on your notes on IRS Form 1042-S. Payments of principal, premium or interest made by us and other payors to you would otherwise not be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, provided that the certification requirements described above under “—Non-U.S. Holders—Interest” are satisfied or you otherwise establish an exemption. In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale of notes effected at a U.S. office of a broker will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting if you have furnished to the payor or broker an appropriate IRS Form W-8, an acceptable substitute form or other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-U.S. person.

In general, payment of the proceeds from the sale of notes effected at a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker could be subject to information reporting in the same manner as a sale within the U.S. (and in certain cases may be subject to backup withholding as well) if (i) the broker has certain connections to the U.S., (ii) the proceeds or confirmation are sent to the U.S. or (iii) the sale has certain other specified connections with the U.S.

You generally may credit any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules against your U.S. federal income tax liability and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your U.S. federal income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

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UNDERWRITING

Citigroup Global Markets Inc., BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as the underwriters for the offering. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters named below have severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite each underwriter’s name.

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the notes are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to each underwriter’s right to reject any order in whole or in part.

The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to the public at the applicable public offering prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the notes to dealers at the applicable public offering price less a concession not to exceed 0.175% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed 0.125% of the principal amount of the notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the underwriters may change the public offering price and other selling terms.

The following table shows the underwriting discount that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage and dollar amount of the principal amount of the notes).

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the underwriters, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchases notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes. They may also cause the prices of the notes to be higher than the prices that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time without notice.

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We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $1.2 million and will be payable by us.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

Pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on any date prior to the second business day before delivery thereof will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+3, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have provided various investment and commercial banking services for us from time to time for which they have received customary fees and commissions, including participating as lenders under our revolving credit facilities or our term loan facility. The underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they have received or will receive customary fees and commissions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments (including serving as counterparties to certain derivative and hedging arrangements) and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If the underwriters or any of their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, the underwriters or certain of their affiliates routinely hedge, and the underwriters or certain other of their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies.

Typically, the underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

Prohibition of Sales to EEA and United Kingdom Retail Investors

The notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:

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United Kingdom

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to Stryker Corporation.

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The notes have not been and may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than: (i) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O); and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (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 securities 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 SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (the “FIEA”) and accordingly, have not been and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or 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, or for the account or benefit of, others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in South Korea

The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in South Korea or to any resident of South Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of South Korea, including the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been registered with the Financial Services Commission of South Korea for public offering in South Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be re-sold to South Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with their purchase.

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the notes in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to the exemptions under Section 274 and 275 of the SFA. 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 as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.

It is a condition of the offer that where the notes are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the notes except:

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the Issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in

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accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment hereto and thereto) contain a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to Section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan

The notes have not been and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or any other regulatory authority of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which could constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or relevant laws and regulations that requires a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or other regulatory authority of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer or sell the notes in Taiwan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in United Arab Emirates

The notes have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and are not intended to be a public offer. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Warner Norcross + Judd LLP and for the underwriters by Sidley Austin LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Stryker Corporation and its subsidiaries appearing in Stryker’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Stryker’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PROSPECTUS

STRYKER CORPORATION

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Purchase Contracts

Purchase Units

We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, (1) shares of our common stock, (2) shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (3) debt securities, which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, (4) warrants, (5) subscription rights, (6) purchase contracts and (7) purchase units, each representing ownership of a purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third-parties, including U.S. treasury securities or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holder’s obligation to purchase our common stock or other securities under the purchase contracts.

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of offering. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “SYK.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 20 of this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports, in any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities and in other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 7, 2019

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer, which is not meant to be a complete description of any security. Each time that securities are sold, a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering will be provided, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement and any other offering material may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of securities, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 22 of this prospectus. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “Stryker” refer to Stryker Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date other than the date on the front cover of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

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STRYKER CORPORATION

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. Our products are sold in over 80 countries through company-owned subsidiaries and branches, as well as third-party dealers and distributors, and include implants used in joint replacement and trauma surgeries; surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling, emergency medical equipment and intensive care disposable products; neurosurgical, neurovascular and spinal devices; as well as other products used in a variety of medical specialties.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2825 Airview Boulevard, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002, and our telephone number is (269) 385-2600. Our Internet website is www.stryker.com. The content of our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. Before you decide whether to purchase any of our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement as well as in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed subsequent to the end of the fiscal year covered by such Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in their entirety, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 22 of this prospectus. These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

