10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File No. 1-11083

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE	04-2695240
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

300 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC WAY, MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS 01752-1234

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

(508) 683-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o
Non-Accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o
	Emerging growth company o

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. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

	Shares outstanding
Class	as of April 28, 2017
Common Stock, $0.01 par value	1,369,401,733

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page No.
PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	3
ITEM 1.	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)	4
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited as of March 31, 2017)	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)	6
	Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	7
ITEM 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	32
ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	50
ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures	51
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION	52
ITEM 1.	Legal Proceedings	52
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	52
ITEM 6.	Exhibits	52
SIGNATURE		53

2

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
in millions, except per share data	2017			2016
Net sales	$	2,160		$	1,964
Cost of products sold	650			573
Gross profit	1,510			1,391
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	794			716
Research and development expenses	235			210
Royalty expense	17			19
Amortization expense	143			136
Contingent consideration expense (benefit)	(50		)	4
Restructuring charges (credits)	4			3
Litigation-related charges (credits)	3			10
	1,146			1,098
Operating income (loss)	364			293
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(57		)	(59		)
Other, net	(2		)	(6		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	305			228
Income tax expense (benefit)	15			26
Net income (loss)	$	290		$	202
Net income (loss) per common share — basic	$	0.21		$	0.15
Net income (loss) per common share — assuming dilution	$	0.21		$	0.15
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	1,365.4			1,350.4
Assuming dilution	1,390.2			1,369.9

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Net income (loss)	$	290		$	202
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	8			16
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments	(55		)	(69		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(47		)	(53		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	243		$	149

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	As of
	March 31,			December 31,
in millions, except share and per share data	2017			2016
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	156		$	196
Trade accounts receivable, net	1,429			1,472
Inventories	971			955
Deferred and prepaid income taxes	65			75
Other current assets	405			541
Total current assets	3,026			3,239
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,652			1,630
Goodwill	6,680			6,678
Other intangible assets, net	5,743			5,883
Other long-term assets	842			666
TOTAL ASSETS	$	17,943		$	18,096
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current debt obligations	$	5		$	64
Accounts payable	376			447
Accrued expenses	2,298			2,312
Other current liabilities	811			764
Total current liabilities	3,490			3,587
Long-term debt	5,509			5,420
Deferred income taxes	19			18
Other long-term liabilities	1,872			2,338
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 50,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 2,000,000,000 shares -  issued 1,616,648,758 shares as of March 31, 2017 and 1,609,670,817 shares as of December 31, 2016	16			16
Treasury stock, at cost - 247,566,270 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	(1,717		)	(1,717		)
Additional paid-in capital	17,015			17,014
Accumulated deficit	(8,215		)	(8,581		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(46		)	1
Total stockholders’ equity	7,053			6,733
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	17,943		$	18,096

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$	114		$	116
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(112		)	(60		)
Proceeds on disposals of property, plant and equipment	—			30
Payments for investments, acquisitions of certain technologies and issuances of notes receivable	(28		)	(18		)
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(140		)	(48		)
Financing activities:
Payments on long-term borrowings	(250		)	—
Payment of contingent consideration amounts previously established in purchase accounting	(18		)	(21		)
Proceeds from borrowings on credit facilities	1,016			40
Payments on borrowings from credit facilities	(735		)	(40		)
Cash used to net share settle employee equity awards	(61		)	(57		)
Proceeds from issuances of shares of common stock	33			27
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(15		)	(51		)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	1			2
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(40		)	19
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	196			319
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	156		$	338
Supplemental Information
Stock-based compensation expense	$	30		$	28

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Boston Scientific Corporation have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Subsequent Events

We evaluate events occurring after the date of our most recent accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets for potential recognition or disclosure in our financial statements. We did not identify any material subsequent events requiring adjustment to our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (recognized subsequent events) for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Those items requiring disclosure (unrecognized subsequent events) in the financial statements have been disclosed accordingly. Refer to Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements andNote I – Commitments and Contingenciesfor more information.

NOTE B – ACQUISITIONS AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

We did not close any material acquisitions during the first quarter of 2017 or 2016.

Symetis SA

On March 29, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Symetis SA (Symetis) for $435 millionin cash. Symetis is a privately-held Swiss structural heart company focused on minimally-invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Symetis will be integrated into our Interventional Cardiology business.

Contingent Consideration

Certain of our acquisitions involve contingent consideration arrangements. Payment of additional consideration is generally contingent on the acquired company reaching certain performance milestones, including attaining specified revenue levels, achieving product development targets and/or obtaining regulatory approvals. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we recognize a liability equal to the fair value of the contingent payments we expect to make as of the acquisition date. We re-measure this liability each reporting period and record changes in the fair value through a separate line item within our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

We recorded a net benefit related to the changes in fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities of $50 million during the first quarter of 2017 and net expenses of $4 million during the first quarter of 2016. We made contingent consideration payments of $28 million during the first quarter of 2017 and $63 million during the first quarter of 2016.

Changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities were as follows (in millions):

Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	204
Fair value adjustments	(50		)
Contingent payments related to prior period acquisitions	(28		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	126

As of March 31, 2017, the maximum amount of future contingent consideration (undiscounted) that we could be required to pay was approximately $1.283 billion.

7

Contingent consideration liabilities are remeasured to fair value each reporting period using projected revenues, discount rates, probabilities of payment and projected payment dates. The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our contingent consideration liabilities include the following significant unobservable inputs:

Contingent Consideration Liabilities	Fair Value as of March 31, 2017	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestones	$45 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	2% - 3%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2021
Revenue-based Payments	$81 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11% - 15%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2026

Increases or decreases in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities can result from changes in discount periods and rates, as well as changes in the timing and amount of revenue estimates or in the timing or likelihood of achieving R&D and commercialization-based and revenue-based milestones. Projected contingent payment amounts related to some of our R&D and commercialization-based and revenue-based milestones are discounted back to the current period using a discounted cash flow model. Projected revenues are based on our most recent internal operational budgets and long-range strategic plans. Increases in projected revenues and probabilities of payment may result in higher fair value measurements. Increases in discount rates and the time to payment may result in lower fair value measurements. Increases or decreases in any of those inputs together, or in isolation, may result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

Strategic Investments

We did not close any material strategic investments during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016.

We account for certain of our strategic investments as equity method investments, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323).

The aggregate carrying amount of our strategic investments as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were comprised of the following categories:

(in millions)	As of
	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Equity method investments	$	266	$	265
Cost method investments	34		20
Available-for-sale securities	28		20
Notes receivable	43		42
	$	371	$	347

These investments are classified as other long-term assets within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with U.S. GAAP and our accounting policies. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, the net losses from our strategic investments, presented within the Other, net caption of our condensed consolidated statement of operations were immaterial.

8

NOTE C – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization for intangible assets subject to amortization and accumulated write-offs of goodwill as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

	As of
	March 31, 2017					December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/			Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/
(in millions)	Amount		Write-offs			Amount		Write-offs
Amortizable intangible assets
Technology-related	$	9,123	$	(4,570	)	$	9,123	$	(4,468	)
Patents	516		(372		)	529		(374		)
Other intangible assets	1,584		(750		)	1,583		(722		)
	$	11,223	$	(5,692	)	$	11,235	$	(5,564	)
Unamortizable intangible assets
Goodwill	$	16,580	$	(9,900	)	$	16,578	$	(9,900	)
In-process research and development	92		—			92		—
Technology-related	120		—			120		—
	$	16,792	$	(9,900	)	$	16,790	$	(9,900	)

Our technology-related intangible assets that are not subject to amortization represent technical processes, intellectual property and/or institutional understanding acquired through business combinations that are fundamental to the on-going operations of our business and have no limit to their useful life. Our technology-related intangible assets that are not subject to amortization are comprised primarily of certain acquired balloon and other technology, which is foundational to our continuing operations within the Cardiovascular market and other markets within interventional medicine. We assess our indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually for impairment and reassess their classification as indefinite-lived assets. We assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that our indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, we then determine the fair value of the intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350).

The following represents our goodwill balance by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular		Rhythm Management		MedSurg		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	3,513	$	290	$	2,875	$	6,678
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	1		—		1		2
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	3,514	$	290	$	2,876	$	6,680

Goodwill Impairment Testing

We test our goodwill balances for impairment during the second quarter of each year, or more frequently if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest an impairment may exist. Refer to Note D - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets contained in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for discussion of our most recent goodwill impairment test.

The following is a rollforward of accumulated goodwill write-offs by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2016	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Accumulated write-offs as of March 31, 2017	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)

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Intangible Asset Impairment Testing

On a quarterly basis, we monitor for events or other potential indicators of impairment that would warrant an interim impairment test of our intangible assets. We did not record any intangible asset impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

NOTE D – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We address market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates through a risk management program that includes the use of derivative financial instruments and we operate the program pursuant to documented corporate risk management policies. Our derivative instruments do not subject our earnings or cash flows to material risk, as gains and losses on these derivatives generally offset losses and gains on the item being hedged. We do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes and we do not have any non-derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).

Currency Hedging

We are exposed to currency risk consisting primarily of foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities, forecasted foreign currency denominated intercompany transactions and third-party transactions, and net investments in certain subsidiaries. We manage our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on a consolidated basis to take advantage of offsetting transactions. We use derivative instruments and non-derivative transactions to reduce the risk that our earnings and cash flows associated with these foreign currency denominated balances and transactions will be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate changes.

Currently or Previously Designated Foreign Currency Hedges

All of our designated currency hedge contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 intended to protect the U.S. dollar value of our forecasted foreign currency denominated transactions. We record the effective portion of any change in the fair value of foreign currency cash flow hedges in other comprehensive income (OCI) until the related third-party transaction occurs. Once the related third-party transaction occurs, we reclassify the effective portion of any related gain or loss on the foreign currency cash flow hedge to earnings. In the event the hedged forecasted transaction does not occur, or it becomes no longer probable that it will occur, we reclassify the amount of any gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge to earnings at that time. We had currency derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges outstanding in the contract amount of $2.161 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $2.271 billion as of December 31, 2016.

We recognized net gains of $28 million in earnings on our cash flow hedges during the first quarter of 2017, as compared to net gains of $48 million during the first quarter of 2016. All currency cash flow hedges outstanding as of March 31, 2017 mature within 60 months. As of March 31, 2017, $47 million of net gains, net of tax, were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to recognize the effective portion of the fair value of any currency derivative instruments that are, or previously were, designated as foreign currency cash flow hedges, as compared to net gains, net of tax, of $102 million as of December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, $30 million of net gains, net of tax, may be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

The success of our hedging program depends, in part, on forecasts of transaction activity in various currencies (primarily British pound sterling, Euro and Japanese yen). We may experience unanticipated currency exchange gains or losses to the extent that there are differences between forecasted and actual activity during periods of currency volatility. In addition, changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to any unhedged transactions may impact our earnings and cash flows.

Non-designated Foreign Currency Contracts

We use currency forward contracts as a part of our strategy to manage exposure related to foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. These currency forward contracts are not designated as cash flow, fair value or net investment hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815. The currency forward contracts are marked-to-market with changes in fair value recorded to earnings and are entered into for periods consistent with currency transaction exposures, generally less than one year. We had currency derivative instruments not designated as hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 outstanding in the contract amount of $2.048 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $1.830 billion as of December 31, 2016.

10

Interest Rate Hedging

Our interest rate risk relates primarily to U.S. dollar borrowings, partially offset by U.S. dollar cash investments. We have historically used interest rate derivative instruments to manage our earnings and cash flow exposure to changes in interest rates by converting fixed-rate debt into floating-rate debt or floating-rate debt into fixed-rate debt. We had no interest rate derivative instruments outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

We designate these derivative instruments either as fair value or cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815. We record changes in the value of fair value hedges in interest expense, which is generally offset by changes in the fair value of the hedged debt obligation. Interest payments made or received related to our interest rate derivative instruments are included in interest expense. We record the effective portion of any change in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges as unrealized gains or losses in OCI, net of tax, until the hedged cash flow occurs, at which point the effective portion of any gain or loss is reclassified to earnings. We record the ineffective portion of our cash flow hedges in interest expense. In the event the hedged cash flow does not occur, or it becomes no longer probable that it will occur, we reclassify the amount of any gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge to interest expense at that time.

We are amortizing the gains and losses on previously terminated interest rate derivative instruments, including fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts designated as fair value hedges and forward starting interest rate derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges into earnings as a component of interest expense over the remaining term of the hedged debt, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815. The carrying amount of certain of our senior notes included unamortized gains of $48 million as of March 31, 2017 and $51 million as of December 31, 2016. We had no unamortized losses as of March 31, 2017 compared to an immaterial amount as of December 31, 2016. In addition, we had pre-tax net gains within AOCI related to terminated forward starting interest rate derivative contracts of $9 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The net gains that we recognized as a reduction of interest expense in earnings related to previously terminated interest rate derivatives were $3 million during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016. As of March 31, 2017, $14 million of net gains may be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months from amortization of our previously terminated interest rate derivative contracts.

Counterparty Credit Risk

We do not have significant concentrations of credit risk arising from our derivative financial instruments, whether from an individual counterparty or a related group of counterparties. We manage our concentration of counterparty credit risk on our derivative instruments by limiting acceptable counterparties to a diversified group of major financial institutions with investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of credit exposure to each counterparty and by actively monitoring their credit ratings and outstanding fair values on an on-going basis. Furthermore, none of our derivative transactions are subject to collateral or other security arrangements and none contain provisions that are dependent on our credit ratings from any credit rating agency.

We also employ master netting arrangements that reduce our counterparty payment settlement risk on any given maturity date to the net amount of any receipts or payments due between us and the counterparty financial institution. Thus, the maximum loss due to counterparty credit risk is limited to the unrealized gains in such contracts net of any unrealized losses should any of these counterparties fail to perform as contracted. Although these protections do not eliminate concentrations of credit risk, as a result of the above considerations, we do not consider the risk of counterparty default to be significant.

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Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The following presents the effect of our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 on our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016:

(in millions)	Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)		Location in Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Currency hedge contracts	$	(58	)	$	28	Cost of products sold
	$	(58	)	$	28
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Currency hedge contracts	$	59		$	48	Cost of products sold
	$	59		$	48

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings related to the ineffective portion of hedging relationships was immaterial in all periods presented.

Net gains and losses on currency hedge contracts not designated as hedging instruments were offset by net losses and gains from foreign currency transaction exposures, as shown in the following table:

(in millions)	Location in Statement of Operations	Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2017			2016
Net gain (loss) on currency hedge contracts	Other, net	$	(17	)	$	(39	)
Net gain (loss) on foreign currency transaction exposures	Other, net	17			34
Net foreign currency gain (loss)	Other, net	$	—		$	(5	)

FASB ASC Topic 815 requires all derivative instruments to be recognized at their fair values as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We determine the fair value of our derivative instruments using the framework prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, by considering the estimated amount we would receive or pay to transfer these instruments at the reporting date and by taking into account current interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, the creditworthiness of the counterparty for the assets and our creditworthiness for liabilities. In certain instances, we may utilize financial models to measure fair value. In doing so, we use inputs that include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, other observable inputs for the asset or liability, and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. As of March 31, 2017, we have classified all of our derivative assets and liabilities within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, as discussed below, because these observable inputs are available for substantially the full term of our derivative instruments.

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The following are the balances of our derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

		As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in millions)	Location in Balance Sheet (1)	2017		2016
Derivative Assets:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	$	55	$	98
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term assets	36		65
		91		163
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	17		36
Total Derivative Assets		$	108	$	199
Derivative Liabilities:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	$	13	$	3
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term liabilities	9		4
		22		7
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	27		19
Total Derivative Liabilities		$	49	$	26

(1) We classify derivative assets and liabilities as current when the remaining term of the derivative contract is one year or less.

Other Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

On a recurring basis, we measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value based upon quoted market prices, where available. Where quoted market prices or other observable inputs are not available, we apply valuation techniques to estimate fair value. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The categorization of financial assets and financial liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are defined as follows:

• Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are other observable inputs, including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities and market-corroborated inputs.

• Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs based on management’s best estimate of inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date, including assumptions about risk.

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Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of the following as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

	As of
	March 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Money market and government funds	$	2	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	42	$	—	$	—	$	42
Available-for-sale securities	28		—		—		28		20		—		—		20
Currency hedge contracts	—		108		—		108		—		199		—		199
	$	30	$	108	$	—	$	138	$	62	$	199	$	—	$	261
Liabilities
Currency hedge contracts	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	26	$	—	$	26
Accrued contingent consideration	—		—		126		126		—		—		204		204
	$	—	$	49	$	126	$	175	$	—	$	26	$	204	$	230

Our investments in money market and government funds are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. These investments are classified as cash and cash equivalents within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with U.S. GAAP and our accounting policies. In addition to $2 million invested in money market and government funds as of March 31, 2017, we had $154 million in interest bearing and non-interest bearing bank accounts. In addition to $42 million invested in money market and government funds as of December 31, 2016, we had $19 million in short-term deposits and $135 million in interest bearing and non-interest bearing bank accounts.

Our recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) relate solely to our contingent consideration liability. Refer to Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investmentsfor a discussion of the changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liability.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

We hold certain assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition. The fair value of a cost method investment is not estimated if there are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Refer to Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investments for a discussion of our strategic investments.

The fair value of our outstanding debt obligations was $5.794 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $5.739 billion as of December 31, 2016, which was determined by using quoted market prices for our publicly registered senior notes, classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Refer to Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements for a discussion of our debt obligations.

NOTE E – BORROWINGS AND CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

We had total debt of $5.514 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $5.484 billion as of December 31, 2016. The debt maturity schedule for the significant components of our debt obligations as of March 31, 2017 is as follows:

(in millions)	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
Senior Notes	$	—	$	600	$	—	$	1,450	$	—	$	2,350	$	4,400
Term Loans	—		225		150		375		—		—		750
Revolving Credit Facility	—		—		—		125		—		—		125
Accounts Receivable Securitization	—		—		216		—		—		—		216
	$	—	$	825	$	366	$	1,950	$	—	$	2,350	$	5,491

Note: The table above does not include unamortized discounts associated with our senior notes, or amounts related to interest rate contracts used to hedge the fair value of certain of our senior notes or debt issuance costs.

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Revolving Credit Facility

On April 10, 2015, we entered into a $2.000 billion revolving credit facility (the 2015 Facility) with a global syndicate of commercial banks and terminated our previous $2.000 billionrevolving credit facility.The 2015 Facility matures on April 10, 2020. Eurodollar and multicurrency loans under the 2015 Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin of between 0.9 percent and 1.5 percent, based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio (1.3 percent as of March 31, 2017). In addition, we are required to pay a facility fee based on our credit ratings, consolidated leverage ratio and the total amount of revolving credit commitment, regardless of usage, under the credit agreement (0.2 percent as of March 31, 2017).The 2015 Facility contains covenants which, among other things, required that we maintained a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.0 times consolidated EBITDA and a maximum leverage ratio of 4.5 times consolidated EBITDA for the first four fiscal quarter-ends following the closing of the acquisition of the American Medical Systems male urology portfolio (AMS Portfolio Acquisition) on August 3, 2015 and decreasing to 4.25 times, 4.0 times and 3.75 times consolidated EBITDA for the next three fiscal quarter-ends after such four fiscal quarter-ends and then to 3.50 times for each fiscal quarter-end thereafter. There was $125 millionborrowed under our current revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2017 and no borrowings under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2016.

Our revolving credit facility agreement in place as of March 31, 2017 requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, as follows:

	Covenant Requirement as of March 31, 2017	Actual as of March 31, 2017
Maximum leverage ratio (1)	3.75 times	2.40 times
Minimum interest coverage ratio (2)	3.0 times	9.9 times

(1) Ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

(2) Ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, to interest expense for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

The credit agreement for the 2015 Facility provides for an exclusion from the calculation of consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, through the credit agreement maturity, of any non-cash charges and up to $620 million in restructuring charges and restructuring-related expenses related to our current or future restructuring plans. As of March 31, 2017, we had$468 million of the restructuring charge exclusion remaining. In addition, any cash litigation payments (net of any cash litigation receipts), as defined by the agreement, are excluded from the calculation of consolidated EBITDA and any new debt issued to fund any tax deficiency payments is excluded from consolidated total debt, as defined in the agreement, provided that the sum of any excluded net cash litigation payments and any new debt issued to fund any tax deficiency payments does not exceed $2.000 billionin the aggregate. As of March 31, 2017, we had $728 million of the combined legal and debt exclusion remaining.

As of and through March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with the required covenants.

Any inability to maintain compliance with these covenants could require us to seek to renegotiate the terms of our credit facility or seek waivers from compliance with these covenants, both of which could result in additional borrowing costs. Further, there can be no assurance that our lenders would agree to such new terms or grant such waivers.

Term Loans

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate of $750 million outstanding under our unsecured term loan facilities. These facilities include an unsecured term loan facility entered into in August 2013 (2013 Term Loan) which had $150 million outstanding as of March 31, 2017 andDecember 31, 2016, along with an unsecured term loan facility entered into in April 2015 (2015 Term Loan) which had $600 millionoutstanding as of March 31, 2017andDecember 31, 2016.

Borrowings under the 2013 Term Loan bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin between 1.00 percent and 1.75 percent (currently 1.50 percent) based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio. We repaid $150 million of our 2013 Term Loan facility in the fourth quarter of 2015 and repaid an additional $100 million during the second quarter of 2016. As a result and in accordance with the credit agreement, the outstanding balance of $150 million is the remaining principal amount due at the final maturity date in August 2018. The 2013 Term Loan borrowings are repayable at any time without premium or penalty.

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On April 10, 2015, we entered into a new $750 million unsecured term loan credit facility (2015 Term Loan) which matures on August 3, 2020. The 2015 Term Loan was funded on August 3, 2015 and was used to partially fund the AMS Portfolio Acquisition, including the payment of fees and expenses. Term loan borrowings under this facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin of between 1.00 percent and 1.75 percent (currently 1.50 percent), based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio. We repaid $150 million of our 2015 Term Loan during the second quarter of 2016. The remaining 2015 Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $38 million commencing in the third quarter of 2018 and the remaining principal amount is due at the final maturity date of August 3, 2020.

Our 2013 Term Loan agreement and our 2015 Term Loan agreement require that we comply with certain covenants, including financial covenants with respect to maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage, consistent with our revolving credit facility. The maximum leverage ratio requirement is 3.75 times and our actual leverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 2.40 times. The minimum interest coverage ratio requirement is 3.0 times and our actual interest coverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 9.9 times.

In April 2017, we repaid $350 million of our term loan credit facilities. The payment was applied to the nearest maturities and primarily funded with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Senior Notes

We had senior notes outstanding of $4.400 billion as ofMarch 31, 2017 and$4.650 billion as of December 31, 2016. On January 12, 2017, we used our existing credit facilities to repay the $250 million of our senior notes due in January 2017.Our senior notes were issued in public offerings, are redeemable prior to maturity and are not subject to any sinking fund requirements. Our senior notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations and rank on parity with each other. These notes are effectively junior to borrowings under our credit and security facility and to the extent borrowed by our subsidiaries, to liabilities of our subsidiaries (see Other Arrangements below).

Other Arrangements

As ofDecember 31, 2016, we maintained a$300 million credit and security facility secured by our U.S. trade receivables maturing on June 9, 2017. The credit and security facility required that we maintained a maximum leverage covenant consistent with our revolving credit facility. On February 7, 2017, we amended the terms of this credit and security facility, including increasing the facility size to$400 million. The amendment retained a similar maximum leverage ratio requirement and extended the facility maturity to February 2019. The maximum leverage ratio requirement is 3.75 times and our actual leverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 2.40 times. We had borrowings of $216 million outstanding under this facility as of March 31, 2017 and $60 million as of December 31, 2016.

We have accounts receivable factoring programs in certain European countries that we account for as sales under FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing. These agreements provide for the sale of accounts receivable to third parties, without recourse, of up to $406 million as of March 31, 2017. We have no retained interests in the transferred receivables, other than collection and administrative responsibilities and, once sold, the accounts receivable are no longer available to satisfy creditors in the event of bankruptcy. We de-recognized $156 million of receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of1.1 percent and $152 million as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.8 percent.

In addition, we have uncommitted credit facilities with a commercial Japanese bank that provide for borrowings, promissory notes discounting and receivables factoring of up to 21.0 billion Japanese yen (approximately $188 million as ofMarch 31, 2017). We de-recognized $154 million of notes receivable and factored receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of 1.3 percent and $149 million of notes receivable as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.6 percent. De-recognized accounts and notes receivable are excluded from trade accounts receivable, net in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit of $44 million, which consisted primarily of bank guarantees and collateral for workers' compensation insurance arrangements. As ofMarch 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, none of the beneficiaries had drawn upon the letters of credit or guarantees; accordingly, we did not recognize a related liability for our outstanding letters of credit in our consolidated balance sheets as ofMarch 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016. We believe we will generate sufficient cash from operations to fund these arrangements and intend to fund these arrangements without drawing on the letters of credit.

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NOTE F – RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

2016 Restructuring Plan

On June 6, 2016, our Board of Directors approved and we committed to, a restructuring initiative (the 2016 Restructuring Plan). The 2016 Restructuring Plan is intended to develop global commercialization, technology and manufacturing capabilities in key growth markets, build on our Plant Network Optimization (PNO) strategy which is intended to simplify our manufacturing plant structure by transferring certain production lines among facilities and expand operational efficiencies in support of our operating income margin goals. Key activities under the 2016 Restructuring Plan include strengthening global infrastructure through evolving global real estate and workplaces, developing global commercial and technical competencies, enhancing manufacturing and distribution expertise in certain regions and continuing implementation of our ongoing PNO strategy. These activities were initiated in the second quarter of 2016 and are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2018.

The implementation of the 2016 Restructuring Plan is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $175 million to $225 million and approximately $160 million to $210 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. We have recorded related costs of $66 million since the inception of the plan through March 31, 2017 and recorded a portion of these expenses as restructuring charges and the remaining portion through other lines within our consolidated statements of operations.

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with the 2016 Restructuring Plan through the end of 2018 by major type of cost:

Type of cost	Total estimated amount expected to be incurred
Restructuring charges:
Termination benefits	$65 million to $80 million
Other (1)	$10 million to $20 million
Restructuring-related expenses:
Other (2)	$100 million to $125 million
	$175 million to $225 million

(1) Consists primarily of consulting fees and costs associated with contract cancellations.

(2) Comprised of other costs directly related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan, including program management, accelerated depreciation and costs to transfer product lines among facilities.

We recorded restructuring charges pursuant to our restructuring plans of $4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $3 million in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, we recorded expenses within other lines of our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations related to our restructuring initiatives of $15 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $10 million in the first quarter of 2016.

The following presents these costs (credits) by major type and line item within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	3	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	4
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		12		—		12
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		2		—		1		3
	—		2		12		1		15
	$	3	$	2	$	12	$	2	$	19

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2017 were related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	3
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		5		—		5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		1		—		4		5
	—		1		5		4		10
	$	1	$	1	$	5	$	6	$	13

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2016 were related to a previous restructuring plan that was substantially completed in 2015.

Termination benefits represent amounts incurred pursuant to our ongoing benefit arrangements and amounts for “one-time” involuntary termination benefits and have been recorded in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 712,Compensation - Nonretirement and Postemployment Benefits (Topic 712) and FASBASC Topic 420,Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (Topic 420). Other restructuring costs, which represent primarily consulting fees and costs related to contract cancellations, are being recorded as incurred in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420. Accelerated depreciation is being recorded over the adjusted remaining useful life of the related assets and program management and production line transfer costs are being recorded as incurred.

As of March 31, 2017, we incurred cumulative restructuring charges related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan of $32 million and restructuring-related charges of $34 million since we committed to the plan. The following presents these costs by major type:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Termination benefits	$	27
Other	5
Total restructuring charges	32
Accelerated depreciation	3
Transfer costs	27
Other	4
Restructuring-related expenses	34
	$	66

We made cash payments of $16 million in the first quarter of 2017 associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan and as of March 31, 2017, we had made total cash payments of $43 million related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan since committing to the plan. These payments were made using cash generated from operations and are comprised of the following:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Termination benefits	$	4
Transfer costs	11
Other	1
	$	16
Program to Date
Termination benefits	$	12
Transfer costs	26
Other	5
	$	43

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Our restructuring liability is primarily comprised of accruals for termination benefits. The following is a rollforward of the termination benefit liability associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan, which is reported as a component of accrued expenses included in our accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Accrued as of December 31, 2016	$	16
Charges (credits)	3
Cash payments	(4		)
Accrued as of March 31, 2017	$	15

In addition to our accrual for termination benefits, we had a $6 million liability as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for other restructuring-related items.

NOTE G – SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Components of selected captions in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

Trade accounts receivable, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Accounts receivable	$	1,548		$	1,591
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(75		)	(73		)
Less: allowance for sales returns	(44		)	(46		)
	$	1,429		$	1,472

The following is a rollforward of our allowance for doubtful accounts for the first quarter and first three months of2017 and 2016:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	73		$	75
Net charges to expenses	3			4
Utilization of allowances	(1		)	1
Ending balance	$	75		$	80

Inventories

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Finished goods	$	624	$	625
Work-in-process	66		94
Raw materials	281		236
	$	971	$	955

Prepaids and other current assets

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Prepaid expenses	$	98	$	58
Restricted cash	127		243
Other	180		240
	$	405	$	541

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Property, plant and equipment, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Land	$	91	$	91
Buildings and improvements	1,010		981
Equipment, furniture and fixtures	3,027		2,955
Capital in progress	318		338
	4,446		4,365
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,794		2,735
	$	1,652	$	1,630

Depreciation expense was $63 million for the first quarter of 2017 and $64 million for the first quarter of 2016.

