Executive Change · Bylaw Amendment

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549       FORM  8-K   CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   December 9, 2021 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   ABBOTT LABORATORIES (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)       Illinois   1-2189   36-0698440 (State or other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer of Incorporation)       Identification No.)       100 Abbott Park Road Abbott Park , Illinois 60064-6400 (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)   Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  ( 224 ) 667-6100   Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:   ¨                  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ¨                  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ¨                  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ¨                  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))   Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of Each Class Trading Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Common Shares, Without Par Value ABT New York Stock Exchange Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).   Emerging growth company   ¨   If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ¨         Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.   On December 9, 2021, Miles D. White informed the Abbott Laboratories (“Abbott”) Board of Directors that he will step down as Executive Chairman of the Board and as a director, effective December 10, 2021. On December 10, 2021, Abbott’s Board of Directors appointed Robert B. Ford, Abbott’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a director, to the additional position of Chairman of the Board, effective upon Mr. White’s resignation.   A copy of Abbott’s press release announcing these changes is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.   Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.   On December 10, 2021, Abbott’s Board of Directors amended and restated Abbott’s by-laws (the “Amended By-Laws”), effective immediately, to: · reduce the size of Abbott’s Board of Directors from fourteen persons to thirteen persons; and · address recent changes in Illinois law to permit meetings of shareholders to be held solely by means of remote communication.   The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended By-Laws, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.   Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.   Exhibit No. Exhibit   3.1 By-Laws of Abbott Laboratories, as amended and restated effective December 10, 2021.         99.1 Press release dated December 10, 2021.   104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).         SIGNATURE   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.     ABBOTT LABORATORIES           Date: December 10, 2021 By: /s/ Robert E. Funck, Jr.     Robert E. Funck, Jr.     Executive Vice President, Finance     and Chief Financial Officer