From time to time, in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, as well as in other written reports and oral statements, we discuss our expectations regarding our future performance. Statements and financial discussion and analysis contained herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “should,” “possible,” “predict,” “forecast,” “potential,” “project,” “may impact,” “on track,” “goal,” “strategy” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance, an acquisition or our businesses. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data, current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industries in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Among the factors that might affect our performance are:

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While we believe that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that future events or developments will not cause such statements to be inaccurate. All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in events or circumstances or in our expectations or results.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, repayment or refinancing of debt, stock repurchases and other business opportunities. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to the offered securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the capital stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts and purchase units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of any security. At the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.

As used in this “Description of Securities,” the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “Stryker” refer to Stryker Corporation, a Michigan corporation, and do not, unless otherwise specified, include our subsidiaries.

Description of Capital Stock

The following description briefly summarizes certain information regarding our capital stock. This information does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the applicable provisions of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, as amended, or the MBCA, our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or our articles, and our By-laws, as amended, or our by-laws.

Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of (1) 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share and (2) 500,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share. As of January 31, 2019, we had 372,664,636 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock issued.

Common Stock

Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote for each share held by it of record on each matter submitted to a vote. Other than the election of directors, if an action is to be taken by vote of the shareholders, it will be authorized by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote on the action, unless a greater vote is required in our articles or by-laws. Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote (and for such purpose, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee); provided, however, that if as of the record date for a meeting at which directors will be elected, there are more nominees than positions on the board of directors to be filled by election at such meeting, each director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the election.

Subject to the prior payment or provision therefor of dividends on the preferred stock, if any, holders of the common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Holders of our common stock have no conversion, preemptive or other rights to subscribe for any securities of ours, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or distribution of our assets and after satisfaction of the preferential requirements of the preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the distribution of the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to applicable law and the rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock and any additional classes of stock that we may issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our articles authorize our Board of Directors to issue up to 500,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, with such distinctive designation or title and in such number of shares as may be authorized by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is authorized to prescribe the relative rights and preferences of each series,

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and the limitations applicable thereto, including but not limited to the following: (1) the voting powers, full, special, or limited, or no voting powers, of each such series; (2) the rate, terms and conditions on which dividends will be paid, whether such dividends will be cumulative, and what preference such dividends shall have in relation to the dividends on other series or classes of stock; (3) the rights, terms and conditions, if any, for conversion of such series of preferred stock into shares of other series or classes of stock; (4) any right of the Company to redeem the shares of such series of preferred stock, and the price, time and conditions of such redemption, including the provisions for any sinking fund; and (5) the rights of holders of such series of preferred stock in relation to the rights of other series and classes of stock upon the liquidation, dissolution or distribution of our assets. Unless otherwise provided by our Board of Directors, upon redemption or conversion, shares of preferred stock will revert to authorized but unissued shares and may be reissued as shares of any series of preferred stock.

The particular terms of any preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include those described in the preceding paragraph.

Limitation of Liability

Our articles provide that, to the full extent authorized or permitted by the MBCA, directors of Stryker will not be personally liable to Stryker or its shareholders for any acts or omissions in such person’s capacity as a director. Such limitation of liability does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. These provisions will not limit the liability of directors under federal securities laws.

Certain Statutory, Articles and By-law Provisions Affecting Shareholders

Certain provisions in our articles and by-laws and the MBCA may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of the Company or may operate only with respect to extraordinary corporate transactions involving the Company.

Business Combination Act

We are subject to the provisions of Chapter 7A of the MBCA, which provides that business combinations between a Michigan corporation and a beneficial owner of shares entitled to 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation generally require the affirmative vote of 90% of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote and not less than two-thirds of each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares owned by such 10% owner). Chapter 7A defines a “business combination” to encompass any merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets, stock issue, liquidation, or reclassification of securities involving an interested shareholder or certain affiliates. An “interested shareholder” is generally any person who owns 10% or more of the voting shares of the corporation. An “affiliate” is a person who directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified person. Such requirements do not apply if the transaction satisfies fairness standards, other specified conditions are met and the interested shareholder has been such for at least five years.