Accrued expenses

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Legal reserves	$	1,236	$	1,062
Payroll and related liabilities	459		572
Accrued contingent consideration	52		63
Other	551		615
	$	2,298	$	2,312

Other long-term liabilities

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Accrued income taxes	$	812	$	781
Legal reserves	515		961
Accrued contingent consideration	74		141
Other long-term liabilities	471		455
	$	1,872	$	2,338

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Accrued warranties

We offer warranties on certain of our product offerings. The majority of our warranty liability relates to implantable devices offered by our Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) business, which include defibrillator and pacemaker systems. Our CRM products come with a standard limited warranty covering the replacement of these devices. We offer a full warranty for a portion of the period post-implant and a partial warranty for a period of time thereafter. We estimate the costs that we may incur under our warranty programs based on the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim and record a liability equal to these estimated costs as cost of products sold at the time the product sale occurs. We reassess the adequacy of our recorded warranty liabilities on a quarterly basis and adjust these amounts as necessary. The current portion of our warranty accrual is included in other accrued expenses in the table above and the non-current portion of our warranty accrual is included in other long-term liabilities in the table above. Changes in our product warranty accrual during the first three months of2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning Balance	$	22		$	23
Provision	6			4
Settlements/reversals	(3		)	(6		)
Ending Balance	$	25		$	21

NOTE H – INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rates from continuing operations were 4.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 11.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The change in our reported tax rate for the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016, relates primarily to the impact of certain receipts and charges that are taxed at different rates than our effective tax rate, including acquisition-related items, contingent consideration, restructuring and restructuring-related items, litigation-related items and amortization expense, as well as the impact of certain discrete tax items. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a discrete tax benefit related to share-based payment awards due to application of ASC Update No. 2016-09. Refer to Note M – New Accounting Pronouncements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information.

As of March 31, 2017, we had $1.106 billion of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $1.017 billion, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2016, we had $1.095 billion of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $1.006 billion, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate.

We have received Notices of Deficiency from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reflecting proposed audit adjustments for Guidant Corporation for its 2001 through 2006 tax years and for Boston Scientific Corporation for its 2006 and 2007 tax years. The total incremental tax liability asserted by the IRS for the applicable periods is $1.162 billion plus interest. The primary issue in dispute for all years is the transfer pricing associated with the technology license agreements between domestic and foreign subsidiaries of Guidant. In addition, the IRS has proposed adjustments in connection with the financial terms of our Transaction Agreement with Abbott Laboratories pertaining to the sale of Guidant's vascular intervention business to Abbott in April 2006. During 2014, we received a Revenue Agent Report from the IRS reflecting significant proposed audit adjustments to our 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years based upon the same transfer pricing methodologies that the IRS applied to our 2001 through 2007 tax years.

We do not agree with the transfer pricing methodologies applied by the IRS or its resulting assessment. We have filed petitions with the U.S. Tax Court (Tax Court) contesting the Notices of Deficiency for the 2001 through 2007 tax years in challenge and submitted a letter to the IRS Office of Appeals (IRS Appeals) protesting the Revenue Agent Report for the 2008 through 2010 tax years and requesting an administrative appeal hearing. The issues in dispute were scheduled to be heard in Tax Court in late July 2016. On July 19, 2016, we entered into a Stipulation of Settled Issues with the IRS intended to resolve all of the aforementioned transfer pricing issues, as well as the issues related to our transaction with Abbott. The Stipulation of Settled Issues is contingent upon IRS Appeals applying the same basis of settlement to all transfer pricing issues for the Company’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years and if applicable, review by the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. In October 2016, we reached an agreement in principle with the IRS Appeals as to the resolution of transfer pricing issues in 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years, subject to additional calculations of tax as well as documentation to memorialize our agreement.

21

In the event that the conditions in the Stipulation of Settled Items are satisfied, we expect to make net tax payments to the IRS of approximately $275 million, plus interest through the date of payment. If finalized, payments related to the resolution are expected in the next six to 12 months. We believe that our income tax reserves associated with these matters are adequate as of March 31, 2017 and we do not expect to recognize any additional charges related to the resolution of this controversy. However, the final resolution of these issues is contingent and if the Stipulation of Settled Issues is not finalized, it could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

We recognize interest and penalties related to income taxes as a component of income tax expense. We had $592 million accrued for gross interest and penalties as of March 31, 2017 and $572 million as of December 31, 2016. We recognized net tax expense related to interest and penalties of $13 million during the first quarter of 2017 and $10 million during the first quarter of 2016.

It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months we will resolve multiple issues including transfer pricing and transactional-related issues with foreign, federal and state taxing authorities, in which case we could record a reduction in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits of up to approximately $757 million.

NOTE I – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The medical device market in which we primarily participate is largely technology driven. As a result, intellectual property rights, particularly patents and trade secrets, play a significant role in product development and differentiation. Over the years, there has been litigation initiated against us by others, including our competitors, claiming that our current or former product offerings infringe patents owned or licensed by them. Intellectual property litigation is inherently complex and unpredictable. In addition, competing parties frequently file multiple suits to leverage patent portfolios across product lines, technologies and geographies and to balance risk and exposure between the parties. In some cases, several competitors are parties in the same proceeding, or in a series of related proceedings or litigate multiple features of a single class of devices. These forces frequently drive settlement not only for individual cases, but also for a series of pending and potentially related and unrelated cases. Although monetary and injunctive relief is typically sought, remedies and restitution are generally not determined until the conclusion of the trial court proceedings and can be modified on appeal. Accordingly, the outcomes of individual cases are difficult to time, predict or quantify and are often dependent upon the outcomes of other cases in other geographies.

During recent years, we successfully negotiated closure of several long-standing legal matters and have received favorable rulings in several other matters, however, there continues to be outstanding intellectual property litigation. Adverse outcomes in one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell certain products and on our operating margins, financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In the normal course of business, product liability, securities and commercial claims are asserted against us. Similar claims may be asserted against us in the future related to events not known to management at the present time. We maintain an insurance policy providing limited coverage against securities claims and we are substantially self-insured with respect to product liability claims and fully self-insured with respect to intellectual property infringement claims. The absence of significant third-party insurance coverage increases our potential exposure to unanticipated claims or adverse decisions. Product liability claims, securities and commercial litigation and other legal proceedings in the future, regardless of their outcome, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In addition, like other companies in the medical device industry, we are subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which we operate. From time to time we are the subject of qui tam actions and governmental investigations often involving regulatory, marketing and other business practices. These qui tam actions and governmental investigations could result in the commencement of civil and criminal proceedings, substantial fines, penalties and administrative remedies and have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, we accrue anticipated costs of settlements, damages and losses for product liability claims and, under certain conditions, costs of defense, based on historical experience or to the extent specific losses are probable and estimable. Otherwise, we expense these costs as incurred. If the estimate of a probable loss is a range and no amount within the range is more likely, we accrue the minimum amount of the range.

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Our accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable was $1.751 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $2.023 billion as of December 31, 2016 and includes certain estimated costs of settlement, damages and defense. The decrease in our legal accrual was primarily due to settlement payments authorized during the quarter associated with product liability cases or claims related to transvaginal surgical mesh products. We recorded $3 million of litigation-related charges during the first three months of2017 and $10 million of litigation-related charges during the first three months of2016. We continue to assess certain litigation and claims to determine the amounts, if any, that management believes will be paid as a result of such claims and litigation and, therefore, additional losses may be accrued and paid in the future, which could materially adversely impact our operating results, cash flows and/or our ability to comply with our debt covenants.

In management's opinion, we are not currently involved in any legal proceedings other than those disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and those specifically identified below, which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operations and/or cash flows. Unless included in our legal accrual or otherwise indicated below, a range of loss associated with any individual material legal proceeding cannot be estimated.

Patent Litigation

On October 30, 2015, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences Services GmbH in Düsseldorf District Court in Germany for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ SAPIEN™ 3 Heart Valve infringes our patent related to adaptive sealing technology. On February 25, 2016, we extended the action to allege infringement of a second patent related to adaptive sealing technology. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that Edwards infringed both patents. Edwards has filed an appeal.

On November 9, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences, LLC filed an invalidity claim against one of our subsidiaries, Sadra Medical, Inc. (Sadra), in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division Patents Court in the United Kingdom, alleging that a European patent owned by Sadra relating to a repositionable heart valve is invalid. On January 15, 2016, we filed our defense and counterclaim for a declaration that our European patent is valid and infringed by Edwards. On February 25, 2016, we amended our counterclaim to allege infringement of a second patent related to adaptive sealing technology. A trial was held from January 18 to January 27, 2017. On March 3, 2017, the court found one patent of the Company valid and infringed and some claims of the second patent of the Company invalid and the remaining claims not infringed. Both parties have filed an appeal.

On November 23, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences PVT, Inc. filed a patent infringement action against us and one of our subsidiaries, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging a European patent (Spenser '672) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus™ Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that the Company did not infringe the Spenser '672 patent. Edwards has filed an appeal.

On November 23, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation filed a patent infringement action against us and Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging an European patent (Bourang) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 28, 2017, the European Patent Office revoked the Bourang patent and on April 3, 2017, the court suspended the infringement action pending Edwards' appeal of the revocation of the patent at the European Patent Office.

On April 19, 2016, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ SAPIEN 3 Valve infringes a patent related to adaptive sealing technology. On June 9, 2016, Edwards filed a counterclaim alleging that our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System infringes three patents owned by Edwards. On October 12, 2016, Edwards filed a petition for inter partes review of our patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Patent Trial and Appeal Board. On March 29, 2017, the USPTO granted the inter partes review request. On April 18, 2017, Edwards filed a second petition for inter partes review of our patent with the USPTO. The trial has been set to begin on July 30, 2018.

On April 19, 2016, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ aortic valve delivery systems infringe eight of our catheter related patents. On October 13, 2016, Edwards filed a petition for inter partes review of one asserted patent with the USPTO, Patent Trial and Appeal Board. On April 21, 2017, the USPTO denied the petition. On April 19 and 20, 2017, Edwards filed multiple inter partes review petitions against the patents in suit. The trial has been set to begin on May 29, 2018.

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On April 26, 2016, Edwards Lifesciences PVT, Inc. filed a patent infringement action against us and one of our subsidiaries, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging a European patent (Spenser '550) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that the Company infringed the Spenser '550 patent. The Company has filed an appeal.

On March 10, 2017, Imran Niazi filed a patent infringement action against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin alleging that a U.S. patent owned by him is infringed by our Acuity lead delivery catheter.

Product Liability Litigation

As of April 26, 2017, approximately 43,000 product liability cases or claims related to transvaginal surgical mesh products designed to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse have been asserted against us. The pending cases are in various federal and state courts in the United States and include eight putative class actions. There were also fewer than 20 cases in Canada, inclusive of one certified and three putative class actions, and fewer than 25 claims in the United Kingdom. Generally, the plaintiffs allege personal injury associated with use of our transvaginal surgical mesh products. The plaintiffs assert design and manufacturing claims, failure to warn, breach of warranty, fraud, violations of state consumer protection laws and loss of consortium claims. Over 3,100 of the cases have been specially assigned to one judge in state court in Massachusetts. On February 7, 2012, the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL) established MDL-2326 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and transferred the federal court transvaginal surgical mesh cases to MDL-2326 for coordinated pretrial proceedings. During the fourth quarter of 2013, we received written discovery requests from certain state attorneys general offices regarding our transvaginal surgical mesh products. We have responded to those requests. As of April 26, 2017, we have entered into master settlement agreements in principle or are in final stages of entering one with certain plaintiffs' counsel to resolve an aggregate of approximately 37,000 cases and claims. These master settlement agreements provide that the settlement and distribution of settlement funds to participating claimants are conditional upon, among other things, achieving minimum required claimant participation thresholds. Of the approximately 37,000 cases and claims, approximately 12,000 have met the conditions of the settlement and are final. All settlement agreements were entered into solely by way of compromise and without any admission or concession by us of any liability or wrongdoing.

On or about January 12, 2016, Teresa L. Stevens filed a claim against us and three other defendants asserting for herself and on behalf of a putative class of similarly-situated women, that she was harmed by a vaginal mesh implant that she alleges contained a counterfeit or adulterated resin product that we imported from China. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, before the same Court that is hearing the mesh MDL. The complaint, which alleges Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations, fraud, misrepresentation, deceptive trade practices and unjust enrichment, seeks both equitable relief and damages under state and federal law. On January 26, 2016, the Court issued an order staying the case and directing the plaintiff to submit information to allow the FDA to issue a determination with respect to her allegations. In addition, we are in contact with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and are responding voluntarily to their requests in connection with that office’s review of the allegations concerning the use of mesh resin in the complaint. We deny the plaintiff’s allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

On February 27, 2017, Carolyn Turner filed a complaint against us and five other defendants asserting for herself and on behalf of a putative class of similarly situated women, that she was harmed by a vaginal mesh implant that she alleges contained a counterfeit or adulterated resin product that we imported from China. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division and alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), negligence, strict liability, breach of an express or implied warranty, intentional and negligent misrepresentation, fraud and unjust enrichment. Ms. Turner served this complaint against the Company on April 7, 2017. We deny the plaintiff’s allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

We have established a product liability accrual for known and estimated future cases and claims asserted against us as well as with respect to the actions that have resulted in verdicts against us and the costs of defense thereof associated with our transvaginal surgical mesh products. While we believe that our accrual associated with this matter is adequate, changes to this accrual may be required in the future as additional information becomes available. While we continue to engage in discussions with plaintiffs’ counsel regarding potential resolution of pending cases and claims and intend to vigorously contest the cases and claims asserted against us that do not settle, the final resolution of the cases and claims is uncertain and could have a material impact on our results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity. Initial trials involving our transvaginal surgical mesh products have resulted in both favorable and unfavorable judgments for us. We do not believe that the judgment in any one trial is representative of potential outcomes of all cases or claims related to our transvaginal surgical mesh products.

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Governmental Investigations and Qui Tam Matters

On May 5, 2014, we were served with a subpoena from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. The subpoena seeks information relating to the launch of the Cognis™ and Teligen™ line of devices in 2008, the performance of those devices from 2007 to 2009 and the operation of the Physician Guided Learning Program. We are cooperating with this request. On May 6, 2016, a qui tam lawsuit in this matter was unsealed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. At the same time, we learned that the U.S. government and the State of California had earlier declined to intervene in that lawsuit on April 15, 2016. The complaint was served on us on July 21, 2016. On October 7, 2016, the plaintiff/relator served an amended complaint that dropped the allegations relating to the Physician Guided Learning Program. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on December 7, 2016, the court heard our motion to dismiss on April 5, 2017 and we are currently awaiting a decision on the motion.

On December 14, 2016, we learned that the Associacao Brasileira de Medicina de Grupo d/b/a ABRAMGE filed a complaint against the Company, Arthrex and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. This complaint, which ABRAMGE never served against the Company, alleges that the defendants or their agents paid kickbacks to health care providers in order to increase sales and prices and are liable under a variety of common law theories. On February 6, 2017, ABRAMGE filed and served an amended complaint on the Company and the other defendants. The amended complaint does not contain any material changes in the allegations against the Company. We deny these allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

Matters Concluded Since December 31, 2016

On September 27, 2010, Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Boston Scientific Ltd., Endovascular Technologies, Inc. and we filed suit against Taewoong Medical, Co., Ltd., Standard Sci-Tech, Inc., EndoChoice, Inc. and Sewoon Medical Co., Ltd for infringement of three patents on stents for use in the GI system (the Pulnev and Hankh patents) and against Cook Medical Inc. (and related entities) for infringement of the same three patents and an additional patent (the Thompson patent). The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief. In December 2010, we amended our complaint to add infringement of six additional Pulnev patents. In January 2011, the defendants filed a counterclaim of invalidity and unenforceability. In September 2011, we amended the complaint to add Chek-Med Systems d/b/a GI Supply as a defendant. On December 22, 2016 the following defendants were dismissed: Taewoong Medical Co., Ltd., GI Supply, Inc., Standard Sci-Tech, Inc., EndoChoice, Inc. and Sewoon Medical Co. The remaining parties reached a settlement and on March 21, 2017, the case was dismissed.

NOTE J – WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017	2016
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,365.4	1,350.4
Net effect of common stock equivalents	24.8	19.5
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution	1,390.2	1,369.9

Weighted average shares outstanding, assuming dilution, excludes the impact of four million stock options for the first quarter of 2017 and one million stock options for the first quarter of 2016, due to the exercise prices of these stock options being greater than the average fair market value of our common stock during the period.

We issued approximately seven million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2017 and eight million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2016, following the exercise of underlying stock options, vesting of deferred stock units or purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the first three months of2017 or 2016.

NOTE K – SEGMENT REPORTING

We have three reportable segments comprised of Cardiovascular, Rhythm Management and MedSurg, which represent an aggregation of our operating segments.

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Each of our reportable segments generates revenues from the sale of medical devices. We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment net sales and operating income, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency. Sales generated from reportable segments, as well as operating results of reportable segments and corporate expenses, are based on internally-derived standard currency exchange rates, which may differ from year to year and do not include intersegment profits.

We restated segment information for the prior period based on our internally-derived standard currency exchange rates as of January 1, 2017, used for the current period in order to remove the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuation. We exclude from segment operating income certain corporate-related expenses and certain transactions or adjustments that our chief operating decision maker considers to be non-operational, such as acquisition-related, restructuring- and restructuring-related, and litigation-related net credits and charges, and amortization expense. Although we exclude these amounts from segment operating income, they are included in reported consolidated operating income (loss) and are included in the reconciliation below.

A reconciliation of the totals reported for the reportable segments to the applicable line items in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
				(restated)
Net sales
Interventional Cardiology	$	605		$	560
Peripheral Interventions	266			248
Cardiovascular	871			808
Cardiac Rhythm Management	471			439
Electrophysiology	65			60
Rhythm Management	536			499
Endoscopy	387			339
Urology and Pelvic Health	265			230
Neuromodulation	142			122
MedSurg	794			691
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,201			1,998
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(41		)	(34		)
	$	2,160		$	1,964
Income (loss) before income taxes
Cardiovascular	$	245		$	254
Rhythm Management	101			67
MedSurg	238			214
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	584			535
Corporate expenses and currency exchange	(88		)	(41		)
Acquisition-related, restructuring- and restructuring-related, and litigation-related net credits (charges)	11			(65		)
Amortization expense	(143		)	(136		)
Operating income (loss)	364			293
Other expense, net	(59		)	(65		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	305		$	228

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NOTE L – CHANGES IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table provides the reclassifications out of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016. Amounts in the chart below are presented net of tax.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	(79	)	$	107		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	8			(37		)	—			(3		)	(32		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(18		)	—			3			(15		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	8			(55		)	—			—			(47		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	(71	)	$	52		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	(46	)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(54	)	$	152		$	(10	)	$	88
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	16			(38		)	(2		)	(24		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(31		)	2			(29		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	16			(69		)	—			(53		)
Balance as of March 31, 2016	$	(38	)	$	83		$	(10	)	$	35

The income tax impact of the amounts in other comprehensive income for unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments before reclassifications was a benefit of $21 million in both the first quarter of 2017 and in the first quarter of 2016. The gains and losses on derivative financial instruments reclassified were reduced by income tax impacts of $10 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $17 million in the first quarter of 2016. Refer to Note D – Fair Value Measurements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further detail on the reclassifications related to derivatives.

The income tax impact of the amounts in other comprehensive income for defined benefit and pension items before reclassification was an immaterial benefit for the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2016.

The gains and losses on defined benefit and pension related items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income were reduced by immaterial income tax impacts in the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2016.

The gains and losses on available-for-sale securities were reduced by immaterial income tax impacts in the first quarter of 2017. Refer toNote B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investments and Note D – Fair Value Measurements for further detail on the gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

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NOTE M – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies. Recently issued standards typically do not require adoption until a future effective date. Prior to their effective date, we evaluate the pronouncements to determine the potential effects of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.

Standards Implemented since December 31, 2016

ASC Update No. 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2016-09 is to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, such as, the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements, forfeitures and statement of cash flow presentation. Update No. 2016-09 was effective for annual periods after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.

We adopted Update No. 2016-09 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017 and, as such, no prior periods were adjusted. We previously recorded income tax benefits or deficiencies to additional paid-in capital, however, Update No. 2016-09 requires that all tax benefits or deficiencies to be recorded to the provision for income taxes. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $28 million, which we expect represents the majority of excess tax benefits in 2017 due to the annual vesting of our awards during the first quarter. The actual impact to future periods will depend on the price of our stock, number of stock options exercised and other factors that are difficult to predict. In the first quarter of 2017, a cumulative effect adjustment of $76 million was recorded to retained earnings upon adoption for windfall tax benefits not previously recognized.

ASC Update No. 2016-17

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. Update No. 2016-17 amends the consolidation guidance from ASC Update No. 2015-02 on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE) should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment requires that a single decision maker include those indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control with the single decision maker on a proportionate basis consistent with indirect interests held through other related parties. Update No. 2016-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted Update No. 2016-17 in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-17 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-19

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. Update No. 2016-19 clarifies or corrects unintended applications of guidance that affects a wide variety of topics in the ASC. The update is effective immediately for most of the amendments. Update No. 2016-19 contains six amendments, which clarify guidance or correct references in the ASC and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted these amendments in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-19 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-04

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The purpose of Update No. 2017-04 is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. It eliminates the need for entities to calculate the impaired fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this amendment, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. We elected to early adopt Update No. 2017-04 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2017-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

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Standards to be Implemented

ASC Update No. 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Update No. 2014-09 provides enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. GAAP. The core principle requires entities to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one year deferral, making the standard effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The purpose of Update No. 2016-08 is to clarify the guidance on principal versus agent considerations. It includes indicators that help to determine whether an entity controls the specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer and to assist in determining when the entity satisfied the performance obligation and as such, whether to recognize a gross or a net amount of consideration in their consolidated statement of operations.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. Update No. 2016-10 clarifies that entities are not required to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract. Update No. 2016-10 also addresses how to determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable and permits entities to make a policy election to treat shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities. In addition, it clarifies key provisions in Topic 606 related to licensing.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). Update No. 2016-11 rescinds previous SEC comments that were codified in Topic 605, Topic 932 and Topic 815. Upon adoption of Topic 606, certain SEC comments including guidance on accounting for shipping and handling fees and costs and consideration given by a vendor to a customer should not be relied upon.

In May 2016, the FASB also issued ASC Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. Update No. 2016-12 provides clarity around collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration, contract modifications at transition and completed contracts at transition. Update No. 2016-12 also includes a technical correction within Topic 606 related to required disclosures if the guidance is applied retrospectively upon adoption.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Update No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and requires entities that use any of the optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. Update No. 2016-20 also clarifies other areas of the new revenue standard, including disclosure requirements for prior period performance obligations, impairment guidance for contract costs and the interaction of impairment guidance in ASC 340-40 with other guidance elsewhere in the Codification.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. Update No. 2017-05 is effective at the same time as the amendments in Update 2014-09. Therefore, public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities and certain employee benefit plans should apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted. An entity is required to apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 at the same time that it applies the amendments in Update No. 2014-09.

We expect to adopt Topic 606 and the aforementioned updates, effective January 1, 2018. We established a cross-functional implementation team consisting of representatives from all of our business divisions and regions. During 2016, we analyzed the impact of the standard on our contract portfolio by reviewing a representative sample of our contracts to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard. The implementation team has apprised both management and the Audit Committee of project status on a recurring basis.

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We have not finalized our assessment of the impact of Topic 606. We continue to analyze variable consideration and disclosures. Additionally, we are monitoring updates issued by the FASB. During the second quarter of 2017, we expect to substantially complete our impact assessment, finalize our adoption method and initiate efforts to redesign impacted processes, policies and controls.

ASC Update No. 2016-01

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. Update No. 2016-01 requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value with changes recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. Update No. 2016-01 also requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset and liability. Update No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of certain provisions is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Update No. 2016-02 is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease asset and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including those previously classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Update No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-13

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-15

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-15 is to reduce the diversity in practice in presentation and classification of the following items within the statement of cash flows: debt prepayments, settlement of zero coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments, insurance proceeds, securitization transactions and distributions from equity method investees. The update also addresses classification of transactions that have characteristics of more than one class of cash flows. Update No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

ASC Update No. 2016-16

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The purpose of Update No. 2016-16 is to allow an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, as opposed to waiting until the asset is sold to a third party, or impaired. Update No. 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

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ASC Update No. 2016-18

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The purpose of Update No. 2016-18 is to clarify guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The amendment requires beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to include cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Update No. 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect the adoption will have on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

ASC Update No. 2017-01

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The purpose of Update No. 2017-01 is to change the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Update No. 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-07

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The purpose of Update No. 2017-07 is to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. Update No. 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. That is, early adoption should be within the first interim period if an employer issues interim financial statements. The adoption of Update No. 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective, during the period had, or are expected to have, a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Introduction

Boston Scientific Corporation is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. Our mission is to transform lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. Our products and technologies are used to diagnose or treat a wide range of medical conditions, including heart, vascular, digestive, pulmonary, urological, pelvic health and chronic pain conditions. We continue to innovate in these areas and are intent on extending our innovations into new geographies and high-growth adjacency markets. When used in this report, the terms, "we," "us," "our," and "the Company" mean Boston Scientific Corporation and its divisions and subsidiaries.

Financial Summary

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

Our net sales for the first quarter of 2017 were $2.160 billion, as compared to net sales of $1.964 billion for the first quarter of 2016, an increase of $196 million, or 10 percent. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a negative impact of$7 million in the first quarter 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased$203 million, or 10 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year.¹ This increase included adjusted net sales of $18 million in the first quarter of 2017, with no prior year period related net sales, due to the acquisition of EndoChoice Holdings, Inc. (EndoChoice) during the fourth quarter of 2016. Refer to Quarterly Results and Business Overview for a discussion of our net sales by global business.

Our reported net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $290 million, or $0.21 per share. Our reported results for the first quarter of 2017included acquisition-related net benefits, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges, litigation-related net charges, and amortization expense totaling $107 million (after-tax), or $0.08 per share. Adjusted net income, which excludes these items, for the first quarter of 2017 was $397 million, or $0.29 per share.¹ Included in our reported and adjusted net income per share for the first quarter of 2017 was a charge of $0.03 related to the February voluntary removal of Lotus Valve Devices from global commercial and clinical sites, as well as net operating losses associated with the FUSE System that were incurred prior to our decision to discontinue selling the FUSE System product in mid-March.

Our reported net income for the first quarter of 2016 was $202 million, or $0.15 per share. Our reported results for the first quarter of 2016included acquisition-related net charges, restructuring and restructuring-related net charges, litigation-related net charges, and amortization expense totaling $176 million (after-tax), or $0.13 per share. Adjusted net income, which excludes these items, for the first quarter of 2016 was $378 million, or $0.28 per share.¹ 

¹ Adjusted net sales growth rates, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share, which exclude certain items required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S GAAP) are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Refer to Additional Information for a discussion of management’s use of these non-GAAP financial measures.

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The following is a reconciliation of our results of operations prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP to those adjusted results considered by management. Refer to Quarterly Results and Business Overview for a discussion of each reconciling item:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
in millions, except per share data	Pre-Tax			Tax Impact			After-Tax			Impact per share
GAAP net income (loss)	$	305		$	(15	)	$	290		$	0.21
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Acquisition-related net credits	(33		)	1			(32		)	(0.02		)
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges	19			(4		)	15			0.01
Litigation-related net charges	3			(1		)	2			0.00
Amortization expense	143			(21		)	122			0.09
Adjusted net income	$	437		$	(40	)	$	397		$	0.29

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
in millions, except per share data	Pre-Tax		Tax Impact			After-Tax		Impact per share
GAAP net income (loss)	$	228	$	(26	)	$	202	$	0.15
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Acquisition-related net charges	42		2			44		0.03
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges	13		(4		)	9		0.01
Litigation-related net charges	10		(4		)	6		0.00
Amortization expense	136		(19		)	117		0.09
Adjusted net income	$	429	$	(51	)	$	378	$	0.28

Cash provided by operating activities was $114 million in the first quarter of 2017. As of March 31, 2017, we had total debt of $5.514 billion, cash and cash equivalents of $156 million and a working capital deficit of $464 million. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources for further discussion.

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Quarterly Results and Business Overview

Net Sales

The following table provides our net sales by business and the relative change on an as reported and constant currency basis. The constant currency growth rates in the tables below can be recalculated from our net sales presented in Note K – Segment Reporting to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Constant currency growth rates, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, are not financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. Refer to Additional Information for a further discussion of management’s use of this non-GAAP financial measure.

					Change
	Three Months Ended March 31,				As Reported Currency Basis		Less: Impact of Foreign Currency			Constant Currency Basis
(in millions)	2017		2016
Interventional Cardiology	$	590	$	548	8	%	0		%	8	%
Peripheral Interventions	261		242		7	%	0		%	7	%
Cardiovascular	851		790		8	%	0		%	8	%
Cardiac Rhythm Management	463		433		7	%	(1	)	%	8	%
Electrophysiology	64		59		8	%	(1	)	%	9	%
Rhythm Management	527		492		7	%	(1	)	%	8	%
Endoscopy	379		333		14	%	0		%	14	%
Urology and Pelvic Health	262		228		15	%	0		%	15	%
Neuromodulation	141		121		17	%	0		%	17	%
MedSurg	782		682		15	%	0		%	15	%
Net Sales	$	2,160	$	1,964	10	%	0		%	10	%

Growth rates are based on actual, non-rounded amounts and may not recalculate precisely.

Cardiovascular

Interventional Cardiology

Our Interventional Cardiology business develops and manufactures technologies for diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular disorders including structural heart conditions. Our product offerings include coronary stents, including drug-eluting and bare metal stent systems, balloon catheters, rotational atherectomy systems, guide wires, guide catheters, embolic protection devices, crossing and re-entry devices for the treatment of chronically occluded coronary vessels, diagnostic catheters used in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging systems. Our structural heart product offerings include a device for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and a device designed to close the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation that are at risk for ischemic stroke.

Our structural heart product offerings include our Lotus™ Valve System, a device for transcatheter aortic valve replacement and our WATCHMAN™Device designed to close the left atrial appendage in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are at risk for ischemic stroke. The Lotus Valve System consists of a stent-mounted tissue valve prosthesis and catheter delivery system for guidance and placement of the valve.

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The original Lotus™ Valve System as well as our next generation Lotus EDGE™ Valve System are CE-marked in the European Union (EU) and in the U.S. they are investigational devices and not commercially available. In October 2016, we suspended our limited launch and initiated a voluntary removal of field inventory of the Lotus EDGE Valve System due to reports that, in some cases, the device could not be fully locked during the procedure due to premature release of a pin connecting the Lotus EDGE Valve to the delivery system. In February 2017, we initiated a voluntary removal of all Lotus Valve Devices, including Lotus with Depth Guard™, from global commercial and clinical sites due to reports of premature release of a pin connecting the Lotus Valve to the delivery system. As with the prior announced suspension of our Lotus Edge Valve System device, we believe that the issue is caused by excess tension in the pin mechanism introduced during the manufacturing process. We expect to bring the Lotus Valve platform back to market in Europe and other regions in the fourth quarter of 2017. We anticipate filing the U.S. PMA submission for the Lotus Edge Valve System, the next generation platform, in the fourth quarter of 2017, with a U.S. launch planned for mid-2018.

The WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology (WATCHMAN) is the first device studied in a randomized clinical trial to offer an alternative to warfarin and is marketed in CE-mark countries and other international countries, as well as the U.S. following FDA approval in March 2015. We believe that the WATCHMAN Device will be the only left atrial appendage closure technology commercially available in the U.S. for multiple years.

Our net sales of Interventional Cardiology products of $590 million represented 27 percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Our Interventional Cardiology net sales increased $42 million, or eight percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a negative impact of$3 million in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $45 million, or eight percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily related to sales of our WATCHMAN Device to treat patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are at risk of ischemic stroke, growth in our PCI Guidance System product offerings and growth in our sales of drug-eluting stents, led by our ongoing global launch of the SYNERGY™ Stent, as well as growth in our portfolio of other products to treat complex coronary disease.

On December 12, 2016, we completed the acquisition of certain manufacturing assets and capabilities of the Neovasc, Inc. (Neovasc) advanced biological tissue business. With this acquisition, we will integrate certain manufacturing assets and biologic tissue capabilities into our structural heart business for use in the manufacturing of the Lotus Valve System and future heart valve technologies within our Interventional Cardiology business. We expect this integration to be substantially complete by the end of 2018.

On March 29, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Symetis SA (Symetis) for $435 millionin cash. Symetis is a privately-held Swiss structural heart company focused on minimally-invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Symetis will be integrated into our Interventional Cardiology business.

Peripheral Interventions

Our Peripheral Interventions (PI) product offerings include stents, balloon catheters, wires, peripheral embolization devices and other devices used to diagnose and treat peripheral vascular disease, along with products to treat, diagnose and ease various forms of cancer.

Our net sales of PI products of $261 million represented 12 percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Our PI net sales increased $19 million, or seven percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a positive impact of$1 million in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $18 million, or seven percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by revenues from our Atherectomy and Thrombectomy systems, as well as growth in our core PI franchises, particularly our stent franchise following launch of our Innova™ Vascular Self-expanding Stent System, our interventional oncology franchise and our drug-eluting product franchise.

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Rhythm Management

Cardiac Rhythm Management

Our Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) business develops and manufactures a variety of implantable devices including implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, including the world's first and only commercially available subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator, the S-ICD System and pacemaker systems that monitor the heart and deliver electricity to treat cardiac abnormalities. In addition, in most geographies, our implantable device systems include our remote LATITUDE™ Patient Management System, which enables physicians to monitor device performance remotely, allowing for more frequent monitoring in order to guide treatment decisions.

Our net sales of CRM products of $463 million represented 21 percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Our net sales of CRM products increased $30 million, or seven percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a negative impact of$2 million in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $32 million, or eight percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by strong pacemaker growth from our ACCOLADE™ family of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe pacemakers and the Ingevity™ MRI Pacing Lead in the U.S., global growth from our quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P), strong Japan CRM sales with S-ICD and growth in our cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) business due to stabilization of U.S. replacement curves and early commercialization of our new RESONATE™ CRT-D family of defibrillators in Europe.

The following are the components of our CRM net sales:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017		2016
Defibrillator systems	$	315	$	311
Pacemaker systems	148		122
CRM products	$	463	$	433

In our Defibrillator portfolio, we offer several lines of ICD’s, including our longest lasting EL (extended longevity) ICD and CRT-D’s using our proprietary EnduraLife™ Battery Technology and our MINI ICD, our smallest and thinnest ICD. In addition, we offer our EMBLEM™ MRI S-ICD System, which affords physicians the ability to treat patients who are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest without touching the heart or invading the vasculature. Our EMBLEM MRI S-ICD System offers greater longevity, LATITUDE™ Patient Management Remote Monitoring Technology and smaller size as compared to the first generation of S-ICD therapy. We also offer several lines of CRT-D systems, including our X4 line of quadripolar systems, a suite of ACUITY™ X4 Quadripolar LV Leads and the ACUITY™ PRO Lead Delivery System. We initiated the full U.S. launch of our ACUITY X4 Quadripolar LV Leads in March 2016. Our current generation of transvenous ICD and CRT-D pulse generators, DYNAGEN™ and INOGEN™, when paired with our most current generation of bradycardia, heart failure and ICD leads, have MRI safe labeling in most major markets outside the U.S. In the U.S., we have finished enrollment in our High Voltage MRI approval trial, ENABLE MRI and remain on track for year end 2017 or early 2018 U.S. approval. In Europe, we have CE Mark approval and in the first quarter of 2017 began the launch of our RESONATE family of cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) systems and expect FDA approval by mid-year 2017. This next generation of CRT-D and ICD devices includes our proprietary EnduraLife Battery Technology, Heart Failure trends, HeartLogic™ compatibility and SmartCRT™ Technology in our CRT-D devices. Our SmartCRT technology includes MultiSite Pacing and technology that allows a personalized approach to care in CRT-D patients. On April 30, 2015, we acquired a 27 percent ownership interest in Preventice, which includes 18.5 percent of Preventice's common stock. Preventice is a privately-held company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and a leading developer of mobile health solutions and services. In addition to the equity agreement, we entered into a commercial agreement with Preventice, under which we became Preventice’s exclusive, worldwide sales and marketing representative. In October 2016, we notified Preventice of our intent to terminate the commercial agreement and in April 2017, we fully transitioned the sales force back to Preventice under the terms of the agreement.

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We market our ACCOLADE™ family of pacemaker systems in nearly all major markets around the world. Approval of our ACCOLADE Pacemaker family in the U.S., Europe and Japan also includes approval for use of these products in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We received FDA approval of our ACCOLADE MRI-Compatible Pacemaker and MRI-compatible Ingevity™ Bradycardia Lead in April of 2016. Our cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker product offerings include our newest generation VISIONIST™ and VALITUDE™X4 Quadripolar CRT-P Devices, which are built on the same platform as our high voltage cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, are enabled for remote patient monitoring and include features that promote ease of use for physician implantation.

Electrophysiology

Our Electrophysiology business develops and manufactures less-invasive medical technologies used in the diagnosis and treatment of rate and rhythm disorders of the heart. Our leading products include the Blazer™ Ablation Catheter line, designed to deliver enhanced performance and responsiveness and the Rhythmia™ Mapping System, a next-generation, catheter-based, 3-D cardiac mapping and navigation solution designed to help diagnose and treat a variety of arrhythmias.

Our net sales of Electrophysiology products of $64 million represented three percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Our Electrophysiology net sales increased $5 million, or eight percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which exclude an immaterial negative impact in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $5 million, or nine percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by increased sales of our Rhythmia Mapping System and related products. In Europe, we have begun the full launch of our next generation, Rhythmia HDx™ Mapping System. In the first quarter of 2016, we initiated a full European launch of our Blazer IntellaNav™ OI Catheter which is used with our Rhythmia Mapping System and, in July of 2016, we received FDA approval for this same catheter. In the second quarter of 2016, we received FDA approval for IntellaNav XP and the IntellaNav MiFi™ XP Navigation-enabled Ablation Catheters that are also used with the Rhythmia Mapping System. The second quarter of 2016 also marked the start of commercialization for our next generation IntellaTip™ MiFi OI Catheter in select international markets. Finally, we received FDA approval for our Blazer™ Open Irrigated System with Atrial Flutter indication and began full U.S. commercialization in the second quarter of 2016. Our global roll-out for these technologies are ongoing and will continue as we expand our global Rhythmia install base.

MedSurg

Endoscopy

Our Endoscopy business develops and manufactures devices to treat a variety of medical conditions including diseases of the digestive and pulmonary space.

Our net sales of Endoscopy products of $379 million represented 18 percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Our Endoscopy net sales increased $46 million, or 14 percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a negative impact of$2 million in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $48 million, or 14 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by growth across several of our key product franchises, including our AXIOS™ Stent and Electrocautery-Enhanced Delivery System for endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts, our hemostasis franchise, featuring our Resolution™ and Resolution 360™ Clips, and our infection control products and pathology services that were acquired as part of the EndoChoice acquisition.

On November 22, 2016, we completed our acquisition of EndoChoice. EndoChoice is an Alpharetta, Georgia-based company focused on the development and commercialization of infection control products, pathology services and single-use devices for specialists treating a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. We began the process of integrating EndoChoice into our Endoscopy business in the fourth quarter of 2016 and expect to be substantially complete by the end of 2017. In March 2017, management decided to discontinue future sales of the FUSE System that was obtained as part of this acquisition.

On November 1, 2016, we acquired the LumenR Tissue Retractor System from LumenR LLC (LumenR), a privately held Newark, California based company. The LumenR™ Tissue Retractor System is currently in development for use during endoscopic resection of lesions in the colon, esophagus or stomach. The LumenR Tissue Retractor System was fully integrated into our Endoscopy business as of the first quarter of 2017.

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Urology and Pelvic Health

Our Urology and Pelvic Health division develops and manufactures devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions, such as kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), erectile dysfunction, male incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding and uterine fibroids and polyps. Our net sales of Urology and Pelvic Health products of $262 million represented 12 percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Urology and Pelvic Health net sales increased $34 million, or 15 percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes a negative impact of$1 million in the first quarter of 2017, due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $35 million, or 15 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to our Pelvic Floor franchise as a result of market share gains primarily driven by a competitor exiting the market during the first quarter of 2016, as well as growth in our Stone franchise, led by sales of our LithoVue ™ Digital Flexible Ureteroscope.

On November 15, 2016, we completed the acquisition of the gynecology and urology portfolio of Distal Access, LLC (Distal), a Salt Lake City, Utah based company that designs minimally invasive medical devices. The portfolio includes the Resectr™ Tissue Resection Device, a single-use solution designed to remove uterine polyps. We began the process of integrating the Resectr Device into our Urology and Pelvic Health business during the fourth quarter of 2016 and expect to be substantially complete by the end of 2017.

Neuromodulation

Our Neuromodulation business offers the Precision™, Precision Spectra™, Precision Montage™ and Precision Novi™ Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) Systems, used for the management of chronic pain and our Vercise™ and Vercise™ PC Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System in various international regions such as Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, tremor and intractable primary and secondary dystonia, a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions.

We also have regulatory approval for our Vercise™ Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System in various international regions such as Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, tremor and intractable primary and secondary dystonia, a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. In September 2015, we gained CE-mark approvals for the Vercise™ PC DBS System with its Neural Navigator™ Programming Software. The system allows for programming flexibility, designed to treat a greater range of patients throughout their disease progression. In addition, we received CE Mark approval for the only commercially available Directional Lead powered by current steering. The Cartesia™ Directional Lead uses multi-directional stimulation for greater precision, intended to minimize side effects for patients. We are currently in a U.S. pivotal trial with our Vercise DBS System for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and expect to enter the U.S. market with our Vercise DBS System by the end of 2017.

Our net sales of Neuromodulation products of $141 million represented seven percent of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2017. Neuromodulation net sales increased $20 million, or 17 percent, in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our adjusted net sales, which excludes an immaterial negative impact in the first quarter due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, increased $20 million, or 17 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by share gains from our Montage™ System, continued adoption of the Precision Spectra SCS System in the U.S. and increased international sales across the entire portfolio.

On July 27, 2016, we acquired Cosman Medical, Inc. (Cosman), a privately held manufacturer of radiofrequency ablation systems, expanding our Neuromodulation portfolio and offering physicians treating patients with chronic pain a wider choice of non-opioid therapeutic options. We are in the process of integrating Cosman into our Neuromodulation business and expect the integration to be substantially complete by the end of 2017.

Emerging Markets

As part of our strategic imperatives to drive global expansion, described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are seeking to grow net sales and market share by expanding our global presence, including in Emerging Markets. We define Emerging Markets as 20 countries that we believe have strong growth potential based on their economic conditions, healthcare sectors and our global capabilities. We are seeking to expand our presence and strengthen relationships in order to grow net sales and market share within our Emerging Markets and we have increased our investment in infrastructure in these countries in order to maximize opportunities. Our Emerging Markets net sales represented approximately 10 percent of our consolidated net sales in the first quarter of 2017 and in the first quarter of 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, our Emerging Market net sales grew 12 percent and our adjusted net sales, which excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, grew 12 percent, as compared to the same period in the prior year.

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Gross Profit

Our gross profit was $1.510 billion for the first quarter of 2017 and $1.391 billion for the first quarter of 2016. As a percentage of net sales, our gross profit decreased to 69.9 percent in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to 70.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016. The following is a reconciliation of our gross profit margins and a description of the drivers of the change from period to period:

	Three Months
Gross profit margin - period ended March 31, 2016	70.8	%
Manufacturing cost reductions	2.2
Sales pricing and mix	(0.2	)
Net impact of foreign currency	(1.4	)
All other, including other period expense	(1.5	)
Gross profit margin - period ended March 31, 2017	69.9	%

The primary factors contributing to the decrease in our gross profit margin during the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016, were the negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations and approximately 180 basis points related to charges in the quarter.  These charges related primarily to the February voluntary removal of Lotus Valve Devices from global commercial and clinical sites, as well as net operating losses associated with the FUSE System that were incurred prior to our decision to discontinue selling the FUSE System product in mid-March. This unfavorability was partially offset by cost reductions as a result of our restructuring and other process improvement programs.

Operating Expenses

The following table provides a summary of certain of our operating expenses:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
		% of Net			% of Net
(in millions)	$	Sales		$	Sales
Selling, general and administrative expenses	794	36.8	%	716	36.5	%
Research and development expenses	235	10.9	%	210	10.7	%
Royalty expense	17	0.8	%	19	1.0	%

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses

In the first quarter of 2017, our SG&A expenses increased $78 million, or 11 percent, as compared to the first quarter of 2016 and were 30basis points higher as a percentage of net sales. The increase in SG&A as a percentage of sales was primarily driven by the reinvestment of the Medical Device Excise Tax benefit in the later portion of 2016, accelerated levels of investment for the United States DBS launch planned for the end of 2017 and investments in our structural heart commercial capabilities.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

In the first quarter of 2017, our R&D expenses increased $25 million, or 12 percent, as compared to the first quarter of 2016 and were 20basis points higher as a percentage of net sales. We remain committed to advancing medical technologies and investing in meaningful research and development projects across our businesses in order to maintain a healthy pipeline of new products that we believe will contribute to profitable sales growth. The increase in expenses was due primarily to investments across all of our businesses in order to maintain a healthy pipeline of new products that we believe will contribute to profitable sales growth and increased cost related to recent acquisitions.

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Royalty Expense

In the first quarter of 2017, our royalty expense decreased $2 million, or 11 percent, as compared to the first quarter of 2016 and decreased slightly as a percentage of net sales. The decrease relates primarily to a lower royalty rate structure on certain products.

Amortization Expense

Our amortization expense was $143 million in the first quarter of 2017, as compared to $136 million in the first quarter of 2016. This increase was primarily due to amortizable intangible assets acquired as part of the EndoChoice acquisition on November 22, 2016. Amortization expense is excluded by management for purposes of evaluating operating performance.

Contingent Consideration Expense

We recorded a net benefit of $50 million during the first quarter of 2017 and net expenses of $4 million during the first quarter of 2016 related to the change in fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities. Refer to Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investments to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional details related to our contingent consideration expenses. Contingent consideration expense is excluded by management for purposes of evaluating operating performance.

Restructuring Charges and Restructuring-related Activities

We recorded restructuring charges pursuant to our restructuring plans of $4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $3 million in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, we recorded expenses within other lines of our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations related to our restructuring initiatives of $15 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $10 million in the first quarter of 2016. Restructuring and restructuring-related costs are excluded by management for purposes of evaluating operating performance.

The 2016 Restructuring Plan is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $175 million to $225 million and reduce gross annual expenses by approximately $115 million to $150 million by the end of 2020 as plan benefits are realized.

We made cash payments of $16 million in the first quarter of 2017 associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan and as of March 31, 2017, we had made total cash payments of $43 million related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan.

Refer to Note F – Restructuring-related Activities to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional details related to our restructuring plans.

Litigation-related charges and credits

We recorded litigation-related net charges of $3 million in the first quarter of 2017 and net charges of $10 million in the first quarter of 2016. Litigation-related charges and credits are excluded by management for purposes of evaluating operating performance. Refer to Note I – Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for discussion of our material legal proceedings.

Interest Expense

Our interest expense was $57 million in the first quarter of 2017, with an average borrowing rate of 4.0 percent as compared to $59 million in the first quarter of 2016, with an average borrowing rate of 3.9 percent. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources and Note D – Fair Value Measurements and Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our debt obligations and related derivative instruments and hedging activities.

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Other, net

The following are the components of other, net:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Interest income	$	1		$	3
Foreign currency losses	—			(5		)
Net gains (losses) on investments	—			(3		)
Other income (expense), net	(3		)	(1		)
	$	(2	)	$	(6	)

Tax Rate

Our effective tax rates from continuing operations were 4.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 11.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The change in our reported tax rate for the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016, relates primarily to the impact of certain receipts and charges that are taxed at different rates than our effective tax rate, including acquisition-related items, contingent consideration, restructuring and restructuring-related items, litigation-related items and amortization expense, as well as the impact of certain discrete tax items. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a discrete tax benefit related to share-based payment awards due to application of ASC Update No. 2016-09. Refer to Note M – New Accounting Pronouncements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information.

We are contesting in U.S. Tax Court significant proposed adjustments from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) related to its audit of our transfer pricing methodologies for the 2001 through 2007 tax years. The IRS also proposed similar transfer pricing adjustments for the 2008 through 2010 tax years. We disagree with the transfer pricing methodologies being applied by the IRS and we were scheduled to go to trial in the U.S. Tax Court in late July 2016. On July 19, 2016, we entered a Stipulation of Settled Issues with the IRS intended to resolve all of the aforementioned transfer pricing issues, as well as issues related to our transaction with Abbott, for the 2001 through 2007 tax years. The Stipulation of Settled Issues is contingent upon the IRS Office of Appeals (IRS Appeals) applying the same basis of settlement to all transfer pricing issues for the Company’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years and if applicable, review by the United States Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. In October 2016, we reached an agreement in principle with IRS Appeals as to the resolution of the transfer pricing issues in 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years, subject to additional calculations of tax as well as documentation to memorialize our agreement. In the event that the conditions in the Stipulation of Settled Items are satisfied, we expect to make net tax payments of approximately $275 million, plus interest through the date of payment. If finalized, payments related to the resolution are expected in the next six to 12 months. We believe that our income tax reserves associated with these matters are adequate as of March 31, 2017 and we do not expect to recognize any additional charges related to resolution of this controversy. However, the final resolution of these issues is contingent and if the Stipulation of Settled Issues is not finalized, it could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Refer to Note H – Income Taxesto our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our tax litigation.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our financial results are affected by the selection and application of accounting policies and methods. In the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no material changes to the application of critical accounting policies and estimates as described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Based on our current business plan, we believe our existing balance of cash and cash equivalents, future cash generated from operations, access to capital markets and credit facilities will be sufficient to fund our operations, invest in our infrastructure, pay our legal-related liabilities, pay taxes due, fund possible mergers and/or acquisitions and service our existing debt for the next twelve months.

As of March 31, 2017, we had $156 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand, comprised of $2 million invested in money market and government funds, and $154 million in interest bearing and non-interest bearing bank accounts. We invest excess cash on hand in short-term financial instruments that earn market interest rates while mitigating principal risk through instrument and counterparty diversification, as well as what we believe to be prudent instrument selection. We limit our direct exposure to securities in any one industry or issuer. We also have access to our $2.000 billion revolving credit facility and our $400 million credit and security facility secured by our U.S. trade receivables, both described below.

The following provides a summary and description of our net cash inflows (outflows) for the three months endedMarch 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$	114		$	116
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(140		)	(48		)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(15		)	(51		)

Operating Activities

During the first three months of2017, cash provided by operating activities was $114 million, as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $116 million during the first three months of2016, a decrease of $2 million. The decrease was driven by litigation-related payments primarily associated with product liability cases or claims related to transvaginal surgical mesh products, which was partially offset by an increase in net income and a decrease in accounts receivable.

Investing Activities

During the first three months of2017, cash used for investing activities included purchases of property, plant and equipment of $112 million and payments related to strategic investments and issuances of notes receivable of $28 million. During the first three months of 2016, cash used for investing activities included payments related to strategic investments and issuances of notes receivable of $18 million and purchases of property, plant and equipment of $60 million, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of one of two buildings located in Quincy, Massachusetts of $30 million.

Financing Activities

Our cash used for financing activities in the first three months of2017 and first three months of2016 reflect proceeds from borrowings on credit facilities, which were offset by payments on borrowings on credit facilities and long-term borrowings and cash used to net share settle employee equity awards.

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Debt

We had total debt of $5.514 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $5.484 billion as of December 31, 2016. The debt maturity schedule for the significant components of our debt obligations as of March 31, 2017 is as follows:

(in millions)	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
Senior Notes	$	—	$	600	$	—	$	1,450	$	—	$	2,350	$	4,400
Term Loans	—		225		150		375		—		—		750
Revolving Credit Facility	—		—		—		125		—		—		125
Accounts Receivable Securitization	—		—		216		—		—		—		216
	$	—	$	825	$	366	$	1,950	$	—	$	2,350	$	5,491

Note: The table above does not include unamortized discounts associated with our senior notes, or amounts related to interest rate contracts used to hedge the fair value of certain of our senior notes or debt issuance costs.

Revolving Credit Facility

On April 10, 2015, we entered into a $2.000 billion revolving credit facility (the 2015 Facility) with a global syndicate of commercial banks and terminated our previous $2.000 billionrevolving credit facility.The 2015 Facility matures on April 10, 2020. There was $125 millionborrowed under our current revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2017 and no borrowings under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2016.

Term Loans

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate of $750 million outstanding under our unsecured term loan facilities. These facilities include an unsecured term loan facility entered into in August 2013 (2013 Term Loan) which had $150 million outstanding as of March 31, 2017 andDecember 31, 2016, along with an unsecured term loan facility entered into in April 2015 (2015 Term Loan) which had $600 millionoutstanding as of March 31, 2017andDecember 31, 2016.

Our revolving credit facility and our term loan facilities require that we maintain certain financial covenants as outlined in Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. As of and through March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with the required covenants. Any inability to maintain compliance with these covenants could require us to seek to renegotiate the terms of our credit facility or seek waivers from compliance with these covenants, both of which could result in additional borrowing costs. Further, there can be no assurance that our lenders would agree to such new terms or grant such waivers.

In April 2017, we repaid $350 million of our term loan credit facilities. The payment was applied to the nearest maturities and primarily funded with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Senior Notes

We had senior notes outstanding of $4.400 billion as ofMarch 31, 2017 and$4.650 billion as of December 31, 2016. On January 12, 2017, we used our existing credit facilities to repay the $250 million of our senior notes due in January 2017.Our senior notes were issued in public offerings, are redeemable prior to maturity and are not subject to any sinking fund requirements. Our senior notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations and rank on parity with each other. These notes are effectively junior to borrowings under our credit and security facility and to the extent borrowed by our subsidiaries, to liabilities of our subsidiaries (see Other Arrangements below).

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Other Arrangements

As ofDecember 31, 2016, we maintained a$300 million credit and security facility secured by our U.S. trade receivables maturing on June 9, 2017. The credit and security facility required that we maintained a maximum leverage covenant consistent with our revolving credit facility. On February 7, 2017, we amended the terms of this credit and security facility, including increasing the facility size to$400 million. The amendment retained a similar maximum leverage ratio requirement and extended the facility maturity to February 2019. We had borrowings of $216 million outstanding under this facility as of March 31, 2017 and $60 million as of December 31, 2016.

We have accounts receivable factoring programs in certain European countries that we account for as sales under FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing. These agreements provide for the sale of accounts receivable to third parties, without recourse, of up to $406 million as of March 31, 2017. We de-recognized $156 million of receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of1.1 percent and $152 million as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.8 percent.

In addition, we have uncommitted credit facilities with a commercial Japanese bank that provide for borrowings, promissory notes discounting and receivables factoring of up to 21.0 billion Japanese yen (approximately $188 million as ofMarch 31, 2017). We de-recognized $154 million of notes receivable and factored receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of 1.3 percent and $149 million of notes receivable as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.6 percent. De-recognized accounts and notes receivable are excluded from trade accounts receivable, net in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit of $44 million, which consisted primarily of bank guarantees and collateral for workers' compensation insurance arrangements. As ofMarch 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, none of the beneficiaries had drawn upon the letters of credit or guarantees; accordingly, we did not recognize a related liability for our outstanding letters of credit in our consolidated balance sheets as ofMarch 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016. We believe we will generate sufficient cash from operations to fund these arrangements and intend to fund these arrangements without drawing on the letters of credit.

For additional details related to our debt, including our revolving credit facility, term loans, senior notes and other arrangements, see Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Equity

We received $33 million during the first three months of2017 and $27 million during the first three months of2016 in proceeds from stock issuances related to our stock option and employee stock purchase plans. Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchases vary from period to period based upon, among other factors, fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock and in the exercise and stock purchase patterns of our employees.

We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the three months endedMarch 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, the remaining authorization to repurchase shares under our 2013 share repurchase program was $535 million.

Stock-based compensation expense related to our stock ownership plans was approximately $30 million for the first three months of2017 and $28 million for the first three months of2016.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Certain of our acquisitions involve the payment of contingent consideration. See Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investmentsto our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further details regarding the estimated potential amount of future contingent consideration we could be required to pay associated with our acquisitions. There have been no other material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments as reported in our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.

Legal Matters

For a discussion of our material legal proceedings see Note I – Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Note K – Commitments and Contingencies to our audited financial statements contained in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Information regarding new accounting pronouncements is included in Note M – New Accounting Pronouncements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Additional Information

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share that exclude certain amounts and adjusted net sales that exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to adjusted net income is GAAP net income (loss) and the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to adjusted net income per share is GAAP net income (loss) per share. To calculate adjusted net sales that exclude changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we convert actual net sales from local currency to U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates in the current and prior period. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to constant currency growth rate is growth rate percentages using net sales on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measure are included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to assess our performance relative to our competitors and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to further its understanding of the performance of our operating segments. The adjustments excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures are consistent with those excluded from our operating segments’ measures of net sales and profit or loss. These adjustments are excluded from the segment measures that are reported to our chief operating decision maker that are used to make operating decisions and assess performance.

We believe that presenting adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share that exclude certain amounts and adjusted net sales that exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, in addition to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides investors greater transparency to the information used by management for its operational decision-making and allows investors to see our results “through the eyes” of management. We further believe that providing this information assists our investors in understanding our operating performance and the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance.