Article and By-Law Provisions

Our articles and by-laws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our Board of Directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include an advance notice requirement for director nominations and actions to be taken at annual meetings of shareholders, the inability of the shareholders to call a special meeting of the shareholders and the availability of authorized but unissued blank check preferred stock.

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Advance Notice Requirement

Our by-laws set forth advance notice procedures with regard to shareholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be presented at meetings of shareholders. These procedures provide that notice of such shareholder proposals must be timely given in writing to the secretary of Stryker prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at the principal executive offices of Stryker not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting. The advance notice requirement does not give the Board of Directors any power to approve or disapprove shareholder director nominations or proposals but may have the effect of precluding the consideration of certain business at a meeting if the proper notice procedures are not followed.

Special Meetings of Shareholders

Our by-laws do not grant the shareholders the right to call a special meeting of shareholders. Under our by-laws, special meetings of shareholders may be called only by the chairman of our Board of Directors, our president or by order of our Board of Directors.

Blank Check Preferred Stock

Our preferred stock could be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect in that, if a hostile takeover situation should arise, shares of preferred stock could be issued to purchasers sympathetic with our management or others in such a way as to render more difficult or to discourage a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management.

The effects of the issuance of one or more series of the preferred stock on the holders of our common stock could include:

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SYK.”

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue separately, upon exercise of a debt warrant, in connection with a purchase contract or as part of a purchase unit, from time to time. The debt securities may either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities may be issued under the Senior Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2010, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and subordinated debt securities may be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture” anticipated to be entered into between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. This prospectus sometimes refers to the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture collectively as the “Indentures.” The Senior Indenture and the form of the Subordinated Indenture have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in the registration statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus forms a part. We may also issue debt securities under a separate, new indenture. If that occurs, we will describe any differences in the terms of any such indenture in the prospectus supplement.

The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the Indentures and the debt securities, other than pricing and related terms disclosed in the accompanying prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. You should read the more detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. You should also read the particular terms of an offering of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. Copies of the Indentures may be obtained from Stryker or the trustee.

General

The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our present and future senior indebtedness to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Indenture. The debt securities will not be secured by any of our property or assets. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

Since our operations are partially conducted through our subsidiaries, the cash flow and the consequent ability to service our indebtedness, including the debt securities, is partially dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings or upon the payments of funds by those 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 debt securities or to make funds available to us, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. In addition, the payment of dividends and the making of loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries may be subject to contractual or statutory restrictions, are contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and are subject to various business considerations. Any right we may have to receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the holders of our debt securities to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of such subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors.

The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. We may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture. The Indentures also do not limit our ability to incur other debt.

Each prospectus supplement will summarize the material terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms may include some or all of the following:

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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

Subordination

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions, including the extent of subordination of payments by us of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such subordinated debt securities.

The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

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Certain Covenants

Except as set forth below or in any indenture supplemental to the Indentures or in a board resolution of ours establishing a series of securities under the Indentures, the Indentures will not:

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and we may sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to another corporation, provided, among other things, that (a) we are the surviving corporation or the corporation formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or the transferee of such assets shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume by supplemental indenture payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities issued under either the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture and the performance and observance of the applicable Indenture and (b) we or such successor corporation shall not immediately thereafter be in default under the applicable Indenture.

Events of Default

The following events are defined in the Indentures as “Events of Default”:

If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing with respect to a series of debt securities, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of such series) may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable; provided that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, such acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof may become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

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The Indentures provide that the trustee shall, after the occurrence of a default with respect to a particular series of debt securities, give or may withhold from the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default known to it (the term default to mean the events specified above without grace periods) to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act.

We will be required to furnish the trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers to the effect that to the best of their knowledge we are not in default in the fulfillment of any of our obligations under the Indentures or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default. No holder of any debt securities of any particular series shall have any right to institute any judicial or other proceeding with respect to the Indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy unless:

However, a holder may bring a lawsuit to receive payment of money due on a debt security on or after the due date of such payment.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of a particular series of debt securities outstanding will have the right, subject to certain limitations, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series or exercising any trust or power conferred to the trustee, and to waive certain defaults. The Indentures provide that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the trustee shall exercise such of its rights and powers under the Indentures, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request of any of the holders of debt securities of a particular series unless they shall have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may discharge or defease our obligations under each Indenture as set forth below.