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share that exclude certain amounts and adjusted net sales that exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, are not in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from or as a replacement for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Further, other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

The following is an explanation of each of the adjustments that management excluded as part of these non-GAAP financial measures for the three months endedMarch 31, 2017 and 2016, as well as reasons for excluding each of these individual items:

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per Share

• Acquisition-related net charges (credits) - These adjustments may consist of (a) contingent consideration fair value adjustments, (b) gains on previously held investments, (c) purchased and/or funded in-process research and development expenses incurred outside of a business combination and (d) due diligence, other fees, inventory step-up amortization and integration and exit costs. The contingent consideration adjustments represent accounting adjustments to state contingent consideration liabilities at their estimated fair value. These adjustments can be highly variable depending on the assessed likelihood and amount of future contingent consideration payments. Due diligence, other fees, inventory step-up amortization and integration and exit costs include legal, tax, severance and other expenses associated with prior and potential future acquisitions that can be highly variable and not representative of ongoing operations. Accordingly, management excluded these amounts for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

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• Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) - These adjustments represent severance and other direct costs associated with our restructuring plans. These restructuring plans each consist of distinct initiatives that are fundamentally different from our ongoing, core cost reduction initiatives in terms of, among other things, the frequency with which each action is performed and the required planning, resourcing, cost and timing. Examples of such initiatives include the movement of business activities, facility consolidations and closures and the transfer of product lines between manufacturing facilities, which, due to the highly regulated nature of our industry, requires a significant investment in time and cost to create duplicate manufacturing lines, run product validations and seek regulatory approvals. Restructuring initiatives generally take approximately two years to complete and have a distinct project timeline that begins subsequent to approval by our Board of Directors. In contrast to our ongoing cost reduction initiatives, restructuring initiatives typically result in duplicative cost and exit costs over this period of time, are one-time shut downs or transfers and are not considered part of our core, ongoing operations. Because these restructuring plans are incremental to the core activities that arise in the ordinary course of our business, management excluded these costs for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

• Litigation-related net charges (credits) - These adjustments include certain significant product liability and other litigation-related charges and credits. We record these charges and credits, which we consider to be unusual or infrequent and significant, within the litigation-related charges line in our consolidated statement of operations; all other legal and product liability charges, credits and costs are recorded within selling general and administrative expenses. These amounts are excluded by management in assessing our operating performance, as well as from our operating segments' measures of profit and loss used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Accordingly, management excluded these amounts for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

• Amortization expense - We record intangible assets at historical cost and amortize them over their estimated useful lives. Amortization expense is excluded from management's assessment of operating performance and is also excluded from our operating segments' measures of profit and loss used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Accordingly, management has excluded amortization expense for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

Adjusted Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Changes in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

• The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates is highly variable and difficult to predict. Accordingly, management excludes the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates for purposes of reviewing the net sales and growth rates to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements that we may make from time to time, including statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and information incorporated by reference herein, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on certain risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors described in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the specific risk factors discussed below and in connection with forward-looking statements throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which could cause actual results to vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These additional factors include, among other things, future political, economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions, new product introductions, demographic trends, intellectual property, litigation and governmental investigations, financial market conditions and future business decisions made by us and our competitors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and

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many of which are beyond our control. We caution each reader of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to consider carefully these factors.

The following are some of the important risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations in any forward-looking statements. For further discussion of these and other risk factors, see “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our Businesses

• Our ability to increase net sales, expand the market and capture market share;

• The volatility of the coronary stent market and our ability to increase our drug-eluting stent systems net sales, including our SYNERGY™, Promus PREMIER™ and PROMUS™ Element™ Stent Systems and capture market share;

• The ongoing impact on our business of physician alignment to hospitals, governmental investigations and audits of hospitals and other market and economic conditions on the overall number of procedures performed;

• Competitive offerings and related declines in average selling prices for our products, particularly our drug-eluting coronary stent systems and our CRM products;

• The performance of and physician and patient confidence in, our products and technologies, or those of our competitors;

• The impact and outcome of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies undertaken by us, our competitors or other third parties, or perceived product performance of our or our competitors' products;

• Variations in clinical results, reliability or product performance of our and our competitors' products;

• Our ability to acquire or develop, launch and supply new or next-generation products and technologies worldwide and across our businesses in line with our commercialization strategies in a timely and successful manner, and with respect to our recent acquisitions;

• The effect of consolidation and competition in the markets in which we do business, or plan to do business;

• Disruption in the manufacture or supply of certain components, materials or products, or the failure to secure in a timely manner alternative manufacturing or additional or replacement components, materials or products;

• Our ability to retain and attract key personnel;

• The impact of enhanced requirements to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S. and around the world, including the associated timing and cost of product approval;

• The impact of increased pressure on the availability and rate of third-party reimbursement for our products and procedures in the U.S. and around the world, including with respect to the timing and costs of creating and expanding markets for new products and technologies; and

• Risk associated with counterparty default on our derivative financial instruments.

Regulatory Compliance and Litigation

• The impact of healthcare policy changes and legislative or regulatory efforts in the U.S. and around the world to modify product approval or reimbursement processes, including a trend toward demonstrating clinical outcomes, comparative effectiveness and cost efficiency, as well as the impact of other healthcare reform legislation;

• Risks associated with our regulatory compliance and quality systems and activities in the U.S. and around the world, including meeting regulatory standards applicable to manufacturing and quality processes;

• Our ability to minimize or avoid future field actions or FDA warning letters relating to our products and processes and the ongoing inherent risk of potential physician advisories related to medical devices;

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• The impact of increased scrutiny of and heightened global regulatory enforcement facing the medical device industry arising from political and regulatory changes, economic pressures or otherwise, including under U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute, U.S. False Claims Act and similar laws in other jurisdictions; U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and/or similar laws in other jurisdictions and U.S. and foreign export control, trade embargo and customs laws;

• Costs and risks associated with litigation;

• The effect of our litigation and risk management practices, including self-insurance and compliance activities on our loss contingencies, legal provision and cash flows;

• The impact of, diversion of management attention as a result of and costs to cooperate with, litigate and/or resolve, governmental investigations and our class action, product liability, contract and other legal proceedings; and

• Risks associated with a failure to protect our intellectual property rights and the outcome of patent litigation.

Innovation and Certain Growth Initiatives

• The timing, size and nature of our strategic growth initiatives and market opportunities, including with respect to our internal research and development platforms and externally available research and development platforms and technologies and the ultimate cost and success of those initiatives and opportunities;

• Our ability to complete planned clinical trials successfully, obtain regulatory approvals and launch new and next generation products in a timely manner consistent with cost estimates, including the successful completion of in-process projects from in-process research and development;

• Our ability to identify and prioritize our internal research and development project portfolio and our external investment portfolio on profitable revenue growth opportunities as well as to keep them in line with the estimated timing and costs of such projects and expected revenue levels for the resulting products and technologies;

• Our ability to successfully develop, manufacture and market new products and technologies in a timely manner and the ability of our competitors and other third parties to develop products or technologies that render our products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete;

• The impact of our failure to succeed at or our decision to discontinue, write-down or reduce the funding of any of our research and development projects, including in-process projects from in-process research and development, in our growth adjacencies or otherwise;

• Dependence on acquisitions, alliances or investments to introduce new products or technologies and to enter new or adjacent growth markets and our ability to fund them or to fund contingent payments with respect to those acquisitions, alliances and investments; and

• The failure to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits from the strategic acquisitions, alliances and investments we have consummated or may consummate in the future.

International Markets

• Our dependency on international net sales to achieve growth, including in emerging markets;

• The impact of changes in our international structure and leadership;

• Risks associated with international operations and investments, including the timing and collectibility of customer payments, political and economic conditions (including the impact of the United Kingdom's exit from the EU, often referred to as "Brexit"), protection of our intellectual property, compliance with established and developing U.S. and foreign legal and regulatory requirements, including FCPA and similar laws in other jurisdictions and U.S. and foreign export control, trade embargo and customs laws, as well as changes in reimbursement practices and policies;

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• Our ability to maintain or expand our worldwide market positions in the various markets in which we compete or seek to compete, including through investments in product diversification and emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China;

• Our ability to execute and realize anticipated benefits from our investments in emerging markets; and

• The potential effect of foreign currency fluctuations and interest rate fluctuations on our net sales, expenses and resulting margins.

Liquidity

• Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to fund operations, capital expenditures, global expansion initiatives, any litigation settlements and judgments, share repurchases and strategic investments and acquisitions as well as maintaining our investment grade ratings and managing our debt levels and covenant compliance;

• Our ability to access the public and private capital markets when desired and to issue debt or equity securities on terms reasonably acceptable to us;

• The unfavorable resolution of open tax matters, exposure to additional tax liabilities and the impact of changes in U.S. and international tax laws;

• The impact of examinations and assessments by domestic and international taxing authorities on our tax provision, financial condition or results of operations;

• The impact of goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges, including on our results of operations; and

• Our ability to collect outstanding and future receivables and/or sell receivables under our factoring programs.

Cost Reduction and Optimization Initiatives

• Risks associated with significant changes made or expected to be made to our organizational and operational structure, pursuant to our 2016 Restructuring Plan, as well as any further restructuring or optimization plans we may undertake in the future and our ability to recognize benefits and cost reductions from such programs; and

• Business disruption and employee distraction as we execute our global compliance program, restructuring and optimization plans and divestitures of assets or businesses and implement our other strategic and cost reduction initiatives.

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans by Executive Officers

Periodically, certain of our executive officers adopt written stock trading plans in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act and our own Stock Trading Policy. A Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan is a written document that pre-establishes the amount, prices and dates (or formulas for determining the amounts, prices and dates) of future purchases or sales of our stock, including shares issued upon exercise of stock options or vesting of deferred stock units. These plans are entered into at a time when the person is not in possession of material non-public information about our company. We disclose details regarding individual Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans on the Investor Relations section of our website.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We develop, manufacture and sell medical devices globally and our earnings and cash flows are exposed to market risk from changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates. We address these risks through a risk management program that includes the use of derivative financial instruments. We operate the program pursuant to documented corporate risk management policies. We do not enter derivative transactions for speculative purposes. Gains and losses on derivative financial instruments substantially offset losses and gains on underlying hedged exposures. Furthermore, we manage our exposure to counterparty risk on derivative instruments by entering into contracts with a diversified group of major financial institutions and by actively monitoring outstanding positions.

Our currency risk consists primarily of foreign currency denominated firm commitments, forecasted foreign currency denominated intercompany and third-party transactions and net investments in certain subsidiaries. We use both nonderivative (primarily European manufacturing operations) and derivative instruments to manage our earnings and cash flow exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. We had currency derivative instruments outstanding in the contract amount of $4.208 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $4.100 billion as of December 31, 2016. We recorded $108 million of other assets and $49 million of other liabilities to recognize the fair value of these derivative instruments as of March 31, 2017, as compared to $199 million of other assets and $26 million of other liabilities as of December 31, 2016. A ten percent appreciation in the U.S. dollar’s value relative to the hedged currencies would increase the derivative instruments’ fair value by $248 million as of March 31, 2017 and $257 million as of December 31, 2016. A ten percent depreciation in the U.S. dollar’s value relative to the hedged currencies would decrease the derivative instruments’ fair value by $261 million as of March 31, 2017 and by $223 million as of December 31, 2016. Any increase or decrease in the fair value of our currency exchange rate sensitive derivative instruments would be substantially offset by a corresponding decrease or increase in the fair value of the hedged underlying asset, liability or forecasted transaction, resulting in minimal impact on our consolidated statements of operations.

Our interest rate risk relates primarily to U.S. dollar borrowings partially offset by U.S. dollar cash investments. We have historically used interest rate derivative instruments to manage our earnings and cash flow exposure to changes in interest rates. We had no interest rate derivative instruments outstanding as of March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, $4.419 billion of our outstanding debt obligations were at fixed interest rates, representing approximately 80 percent of our total debt.

Refer to Note D – Fair Value Measurements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding our derivative financial instruments.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017 pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of March 31, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

See Note H – Income Taxes and Note I – Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information contained elsewhere in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS (* documents filed or furnished with this report, # compensatory plans or arrangements)

10.1*	Form of Global Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan#
10.2*	Form of Global Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan#
10.3*	Form of 2017 Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Total Shareholder Return)#
10.4*	Form of 2017 Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Free Cash Flow)#
10.5	Second Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2017, by and among Boston Scientific Funding LLC, Boston Scientific Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, New York Branch, as Lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., as Co-Agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1, Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2017, File No. 1-11083)
10.6	Second Amended and Restated Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2017, by and among Boston Scientific Corporation, each of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries that become a seller thereunder and Boston Scientific Funding LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2, Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2017, File No. 1-11083)
31.1*	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*	Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Chief Executive Officer
32.2*	Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
101*	Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and (v) the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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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 thereunto duly authorized on May 3, 2017.

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Daniel J. Brennan
	Name:	Daniel J. Brennan
	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Global Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

[DATE]

[FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME]

(“Optionee”)

EMPLOYEE COPY

PLEASE RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS

1

Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Global Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

This Global Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), is between you and Boston Scientific Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) in connection with the Non-Qualified Stock Option Award granted to you by the Company. This Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions relating to your Stock Option pursuant to the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Plan. The applicable terms and conditions of the Plan are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.

1.    Grant of Stock Option. The Committee hereby grants you a Stock Option to purchase that number of shares of Stock set forth on herein (the “Option Shares”) at the price set forth herein (the “Grant Price”). The Grant Price is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Stock on the Grant Date.

2.    Term and Vesting of Stock Option. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4 below, your Stock Option shall have a term of ten (10) years from [ ], until [ ] (the “Expiration Date”) and shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule. If the Expiration Date falls on a date on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed for trading, the Expiration Date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the Expiration Date.

3.    Exercise of Stock Option. While this Stock Option remains exercisable, you may exercise any vested portion of the Option Shares by delivering to the Company or its designee, in the form and at the location specified by the Company, notice stating your intent to exercise a specified number of Option Shares and payment of the full Grant Price for the specified number of Option Shares. Payment in full for the Option Shares being exercised may be paid in such manner as the Committee may specify from time to time, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to the following: (a) in cash, (b) by certified check or bank draft payable in U.S. dollars ($US) to the order of the Company, (c) in whole or in part in shares of Stock owned by you, valued at Fair Market Value, or (d) if available to you, via cashless exercise, by which you deliver to your securities broker instructions to sell a sufficient number of shares of Stock to cover the Grant Price for the Option Shares, any applicable tax obligations and the brokerage fees and expenses associated therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you reside in a country where the local laws and/or regulations preclude the remittance of currency out of the country for purposes of paying the Grant Price for the Option Shares being exercised, require the Company, its Affiliates and/or you to secure any legal or regulatory approvals or complete any legal or regulatory filings, or undertake any additional steps for remitting currency out of the country, the Company may restrict the method of exercise to a form of cashless exercise (either a cashless “sell all” exercise and/or a cashless “sell to cover” exercise) as it shall determine in its sole discretion.

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The exercise date applicable to your exercise of the specified number of Option Shares pursuant to this Section 3 will be deemed to be the date on which the Company receives your irrevocable commitment to exercise the Option Shares in writing, subject to your payment in full of the Option Shares to be exercised within 10 (ten) days of the notice of exercise of the Option Shares to be exercised. The notice and payment in full of the Option Shares being exercised, must be received by the Company or its designee on or prior to the last day of the Stock Option term, as set forth in Section 2 above, except as provided in Section 4 below.

Upon the Company’s determination that there has been a valid exercise of the Option Shares, the Company shall issue certificates in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or cause the Company’s transfer agent to make the necessary book entries for the shares of Stock subject to the exercised Option Shares. However, the Company shall not be liable to you, your personal representative or your successor(s)-in-interest for damages relating to any delays in issuing the certificates or in making book entries, any loss of the certificates, or any mistakes or errors in the issuance of the certificates or in making book entries, or in the certificates themselves.

4.    Termination of Employment.

a.    In the event that your employment terminates due to death or Disability (as such term is defined in the Plan or determined under local law, as applicable), all remaining unexercised portion(s) of your Stock Option shall immediately vest and become exercisable by you or your appointed representative, as the case may be, until the expiration of the term of the Stock Option or such other term as the Committee may determine at or after grant, provided that such exercise period does not extend beyond the original term of the Stock Option.

b.    Provided that you have remained in continuous service with the Company or an Affiliate through the first anniversary of the Grant Date, in the event your employment terminates due to Retirement, all remaining unexercised portion(s) of your Stock Option shall immediately vest and become exercisable by you until the expiration of the term of the Stock Option or such other term as the Committee may determine at or after grant, provided that such exercise period does not extend beyond the original term of the Stock Option. 

c.    In the event that your employment terminates due to Retirement prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date, the Option Shares shall immediately be forfeited in their entirety.

d.    Upon termination of your employment for reasons other than for Cause, death, Disability or Retirement, you shall have the shorter of (i) one (1) year from the date of termination and (ii) the remaining term of the Stock Option to exercise all vested Option Shares. Immediately upon termination of your employment for reasons other than for Cause, death, Disability or Retirement, all unvested Option Shares shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may extend the exercise period and/or accelerate vesting of any unvested Option Shares (provided that such exercise period does not extend beyond the original term of the Stock Option). Your termination date shall be the last day of your active service with the Company or an Affiliate (if applicable).

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e.    Immediately upon notice of termination of your employment for Cause, all unexercised Option Shares, whether vested or unvested, shall be forfeited.

f.    The Option Shares, to the extent unexercised on the date following the end of any period described above or the term of the Stock Option set forth above in Section 2, shall thereupon be forfeited.

g.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the Agreement, and for purposes of clarity, any termination of employment shall be effective as of the date your active employment ceases and shall not be extended by any statutory or common law notice of termination period.

h.    Any one of your permitted transferee(s) (pursuant to Section 7 below) shall receive the rights herein granted subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable Addendum. No transfer of this Stock Option shall be approved and effected by the Administrator unless (i) the Administrator shall have been timely furnished with written notice of such transfer and any copies of such notice as the Committee may deem, in its sole discretion, necessary to establish the validity of the transfer; (ii) the transferee or transferees shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable Addendum; and (iii) such transfer complies with applicable laws and regulations.

i.    If you are a resident or employed in a country that is a member of the European Union, the grant of the Stock Option and this Agreement are intended to comply with the age discrimination provisions of the EU Equal Treatment Framework Directive, as implemented into local law (the “Age Discrimination Rules”). To the extent that a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of the Stock Option is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under the Age Discrimination Rules, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to revise or strike such provision to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted under local law.

j.    If you reside or work in a country where the local foreign exchange rules and regulations require the repatriation of sale proceeds, the Company may require you to sell any Option Shares you acquire under the Plan within a specified period following your termination of employment (in which case, this Agreement shall give the Company the authority to issue sales instructions on your behalf).

5.    Change in Control. To the extent that you have not entered into a Change in Control Agreement with the Company and except as the Administrator (as defined in the Plan) may otherwise determine, immediately prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), any unvested portion of the Stock Option shall vest and become exercisable.In addition, the Stock Option shall terminate immediately prior to the Change in Control unless the Stock Option is exercised coincident therewith or assumed in accordance with the immediately following sentence. If there is a surviving or acquiring entity, the Administrator may provide for a substitution or assumption of the Stock Option by the acquiring or surviving entity or an affiliate thereof, on such terms as the Administrator determines. If there is no surviving or acquiring entity, or if the Administrator does not provide for

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a substitution or assumption of the Stock Option, any unvested portion of the Stock Option shall vest and become exercisable on a basis that gives you a reasonable opportunity to participate as a stockholder in the Change in Control. If you have entered into a Change in Control agreement with the Company, the Stock Option will vest according to the provisions of the Change in Control agreement.

6.    Recoupment Policy.

(a)    Current Recoupment Policy. Pursuant to the Company’s recoupment policy and to the extent permitted by governing law, the Board, in its discretion, may seek Recovery of the Award granted to you if you are a Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer and you, in the judgment of the Board, commit misconduct or a gross dereliction of duty that results in a material violation of Company policy and causes significant harm to the Company while serving in your capacity as Executive Officer.

(i)    Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Section 6, shall have the meaning set forth below:

(1)    “Current Executive Officer” means any individual currently designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(2)    “Executive Officer” means any Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer.

(3)    “Former Executive Officer” means any individual previously (but not currently) designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(4)    “Recovery” means the forfeiture or cancellation of unexercised Stock Options, whether vested or unvested.

(b)    Provisions Required by Law. If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to apply a “clawback” or alternate recoupment provision to outstanding Awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision also shall apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Grant Date and the Company shall notify you of such additional provision.

7.    Restrictions on Shares; Legend on Certificate. Shares of Stock issued to you in certificate form or to your book entry account upon exercise of the Stock Option may be restricted from transfer or sale by the Company and evidenced by stop-transfer instructions upon your book entry account or restricted legend(s) affixed to certificates in the form as the Company or its counsel may require with respect to any applicable restrictions on sale or transfer.

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8.    Transferability. Except as required by law, you shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, gift, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Stock Option granted under this Agreement other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or without payment of consideration to your Family Members or to trusts or other entities for the benefit of your Family Members. During your lifetime, the Stock Option is exercisable only by you, subject to Section 4 above.

9.    Satisfaction of Tax Obligations. Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax (including U.S. federal, state and local taxes and/or non-U.S. taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Stock Option, including the grant of the Stock Option, the vesting of the Stock Option, the exercise of the Stock Option, the subsequent sale of any shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option and the receipt of any dividends, and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Stock Option to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

Prior to the delivery of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Stock Option, if your country of residence (and/or the country of employment, if different) requires withholding of Tax-Related Items, the Company may withhold a sufficient whole number of shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option that has an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the shares of Stock, or to the extent it would not result in adverse accounting treatment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, withhold shares of Stock based on a rate of up to the maximum applicable withholding rate. The cash equivalent of the shares of Stock withheld will be used to settle the obligation to withhold the Tax-Related Items. By accepting the Stock Option, you expressly consent to the withholding of shares of Stock as provided for hereunder.

Alternatively, you hereby authorize the Company (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization) to immediately sell a sufficient whole number of shares of Stock acquired upon exercise resulting in sale proceeds sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. You agree to sign any agreements, forms and/or consents that reasonably may be requested by the Company (or the Company’s designated brokerage firm) to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock (including, without limitation, as to the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Company to satisfy the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld). Further, the Company or the Employer may, in its discretion, withhold any amount necessary to pay the Tax-Related Items from your salary or any other amounts payable to you, with no withholding of shares of Stock or sale of shares of Stock, or may require you to submit a cash payment equivalent to the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the exercised Stock Option.

All other Tax-Related Items related to the Stock Option and any shares of Stock delivered in payment thereof are your sole responsibility. In no event, shall whole shares be withheld by or delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any Tax-Related Items in excess of the maximum

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statutory tax withholding required by law. You agree to indemnify the Company and its Affiliates against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses that the Company and its Affiliates may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay with respect to the payment or withholding of any Tax-Related Items.

The Stock Option is intended to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Plan and this Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent. If the Company determines that the Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and that it has failed to comply with the requirements of that Section, the Company may, in its sole discretion, and without your consent, amend this Agreement to cause it to comply with Code Section 409A or be exempt from Code Section 409A.

10.    Repatriation and Legal/Tax Compliance Requirements. If you are a resident or employed outside of the United States, you agree, as a condition of the Stock Option grant, to repatriate all payments attributable to the shares of Stock and/or cash acquired under the Plan (including, but not limited to, dividends and any proceeds derived from the sale of the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Stock Option) in accordance with local foreign exchange rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). In addition, you agree to take any and all actions, and consent to any and all actions taken by the Company and the Employer, as may be required to allow the Company and the Employer to comply with local laws, rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). Finally, you agree to take any and all actions as may be required to comply with your personal legal and tax obligations under local laws, rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different).

11.    Data Privacy. You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data as described in this Agreement and any other Stock Option grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan.

You understand that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about you, including (but not limited to) your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number (e.g., resident registration number), salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, and details of all Stock Options awarded to you or any other entitlements to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor (“Data”) for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan.

You understand that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including but not limited to E*TRADE Securities LLC (“E*TRADE”) or any successor or any other third party that the Company or E*TRADE (or its successor) may engage to assist with the administration of the

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Plan from time to time. You understand the recipients of the Data may be located in your country, in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that you may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative.

You authorize the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage your participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom you may elect to deposit any shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Stock Options. You understand that you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consent herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consent herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later revoke your consent, your employment status or service with the Employer will not be adversely affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company would not be able to grant you Stock Options or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative.

12.    Nature of Grant. By participating in the Plan, you acknowledge, understand and agree that:

(a)the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Administrator at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b)the grant of the Stock Options is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants or benefits in lieu of Stock Options, even if Stock Options have been granted in the past;

(c)all decisions with respect to future grants of Stock Options, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(d)the Stock Option grant and your participation in the Plan shall not create a right to employment or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company, the Employer or Affiliate and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company, the Employer or any Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate your employment or service relationship (if any);

(e)you are voluntarily participating in the Plan;

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(f)the Stock Options are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(g)the Stock Options, the shares of Stock subject to the Stock Options, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(h)the future value of the shares of Stock subject to the Stock Options is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(i)no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Stock Options resulting from the termination of your employment or other service relationship (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Stock Options to which you are otherwise not entitled, you irrevocably agree never to institute any such claim against the Company, any of its Affiliates or the Employer, waive your ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and release the Company, its Affiliates and the Employer from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agree to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim;

(j)unless otherwise agreed with the Company in writing, the Stock Options, the shares of Stock subject to the Stock Options, and the income and value of same are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of an Affiliate;

(k)for purposes of the Stock Options, your employment or other service relationship will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer actively providing services to the Company or one of its Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or determined by the Company, the period (if any) during which you may exercise the Option will commence as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any; the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when you are no longer actively providing services for purposes of the Option grant (including whether you may still be considered to be providing services while on an approved leave of absence); and

(l)the following provisions apply only if you are providing services outside the United States: (A) the Stock Options, the shares of Stock subject to the Stock Options, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and (B) neither the Company, the Employer nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between your local currency and the U.S. dollar that may affect the value of the Stock

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Options or of any amount due to you pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Options or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon exercise.

13.    Securities Laws. Upon the acquisition of any shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Option, you will make or enter into such written representations, warranties and agreements as the Company may reasonably request in order to comply with applicable securities laws or with the Plan.

14.    Not a Public Offering. Neither the grant of the Stock Option under the Plan nor the issuance of the underlying shares of Stock upon exercise of the Stock Option is intended to be a public offering of securities in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). The Company has not submitted any registration statement, prospectus or other filings to the local securities authorities unless otherwise required under local law.

15.    No Advice Regarding Grant. No Employee of the Company is permitted to advise you regarding whether you should purchase shares of Stock under the Plan. Investment in shares of Stock involves a degree of risk. Before deciding to purchase shares of Stock pursuant to the Stock Option, you should carefully consider all risk factors relevant to the acquisition of shares of Stock under the Plan, and you should carefully review all of the materials related to the Stock Option and the Plan. You are hereby advised to consult with your own personal tax, legal and financial advisors before taking any action related to the Plan.

16.    Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. You acknowledge that your country of residence may have insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect your ability to acquire or sell shares of Stock under the Plan during such times that you are considered to have “inside information” (as defined in the laws in your country). These laws may be the same or different from any Company insider trading policy. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to be informed of and comply with such regulations, and that you are advised to speak to your personal advisor on this matter.

17.    Award Subject to the Plan. The Award to be made pursuant to this Agreement is made subject to the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan will govern and prevail. However, no amendment of the Plan after the date hereof may adversely alter or impair the issuance of the shares of Stock to be made pursuant to this Agreement. You hereby accept the Stock Option subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement and agree that all decisions under, and interpretations of, the Plan and this Agreement by the Administrator, Committee or the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive upon you and your heirs and legal representatives.

18.    Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Company may, in its sole discretion, deliver any documents related to the Stock Option and participation in the Plan, or future grants of Stock Options that may be granted under the Plan, by electronic means unless otherwise prohibited by local law. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to

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participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party-designated by the Company.

19.    Language. If you are resident outside of the United States, you hereby acknowledge and agree that it is your express intent that this Agreement and any applicable Addendum, the Plan and all other documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant to the Stock Option, be drawn up in English. If you have received this Agreement and any applicable Addendum, the Plan or any other documents related to the Stock Option translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.

20.    Addendum. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Stock Option shall be subject to any special terms and conditions for your country of residence (and country of employment, if different) as are forth in the applicable addendum to the Agreement (the “Addendum”). Further, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in the Addenda to this Agreement, the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Any applicable Addendum shall constitute part of this Agreement.

21.    Additional Requirements. The Administrator reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Stock Option, any shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Stock Option and your participation in the Plan to the extent the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that such other requirements are necessary or advisable in order to comply with local laws or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Such requirements may include (but are not limited to) requiring you to sign any agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

22.    Legal Notices. Any legal notice necessary under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary at the principal executive office of the Company and to you at the address appearing in the personnel records of the Company for you or to either party at such other address as either party may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the addressee.

23.    Choice of Law and Venue. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without regard to the conflicts of laws principles) and applicable federal laws.

For purposes of litigating any dispute under the Agreement, including the Addendum, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Boston or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts where the grant of the Options is made and/or to be performed.

24.    Conflicts.    The Stock Option granted by this Agreement and any applicable Addendum is subject to the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement contains terms and

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provisions established by the Committee specifically for the grant described herein. Unless the Committee has exercised its authority under the Plan to establish specific terms of an Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, the Committee retains the right to alter or modify the Stock Option granted under this Agreement as the Committee may determine are in the best interests of the Company.

25.    Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

26.    Severability. You agree that the provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable

27.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

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SIGNATURE PAGE

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, and the Optionee have executed and delivered this Agreement effective as of the date and year first above written.

Option Shares of Stock: [ ]

Grant Price: [ ]

Vesting Schedule:

	Percent of Stock Option	Date Vested
25%		[ ]
25%		[ ]
25%		[ ]
25%		[ ]

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

Michael F. Mahoney

President and Chief Executive Officer

OPTIONEE

By: SIGNED BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THE AWARD, YOU AGREE THAT (i) SUCH ACCEPTANCE CONSTITUTES YOUR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT; (ii) YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM; (iii) YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM IN THEIR ENTIRETY, HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL PRIOR TO ACCEPTING THE AWARD AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN,

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THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM; (iv) YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OR ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO A COPY OF THE U.S. PROSPECTUS FOR THE PLAN AND THE TAX SUPPLEMENT TO THE U.S. PROSPECTUS FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IF APPLICABLE; AND (v) YOU HEREBY AGREE TO ACCEPT AS BINDING, CONCLUSIVE AND FINAL ALL DECISIONS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR UPON ANY QUESTIONS ARISING UNDER THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM.

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

ADDENDUM TO THE AWARD AGREEMENT

RELATING TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED

PURSUANT TO THE 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

In addition to the terms of the Plan and the Agreement, the Stock Option is subject to the following additional terms and conditions. All defined terms contained in this Addendum shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan and the Agreement. Pursuant to Section 21 of the Agreement, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in an Addendum, the additional terms and conditions for such country (if any) will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

ARGENTINA

Type of Offering. Neither the grant of the Option, nor the issuance of shares of Common Stock subject to the grant, constitutes a public offering. The offering of the Plan is a private placement and is not subject to the supervision of any Argentine governmental authority.

AUSTRALIA

1.    Limitations on Exercisability Following Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding any provision in the Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, in the event your employment terminates for any reason, your vested Stock Option will no longer be exercisable after the earlier of: (i) thirty (30) days from the date of termination of employment; and (ii) the Expiration Date specified in Section 2 of the Agreement.

2.    Breach of Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Plan, you will not be entitled to, and shall not claim any benefit (including without limitation a legal right) under the Plan if the provision of such benefit would give rise to a breach of Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), any other provision of that Act, or any other applicable statute, rule or regulation which limits or restricts the giving of such benefits.

AUSTRIA

No country-specific provisions.

BELGIUM

1.    Acceptance of Stock Options. In order for the Stock Options to be subject to taxation at the time of grant, you must affirmatively accept the Stock Options in writing within 60 days after the offer date by signing below and returning this original executed Addendum to:

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Boston Scientific
Green Square,Lambroekstraat 5D
1831 Diegem
Belgium

Attn.: Carine Depret

I hereby accept the ________ (number) Stock Options granted to me by the Company on the Grant Date.

The undersigned acknowledges that he/she has been encouraged to discuss this matter with a financial and/or tax advisor and that this decision is made in full knowledge.

Employee Signature:        _______________________________

Employee Printed Name:    _______________________________

Date of Acceptance:        _______________________________

If you fail to affirmatively accept the Stock Options in writing within 60 days after the offer date, the Stock Options will not be subject to taxation at the time of grant but instead will be subject to taxation on the date you exercise the Stock Options (or such other treatment as may apply under Belgian tax law at the time of exercise).

2.    Undertaking for Qualifying Options. If you are accepting the Stock Options in writing within 60 days after the offer date and wish to have the Stock Options subject to a lower valuation for Belgium tax purposes pursuant to the article 43, §6 of the Belgian law of 26 March 1999, you may agree and undertake to (a) not exercise the Stock Options before the end of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the offer date falls, and (b) not transfer the Stock Options under any circumstances (except upon on rights your heir might have in the Stock Options upon your death). If you wish to make this undertaking, you must sign below and return this executed Addendum to the address listed above.

Employee Signature:        _______________________________

Employee Printed Name:    _______________________________

BRAZIL

1.    Compliance with Law. By accepting the Stock Options, you acknowledge that you agree to comply with applicable Brazilian laws and to pay any and all applicable taxes associated with the vesting of the Stock Options, the receipt of any dividends, and the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan.

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2.    Labor Law Policy and Acknowledgement. This provision supplements Section 12 of the Agreement:

By accepting the Stock Options, you agree that (i) the benefits provided under the Agreement and the Plan are the result of commercial transactions unrelated to your employment; (ii) the Agreement and the Plan are not a part of the terms and conditions of your employment; and (iii) the income from the Stock Options, if any, is not part of your remuneration from employment.

CANADA

1.    Use of Previously Owned Shares. Notwithstanding any provision in Section 3 of the Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, if you are resident in Canada, you may not use previously-owned shares of Stock to pay the Grant Price or any Tax-Related Items in connection with the Stock Option.

2.    Personal Data. This provision supplements Section 11 of the Agreement:

You hereby authorize the Company and the Company’s representatives to discuss with and obtain all relevant information from all personnel, professional or not, involved in the administration and operation of the Plan. You further authorize the Company, any Affiliate and the Administrator to disclose and discuss the Plan with their advisors. You further authorize the Company and any Affiliate to record such information and to keep such information in your employee file.

3.    Securities Law Information. You are permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan through the designated broker appointed under the Plan, if any, provided that the sale of shares of Stock takes place outside Canada through the facilities of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed (i.e., the New York Stock Exchange).

4.    Language Consent. The following provision will apply if you are a resident of Quebec:

The parties acknowledge that it is their express wish that the present Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English.

Les parties reconnaissent avoir exigé la rédaction en anglais de la présente convention, ainsi que de tous documents, avis et procédures judiciaires, exécutés, donnés ou intentés en vertu de, ou liés directement ou indirectement à, la présente convention.

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CHINA

The following provisions govern your participation in the Plan if you are a national of the People’s Republic of China (“China”) resident in mainland China, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion:

1.    Mandatory Cashless Sell-All Exercise. As permitted under Section 3 of the Agreement and unless and until the Committee determines otherwise, the method of exercise of the Stock Option shall be limited to mandatory cashless, sell-all exercise.

2.     Limitations on Exercisability Following Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding any provision in the Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, in the event your employment terminates for any reason, your Stock Option will no longer be exercisable after the earlier of: (i) the last day of the six-month period beginning on the date of termination of employment (or such earlier date as may be required by China State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”)); and (ii) the Expiration Date specified in Section 2 of the Agreement.

3.    Exchange Control Restrictions. You understand and agree that, pursuant to local exchange control requirements, you will be required immediately to repatriate to China the proceeds from the sale of any shares of Stock acquired under the Plan. You further understand that such repatriation of proceeds may need to be effected through a special bank account established by the Company or its Affiliate, and you hereby consent and agree that proceeds from the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan may be transferred to such account by the Company on your behalf prior to being delivered to you and that no interest shall be paid with respect to funds held in such account. The proceeds may be paid to you in U.S. dollars or local currency at the Company’s discretion. If the proceeds are paid to you in U.S. dollars, you understand that a U.S. dollar bank account in China must be established and maintained so that the proceeds may be deposited into such account. If the proceeds are paid to you in local currency, you acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to secure any particular exchange conversion rate and that the Company may face delays in converting the proceeds to local currency due to exchange control restrictions. You agree to bear any currency fluctuation risk between the time the shares of Stock are sold and the net proceeds are converted into local currency and distributed to you. You further agree to comply with any other requirements that may be imposed by the Company and its Affiliates in the future in order to facilitate compliance with exchange control requirements in China.

4.    Administration. The Company shall not be liable for any costs, fees, lost interest or dividends or other losses you may incur or suffer resulting from the enforcement of the terms of this Addendum or otherwise from the Company’s operation and enforcement of the Plan, the Agreement and the Award in accordance with Chinese law including, without limitation, any applicable SAFE rules, regulations and requirements.

The above requirements will not apply to non-Chinese nationals, unless otherwise required by the Company or by SAFE.

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BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THIS ADDENDUM.

COLOMBIA

Nature of Grant. This provision supplements Section 12 of the Agreement:

You acknowledge that, pursuant to Article 128 of the Colombian Labor Code, the Plan and related benefits do not constitute a component of your “salary” for any legal purpose. Therefore, they will not be included and/or considered for purposes of calculating any and all labor benefits, such as legal/fringe benefits, vacations, indemnities, payroll taxes, social insurance contributions and/or any other labor-related amount which may be payable.

COSTA RICA

No country-specific provisions.

CZECH REPUBLIC

No country-specific provisions.

DENMARK

Treatment of Stock Option Upon Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding any provisions in the Agreement to the contrary, if you are determined to be an “Employee” as defined in section 2 of the Danish Act on the Use of Rights to Purchase or Subscribe for Shares etc. in Employment Relationships (the “Stock Option Act”), the treatment of the Stock Option upon your termination of employment shall be governed by Section 4 and 5 of the Stock Option Act. However, if the provisions in the Agreement or the Plan governing the treatment of the Units upon a termination are more favorable, the provisions of the Agreement or the Plan will govern. You acknowledges having received an “Employer Information Statement” in Danish.

FINLAND

No country-specific provisions.

FRANCE

1.    Nature of the Award. The Units are not granted under the French specific regime provided by Articles L225-177-1 and seq. of the French commercial code.

2.    Use of English Language. You acknowledge and agree that it is your express wish that this Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English. Vous reconnaissez

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et consentez que c’est votre souhait exprès qui cet accord, de meme que tous documents, toutes notifications et tous procédés légaux est entré dans, donné ou instituté conformément ci-annexé ou relatant directement ou indirectement ci-annexé, est formulé dans l’anglais.

GERMANY

No country-specific provisions.

GREECE

No country-specific provisions.

HONG KONG

1.    Lapse of Restrictions. If, for any reason, shares of Stock are issued to you within six months of the Grant Date, you agree that you will not sell or otherwise dispose of any such shares of Stock prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date.

2.    IMPORTANT NOTICE/WARNING. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of the documents, you should obtain independent professional advice. The Stock Options and shares of Stock issued at vesting do not constitute a public offering of securities under Hong Kong law and are available only to employees of the Company or its Affiliates. The Agreement, the Plan and other incidental communication materials have not been prepared in accordance with and are not intended to constitute a “prospectus” for a public offering of securities under the applicable securities legislation in Hong Kong. The Units are intended only for the personal use of each eligible employee of the Employer, the Company or any Affiliate and may not be distributed to any other person.

3.    Wages. The Stock Option and shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option do not form part of your wages for the purposes of calculating any statutory or contractual payments under Hong Kong law.

4.    Nature of Scheme. You understand that the Company specifically intends that the Plan will not be an occupational retirement scheme for purposes of the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (“ORSO”).

INDIA

Mandatory Cashless Sell-All Exercise. As permitted under Section 3 of the Agreement and unless and until the Committee determines otherwise, the method of exercise of the Stock Option shall be limited to mandatory cashless, sell-all exercise.

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INDONESIA

No country-specific provisions.

IRELAND

No country-specific provisions.

ITALY

1.    Mandatory Cashless Sell-All Exercise. As permitted under Section 3 of the Agreement and unless and until the Committee determines otherwise, the method of exercise of the Stock Option shall be limited to mandatory cashless, sell-all exercise.

2.    Plan. This provision supplements Section 12 of the Agreement: You further acknowledge that you have read and specifically and expressly approve the following sections of the Agreement: Grant of Stock Option, Exercise of Stock Options, Termination of Employment, Recoupment Policy, Satisfaction of Tax Obligations, Nature of Grant, and Choice of Law and Venue.

JAPAN

No country-specific provisions.

LEBANON

Securities Law Information. The Plan does not constitute the marketing or offering of securities in Lebanon pursuant to Law No. 161 (2011), the Capital Markets Law. Offerings under the Plan are being made only to eligible employees of the Boston Scientific Corporation.

MALAYSIA

1.    Award Conditioned upon Election to Pay Taxes Directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board. You understand and agree that your Award is conditioned upon your completing, signing and submitting a letter to your Employer, indicating your election to pay any income tax or other tax liability arising in connection with taxable income recognized under the Plan directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board. (You may contact your Employer to request a form letter for this purpose.) You understand that if you fail to file such an election letter with your Employer, your Award will be null and void.

2.    Consent to Collection, Processing and Transfer of Personal Data. This provision replaces Section 11 of the Agreement in its entirety:

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You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data, as described in this Addendum and any other grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Company and Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan. You understand that the Company and Affiliates may hold certain personal information about you, including, but not limited to, your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, details of all Stock Options or any other entitlement to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor, for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Data is supplied by the Company and also by you through information collected in connection with the Agreement and the Plan. You understand that Data will be transferred to the current stock plan service providers or a stock plan service provider as may be selected by the Company in the future, which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. You understand that the recipients of the Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that if you reside outside the United States, you may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative at 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com You authorize the Company, the stock plan service provider and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering Anda dengan ini secara eksplisit dan tanpa sebarang keraguan mengizinkan pengumpulan, penggunaan dan pemindahan, dalam bentuk elektronik atau lain-lain, data peribadi anda seperti yang diterangkan dalam Lampiran ini dan apa-apa bahan pemberian Opsyen saham terhad yang lain oleh dan di antara, seperti yang berkenaan, Syarikat dan Ahli Gabungan untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan anda di dalam Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa Syarikat Ahli Gabungan mungkin memegang maklumat peribadi tertentu tentang anda, termasuk, tetapi tidak terhad kepada, nama anda, alamat rumah dan nombor telefon, tarikh lahir, nombor insurans sosial atau nombor pengenalan lain, gaji, kewarganegaraan, jawatan, apa-apa syer saham Biasa atau jawatan pengarah yang dipegang dalam Syarikat, butir-butir semua Opsyen saham terhad, atau apa-apa hak lain atas syer Biasa saham yang dianugerahkan, dibatalkan, dilaksanakan, terletak hak, tidak diletak hak ataupun yang belum dijelaskan bagi faedahanda, untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan Pelan tersebut (“Data”). Data tersebut dibekalkan oleh Syarikat dan juga oleh anda berkenaan dengan Perjanjian dan Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa Data ini akan dipindahkan kepada pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham semasa atau pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham yang mungkin dipilih oleh Syarikat pada masa depan, yang membantu Syarikat dengan pelaksanaan, pentadbiran dan pengurusan Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa penerima-penerima Data mungkin berada di Amerika Syarikat atau mana-mana tempat lain, dan bahawa negara penerima-penerima (contohnya, Amerika Syarikat) mungkin mempunyai undang-undang privasi data dan perlindungan yang berbeza daripada negara anda. Anda memahami bahawa sekiranya anda menetap di luar

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and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan, including any transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker, escrow agent or other third party with whom the shares of Stock received upon exercise of the Stock Option may be deposited. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage your participation in the Plan. You understand that if you reside outside the United States, you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data, limit the processing of Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consent herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later seek to revoke your consent, your employment status or service and career with the Company will not be adversely affected; the only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company may not be able to grant you Stock Options or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative. Please take note that by electronically accepting this Agreement, you have confirmed that you explicitly, voluntarily and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer of your personal data in accordance with the terms in this notification. However, if for any reason you do not consent Amerika Syarikat, anda boleh meminta satu senarai yang mengandungi nama-nama dan alamat-alamat penerima-penerima Data yang berpotensi dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan anda di 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com. Anda memberi kuasa kepada Syarikat, pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham dan mana-mana penerima-penerima kemungkinan lain yang mungkin akan membantu Syarikat (pada masa sekarang atau pada masa depan) dengan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan Pelan untuk menerima, memiliki, menggunakan, mengekalkan dan memindahkan Data, dalam bentuk elektronik atau lain-lain, bagi tujuan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan anda di dalam Pelan, termasuk segala pemindahan Data tersebut sebagaimana yang dikehendaki kepada broker, egen eskrow atau pihak ketiga dengan siapa syer Biasa saham diterima semasa peletakhakan saham terhad Opsyen mungkin didepositkan. Anda memahami bahawa Data hanya akan disimpan selagi ia adalah diperlukan untuk melaksanakan, mentadbir, dan menguruskan penyertaan anda dalam Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa sekiranya anda menetap di luar Amerika Syarikat, anda boleh, pada bila-bila masa, melihat Data, meminta maklumat tambahan mengenai penyimpanan dan pemprosesan Data, meminta bahawa pindaan-pindaan dilaksanakan ke atas Data, mengehadkan pemprosean Data atau menolak atau menarik balik persetujuan dalam ini, dalam mana-mana kes, tanpa kos, dengan menghubungi secara bertulis wakil sumber manusia tempatan. Selanjutnya, anda memahami bahawa anda memberikan persetujuan di sini secara sukarela semata-mata. Sekiranya anda tidak bersetuju, atau sekiranya anda kemudian membatalkan persetujuan anda, status pekerjaan atau perkhidmatan dan kerjaya anda dengan Syarikat tidak akan terjejas; satu-satunya akibat buruk sekiranya anda

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to the processing of your personal data, you have the right to reject such consent by contacting your local human resources representative at 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com tidak bersetuju atau menarik balik persetujuan andaadalah bahawa Syarikat tidak akan dapat memberikan Opsyen saham terhad anda atau anugerah ekuiti lain atau mentadbir atau mengekalkan anugerah-anugerah tersebut. Oleh itu, anda memahami bahawa keengganan atau penarikan balik persetujuan anda boleh menjejaskan keupayaan anda untuk mengambil bahagian dalam Pelan. Untuk maklumat lebih lanjut mengenai akibat-akibat keengganan anda untuk memberikan keizinan atau penarikan balik keizinan, anda memahami bahawa anda boleh menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan. Sila ambil perhatian bahawa dengan menerima Perjanjian ini secara elektronik, anda mengesahkan bahawa anda secara eksplisit, sukarela, dan tanpa sebarang keraguan bersetuju dengan pengumpulan, penggunaan, dan pemindahan data peribadi anda mengikut terma-terma dalam notis ini. Walaubagaimanapun, jika atas apa-apa sebab-sebab tertentu anda tidak bersetuju dengan pemprosesan data peribadi anda, anda mempunyai hak untuk menolak persetujuan anda dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan anda di 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com

MEXICO

1.    Acknowledgement of the Agreement. By accepting the Option, you acknowledge that have received a copy of the Plan and the Agreement, including this Addendum, which you have reviewed. You further acknowledge that you accept all the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement, including this Addendum. You also acknowledge that you have read and specifically and expressly approve the terms and conditions set forth in Section 12 of the Agreement, which clearly provide as follows:

(1) Your participation in the Plan does not constitute an acquired right;

(2) The Plan and your participation in it are offered by the Company on a wholly discretionary basis;

(3) Your participation in the Plan is voluntary; and

(4) The Company and its Affiliates are not responsible for any decrease in the value of any shares of Common Stock acquired at exercise of the Option.

Reconocimiento del Contrato. Al aceptar la Opción, Usted reconoce que ha recibido una copia del Plan y del contrato, incluyendo este Apéndice, mismos que ha revisado. Usted reconoce,

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además, que acepta todas las disposiciones del Plan, y del contrato, incluyendo este Apéndice. También reconoce que ha leído y aprueba de forma expresa los términos y condiciones establecidos en la sección doce 12 del contrato que claramente dispone lo siguiente:

(1) Su participación en el Plan no constituye un derecho adquirido;

(2) El Plan su participación en el mismo son ofrecidos por la Compañía de forma totalmente discrecional;

(3) Su participación en el Plan es voluntaria; y

(4) La Compañía y sus afiliados no son responsables por cualquier disminución en el valor de las Acciones adquiridas al momento de tener derecho conforme a la Opción.

2.    Labor Law Acknowledgement and Policy Statement.By accepting the Option, you acknowledge that Boston Scientific Corporation, with registered offices at 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752, United States of America, is solely responsible for the administration of the Plan. You further acknowledge your participation in the Plan, the grant of Options and any acquisition of shares of Stock under the Plan do not constitute an employment relationship between you and Boston Scientific Corporation because you are participating in the Plan on a wholly commercial basis and your sole employer is a Mexican legal entity(“Boston Scientific-Mexico”). Based on the foregoing, you expressly acknowledge that the Plan and the benefits that you may derive from participation in the Plan do not establish any rights between you and your Employer, Boston Scientific-Mexico, and do not form part of the employment conditions and/or benefits provided by Boston Scientific-Mexico, and any modification of the Plan or its termination shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment.

You further understand that your participation in the Plan is the result of a unilateral and discretionary decision of Boston Scientific Corporation, therefore, Boston Scientific Corporation reserves the absolute right to amend and/or discontinue your participation in the Plan at any time, without any liability to you.

Finally, you hereby declare that you do not reserve to yourself any action or right to bring any claim against Boston Scientific Corporation for any compensation or damages regarding any provision of the Plan or the benefits derived under the Plan, and that you therefore grant a full and broad release to Boston Scientific Corporation its Affiliates, branches, representation offices, shareholders, officers, agents and legal representatives, with respect to any claim that may arise.

Reconocimiento de Ley Laboral y Declaración de la Política. Al aceptar el Otorgamiento de la Opciónes, Usted reconoce que Boston Scientific Corporation, con oficinas registradas en 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752, Estados Unidos de América, es únicamente responsable de la administración del Plan. Usted además reconoce que su participación en el Plan, la concesión de Opciónes y cualquier adquisición de acciones de conformidad con el Plan no constituyen una relación de trabajo entre Usted y Boston Scientific Corporation, ya que Usted está participando en el Plan sobre una base totalmente comercial

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y su único patrón es una sociedad mercantil Mexicana (“Boston Scientific-México”). Derivado de lo anterior, Usted expresamente reconoce que el Plan y los beneficios que pueden derivarle de la participación en el Plan no establecen ningún derecho entre Usted y su Patrón, Boston Scientific-México, y no forman parte de las condiciones de trabajo y/o prestaciones otorgadas por Boston Scientific-México, y cualquier modificación al Plan o su terminación no constituirá un cambio o perjuicio de los términos y condiciones de su trabajo.

Usted además entiende que su participación en el Plan es resultado de una decisión unilateral y discrecional de Boston Scientific Corporation, por lo tanto Boston Scientific Corporation se reserva el derecho absoluto de modificar el Plan y/o discontinuar su participación en el Plan en cualquier momento, sin responsabilidad alguna para hacia Usted.

Finalmente, Usted declara que no se reserva acción o derecho alguno para presentar una reclamación o demanda en contra de Boston Scientific Corporation por cualquier compensación o daño o perjuicio en relación con cualquier disposición del Plan o los beneficios derivados del Plan y, por lo tanto, otorga un amplio y total finiquito a Boston Scientific Corporation, sus afiliados, afiliadas, sucursales, oficinas de representación, accionistas, directores, funcionarios, agentes y representantes con respecto a cualquier reclamación o demanda que pudiera surgir.

NETHERLANDS

Waiver of Termination Rights. As a condition to the grant of the Stock Options, you hereby waive any and all rights to compensation or damages as a result of the termination of employment with Boston Scientific Corporation and the Employer for any reason whatsoever, insofar as those rights result or may result from (i) the loss or diminution in value of such rights or entitlements under the Plan, or (ii) your ceasing to have rights under, or ceasing to be entitled to any awards under the Plan as a result of such termination.

NEW ZEALAND

Securities Law Notice. 

Warning

This is an offer of Stock Options which, upon exercise and settlement in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Agreement, will be converted into shares of Stock. Shares of Stock give you a stake in the ownership of Boston Scientific Corporation. You may receive a return if dividends are paid.

If Boston Scientific Corporation runs into financial difficulties and is wound up, you will be paid only after all creditors and holders of preference shares have been paid. You may lose some or all of your investment.

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New Zealand law normally requires people who offer financial products to give information to investors before they invest. This information is designed to help investors to make an informed decision. The usual rules do not apply to this offer because it is made under an employee share purchase scheme. As a result, you may not be given all the information usually required. You will also have fewer other legal protections for this investment.

Ask questions, read all documents carefully, and seek independent financial advice before committing.

Prior to the exercise and settlement of the Stock Options, you will not have any rights of ownership (e.g., voting or dividend rights) with respect to the underlying shares of Stock.

No interest in any Stock Options may be transferred (legally or beneficially), assigned, mortgaged, charged or encumbered.

The shares of Stock are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. This means that if you acquire shares of Stock under the Plan, you may be able to sell them on the New York Stock Exchange if there are interested buyers. You may get less than you invested. The price will depend on the demand for the shares.

You also are hereby notified that the documents listed below are available for review on sites at the web addresses listed below:

1. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent Annual Report (Form 10-K):

https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

2. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent published financial statements (Form 10-Q or 10-K) and the auditor’s report on those financial statements: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

3. The Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

4. Boston Scientific Corporation Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant and 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Q&A Summary Sheet: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

A copy of the above documents will be sent to you free of charge on written request being mailed to: Boston Scientific Corporation, Corporate Compensation, 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

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NORWAY

No country-specific provisions.

PHILIPPINES

Mandatory Cashless Sell-All Exercise. As permitted under Section 3 of the Agreement and unless and until the Committee determines otherwise, the method of exercise of the Stock Option shall be limited to mandatory cashless, sell-all exercise.

POLAND

No country-specific provisions.

PORTUGAL

Language Consent.You hereby expressly declare that you have full knowledge of the English language and have read, understood and fully accepted and agreed with the terms and conditions established in the Plan and the Agreement.

Conhecimento da Lingua. Por meio do presente, eu declaro expressamente que tem pleno conhecimento da língua inglesa e que li, compreendi e livremente aceitei e concordei com os termos e condições estabelecidas no Plano e no Acordo.

PUERTO RICO

No country-specific provisions.

RUSSIA

1.    U.S. Transaction. You understand that the Stock Options shall be valid and this Agreement shall be concluded and become effective only when the Agreement is received by the Company in the United States. Upon exercise of the Stock Options, any shares of Stock to be issued to you shall be delivered to you through a bank or brokerage account in the United States. In no event will shares of Stock be delivered to you in Russia; instead, all shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Options will be maintained on your behalf in the United States. You are not permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired at vesting directly to a Russian legal entity or resident.

2.    Cashless Exercise Provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, depending on the development of local regulatory requirements, the Company reserves the right to restrict exercise of your Stock Options to a cashless exercise through a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company, such that all shares of Stock subject to the exercised Stock Option will be sold immediately upon exercise and the proceeds of sale, less the Grant Price, any Tax-Related Items and broker’s fees or commissions, will be remitted to you in accordance with any applicable exchange control laws and regulations.

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3.    Repatriation Requirements. You agree to promptly repatriate proceeds resulting from the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan to a foreign currency account at an authorized bank in Russia if legally required at the time shares of Stock are sold and to comply with all applicable local foreign exchange rules and regulations. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for any fines or penalties resulting from your failure to comply with applicable laws.

SINGAPORE

Private Placement. The grant of the Stock Option under the Plan is being made pursuant to the “Qualifying Person” exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289, 2006 Ed.) (“SFA”). The Plan has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and is not regulated by any financial supervisory authority pursuant to any legislation in Singapore. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. You should note that the Stock Option is subject to section 257 of the SFA and you will not be able to make any subsequent sale of the shares of Stock in Singapore, or any offer of such subsequent sale of the shares of Stock subject to the Stock Options in Singapore, unless such sale or offer in is made (i) after six months from the Grant Date or (ii) pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division (1) Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the SFA.

SOUTH AFRICA

1.    Responsibility for Taxes. This provision supplements Section 9 of the Agreement:

You are responsible for immediately notifying the Employer of the amount of any gain realized at exercise of the Stock Options. If you fail to advise the Employer of such gain, you may be liable for a fine.

2.    Securities Law Notice. In compliance with South African securities law, the documents listed below are available for review on the Company’s external and internal sites at the web addresses listed below:

a. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent Annual Report (Form 10-K):

https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

b. The Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

c. Boston Scientific Corporation Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant and 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Q&A Summary Sheet: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

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You acknowledge that you may have copies of the above documents sent to you, at no charge, on written request being mailed to Boston Scientific Corporation, attn: Corporate Compensation, 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

You understand that you are advised to carefully read the materials provided before making a decision whether to participate in the Plan and to contact your tax advisor for specific information concerning your personal tax situation with regard to Plan participation.

SOUTH KOREA

Consent to Collection, Processing and Transfer of Personal Data. By electronically accepting this Agreement:

1. You agree to the collection, use, processing and transfer of Data as described in Section 11 of the Agreement; and

2. You agree to the processing of your unique identifying information (resident registration number) as described in Section 11 of the Agreement.

SPAIN

Acknowledgement of Discretionary Nature of the Plan; No Vested Rights. This provision supplements the terms of the Agreement.

In accepting the Stock Option grant, you acknowledge that you consent to participation in the Plan and have received a copy of the Plan.

You understand that the Company has unilaterally, gratuitously and in its sole discretion granted Stock Options under the Plan to individuals who may be employees of the Company or its Affiliates throughout the world. The decision is a limited decision that is entered into upon the express assumption and condition that any grant will not economically or otherwise bind the Company or any of its Affiliates on an ongoing basis. Consequently, you understand that the Stock Option is granted on the assumption and condition that the Stock Option and the shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option shall not become a part of any employment contract (either with the Company or any of its Affiliates) and shall not be considered a mandatory benefit, salary for any purposes (including severance compensation) or any other right whatsoever. In addition, you understand that this grant would not be made to you but for the assumptions and conditions referenced above; thus, you acknowledge and freely accept that should any or all of the assumptions be mistaken or should any of the conditions not be met for any reason, the Stock Option grant shall be null and void.

You understand and agree that, as a condition of the Stock Option grant, your termination of employment for any reason (including the reasons listed below) will automatically result in the loss of the Stock Option to the extent the Stock Option has not vested as of date you cease active employment. In particular, you understand and agree that any unvested Stock Option as of the date

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you cease active employment and any vested portion of the Stock Option not exercised within the post-termination exercise period set out in the Agreement will be forfeited without entitlement to the underlying shares of Stock or to any amount of indemnification in the event of the termination of employment by reason of, but not limited to, resignation or retirement prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date, disciplinary dismissal adjudged to be with cause, disciplinary dismissal adjudged or recognized to be without cause, individual or collective dismissal on objective grounds, whether adjudged or recognized to be with or without cause, material modification of the terms of employment under Article 41 of the Workers’ Statute, relocation under Article 40 of the Workers’ Statute, Article 50 of the Workers’ Statute, unilateral withdrawal by the Employer and under Article 10.3 of the Royal Decree 1382/1985. You acknowledge that you have read and specifically accept the conditions referred to in the Agreement regarding the impact of a termination of employment on your Stock Option.

BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THIS ADDENDUM.

SWEDEN

No country-specific provisions.

SWITZERLAND

Securities Law Information. The offer of the Stock Option is considered a private offering in Switzerland and is therefore not subject to registration in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other materials relating to the Stock Option constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this document nor any other materials relating to the Stock Option may be publicly distributed nor otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

TAIWAN

Securities Law Information. This Award and the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Plan are available only for Employees. The Award is not a public offer of securities by a Taiwanese company.

THAILAND

Mandatory Cashless Sell-All Exercise. As permitted under Section 3 of the Agreement and unless and until the Committee determines otherwise, the method of exercise of the Stock Option shall be limited to mandatory cashless, sell-all exercise.

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TURKEY

Securities Law Information. Under Turkish law, you are not permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan in Turkey. The shares of Stock are currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange, which is located outside Turkey and the shares of Stock may be sold through this exchange.

UNITED KINGDOM

1.     Tax and Social Insurance Contribution Withholding. The following provision shall replace Section 9 of the Agreement:

Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax and primary Class 1 National Insurance contributions, payroll tax or other tax-related withholding attributable to or payable in connection with or pursuant to the grant or exercise of any Stock Option and the acquisition of shares of Stock, or the release or assignment of any Stock Option for consideration, or the receipt of any other benefit in connection with the Stock Option (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility. Furthermore, the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Stock Option, including the grant or exercise of the Stock Option and the acquisition of shares of Stock, the subsequent sale of any shares of Stock acquired upon exercise and the receipt of any dividends; and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Stock Option to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

As a condition of the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Stock Option, the Company and/or the Employer shall be entitled to withhold and you agree to pay, or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy, all obligations of the Company and/or the Employer to account to HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) for any Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from any wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local law, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer, at its discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items legally payable by you by one or a combination of the following: (a) withholding a sufficient number of whole shares of Stock otherwise deliverable; (b) arranging for the sale of a sufficient number of whole shares of Stock otherwise deliverable to you (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization); or (c) withholding from the proceeds of the sale of shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding a whole number of shares of Stock as described herein, you are deemed to have been issued the full number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option, notwithstanding that a number of the shares of Stock are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items due as a result of any aspect of the Stock Option.

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If, by the date on which the event giving rise to the Tax-Related Items occurs (the “Chargeable Event”), you have relocated to another country, you acknowledge that the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one country.

You also agree that the Company and the Employer may determine the amount of Tax-Related Items to be withheld and accounted for by reference to the maximum applicable rates, without prejudice to any right which you may have to recover any overpayment from the relevant tax authorities. You shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to account to HMRC with respect to the Chargeable Event that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. If payment or withholding is not made within 90 days after the end of the U.K. tax year in which the Chargeable Event occurs, (the “Due Date”), you agree that the amount of any uncollected Tax-Related Items shall (assuming you are not a director or executive officer of the Company (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), constitute a loan owed by you to the Employer, effective on the Due Date. You agree that the loan will bear interest at the then-current HMRC Official Rate and it will be immediately due and repayable, and the Company and/or the Employer may recover it at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to above. If any of the foregoing methods of collection are not allowed under applicable laws or if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this section, the Company may refuse to deliver the shares of Stock acquired under the Plan.

2.    Exclusion of Claim. You acknowledge and agree that you will have no entitlement to compensation or damages insofar as such entitlement arises or may arise from your ceasing to have rights under or to be entitled to the Award, whether or not as a result of your termination of employment (whether the termination is in breach of contract or otherwise), or from the loss or diminution in value of the Award. Upon the grant of your Award, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any such entitlement.

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EX-10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Global Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement

[DATE]

[FIRST_NAME] [LAST_NAME]

(“Participant”)

EMPLOYEE COPY

PLEASE RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS

Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Global Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement

This Global Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), is between you and Boston Scientific Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) in connection with the Award of Deferred Stock Units by the Committee under the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Plan. The applicable terms and conditions of the Plan are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.

1.    Grant of Units. The Committee hereby grants you that number of Deferred Stock Units as set forth in this Agreement (the “Units”). Each Unit represents the Company’s commitment to issue to you one share of Stock subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. This Award is granted pursuant to and is subject to the provisions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable Addendum.

2.    Vesting. The Units shall vest and shares of Stock will be issued to you according to the vesting schedule set forth in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 below, the Units will vest, subject to the conditions described in Section 7 below, in approximately equal annual installments on each of the five (5) consecutive anniversaries of the Grant Date, beginning on the first anniversary of the Grant Date. Shares of Stock for Units that vest in accordance with this Section 2 will be delivered to you within fifteen (15) days after the applicable vesting date but in no event later than the last day of the calendar year that includes the applicable vesting date. No shares of Stock shall otherwise be issued to you prior to the date on which the Units vest. Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, the Company may, in its sole discretion, settle the Units in the form of a cash payment to the extent that settlement in shares of Stock is prohibited under local law or would require the Company and/or any of its Affiliates to obtain the approval of or complete any legal or regulatory filing with any governmental and/or regulatory body in your country of residence (or country of employment, if different). Alternatively, the Company may, in its sole discretion, settle the Units in the form of shares of Stock but require you to sell such Stock immediately or within a specified time following your termination of employment (in which case, this Agreement shall give the Company the authority to issue sales instructions on your behalf).

3.    Participant’s Rights in Stock. The shares of Stock, if and when issued to you pursuant to this Agreement, shall be registered in your name and evidenced in a manner as determined by the Company, in its sole discretion. Under no circumstance will you be deemed, by virtue of the granting of the Units, to be a holder of any shares of Stock underlying the Units or be entitled to the rights or privileges of a holder of such shares of Stock (including the right to receive dividends or vote the shares of Stock), unless and until the Units have vested with respect to such shares of Stock and the shares of Stock have been issued to you.

4.    Death. In the event you terminate employment by reason of death, any Units that have not vested prior to the date of your death shall immediately vest and shares of

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Stock shall be issued in accordance with your will or the laws of descent and distribution. Shares of Stock for Units which vest under this Section 4 will be delivered within sixty (60) days after your employment termination date.

5.    Retirement. If you terminate employment by reason of your Retirement, any Units that have not vested prior to the date of your Retirement shall immediately vest and shares of Stock shall be issued to you, provided you have remained in continuous service with the Company or an Affiliate through the first anniversary of the Grant Date. In the event that your Retirement occurs prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date, all unvested Units shall immediately terminate and be forfeited in their entirety. Shares of Stock for Units which vest under this Section 5 will be delivered within thirty (30) days after your employment termination date.

In this regard, if you are a local national of and employed in a country that is a member of the European Union, the grant of the Units and the terms and conditions governing the Units are intended to comply with the age discrimination provisions of the EU Equal Treatment Framework Directive, as implemented into local law (the “Age Discrimination Rules”). To the extent that a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of the Units is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under the Age Discrimination Rules, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to revise or strike such provision to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted under local law.

6.     Disability. If you terminate employment by reason of your Disability, any Units that have not vested prior to the date of your termination by reason of Disability shall immediately vest and shares of Stock shall be issued to you. Shares of Stock for Units which vest under this Section 6 will be delivered within thirty (30) days after your employment termination date.

7.    Other Termination of Employment; Certain Vesting Conditions. If your employment terminates for any reason other than death, Retirement or Disability, any Units that have not vested prior to the date of your termination shall terminate and be forfeited on the effective date of such termination, except if your employment terminates for Cause, in which case, all unvested Units shall be forfeited upon notice to you of your termination for Cause. The issuance of shares of Stock is conditioned on your continuous employment with the Company or an Affiliate through and on the applicable anniversary of the Grant Date as set forth in Section 2 above. For purposes of the vesting conditions set forth in this Agreement, the effective date of your termination shall be deemed to be the last day of your active service with the Company or an Affiliate (if applicable). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Agreement, and for purposes of clarity, the date of your termination of employment shall not be extended by any statutory or common law notice of termination period.

8.    Change in Control of the Company. In the event you are employed by the Company or an Affiliate at the time of a Change in Control, any Units that have not vested prior to the Change in Control shall immediately vest and shares of Stock will be issued to

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you immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, that if you have entered into a Change in Control agreement with the Company, the Units will vest according to the provisions of the Change in Control agreement. In the event you have terminated employment with the Company or an Affiliate prior to a Change in Control as a result of death, Disability or Retirement occurring on or after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and Change in Control occurs following your termination of employment, shares of Stock for any Units that have vested under Section 4, 5 or 6 but which have not yet been issued to you will be issued to you immediately prior to the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless otherwise specifically provided in any agreement of the Company or any of its Affiliates with you pertaining to the effect of a Change of Control on outstanding Awards which is in effect as of the Change of Control, if this Award is subject to and not exempt from the application of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and provides for settlement or payment upon a Change in Control, the definition of Change in Control shall be limited to events which qualify as a change in the ownership of a corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v), or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii); provided, however, that this requirement shall not cause an event that would not otherwise be considered a Change in Control under the definition of a Change in Control under the Plan to be considered a Change in Control.

9.    Recoupment Policy.

(a)    Current Recoupment Policy. Pursuant to the Company’s recoupment policy and to the extent permitted by governing law, the Board, in its discretion, may seek Recovery of the Award granted to you if you are a Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer and you, in the judgment of the Board, commit misconduct or a gross dereliction of duty that results in a material violation of Company policy and causes significant harm to the Company while serving in your capacity as Executive Officer.

(i)    Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Section 9, shall have the meaning set forth below:

(1)    “Current Executive Officer” means any individual currently designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(2)    “Executive Officer” means any Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer.

(3)    “Former Executive Officer” means any individual previously (but not currently) designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(4)    “Recovery” means the forfeiture or cancellation of unvested Units.

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(b)    Provisions Required by Law. If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to apply a “clawback” or alternate recoupment provision to outstanding Awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision also shall apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Grant Date and the Company shall notify you of such additional provision.

10.    Consideration for Stock. The shares of Stock subject to the Units are intended to be issued for no cash consideration.

11.    Issuance of Stock. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Stock until (a) all federal, state and local laws and regulations, as the Company may deem applicable, have been complied with; (b) the shares have been listed or authorized for listing upon official notice to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or have otherwise been accorded trading privileges; and (c) all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of the shares have been approved by the Company’s legal department.

12.    Transferability; Restrictions on Shares; Legend on Certificate. Until the vesting conditions of this Award have been satisfied and shares of Stock have been issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any applicable Addendum or by action of the Committee, the Units awarded under this Agreement are not transferable and you shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, gift, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber the Units awarded under this Agreement. Transfers of shares of Stock by you are subject to the Company’s Stock Trading Policy and applicable securities laws. Shares of Stock issued to you in certificate form or to your book entry account upon satisfaction of the vesting and other conditions of this Award may be restricted from transfer or sale by the Company and evidenced by stop-transfer instructions upon your book entry account or restricted legend(s) affixed to certificates in the form as the Company or its counsel may require with respect to any applicable restrictions on sale or transfer.

13.    Satisfaction of Tax Obligations. Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax (including U.S. federal, state and local taxes and/or non-U.S. taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Units or the shares of Stock issued upon vesting of the Units, and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the Award (or any aspect of the Units) to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

Upon the issuance of shares of Stock or the satisfaction of any vesting condition with respect to the shares of Stock to be issued hereunder, if your country of residence (and/or the country of employment, if different) requires withholding of Tax-Related Items, the Company may hold back from the total number of shares of Stock to be delivered to you,

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and shall cause to be transferred to the Company, whole shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the shares of Stock, or to the extent it would not result in adverse accounting treatment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, hold back shares of Stock based on a rate of up to the maximum applicable withholding rate. The cash equivalent of the shares of Stock withheld will be used to settle the obligation to withhold the Tax-Related Items. By accepting the grant of Units, you expressly consent to the withholding of shares of Stock and/or cash as provided for hereunder.

Alternatively, you hereby authorize the Company (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization) to immediately sell a sufficient whole number of shares of Stock acquired upon vesting resulting in sale proceeds sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. You agree to sign any agreements, forms and/or consents that reasonably may be requested by the Company (or the Company’s designated brokerage firm) to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock (including, without limitation, as to the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Company to satisfy the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld). Further, the Company or the Employer may, in its discretion, withhold any amount necessary to pay the Tax-Related Items from your salary or any other amounts payable to you, with no withholding of shares of Stock or sale of shares of Stock, or may require you to submit a cash payment equivalent to the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Units.     

All other Tax-Related Items related to the grant of Units and any shares of Stock delivered in settlement thereof are your sole responsibility. In no event shall whole shares be withheld by or delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any Tax-Related Items in excess of the maximum statutory tax withholding required by law. You agree to indemnify the Company and its Affiliates against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses that the Company and its Affiliates may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay with respect to the payment or withholding of any Tax-Related Items.

The Units are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Code Section 409A. The Plan and this Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent. If the Company determines that the Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and that it has failed to comply with the requirements of that Section, the Company may, in its sole discretion, and without your consent, amend this Agreement to cause it to comply with Code Section 409A or be exempt from Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any settlement or payment of this Award occurs as a result of your termination of employment and the Company determines that you are a “specified employee” (as that term is defined under Code Section 409A) subject to Code Section 409A at the time your termination of employment, and provided further that such payment or settlement does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, then no such settlement or payment shall be paid to you until the date that is the earlier to occur of: (i) your death, or (ii) six (6) months and one (1) day following your termination of employment. Any portion of this Award delayed as a result of the preceding sentence, which is (i) in whole or in part,

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settled in cash and (ii) based on the value of Stock, shall be based on the value of the Stock at the time the Award would have otherwise been settled or paid without application of the delay described in the preceding sentence. If this Award does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, the terms “Retirement”, “terminate,” “termination,” “termination of employment,” and variations thereof as used in this agreement, are intended to mean a termination of employment that constitutes a “separation from service” as such term is defined under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any action or inaction by the Administrator, you are exclusively responsible for any tax consequences under Code Section 409A resulting from this Award.

14.    Repatriation and Legal/Tax Compliance Requirements. If you are resident or employed outside of the United States, you agree, as a condition of the grant of Units, to repatriate all payments attributable to the shares of Stock and/or cash acquired under the Plan (including, but not limited to, dividends and any proceeds derived from the sale of the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Units) in accordance with local foreign exchange rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). In addition, you agree to take any and all actions, and consent to any and all actions taken by the Company and the Employer, as may be required to allow the Company and the Employer to comply with local laws, rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). Finally, you agree to take any and all actions as may be required to comply with your personal legal and tax obligations under local laws, rules and regulations in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different).

15.    Data Privacy. You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data as described in this Agreement and any other Unit grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan.

You understand that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about you, including (but not limited to) your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number (e.g., resident registration number), salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, and details of all Units awarded to you or any other entitlements to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor (“Data”) for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan.

You understand that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including but not limited to E*TRADE Securities LLC (“E*TRADE”) or any successor or any other third party that the Company or E*TRADE (or its successor) may engage to assist with the administration of the Plan from time to time. You understand the recipients of the Data may be located in your country, in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that you may request a list with the names and addresses of

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any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative.

You authorize the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing the your participation in the Plan. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage your participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom you may elect to deposit any shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units. You understand that you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later revoke your consent, your employment status or service with the Employer will not be adversely affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company would not be able to grant you Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative.

16.    Nature of Grant. By participating in the Plan, you acknowledge, understand and agree that:

(a)the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Administrator at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b)the grant of the Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants or benefits in lieu of Units, even if Units have been granted in the past;

(c)all decisions with respect to future grants of Units, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(d)the Unit grant and your participation in the Plan shall not create a right to employment or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company, the Employer or Affiliate and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company, the Employer or any Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate your employment or service relationship (if any);

(e)you are voluntarily participating in the Plan;

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(f)the Units are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(g)the Units, the underlying Shares, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(h)the future value of the underlying shares of Stock is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(i)no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Units resulting from the termination of your employment or other service relationship (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Units to which you are otherwise not entitled, you irrevocably agree never to institute any such claim against the Company, any of its Affiliates or the Employer, waive your ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and release the Company, its Affiliates and the Employer from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agree to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim;

(j)unless otherwise agreed with the Company in writing, the Units, the underlying shares of Stock and the income and value of same are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of an Affiliate;

(k)for purposes of the Units, your employment or other service relationship will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer actively providing services to the Company or one of its Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or determined by the Company, your right to vest in the Units under this Agreement, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., your period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any); the Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when you are no longer actively providing services for purposes of the Unit grant (including whether you may still be considered to be providing services while on an approved leave of absence); and

(l)the following provisions apply only if you are providing services outside the United States: (A) the Units, the underlying shares of Stock, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and (B) neither the Company, the Employer nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between your local currency and the U.S. dollar that may affect the value

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of the Units or of any amount due to you pursuant to the settlement of the Units or the subsequent sale of any shares of Stock acquired upon settlement.

17.    Not a Public Offering. The grant of the Units under the Plan is not intended to be a public offering of securities in your country of residence (and country of employment, if different). The Company has not submitted any registration statement, prospectus or other filings to the local securities authorities unless otherwise required under local law, and the grant of the Units is not subject to the supervision of the local securities authorities.

18.    No Advice Regarding Grant. No Employee of the Company is permitted to advise you regarding your participation in the Plan or your acquisition or sale of the shares of Stock subject to the Units. Investment in shares of Stock involves a degree of risk. Before deciding whether to participate in the Plan, you should carefully consider all risk factors relevant to the acquisition of shares of Stock under the Plan, and you should carefully review all of the materials related to the Units and the Plan. You are hereby advised to consult with your own personal tax, legal and financial advisors before taking any action related to the Plan.

19.    Investment Intent. You acknowledge that the acquisition of the shares of Stock to be issued hereunder is for investment purposes without a view to distribution thereof.

20.    Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. You acknowledge that your country of residence may have insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect your ability to acquire or sell shares of Stock under the Plan during such times that you are considered to have “inside information” (as defined in the laws in your country). These laws may be the same or different from any Company insider trading policy. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to be informed of and comply with such regulations, and that you are advised to speak to your personal advisor on this matter.

21.    Award Subject to the Plan. The Award to be made pursuant to this Agreement is made subject to the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan will govern and prevail. However, no amendment of the Plan after the date hereof may adversely alter or impair the issuance of the shares of Stock to be made pursuant to this Agreement. You hereby accept the Units subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement and agree that all decisions under, and interpretations of, the Plan and this Agreement by the Administrator, Committee or the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive upon you and your heirs and legal representatives.

22.    Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Company may, in its sole discretion, deliver any documents related to the Units and participation in the Plan or future grants of Units that may be granted under the Plan, by electronic means unless otherwise prohibited by local law. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and

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agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party-designated by the Company.

23.    Language. If you are resident outside of the United States, you hereby acknowledge and agree that it is your express intent that this Agreement and any applicable Addendum, the Plan and all other documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant to the Units, be drawn up in English. If you have received this Agreement and any applicable Addendum, the Plan or any other documents related to the Units translated into a language other than English, and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.

24.    Addendum. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Units shall be subject to any special terms and conditions for your country of residence (and country of employment, if different) as are forth in the applicable addendum to the Agreement (the “Addendum”). Further, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in the Addenda to these Agreements, the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Any applicable Addendum shall constitute part of this Agreement.

25.    Additional Requirements. The Administrator reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Units, any shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Units and your participation in the Plan to the extent the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that such other requirements are necessary or advisable in order to comply with local laws or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Such requirements may include (but are not limited to) requiring you to sign any agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

26.    Legal Notices. Any legal notice necessary under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care of its General Counsel at the principle executive offices of the Company and to you at the address appearing in the personnel records of the Company for you or to either party at such other address as either party may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the addressee.

27.    Conflicts. The Units granted pursuant to this Agreement and any applicable Addendum is subject to the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement contains terms and provisions established by the Committee specifically for the grant described herein. Unless the Committee has exercised its authority under the Plan to establish specific terms of an Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, the Committee retains the right to alter or modify the Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement as the Committee may determine are in the best interests of the Company.

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28.    Governing Law and Venue The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof) and applicable federal laws. For purposes of litigating any dispute under the Agreement, including the Addendum, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Boston, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts and no other courts where the grant of the Units is made and/or to be performed.

29.    Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

30.    Severability. You agree that the provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

31.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be the one and the same instrument.

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SIGNATURE PAGE

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant have executed and delivered this Agreement as a sealed instrument as of the date and year first above written.

Number of Deferred Stock Units: [TOTAL SHARES GRANTED]

Vesting Schedule

20%	[ ]
20%	[ ]
20%	[ ]
20%	[ ]
20%	[ ]

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION    

Michael F. Mahoney

President and Chief Executive Officer

PARTICIPANT

By: SIGNED BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THE AWARD, YOU AGREE THAT (i) SUCH ACCEPTANCE CONSTITUTES YOUR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT; (ii) YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM; (iii) YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM IN THEIR ENTIRETY, HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL PRIOR TO ACCEPTING THE AWARD AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE

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ADDENDUM; (iv) YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OR ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO A COPY OF THE U.S. PROSPECTUS FOR THE PLAN AND THE TAX SUPPLEMENT TO THE U.S. PROSPECTUS FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IF APPLICABLE; AND (v) YOU HEREBY AGREE TO ACCEPT AS BINDING, CONCLUSIVE AND FINAL ALL DECISIONS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR UPON ANY QUESTIONS ARISING UNDER THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM.

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

ADDENDUM TO THE AWARD AGREEMENT

RELATING TO DEFERRED STOCK UNITS GRANTED

PURSUANT TO THE 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

In addition to the terms of the Plan and the Agreement, the Units are subject to the following additional terms and conditions. All defined terms contained in this Addendum shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan and the Agreement. Pursuant to Section 25 of the Agreement, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in an Addenda, the additional terms and conditions for such country (if any) will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

ARGENTINA

Type of Offering. Neither the grant of the Units, nor the issuance of shares of Stock subject to the grant, constitutes a public offering. The offering of the Plan is a private placement and is not subject to the supervision of any Argentine governmental authority.

AUSTRALIA

Breach of Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Plan, you will not be entitled to, and shall not claim any benefit (including without limitation a legal right) under the Plan if the provision of such benefit would give rise to a breach of Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), any other provision of that Act, or any other applicable statute, rule or regulation which limits or restricts the giving of such benefits.

AUSTRIA

No country-specific provisions.

BELGIUM

No country-specific provisions.

BRAZIL

Compliance with Law. By accepting the Units, you acknowledge that you agree to comply with applicable Brazilian laws and to pay any and all applicable taxes associated with the vesting of the Units, the receipt of any dividends, and the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan.

Labor Law Policy and Acknowledgement. This provision supplements Section 16 of the Agreement:

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By accepting the Units, you agree that (i) the benefits provided under the Agreement and the Plan are the result of commercial transactions unrelated to your employment; (ii) the Agreement and the Plan are not a part of the terms and conditions of your employment; and (iii) the income from the Units, if any, is not part of your remuneration from employment.

CANADA

1.    Settlement in Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Plan, all Units shall be settled only in shares of Stock (and shall not be settled in cash).

2.    Personal Data. This provision supplements Section 15 of the Agreement:

You hereby authorize the Company and the Company’s representatives to discuss with and obtain all relevant information from all personnel, professional or not, involved in the administration and operation of the Plan. You further authorize the Company, any Affiliate and the Administrator to disclose and discuss the Plan with their advisors. You further authorize the Company and any Affiliate to record such information and to keep such information in your employee file.

3.    Securities Law Information. You are permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan through the designated broker appointed under the Plan, if any, provided that the sale of shares of Stock takes place outside Canada through the facilities of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed (i.e., the New York Stock Exchange).

4.    Language Consent. The following provision will apply if you are a resident of Quebec:

The parties acknowledge that it is their express wish that the present Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English.

Les parties reconnaissent avoir exigé la rédaction en anglais de la présente convention, ainsi que de tous documents, avis et procédures judiciaires, exécutés, donnés ou intentés en vertu de, ou liés directement ou indirectement à, la présente convention.

CHINA

The following provisions govern your participation in the Plan if you are a national of the People’s Republic of China (“China”) resident in mainland China, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion:

1.    Shares of Stock Must Be Held with Designated Broker. All shares of Stock issued upon settlement of your Units will be deposited into a personal brokerage account established with the Company’s designated broker, E*TRADE (or any successor broker designated by the Company), on your behalf. You understand that you may sell the shares of Stock at any

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time after they are deposited in such account, however, you may not transfer the shares of Stock out of the brokerage account.

2.    Mandatory Sale of Shares Following Termination of Employment. You are required to sell all shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units no later than 90 days following your termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates (or such earlier date as may be required by the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”)), in which case, this Addendum shall give the Company the authority to issue sales instructions on your behalf). If any shares remain outstanding on the 90th day following your employment termination date (or such earlier date as may be required by SAFE), you hereby direct, instruct and authorize the Company to issue sale instructions on your behalf.

You agree to sign any additional agreements, forms and/or consents that reasonably may be requested by the Company (or the Company’s designated brokerage firm) to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock (including, without limitation, as to the transfer of the sale proceeds and other exchange control matters noted below) and shall otherwise cooperate with the Company with respect to such matters. You acknowledge that neither the Company nor the designated brokerage firm is under any obligation to arrange for such sale of shares of Stock at any particular price (it being understood that the sale will occur in the market) and that broker’s fees and similar expenses may be incurred in any such sale. In any event, when the shares of Stock are sold, the sale proceeds, less any tax withholding, any broker’s fees or commissions, and any similar expenses of the sale will be remitted to you in accordance with applicable exchange control laws and regulations.

3.    Exchange Control Restrictions. You understand and agree that, pursuant to local exchange control requirements, you will be required immediately to repatriate to China the proceeds from the sale of any shares of Stock acquired under the Plan. You further understand that such repatriation of proceeds may be effected through a special bank account established by the Company or its Affiliate, and you hereby consent and agree that proceeds from the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan may be transferred to such account by the Company on your behalf prior to being delivered to you and that no interest shall be paid with respect to funds held in such account. The proceeds may be paid to you in U.S. dollars or local currency at the Company’s discretion. If the proceeds are paid to you in U.S. dollars, you understand that a U.S. dollar bank account in China must be established and maintained so that the proceeds may be deposited into such account. If the proceeds are paid to you in local currency, you acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to secure any particular exchange conversion rate and that the Company may face delays in converting the proceeds to local currency due to exchange control restrictions. You agree to bear any currency fluctuation risk between the time the shares of Stock are sold and the net proceeds are converted into local currency and distributed to you. You further agree to comply with any other requirements that may be imposed by the Company in the future in order to facilitate compliance with exchange control requirements in China.

4.    Administration. The Company shall not be liable for any costs, fees, lost interest or dividends or other losses you may incur or suffer resulting from the enforcement of the terms of this Addendum or otherwise from the Company’s operation and enforcement of the Plan,

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the Agreement and the Award in accordance with Chinese law including, without limitation, any applicable SAFE rules, regulations and requirements.

The above requirements will not apply to non-Chinese nationals, unless otherwise required by the Company or by SAFE.

BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THIS ADDENDUM.

COLOMBIA

Nature of Grant. This provision supplements Section 16 of the Agreement:

You acknowledge that, pursuant to Article 128 of the Colombian Labor Code, the Plan and related benefits do not constitute a component of your “salary” for any legal purpose. Therefore, they will not be included and/or considered for purposes of calculating any and all labor benefits, such as legal/fringe benefits, vacations, indemnities, payroll taxes, social insurance contributions and/or any other labor-related amount which may be payable.

COSTA RICA

No country-specific provisions.

CZECH REPUBLIC

No country-specific provisions.

DENMARK

Treatment of Units upon Termination of Service. Notwithstanding any provisions in the Agreement to the contrary, if you are determined to be an “Employee” as defined in section 2 of the Danish Act on the Use of Rights to Purchase or Subscribe for Shares etc. in Employment Relationships (the “Stock Option Act”), the treatment of the Units upon your termination of employment shall be governed by Section 4 and 5 of the Stock Option Act. However, if the provisions in the Agreement or the Plan governing the treatment of the Units upon a termination are more favorable, the provisions of the Agreement or the Plan will govern. You acknowledges having received an “Employer Information Statement” in Danish.

FINLAND

No country-specific provisions.

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FRANCE

1.    Nature of the Award. The Units are not granted under the French specific regime provided by Articles L225-197-1 and seq. of the French commercial code.

2.    Use of English Language. You acknowledge and agree that it is your express wish that this Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English. Vous reconnaissez et consentez que c’est votre souhait exprès qui cet accord, de meme que tous documents, toutes notifications et tous procédés légaux est entré dans, donné ou instituté conformément ci-annexé ou relatant directement ou indirectement ci-annexé, est formulé dans l’anglais.

GERMANY

No country-specific provisions.

GREECE

No country-specific provisions.

HONG KONG

1.    Settlement in Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Addendum or the Plan, the Units shall be settled only in shares of Stock (and may not be settled in cash).

2.    Lapse of Restrictions. If, for any reason, shares of Stock are issued to you within six months of the Grant Date, you agree that you will not sell or otherwise dispose of any such shares of Stock prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date.