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by, among other things, irrevocably depositing with the trustee funds or government obligations denominated in U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency in which debt securities of such series are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on debt securities of such series with respect to principal (and premium and additional amounts, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (if debt securities of such series have become due and payable) or to the maturity thereof or the date of redemption of debt securities of such series, as the case may be.

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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except for, among other things, the obligation to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of certain events of taxation, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on debt securities of such series and other obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust), or (2) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series of debt securities and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to such series of debt securities upon the deposit with the Indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money 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 of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must, among other things, deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (1) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant Indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

Modification and Waiver

Modification and amendments of the Indentures may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected thereby; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

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The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, waive our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable Indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, waive any past default and its consequences under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series, except a default:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain types of changes do not require any vote by holders of the debt securities. These types of changes are limited to corrections and clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the debt securities. Nor do we need any approval to make changes that affect only debt securities to be issued under the Indenture after the changes take effect.

The Subordinated Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of each holder of then outstanding senior indebtedness that would be adversely affected by the amendment.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to us for payment thereof.

Denominations, Registrations and Transfer

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In

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such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by us under the Indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations.

Governing Law

The Indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York), except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable, in which case the Trust Indenture Act will govern.

Concerning the Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the Senior Indenture and we anticipate appointing U.S. Bank National Association as the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture and also as the paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian with regard to the debt securities unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise. The trustee or its affiliates may in the future provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

This section describes the general terms and provisions of warrants to acquire our securities that we may issue from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrant agreement and the warrants issuable thereunder. If any particular terms of the warrants described in the prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by that prospectus supplement.

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, as detailed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation, or agency or trust relationship, with you. We will file a copy of the warrant and warrant agreement with the SEC each time we issue a series of warrants, and these warrants and warrant agreements will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A holder of our warrants should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and prospectus supplement for more specific information.

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including, when applicable:

After warrants expire they will become void. All warrants will be issued in registered form. The prospectus supplement may provide for the adjustment of the exercise price of the warrants.

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Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.

The applicable warrant agreement may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants to which it applies to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of warrants will not be effective unless the holders of at least a majority of the applicable warrants then outstanding approve the amendment. Every holder of an outstanding warrant at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the warrant, will be bound by the applicable warrant agreement as amended. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of warrants may provide that certain provisions of the warrants, including the securities for which they may be exercisable, the exercise price and the expiration date, may not be altered without the consent of the holder of each warrant.

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the holder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate if we offer subscription rights, please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 22.

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, and obligating us to sell to or purchase from the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as purchase contracts. The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts, and may be subject to adjustment under anti-dilution formulas. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, any other securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or any combination of the foregoing, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase or sell the securities under the purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as purchase units. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts in a specified manner. The purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or the purchase units, as the case may be, or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the purchase contracts or purchase units. This description is not complete and the description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference is made to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements relating to the purchase contracts or purchase units, which will be filed with the SEC each time we issue purchase contracts or purchase units. If any particular terms of the purchase contracts or purchase units described in the prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by that prospectus supplement. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase units and the purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

In addition, Stryker may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third parties may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation, in a prospectus supplement.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, will act as counsel to Stryker and certain matters of Michigan law will be passed upon for us by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. Counsel for any underwriter or agent will be noted in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Stryker Corporation and its subsidiaries appearing in Stryker’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2018 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Stryker’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in the prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC, we refer you to the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document is qualified in all respects by reference to the contract or document to which it refers. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are accessible through the Internet at that website. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at www.stryker.com. The content of our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that (1) we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents and (2) those documents are considered part of this prospectus. The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus (other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

We also incorporate by reference all documents we may subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the termination of the offering (other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules). The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the document is filed.

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We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost to the requestor. To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents, call or write:

Stryker Corporation

2825 Airview Boulevard

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Tel: (269) 385-2600

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$600,000,000

STRYKER CORPORATION

0.600% Notes due 2023

PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT

November 18, 2020

Joint Book-Running Managers

Citigroup

BofA Securities

Wells Fargo Securities