3.    IMPORTANT NOTICE/WARNING. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of the documents, you should obtain independent professional advice. The Units and shares of Stock issued at vesting do not constitute a public offering of securities under Hong Kong law and are available only to employees of the Company or its Affiliates. The Agreement, the Plan and other incidental communication materials have not been prepared in accordance with and are not intended to constitute a “prospectus” for a public offering of securities under the applicable securities legislation in Hong Kong. The Units are intended only for the personal use of each eligible employee of the Employer, the Company or any Affiliate and may not be distributed to any other person.

4.    Wages. The Units and shares of Stock subject to the Units do not form part of your wages for the purposes of calculating any statutory or contractual payments under Hong Kong law.

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5.    Nature of the Program. The Company specifically intends that the Plan will not be treated as an occupational retirement scheme for purposes of the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (“ORSO”). To the extent any court, tribunal or legal/regulatory body in Hong Kong determines that the Plan constitutes an occupational retirement scheme for the purposes of ORSO, the grant of the Units shall be null and void.

INDIA

No country-specific provisions.

INDONESIA

No country-specific provisions.

IRELAND

No country-specific provisions.

ISRAEL

1.    Immediate Sale Restriction. Pursuant to Section 2 of the Agreement, when the Units vest, you understand and agree that all shares of Stock issued upon vesting immediately must be sold. You acknowledge and agree that the Company is authorized to issue sales instructions to the Company’s designated broker on your behalf pursuant to this authorization, and you expressly authorize the broker to complete the sale. You also agree to sign any agreements, forms and/or consents that may be reasonably requested by the Company or the Company’s designated broker to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock and to cooperate with the Company and the Company’s designated broker with respect to such matters. When the shares of Stock are sold, a portion of the resulting sale proceeds will be used to cover any Tax-Related Items required to be withheld and any brokerage fees and expenses associated with the sale. The remaining proceeds will be paid to you as soon as practicable.

You acknowledge that neither the Company nor the Company’s designated broker is under any obligation to arrange for the sale of the shares of Stock at any particular price (it being understood that the sale will occur in the open market) and that brokerage fees and similar expenses may be incurred in any such sale. Due to fluctuations in the Stock price and/or applicable exchange rates between the date the Units vest and (if later) the date on which the shares of Stock are sold, the amount of proceeds ultimately may be more or less than the market value of the shares of Stock on the date the Units vest. You understand and agree that the Company assumes no liability for any fluctuations in the Stock price and/or any applicable exchange rate.

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2.    Securities Law Information.  The grant of Units under the Plan does not constitute a public offering under the Securities Law, 1968.

ITALY

Plan. This provision supplements Section 16 of the Agreement:

You further acknowledge that you have read and specifically and expressly approve the following sections of the Agreement: Vesting, Other Termination of Employment, Certain Vesting Conditions, Recoupment Policy, Issuance of Stock, Satisfaction of Tax Obligations, Nature of Grant, and Choice of Law and Venue.

JAPAN

No country-specific provisions.

LEBANON

Securities Law Information. The Plan does not constitute the marketing or offering of securities in Lebanon pursuant to Law No. 161 (2011), the Capital Markets Law. Offerings under the Plan are being made only to eligible employees of the Boston Scientific Corporation.

MALAYSIA

1.    Award Conditioned upon Election to Pay Taxes Directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board. You understand and agree that your Award is conditioned upon your completing, signing and submitting a letter to your Employer, indicating your election to pay any income tax or other tax liability arising in connection with taxable income recognized under the Plan directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board. (You may contact your Employer to request a form letter for this purpose.) You understand that if you fail to file such an election letter with your Employer, your Award will be null and void.

2.    Consent to Collection, Processing and Transfer of Personal Data. This provision replaces Section 15 of the Agreement in its entirety:

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You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data, as described in this Addendum and any other grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Company and Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan. You understand that the Company and Affiliates may hold certain personal information about you, including, but not limited to, your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, details of all Units or any other entitlement to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor, for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Data is supplied by the Company and also by you through information collected in connection with the Agreement and the Plan. You understand that Data will be transferred to the current stock plan service providers or a stock plan service provider as may be selected by the Company in the future, which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. You understand that the recipients of the Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that if you reside outside the United States, you may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative at 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com You authorize the Company, the stock plan service provider and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering Anda dengan ini secara eksplisit dan tanpa sebarang keraguan mengizinkan pengumpulan, penggunaan dan pemindahan, dalam bentuk elektronik atau lain-lain, data peribadi anda seperti yang diterangkan dalam Lampiran ini dan apa-apa bahan pemberian unit saham terhad yang lain oleh dan di antara, seperti yang berkenaan, Syarikat dan Ahli Gabungan untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan anda di dalam Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa Syarikat Ahli Gabungan mungkin memegang maklumat peribadi tertentu tentang anda, termasuk, tetapi tidak terhad kepada, nama anda, alamat rumah dan nombor telefon, tarikh lahir, nombor insurans sosial atau nombor pengenalan lain, gaji, kewarganegaraan, jawatan, apa-apa syer saham Biasa atau jawatan pengarah yang dipegang dalam Syarikat, butir-butir semua unit saham terhad, atau apa-apa hak lain atas syer Biasa saham yang dianugerahkan, dibatalkan, dilaksanakan, terletak hak, tidak diletak hak ataupun yang belum dijelaskan bagi faedahanda, untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan Pelan tersebut (“Data”). Data tersebut dibekalkan oleh Syarikat dan juga oleh anda berkenaan dengan Perjanjian dan Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa Data ini akan dipindahkan kepada pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham semasa atau pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham yang mungkin dipilih oleh Syarikat pada masa depan, yang membantu Syarikat dengan pelaksanaan, pentadbiran dan pengurusan Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa penerima-penerima Data mungkin berada di Amerika Syarikat atau mana-mana tempat lain, dan bahawa negara penerima-penerima (contohnya, Amerika Syarikat) mungkin mempunyai undang-undang privasi data dan perlindungan yang berbeza daripada negara anda. Anda memahami bahawa sekiranya anda menetap di luar

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and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan, including any transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker, escrow agent or other third party with whom the shares of Stock received upon vesting of the Unit may be deposited. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage your participation in the Plan. You understand that if you reside outside the United States, you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data, limit the processing of Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consent herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later seek to revoke your consent, your employment status or service and career with the Company will not be adversely affected; the only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company may not be able to grant you Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative. Please take note that by electronically accepting this Agreement, you have confirmed that you explicitly, voluntarily and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer of your personal data in accordance with the terms in this notification. However, if for any reason you do not consent Amerika Syarikat, anda boleh meminta satu senarai yang mengandungi nama-nama dan alamat-alamat penerima-penerima Data yang berpotensi dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan anda di 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com. Anda memberi kuasa kepada Syarikat, pembekal perkhidmatan pelan saham dan mana-mana penerima-penerima kemungkinan lain yang mungkin akan membantu Syarikat (pada masa sekarang atau pada masa depan) dengan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan Pelan untuk menerima, memiliki, menggunakan, mengekalkan dan memindahkan Data, dalam bentuk elektronik atau lain-lain, bagi tujuan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan anda di dalam Pelan, termasuk segala pemindahan Data tersebut sebagaimana yang dikehendaki kepada broker, egen eskrow atau pihak ketiga dengan siapa syer Biasa saham diterima semasa peletakhakan saham terhad unit mungkin didepositkan. Anda memahami bahawa Data hanya akan disimpan selagi ia adalah diperlukan untuk melaksanakan, mentadbir, dan menguruskan penyertaan anda dalam Pelan. Anda memahami bahawa sekiranya anda menetap di luar Amerika Syarikat, anda boleh, pada bila-bila masa, melihat Data, meminta maklumat tambahan mengenai penyimpanan dan pemprosesan Data, meminta bahawa pindaan-pindaan dilaksanakan ke atas Data, mengehadkan pemprosean Data atau menolak atau menarik balik persetujuan dalam ini, dalam mana-mana kes, tanpa kos, dengan menghubungi secara bertulis wakil sumber manusia tempatan. Selanjutnya, anda memahami bahawa anda memberikan persetujuan di sini secara sukarela semata-mata. Sekiranya anda tidak bersetuju, atau sekiranya anda kemudian membatalkan persetujuan anda, status pekerjaan atau perkhidmatan dan kerjaya anda dengan Syarikat tidak akan terjejas; satu-satunya akibat buruk sekiranya anda

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to the processing of your personal data, you have the right to reject such consent by contacting your local human resources representative at 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com tidak bersetuju atau menarik balik persetujuan andaadalah bahawa Syarikat tidak akan dapat memberikan unit saham terhad anda atau anugerah ekuiti lain atau mentadbir atau mengekalkan anugerah-anugerah tersebut. Oleh itu, anda memahami bahawa keengganan atau penarikan balik persetujuan anda boleh menjejaskan keupayaan anda untuk mengambil bahagian dalam Pelan. Untuk maklumat lebih lanjut mengenai akibat-akibat keengganan anda untuk memberikan keizinan atau penarikan balik keizinan, anda memahami bahawa anda boleh menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan. Sila ambil perhatian bahawa dengan menerima Perjanjian ini secara elektronik, anda mengesahkan bahawa anda secara eksplisit, sukarela, dan tanpa sebarang keraguan bersetuju dengan pengumpulan, penggunaan, dan pemindahan data peribadi anda mengikut terma-terma dalam notis ini. Walaubagaimanapun, jika atas apa-apa sebab-sebab tertentu anda tidak bersetuju dengan pemprosesan data peribadi anda, anda mempunyai hak untuk menolak persetujuan anda dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatan anda di 65.6418.8859, fax # 65.6418.8899 or Pauline.Puay@bsci.com

MEXICO

1.    Acknowledgement of the Agreement. By accepting the Units, you acknowledge that you have received a copy of the Plan and the Agreement, including this Addendum, which you have reviewed. You further acknowledge that you accept all the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement, including this Addendum. You also acknowledge that you have read and specifically and expressly approve the terms and conditions set forth in the “Nature of Grant” section of the Agreement, which clearly provide as follows:

(1) Your participation in the Plan does not constitute an acquired right;

(2) The Plan and your participation in it are offered by the Company on a wholly discretionary basis;

(3) Your participation in the Plan is voluntary; and

(4) The Company and its Affiliates are not responsible for any decrease in the value of any Shares acquired at vesting of the Units.

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Reconocimiento del Contrato. Al aceptar los Unidades, usted reconoce que ha recibido una copia del Plan y del Contrato con inclusión de este Apéndice, que le ha examinado. Usted reconoce, además, que usted acepta todas las disposiciones del Plan y del Contrato. Usted también reconoce que ha leído y, concretamente, y aprobar de forma expresa los términos y condiciones establecidos en la “Naturaleza del Otorgamiento” que claramente dispone lo siguiente:

(1) Su participación en el Plan no constituye un derecho adquirido;

(2) El Plan y su participación en el Plan se ofrecen por Boston Scientific Corporation en su totalidad sobre una base discrecional;

(3) Su participación en el Plan es voluntaria; y

(4) Boston Scientific Corporation y sus afiliadas no son responsables de ninguna disminución en el valor de las acciones adquiridas en la adquisición de los Unidades.

2.    Labor Law Acknowledgement and Policy Statement.By accepting the Units, you acknowledge that Boston Scientific Corporation, with registered offices at 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752, United States of America, is solely responsible for the administration of the Plan. You further acknowledge that your participation in the Plan, the grant of Units and any acquisition of shares of Stock under the Plan do not constitute an employment relationship between you and Boston Scientific Corporation because you are participating in the Plan on a wholly commercial basis and your sole employer is a Mexican legal entity (“Boston Scientific-Mexico”). Based on the foregoing, you expressly acknowledge that the Plan and the benefits that you may derive from participation in the Plan do not establish any rights between you and the Employer, Boston Scientific-Mexico, and do not form part of the employment conditions and/or benefits provided by Boston Scientific-Mexico, and any modification of the Plan or its termination shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of your employment.

You further understand that your participation in the Plan is the result of a unilateral and discretionary decision of Boston Scientific Corporation, therefore, Boston Scientific Corporation reserves the absolute right to amend and/or discontinue your participation in the Plan at any time, without any liability to you.

Finally, you hereby declare that you do not reserve to you any action or right to bring any claim against Boston Scientific Corporation for any compensation or damages regarding any provision of the Plan or the benefits derived under the Plan, and that you therefore grant a full and broad release to Boston Scientific Corporation, its Affiliates, branches, representation offices, shareholders, officers, agents and legal representatives, with respect to any claim that may arise.

Reconocimiento de Ausencia de Relación Laboral y Declaración de la Política. Al aceptar los Unidades, usted reconoce que Boston Scientific Corporation, con oficians registradas on 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752, Estados Unidos de América, es el único responsable de la administración del Plan. Además,

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usted acepta que su participación en el Plan, la concesión de los Unidades y cualquier adquisición de acciones en el marco del Plan no constituyen una relación laboral entre usted y Boston Scientific Corporation porque usted está participando en el Plan en su totalidad sobre una base comercial y su único empleador es una sociedad mercantil Mexicana (“Boston Scientific-Mexico”). Derivado de lo anterior, usted expresamente reconoce que el Plan y los beneficios que pueden derivarse de la participación en el Plan no establece ningún derecho entre usted y su Empleador, Boston Scientific-Mexico, y que no forman parte de las condiciones de empleo y / o prestaciones previstas por Boston Scientific-Mexico, y cualquier modificación del Plan o la terminación de su contrato no constituirá un cambio o deterioro de los términos y condiciones de su empleo.

Además, usted entiende que su participación en el Plan es causada por una decisión discrecional y unilateral de Boston Scientific Corporation, por lo que Boston Scientific Corporation se reserva el derecho absoluto a modificar y/o suspender su participación en el Plan en cualquier momento, sin responsabilidad alguna para con usted.

Finalmente, usted manifiesta que no se reserva ninguna acción o derecho que origine una demanda en contra de Boston Scientific Corporation, por cualquier compensación o daño en relación con cualquier disposición del Plan o de los beneficios derivados del mismo, y en consecuencia usted otorga un amplio y total finiquito a Boston Scientific Corporation, sus afiliadas, sucursales, oficinas de representación, sus accionistas, directores, agentes y representantes legales con respecto a cualquier demanda que pudiera surgir.

NETHERLANDS

Waiver of Termination Rights. As a condition to the grant of the Units, you hereby waive any and all rights to compensation or damages as a result of the termination of employment with the Company and the Employer for any reason whatsoever, insofar as those rights result or may result from (a) the loss or diminution in value of such rights or entitlements under the Plan, or (b) your ceasing to have rights under, or ceasing to be entitled to any awards under the Plan as a result of such termination.

NEW ZEALAND

Securities Law Notice.

Warning

This is an offer of Units which, upon vesting and settlement in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Agreement, will be converted into shares of Stock. Shares of Stock give you a stake in the ownership of Boston Scientific Corporation. You may receive a return if dividends are paid.

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If Boston Scientific Corporation runs into financial difficulties and is wound up, you will be paid only after all creditors and holders of preference shares have been paid. You may lose some or all of your investment.

New Zealand law normally requires people who offer financial products to give information to investors before they invest. This information is designed to help investors to make an informed decision. The usual rules do not apply to this offer because it is made under an employee share purchase scheme. As a result, you may not be given all the information usually required. You will also have fewer other legal protections for this investment.

Ask questions, read all documents carefully, and seek independent financial advice before committing.

Prior to the vesting and settlement of the Units, you will not have any rights of ownership (e.g., voting or dividend rights) with respect to the underlying shares of Stock.

No interest in any Units may be transferred (legally or beneficially), assigned, mortgaged, charged or encumbered.

The shares of Stock are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. This means that if you acquire shares of Stock under the Plan, you may be able to sell them on the New York Stock Exchange if there are interested buyers. You may get less than you invested. The price will depend on the demand for the shares of Stock.

You also are hereby notified that the documents listed below are available for review on sites at the web addresses listed below:

1. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent Annual Report (Form 10-K):

https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

2. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent published financial statements (Form 10-Q or 10-K) and the auditor’s report on those financial statements:

https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

3. The Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

4. Boston Scientific Corporation Deferred Stock Unit Award and 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Q&A Summary Sheet: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

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A copy of the above documents will be sent to you free of charge on written request being mailed to: Boston Scientific Corporation, Corporate Compensation, 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

NORWAY

No country-specific provisions.

PHILIPPINES

Settlement in Cash. Pursuant Section 2 of the Agreement, the Company shall settle your Units in the form of a cash payment unless, at the time of vesting, share settlement does not trigger the need for any approval from and/or filing with the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission.

POLAND

No country-specific provisions.

PORTUGAL

Language Consent.You hereby expressly declare that you have full knowledge of the English language and have read, understood and fully accepted and agreed with the terms and conditions established in the Plan and the Agreement.

Conhecimento da Lingua. Por meio do presente, eu declaro expressamente que tem pleno conhecimento da língua inglesa e que li, compreendi e livremente aceitei e concordei com os termos e condições estabelecidas no Plano e no Acordo.

PUERTO RICO

No country-specific provisions.

RUSSIA

1.    U.S. Transaction. You understand that the Units shall be valid and this Agreement shall be concluded and become effective only when the Agreement is received by the Company in the United States. Upon vesting of the Units, any shares of Stock to be issued to you shall be delivered to you through a bank or brokerage account in the United States. In no event will shares of Stock be delivered to you in Russia; instead, all shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units will be maintained on your behalf in the United States. You are not permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired at vesting directly to a Russian legal entity or resident.

2.    Repatriation Requirements. You agree to promptly repatriate proceeds resulting from the sale of shares of Stock acquired under the Plan to a foreign currency account at an authorized bank in Russia if legally required at the time shares of Stock are sold and to

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comply with all applicable local foreign exchange rules and regulations. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for any fines or penalties resulting from your failure to comply with applicable laws.

Depending on the development of local regulatory requirements, the Company reserves the right to settle the Units in cash and/or to pay any proceeds related to the Units to you through local payroll.

SINGAPORE

Private Placement. The grant of the Units is being made pursuant to the “Qualifying Person” exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289, 2006 Ed.) (“SFA”). The Plan has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and is not regulated by any financial supervisory authority pursuant to any legislation in Singapore. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. You should note that the Unit is subject to section 257 of the SFA and you will not be able to make any subsequent sale of the shares of Stock in Singapore, or any offer of such subsequent sale of the shares of Stock subject to the Grants in Singapore, unless such sale or offer is made (i) after six months from the Grant Date or (ii) pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division 1 Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the SFA.

SOUTH AFRICA

1.    Responsibility for Taxes. This provision supplements Section 13 of the Agreement:

You are responsible for immediately notifying the Employer of the amount of any gain realized at vesting of the Units. If you fail to advise the Employer of such gain, you may be liable for a fine.

2.    Securities Law Notice. In compliance with South African securities law, the documents listed below are available for review on the Company’s external and internal sites at the web addresses listed below:

a. Boston Scientific Corporation’s most recent Annual Report (Form 10-K):

https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=bsx&owner=exclude&action=getcompany&Find=Search.

b. The Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

c. Boston Scientific Corporation Deferred Stock Unit Award and 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Q&A Summary Sheet: This document can be accessed at https://us.etrade.com/home -> My Stock Plan -> Holdings -> click on a grant date and select “View Grant Documents”.

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You acknowledge that you may have copies of the above documents sent to you, at no charge, on written request being mailed to Boston Scientific Corporation, attn: Corporate Compensation, 300 Boston Scientific Way, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

You understand that you are advised to carefully read the materials provided before making a decision whether to participate in the Plan and to contact your tax advisor for specific information concerning your personal tax situation with regard to Plan participation.

SOUTH KOREA

Consent to Collection, Processing and Transfer of Personal Data. By electronically accepting this Agreement:

1. You agree to the collection, use, processing and transfer of Data as described in Section 15 of the Agreement; and

2. You agree to the processing of your unique identifying information (resident registration number) as described in Section 15 of the Agreement.

SPAIN

Acknowledgement of Discretionary Nature of the Plan; No Vested Rights. This provision supplements the terms of the Agreement.

In accepting the grant of Units, you acknowledge that you consent to participation in the Plan and have received a copy of the Plan.

You understand that the Company has unilaterally, gratuitously and in its sole discretion granted Units under the Plan to individuals who may be employees of the Company or its Affiliates throughout the world. The decision is a limited decision that is entered into upon the express assumption and condition that any grant will not economically or otherwise bind the Company or any of its Affiliates on an ongoing basis. Consequently, you understand that the Units are granted on the assumption and condition that the Units and the shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units shall not become a part of any employment contract (either with the Company or any of its Affiliates) and shall not be considered a mandatory benefit, salary for any purposes (including severance compensation) or any other right whatsoever. In addition, you understand that this grant would not be made to you but for the assumptions and conditions referenced above; thus, you acknowledge and freely accept that should any or all of the assumptions be mistaken or should any of the conditions not be met for any reason, the grant of Units shall be null and void.

You understand and agree that, as a condition of the grant of Units, your termination of employment for any reason (including the reasons listed below) will automatically result in the loss of the Units to the extent the Units have not vested as of date the you cease active employment. In particular, you understand and agree that any unvested Units as of the date you cease active employment will be forfeited without entitlement to the underlying shares

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of Stock or to any amount of indemnification in the event of the termination of employment by reason of, but not limited to, resignation or retirement prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date, disciplinary dismissal adjudged to be with cause, disciplinary dismissal adjudged or recognized to be without cause, individual or collective dismissal on objective grounds, whether adjudged or recognized to be with or without cause, material modification of the terms of employment under Article 41 of the Workers’ Statute, relocation under Article 40 of the Workers’ Statute, Article 50 of the Workers’ Statute, unilateral withdrawal by the Employer and under Article 10.3 of the Royal Decree 1382/1985. You acknowledge that you have read and specifically accept the conditions referred to in the Agreement regarding the impact of a termination of employment on your Award.

BY ELECTRONICALLY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN, THE AGREEMENT AND THIS ADDENDUM.

SWEDEN

No country-specific provisions.

SWITZERLAND

Securities Law Information. The offer of the Units is considered a private offering in Switzerland and is therefore not subject to registration in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other materials relating to the Unit constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this document nor any other materials relating to the Unit may be publicly distributed nor otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

TAIWAN

Securities Law Information. This Award and the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Plan are available only for Employees. The Award is not a public offer of securities by a Taiwanese company.

THAILAND

No country-specific provisions.

TURKEY

Securities Law Information. Under Turkish law, you are not permitted to sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan in Turkey. The shares of Stock are currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange, which is located outside Turkey and the shares of Stock may be sold through this exchange.

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UNITED KINGDOM

1.     Income Tax and Social Insurance Contribution Withholding. The following provision shall replace Section 13 of the Agreement:

Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax and primary Class 1 National Insurance contributions, payroll tax or other tax-related withholding attributable to or payable in connection with or pursuant to the grant or vesting of the Award and the acquisition of Stock, or the release or assignment of the Award for consideration, or the receipt of any other benefit in connection with the Award (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility. Furthermore, the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Award, including the grant of the Award, the vesting of the Award, and the issuance of Stock in settlement, the subsequent sale of any Stock acquired and the receipt of any dividends; and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Award to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

As a condition of the issuance of Stock upon vesting of the Award, the Company and/or the Employer shall be entitled to withhold and you agree to pay, or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy, all obligations of the Company and/or the Employer to account to HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) for any Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you by withholding a sufficient number of whole shares of Stock having a fair market value (determined in the Company’s reasonable discretion) on the applicable withholding date equal to the minimum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local law, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer, at its discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items legally payable by you by one or a combination of the following: (a) withholding from any wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer; (b) arranging for the sale of a sufficient number of whole shares of Stock otherwise deliverable to you (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization); or (c) withholding from the proceeds of the sale of a sufficient number of whole shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Award. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding a whole number of shares of Stock as described herein, you will be deemed to have been issued the full number of shares subject to the Award, notwithstanding that a number of the shares of stock are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items due as a result of any aspect of the Award.

If, by the date on which the event giving rise to the Tax-Related Items occurs (the “Chargeable Event”), you have relocated to another country, you acknowledge that the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one country.

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You also agree that the Company and the Employer may determine the amount of Tax-Related Items to be withheld and accounted for by reference to the maximum applicable rates, without prejudice to any right which you may have to recover any overpayment from the relevant tax authorities. You shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to account to HMRC with respect to the Chargeable Event that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. If payment or withholding is not made within 90 days after the end of the U.K. tax year in which the Chargeable Event occurs or such other period specified in Section 222(1)(c) of the U.K. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003,(the “Due Date”), you agree that the amount of any uncollected Tax-Related Items shall (assuming you are not a director or executive officer of the Company (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), constitute a loan owed by you to the Employer, effective on the Due Date. You agree that the loan will bear interest at the then-current HMRC Official Rate and it will be immediately due and repayable, and the Company and/or the Employer may recover it at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to above. If any of the foregoing methods of collection are not allowed under applicable laws or if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this section, the Company may refuse to deliver the Stock acquired under the Plan.

2.     Exclusion of Claim. You acknowledge and agree that you will have no entitlement to compensation or damages insofar as such entitlement arises or may arise from your ceasing to have rights under or to be entitled to the Award, whether or not as a result of your termination of employment (whether the termination is in breach of contract or otherwise), or from the loss or diminution in value of the Award. Upon the grant of your Award, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any such entitlement.

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EX-10.3

EXHIBIT 10.3

Boston Scientific Corporation

Participant: [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME]

Employee ID: [EMPLOYEE IDENTIFIER]

Award Type: Performance Share Unit Award Agreement

Plan Name: TSR PERFORMANCE SHARE PROGRAM -

Award Date: [DATE]

Total Granted: [TOTAL SHARES]

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC

INTENT TO GRANT

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

This Agreement, dated as of the [DATE], (the “Grant Date”), is between you and Boston Scientific Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Award of Performance Share Units by the Company under the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in either the Plan or in the Total Shareholder Return Performance Share Program (the “Program”) for the period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2019 (the “Performance Period”).

1.    Grant and Acceptance of Award. The Company hereby indicates its award to you that number of Performance Share Units (the “Units”) set forth herein this Agreement (the “Award”). Each Unit represents the Company’s commitment to issue to you shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Stock”), subject to certain eligibility, performance and other conditions set forth herein. The Award is intended to be granted pursuant to and is subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan and the Program.

2.    Eligibility Conditions upon Award of Units. You hereby acknowledge the intent of the Company to award Units subject to certain eligibility, performance and other conditions set forth herein.

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3.    Satisfaction of Performance-Based Conditions. Subject to the eligibility conditions described in Section 7 of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 8 of this Agreement and Appendix B, and the satisfaction of the performance conditions set forth on Appendix A to this Agreement during the Performance Period, the Company intends to award shares of Stock hereunder to you at the end of the Performance Period. Shares of Stock shall be issued during the period January 1 to March 15 of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period based on actual performance as determined at the first Committee meeting following the Performance Period. Except as set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement, no shares of Stock in settlement of the Units shall be issued to you prior to the end of the Performance Period.

4.    Participant’s Rights in Stock. The shares of Stock, if and when issued hereunder, shall be registered in your name and evidenced in the manner as the Company may determine. During the period prior to the issuance of Stock, you will have no rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Stock, including no right to receive dividends or vote the shares of Stock underlying each Award.

5.    Death or Disability. In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to death or Disability prior to the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued during the period January 1 to March 15 of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period based on actual performance as determined at the first Committee meeting following the Performance Period.

6.    Retirement. In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to Retirement after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued during the period January 1 to March 15 of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period on a prorated basis based on actual performance as determined at the first Committee meeting following the Performance Period. The number of shares of Stock to be issued under the prorated Award shall be determined by calculating (a)(i) the number of Units set forth herein multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the number of full and partial months that you worked during the Performance Period (rounded up to the nearest whole month) divided by 36, and then multiplying the product of (a)(i) and (a)(ii) by the percentile performance amount, as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Program. In the event that you terminate your employment due to Retirement prior to January 1, 2018, the Award shall be forfeited in its entirety.

7.    Other Termination of Employment -- Eligibility Conditions. If your employment with the Company and its affiliates or subsidiaries is terminated or you separate from the Company and its affiliates or subsidiaries for any reason other than death, Retirement or Disability, any Units that remain subject to eligibility conditions shall be void and no Stock shall be issued. Except as set forth in Sections 5, 6 and 8, eligibility to be issued shares of Stock is conditioned on your continuous employment with the Company through and on the last day of the Performance Period .

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8.    Change in Control of the Company. Subject to the terms of any separate Change in Control or similar agreement to which you are bound, in the event you are employed by the Company or an Affiliate at the time of a Change in Control after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued immediately prior to the Change in Control on a prorated basis based on actual performance using the last day of the month preceding the date on which the Change in Control is consummated as the ending date of the Performance Period in lieu of December 31, 2019, as determined by the Committee immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control. The number of shares of Stock to be issued under the prorated Award shall be determined by calculating (a)(i) the number of Units set forth herein multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the number of full and partial months during the Performance Period (rounded up to the nearest whole month) prior to the consummation of the Change in Control divided by 36, and then multiplying the product of (a)(i) and (a)(ii) by (b) the percentile performance amount as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Program. In the event that a Change in Control occurs prior to January 1, 2018, the Award shall be forfeited in its entirety.

In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to death or Disability prior to a Change in Control and a Change in Control occurs after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued immediately prior to the Change in Control based on actual performance using the last day of the month preceding the date on which the Change in Control is consummated as the ending date of the Performance Period in lieu of December 31, 2019, as determined by the Committee immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.

In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to Retirement prior to a Change in Control after December 31, 2017 and a Change in Control occurs after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued immediately prior to the Change in Control on a prorated basis as determined under Section 6 based on actual performance using the last day of the month preceding the date on which the Change in Control is consummated as the ending date of the Performance Period in lieu of December 31, 2019, as determined by the Committee immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.

9.    Recoupment Policy.

(a)    Current Recoupment Policy. Pursuant to the Company’s recoupment policy and to the extent permitted by governing law, the Board, in its discretion, may seek Recovery of the Award granted to you if you are a Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer and if, in the judgment of the Board, you commit misconduct or a gross dereliction of duty that results in a material violation of Company policy and causes significant harm to the Company while serving in your capacity as Executive Officer.

(i)    Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Section 9, shall have the meaning set forth below:

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(1)    “Current Executive Officer” means any individual currently designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(2)    “Executive Officer” means any Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer.

(3)    “Former Executive Officer” means any individual previously (but not currently) designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(4)    “Recovery” means the forfeiture or cancellation of unvested Units.

(b)    Provisions Required by Law. If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to apply a “clawback” or alternate recoupment provision to outstanding Awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision also shall apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Grant Date and the Company shall notify you of such additional provision.

10.    Consideration for Stock. The shares of Stock are intended to be issued for no cash consideration.

11.    Issuance of Stock. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Stock until (i) all federal and state laws and regulations as the Company may deem applicable have been complied with; (ii) the shares have been listed or authorized for listing upon official notice to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or have otherwise been accorded trading privileges; and (iii) all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of the shares have been approved by the Company’s legal department.

12.    Tax Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax (including U.S. federal, state and local taxes and/or non-U.S. taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Units or the shares of Stock issued upon vesting of the Units, and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the Award (or any aspect of the Units) to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

Upon the issuance of shares of Stock or the satisfaction of any vesting condition with respect to the shares of Stock to be issued hereunder, if your country of residence (and/or the country of employment, if different) requires withholding of Tax-Related Items, the Company may hold back from the total number of shares of Stock to be delivered to you,

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and shall cause to be transferred to the Company, whole shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the shares of Stock, or to the extent it would not result in adverse accounting treatment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to hold back shares of Stock based on a rate of up to the maximum applicable withholding rate. The cash equivalent of the shares of Stock withheld will be used to settle the obligation to withhold the Tax-Related Items. By accepting the grant of Units, you expressly consent to the withholding of shares of Stock and/or cash as provided for hereunder.

Alternatively, you hereby authorize the Company (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization) to immediately sell a sufficient whole number of shares of Stock acquired upon vesting resulting in sale proceeds sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. You agree to sign any agreements, forms and/or consents that reasonably may be requested by the Company (or the Company’s designated brokerage firm) to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock (including, without limitation, as to the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Company to satisfy the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld). Further, the Company or the Employer may, in its discretion, withhold any amount necessary to pay the Tax-Related Items from your salary or any other amounts payable to you, with no withholding of shares of Stock or sale of shares of Stock, or may require you to submit a cash payment equivalent to the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Units.     

All other Tax-Related Items related to the grant of Units and any shares of Stock delivered in settlement thereof are your sole responsibility. In no event shall whole shares be withheld by or delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any Tax-Related Items in excess of the maximum statutory tax withholding required by law. You agree to indemnify the Company and its Affiliates against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses that the Company and its Affiliates may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay with respect to the payment or withholding of any Tax-Related Items.

The Units are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Plan and this Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent. If the Company determines that the Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and that it has failed to comply with the requirements of that Section, the Company may, in its sole discretion, and without your consent, amend this Agreement to cause it to comply with Code Section 409A or be exempt from Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any settlement or payment of this Award occurs as a result of your termination of employment and the Company determines that you are a “specified employee” (as that term is defined under Code Section 409A) subject to Code Section 409A at the time your termination of employment, and provided further that such payment or settlement does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, then no such settlement or payment shall be paid to you until the date that is the earlier to occur of: (i) your death, or (ii) six (6) months and one (1) day following your termination of employment. Any portion

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of this Award delayed as a result of the preceding sentence, which is (i) in whole or in part, settled in cash and (ii) based on the value of Stock, shall be based on the value of the Stock at the time the Award would have otherwise been settled or paid without application of the delay described in the preceding sentence. If this Award does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, the terms “Retirement”, “terminate,” “termination,” “termination of employment,” and variations thereof as used in this agreement, are intended to mean a termination of employment that constitutes a “separation from service” as such term is defined under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any action or inaction by the Administrator, you are exclusively responsible for any tax consequences under Code Section 409A resulting from this Award.

13.    Investment Intent. You acknowledge that the acquisition of the Stock to be issued hereunder is for investment purposes without a view to distribution thereof.

14.    Limits on Transferability; Restrictions on Shares; Legend on Certificate. Until the eligibility conditions of this Award have been satisfied and shares of Stock have been issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or by action of the Committee, the Units awarded hereunder are not transferable and shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, gifted, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered by you. Transfers of shares of Stock by you are subject to the Company’s Stock Trading Policy and applicable securities laws. Shares of Stock issued to you in certificate form or to your book entry account upon satisfaction of the vesting and other conditions of this Award may be restricted from transfer or sale by the Company and evidenced by stop-transfer instructions upon the your book entry account or restricted legend(s) affixed to certificates in the form as the Company or its counsel may require with respect to any applicable restrictions on sale or transfer.

15.    Award Subject to the Plan and the Program. The Award to be made pursuant to this Agreement is made subject to the Plan and the Program. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the Program, as each may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan or the Program, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan or Program will govern and prevail. However, no amendment of the Plan or the Program after the date hereof may adversely alter or impair the issuance of the Stock to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

16.    No Rights to Continued Employment. The Company’s intent to issue the shares of Stock hereunder shall not confer upon you any right to continued employment or other association with the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries; and this Agreement shall not be construed in any way to limit the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate your employment or other association with the Company or to change the terms of such employment or association at any time.

17.    Legal Notices. Any legal notice necessary under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care of its General Counsel at the principle executive offices of the Company and to you at the address appearing in the personnel records of the Company

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for you or to either party at such other address as either party may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the addressee.

18.    Appendix. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Units shall be subject to any special terms and conditions for your country of residence (and country of employment, if different) as are forth in the applicable appendix to the Agreement (the “Appendix”). Further, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in the Appendices to these Agreements, the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Any applicable Appendix shall constitute part of this Agreement.

19.    Governing Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof) and applicable federal laws. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts, where this Award is made and/or to be performed.

20.    Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

21.    Severability. You agree that the provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

22.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to the one and the same instrument.

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APPENDIX A

PLAN: 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

The Performance Share Units will pay out in shares of Stock in a range of 0% to 200% of the number of Performance Share Units as follows:

TSR Performance Percentile Rank	Performance Share Units as a Percent of Target
90th Percentile or above	200%
80th Percentile	150%
50th Percentile	100%
30th Percentile	40%
Below 30th Percentile	0%

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APPENDIX B

This Appendix B contains supplemental terms and conditions for awards of Units granted under the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to Participants who reside outside the United States or who are otherwise subject to the laws of a country other than the United States. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

Section I of this Appendix B contains special terms and conditions that govern the Units outside of the United States. Section II of this Appendix B includes special terms and conditions in the specific countries listed therein.

This Appendix B may also include information regarding exchange controls, taxation of awards and certain other issues of which you should be aware with respect to participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control, tax and other laws concerning Units in effect as of December 2016. Such laws are often complex and change frequently; the information may be out of date at the time you vest in the Units or sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that you not rely on the information noted herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of your participation in the Plan.

In addition, this Appendix B is general in nature, does not discuss all of the various laws, rules and regulations which may apply to your particular situation and the Company does not assure you of any particular result. Accordingly, you should seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws in your country apply to your specific situation.

Finally, if you are a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which you are currently working, transferred employment after the Award was granted or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the information contained herein may not be applicable to you in the same manner. In addition, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein will apply under these circumstances.

Section I.     All Countries Outside the United States

Nature of Grant. In accepting the grant, you acknowledge that:

(a)the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Administrator at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b)the grant of the Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants or benefits in lieu of Units, even if Units have been granted in the past;

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(c)all decisions with respect to future grants of Units, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(d)the Unit grant and your participation in the Plan shall not create a right to employment or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company, the Employer or Affiliate and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company, the Employer or any Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate your employment or service relationship (if any);

(e)you are voluntarily participating in the Plan;

(f)the Units are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(g)the Units, the underlying shares of Stock, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(h)the future value of the underlying shares of Stock is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(i)no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Units resulting from the termination of your employment or other service relationship (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Units to which you are otherwise not entitled, you irrevocably agree never to institute any such claim against the Company, any of its Affiliates or the Employer, waive your ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and release the Company, its Affiliates and the Employer from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agree to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim;

(j)unless otherwise agreed with the Company in writing, the Units, the underlying shares of Stock and the income and value of same are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of an Affiliate;

(k)for purposes of the Units, your employment or other service relationship will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer actively providing services to the Company or one of its Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or determined by the Company, your right to vest in

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the Units under this Agreement, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., your period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any); the Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when you are no longer actively providing services for purposes of the Unit grant (including whether you may still be considered to be providing services while on an approved leave of absence); and

(l)the following provisions apply only if you are providing services outside the United States: (A) the Units, the underlying shares of Stock, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and (B) neither the Company, the Employer nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between your local currency and the U.S. dollar that may affect the value of the Units or of any amount due to you pursuant to the settlement of the Units or the subsequent sale of any shares of Stock acquired upon settlement.

Data Privacy. You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data as described in this Agreement and any other Unit grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan.

You understand that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about you, including (but not limited to) your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number (e.g., resident registration number), salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, and details of all Units awarded to you or any other entitlements to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor (“Data”) for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan.

You understand that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including but not limited to E*TRADE Securities LLC (“E*TRADE”) or any successor or any other third party that the Company or E*TRADE (or its successor) may engage to assist with the administration of the Plan from time to time. You understand the recipients of the Data may be located in your country, in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that you may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative.

You authorize the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in

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the Plan. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage your participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom you may elect to deposit any shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units. You understand that you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later revoke your consent, your employment status or service with the Employer will not be adversely affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company would not be able to grant you Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative.

Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the option granted under and participation in the Plan or future options that may be granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. You acknowledge that your country of residence may have insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect your ability to acquire or sell shares of Stock under the Plan during such times that you are considered to have “inside information” (as defined in the laws in your country). These laws may be the same or different from any Company insider trading policy. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to be informed of and comply with such regulations, and that you are advised to speak to your personal advisor on this matter.

Section II.     Country-Specific Terms and Conditions

FRANCE

1.    Nature of the Award. The Units are not granted under the French specific regime provided by Articles L225-197-1 and seq. of the French commercial code.

2.    Use of English Language. You acknowledge and agree that it is your express wish that this Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English. Vous reconnaissez et consentez que c’est votre souhait exprès qui cet accord, de meme que tous documents, toutes notifications et tous procédés légaux est

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entré dans, donné ou instituté conformément ci-annexé ou relatant directement ou indirectement ci-annexé, est formulé dans l’anglais.

SINGAPORE

Private Placement. The grant of the Units is being made pursuant to the “Qualifying Person” exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289, 2006 Ed.) (“SFA”). The Plan has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and is not regulated by any financial supervisory authority pursuant to any legislation in Singapore. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. You should note that the Unit is subject to section 257 of the SFA and you will not be able to make any subsequent sale of the shares of Stock in Singapore, or any offer of such subsequent sale of the shares of Stock subject to the Grants in Singapore, unless such sale or offer is made (i) after six months from the Grant Date or (ii) pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division 1 Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the SFA.

*    *    *    *    *

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EX-10.4

EXHIBIT 10.4

Boston Scientific Corporation

Participant: [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME]

Employee ID: [EMPLOYEE IDENTIFIER]

Award Type: Performance Share Unit Award Agreement

Plan Name: FCF PERFORMANCE SHARE PROGRAM

Award Date: [DATE]

Total Granted: [TOTAL SHARES]

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC

INTENT TO GRANT

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

This Agreement, dated as of the [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), is between you and Boston Scientific Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Award of Performance Share Units by the Company under the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in either the Plan or in the Free Cash Flow Performance Share Program (the “Program”) for the performance period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017 (the “Performance Period”) and the three-year service period beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2019 (the “Service Period”).

1.    Grant and Acceptance of Award. The Company hereby indicates its award to you that number of Performance Share Units (the “Units”) set forth herein this Agreement (the “Award”). Each Unit represents the Company’s commitment to issue to you shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Stock”), subject to certain eligibility, performance and other conditions set forth herein. The Award is intended to be granted pursuant to and is subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan and the Program.

2.    Eligibility Conditions upon Award of Units. You hereby acknowledge the intent of the Company to award Units subject to certain eligibility, performance and other conditions set forth herein.

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3.    Satisfaction of Performance-Based Conditions and Service Period. Subject to the eligibility conditions described in Section 7 of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Sections 5, 6 and 8 of this Agreement and Appendix B, and the satisfaction of the performance conditions set forth on Appendix A to this Agreement during the Performance Period, the Company intends to award shares of Stock hereunder to you at the end of the Service Period (December 31, 2019). Shares of Stock shall be issued within thirty (30) days following the end of the Service Period based on actual performance during the Performance Period as determined at the first Committee meeting following the end of the Performance Period. Except as set forth in Sections 5, 6 and 8 of this Agreement, no shares of Stock in settlement of the Units shall be issued to you prior to the end of the Service Period.

4.    Participant’s Rights in Stock. The shares of Stock, if and when issued hereunder, shall be registered in your name and evidenced in the manner as the Company may determine. During the period prior to the issuance of Stock, you will have no rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Stock, including no right to receive dividends or vote the shares of Stock underlying each Award.

5.    Death or Disability. In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to death or Disability on or before the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued to you during the period January 1, 2018 to March 15, 2018, based on actual performance as determined at the first Committee meeting following the Performance Period. In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to death or Disability after the end of the Performance Period, shares of Stock shall be issued to you within seventy (70) days following your termination of employment based on actual performance during the Performance Period.

6.    Retirement. In the event that your employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates is terminated due to Retirement after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Service Period, shares of Stock shall be issued to you within seventy (70) days following your Retirement on a prorated basis based on actual performance. The number of shares of Stock to be issued under the prorated Award shall be determined by calculating (a)(i) the number of Units set forth herein multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the number of full and partial months that you worked during the Service Period (rounded up to the nearest whole month) divided by 36, and then multiplying the product of (a)(i) and (a)(ii) by (b) the percentile performance amount, as calculated in accordance with the terms of the Program. In the event that you terminate your employment due to Retirement prior to January 1, 2018, the Award shall be forfeited in its entirety.

7.    Other Termination of Employment -- Eligibility Conditions. If your employment with the Company and its affiliates or subsidiaries is terminated or you separate from the Company and its affiliates or subsidiaries for any reason other than death, Retirement or Disability, any Units that remain subject to eligibility conditions shall be void and no Stock shall be issued. Except as set forth in Sections 5, 6 and 8, eligibility to be

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issued shares of Stock is conditioned on your continuous employment with the Company through and on the last day of the Service Period as set forth in Section 3 above.

8.    Change in Control of the Company. Subject to the terms of any separate Change in Control or similar agreement to which you are bound, in the event you are employed by the Company or an Affiliate at the time of a Change in Control after December 31, 2017, but prior to the end of the Service Period, shares of Stock shall be issued immediately prior to the Change in Control on a prorated basis based on actual performance as determined by the Committee immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control. The number of shares of Stock to be issued under the prorated Award shall be determined by calculating (a)(i) the number of Units set forth herein multiplied by (ii) the quotient of the number of full and partial months during the Service Period (rounded up to the nearest whole month) prior to the consummation of the Change in Control divided by 36, and then multiplying the product of (a)(i) and (a)(ii) by (b) the percentile performance amount, as calculated in accordance with terms of the Program. In the event that Change in Control occurs prior to January 1, 2018, the Award shall be forfeited in its entirety. In the event you have terminated employment with the Company or an Affiliate prior to a Change in Control as a result of death, Disability or Retirement occurring after December 31, 2017, and a Change in Control occurs after December 31, 2017, then shares of Stock for any Units that have vested under Section 5 or 6 but which have not yet been issued to you will be issued to you immediately prior to the Change in Control.

Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless otherwise specifically provided in any agreement of the Company or any of its Affiliates with you pertaining to the effect of a Change of Control on outstanding Awards which is in effect as of the Change of Control, if this Award is subject to and not exempt from the application of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and provides for settlement or payment upon a Change in Control, the definition of Change in Control shall be limited to events which qualify as a change in the ownership of a corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v), or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii); provided, however, that this requirement shall not cause an event that would not otherwise be considered a Change in Control under the definition of a Change in Control under the Plan to be considered a Change in Control.

9.    Recoupment Policy.

(a)    Current Recoupment Policy. Pursuant to the Company's recoupment policy and to the extent permitted by governing law, the Board, in its discretion, may seek Recovery of the Award granted to you if you are a Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer and you, in the judgment of the Board, commit misconduct or a gross dereliction of duty that results in a material violation of Company policy and causes significant harm to the Company while serving in your capacity as Executive Officer.

(i)    Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Section 9, shall have the meaning set forth below:

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(1)    “Current Executive Officer” means any individual currently designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(2)    “Executive Officer” means any Current Executive Officer or Former Executive Officer.

(3)    “Former Executive Officer” means any individual previously (but not currently) designated as an “officer” by the Board for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(4)    “Recovery” means the forfeiture or cancellation of unvested Units.

(b)    Provisions Required by Law. If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to apply a “clawback” or alternate recoupment provision to outstanding Awards, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision also shall apply to this Award, as applicable, as if it had been included on the Grant Date and the Company shall notify you of such additional provision.

10.    Consideration for Stock. The shares of Stock are intended to be issued for no cash consideration.

11.    Issuance of Stock. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Stock until (i) all federal and state laws and regulations as the Company may deem applicable have been complied with; (ii) the shares have been listed or authorized for listing upon official notice to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or have otherwise been accorded trading privileges; and (iii) all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of the shares have been approved by the Company’s legal department.

12.    Tax Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or the Affiliate that employs you (the “Employer”) (if applicable) takes with respect to any or all income tax (including U.S. federal, state and local taxes and/or non-U.S. taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge and agree that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Units or the shares of Stock issued upon vesting of the Units, and (b) do not commit to structure the terms of the Award (or any aspect of the Units) to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items.

Upon the issuance of shares of Stock or the satisfaction of any vesting condition with respect to the shares of Stock to be issued hereunder, if your country of residence (and/or the country of employment, if different) requires withholding of Tax-Related Items, the

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Company may hold back from the total number of shares of Stock to be delivered to you, and shall cause to be transferred to the Company, whole shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the shares of Stock, or to the extent it would not result in adverse accounting treatment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, hold back shares of Stock based on a rate of up to the maximum applicable withholding rate. The cash equivalent of the shares of Stock withheld will be used to settle the obligation to withhold the Tax-Related Items. By accepting the grant of Units, you expressly consent to the withholding of shares of Stock and/or cash as provided for hereunder.

Alternatively, you hereby authorize the Company (on your behalf and at your direction pursuant to this authorization) to immediately sell a sufficient whole number of shares of Stock acquired upon vesting resulting in sale proceeds sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld. You agree to sign any agreements, forms and/or consents that reasonably may be requested by the Company (or the Company’s designated brokerage firm) to effectuate the sale of the shares of Stock (including, without limitation, as to the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Company to satisfy the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld). Further, the Company or the Employer may, in its discretion, withhold any amount necessary to pay the Tax-Related Items from your salary or any other amounts payable to you, with no withholding of shares of Stock or sale of shares of Stock, or may require you to submit a cash payment equivalent to the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Units.     

All other Tax-Related Items related to the grant of Units and any shares of Stock delivered in settlement thereof are your sole responsibility. In no event shall whole shares be withheld by or delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any Tax-Related Items in excess of the maximum statutory tax withholding required by law. You agree to indemnify the Company and its Affiliates against any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses that the Company and its Affiliates may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay with respect to the payment or

withholding of any Tax-Related Items.

The Units are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Plan and this Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent. If the Company determines that the Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and that it has failed to comply with the requirements of that Section, the Company may, in its sole discretion, and without your consent, amend this Agreement to cause it to comply with Code Section 409A or be exempt from Code Section 409A.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any settlement or payment of this Award occurs as a result of your termination of employment and the Company determines that you are a “specified employee” (as that term is defined under Code Section 409A) subject to Code Section 409A at the time your termination of employment, and provided further that such payment or settlement does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, then no such settlement or

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payment shall be paid to you until the date that is the earlier to occur of: (i) your death, or (ii) six (6) months and one (1) day following your termination of employment. Any portion of this Award delayed as a result of the preceding sentence, which is (i) in whole or in part, settled in cash and (ii) based on the value of Stock, shall be based on the value of the Stock at the time the Award would have otherwise been settled or paid without application of the delay described in the preceding sentence. If this Award does not otherwise qualify for an applicable exemption from Code Section 409A, the terms “Retirement”, “terminate,” “termination,” “termination of employment,” and variations thereof as used in this agreement, are intended to mean a termination of employment that constitutes a “separation from service” as such term is defined under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any action or inaction by the Administrator, you are exclusively responsible for any tax consequences under Code Section 409A resulting from this Award.

13.    Investment Intent. You acknowledge that the acquisition of the Stock to be issued hereunder is for investment purposes without a view to distribution thereof.

14.    Limits on Transferability; Restrictions on Shares; Legend on Certificate. Until the eligibility conditions of this Award have been satisfied and shares of Stock have been issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or by action of the Committee, the Units awarded hereunder are not transferable and shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, gifted, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered by you. Transfers of shares of Stock by you are subject to the Company’s Stock Trading Policy and applicable securities laws. Shares of Stock issued to you in certificate form or to your book entry account upon satisfaction of the vesting and other conditions of this Award may be restricted from transfer or sale by the Company and evidenced by stop-transfer instructions upon your book entry account or restricted legend(s) affixed to certificates in the form as the Company or its counsel may require with respect to any applicable restrictions on sale or transfer.

15.    Award Subject to the Plan and the Program. The Award to be made pursuant to this Agreement is made subject to the Plan and the Program. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the Program, as each may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in this Agreement and a term or provision of the Plan or the Program, the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan or Program will govern and prevail. However, no amendment of the Plan or the Program after the date hereof may adversely alter or impair the issuance of the Stock to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

16.    No Rights to Continued Employment. The Company’s intent to issue the shares of Stock hereunder shall not confer upon you any right to continued employment or other association with the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries; and this Agreement shall not be construed in any way to limit the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate your employment or other association with the Company or to change the terms of such employment or association at any time.

17.    Legal Notices. Any legal notice necessary under this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care of its General Counsel at the principle executive offices

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of the Company and to you at the address appearing in the personnel records of the Company for you or to either party at such other address as either party may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the addressee.

18.    Appendix. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Units shall be subject to any special terms and conditions for your country of residence (and country of employment, if different) as are forth in the applicable appendix to the Agreement (the “Appendix”). Further, if you transfer your residence and/or employment to another country reflected in the Appendices to these Agreements, the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to you to the extent the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or to facilitate the administration of the Plan. Any applicable Appendix shall constitute part of this Agreement.

19.    Governing Law and Venue. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof) and applicable federal laws. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Massachusetts, and no other courts, where this Award is made and/or to be performed.

20.    Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

21.    Severability. You agree that the provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

22.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to the one and the same instrument.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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APPENDIX A

PLAN: 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

The Performance Share Units will pay out in shares of Stock in a range of 0% to 150% of the number of Performance Share Units as follows:

Performance Percent to Plan	Units Vesting
125% or above	150%
110%	120%
100%	100%
90%	80%
50%	25%
Less than 50%	0%

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APPENDIX B

This Appendix B contains supplemental terms and conditions for awards of Units granted under the Boston Scientific Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to Participants who reside outside the United States or who are otherwise subject to the laws of a country other than the United States. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

Section I of this Appendix B contains special terms and conditions that govern the Units outside of the United States. Section II of this Appendix B includes special terms and conditions in the specific countries listed therein.

This Appendix B may also include information regarding exchange controls, taxation of awards and certain other issues of which you should be aware with respect to participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control, tax and other laws concerning Units in effect as of December 2016. Such laws are often complex and change frequently; the information may be out of date at the time you vest in the Units or sell shares of Stock acquired under the Plan. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that you not rely on the information noted herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of your participation in the Plan.

In addition, this Appendix B is general in nature, does not discuss all of the various laws, rules and regulations which may apply to your particular situation and the Company does not assure you of any particular result. Accordingly, you should seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws in your country apply to your specific situation.

Finally, if you are a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which you are currently working, transferred employment after the Award was granted or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the information contained herein may not be applicable to you in the same manner. In addition, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein will apply under these circumstances.

Section I.     All Countries Outside the United States

Nature of Grant. In accepting the grant, you acknowledge that:

(a)the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Administrator at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b)the grant of the Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants or benefits in lieu of Units, even if Units have been granted in the past;

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(c)all decisions with respect to future grants of Units, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(d)the Unit grant and your participation in the Plan shall not create a right to employment or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company, the Employer or Affiliate and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company, the Employer or any Affiliate, as applicable, to terminate your employment or service relationship (if any);

(e)you are voluntarily participating in the Plan;

(f)the Units are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(g)the Units, the underlying shares of Stock, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(h)the future value of the underlying shares of Stock is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(i)no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Units resulting from the termination of your employment or other service relationship (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Units to which you are otherwise not entitled, you irrevocably agree never to institute any such claim against the Company, any of its Affiliates or the Employer, waive your ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and release the Company, its Affiliates and the Employer from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, you shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agree to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim;

(j)unless otherwise agreed with the Company in writing, the Units, the underlying shares of Stock and the income and value of same are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of an Affiliate;

(k)for purposes of the Units, your employment or other service relationship will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer actively providing services to the Company or one of its Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or determined by the Company, your right to vest in the Units under this Agreement, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended

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by any notice period (e.g., your period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where you are employed or the terms of your employment agreement, if any); the Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when you are no longer actively providing services for purposes of the Unit grant (including whether you may still be considered to be providing services while on an approved leave of absence); and

(l)the following provisions apply only if you are providing services outside the United States: (A) the Units, the underlying shares of Stock, and the income and value of same are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose; and (B) neither the Company, the Employer nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between your local currency and the U.S. dollar that may affect the value of the Units or of any amount due to you pursuant to the settlement of the Units or the subsequent sale of any shares of Stock acquired upon settlement.

Data Privacy. You hereby explicitly and unambiguously consent to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data as described in this Agreement and any other Unit grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan.

You understand that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about you, including (but not limited to) your name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number (e.g., resident registration number), salary, nationality, job title, any shares of Stock or directorships held in the Company, and details of all Units awarded to you or any other entitlements to shares of Stock awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in your favor (“Data”) for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan.

You understand that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including but not limited to E*TRADE Securities LLC (“E*TRADE”) or any successor or any other third party that the Company or E*TRADE (or its successor) may engage to assist with the administration of the Plan from time to time. You understand the recipients of the Data may be located in your country, in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country. You understand that you may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting your local human resources representative.

You authorize the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing your participation in the Plan. You understand that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement,

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administer and manage your participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom you may elect to deposit any shares of Stock acquired upon vesting of the Units. You understand that you may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing your local human resources representative. Further, you understand that you are providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If you do not consent, or if you later revoke your consent, your employment status or service with the Employer will not be adversely affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing your consent is that the Company would not be able to grant you Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, you understand that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of your refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, you understand that you may contact your local human resources representative.

Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the option granted under and participation in the Plan or future options that may be granted under the Plan by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. You acknowledge that your country of residence may have insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect your ability to acquire or sell shares of Stock under the Plan during such times that you are considered to have “inside information” (as defined in the laws in your country). These laws may be the same or different from any Company insider trading policy. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to be informed of and comply with such regulations, and that you are advised to speak to your personal advisor on this matter.

Section II.     Country-Specific Terms and Conditions

FRANCE

1.    Nature of the Award. The Units are not granted under the French specific regime provided by Articles L225-197-1 and seq. of the French commercial code.

2.    Use of English Language. You acknowledge and agree that it is your express wish that this Agreement, as well as all documents, notices and legal proceedings entered into, given or instituted pursuant hereto or relating directly or indirectly hereto, be drawn up in English. Vous reconnaissez et consentez que c’est votre souhait exprès qui cet accord, de meme que tous documents, toutes notifications et tous procédés légaux est entré dans, donné ou instituté conformément ci-annexé ou relatant directement ou indirectement ci-annexé, est formulé dans l’anglais.

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SINGAPORE

Private Placement. The grant of the Units is being made pursuant to the “Qualifying Person” exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289, 2006 Ed.) (“SFA”). The Plan has not been and will not be lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and is not regulated by any financial supervisory authority pursuant to any legislation in Singapore. Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. You should note that the Unit is subject to section 257 of the SFA and you will not be able to make any subsequent sale of the shares of Stock in Singapore, or any offer of such subsequent sale of the shares of Stock subject to the Grants in Singapore, unless such sale or offer is made pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division 1 Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the SFA.

*    *    *    *    *

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EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Michael F. Mahoney, certify that:

1	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Boston Scientific Corporation;
2	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
	a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
	b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
	c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
	d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
	a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
	b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	May 3, 2017	/s/ Michael F. Mahoney
		Michael F. Mahoney
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Daniel J. Brennan, certify that:

1	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Boston Scientific Corporation;
2	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4	The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
	a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
	b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
	c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
	d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
	a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
	b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	May 3, 2017	/s/ Daniel J. Brennan
		Daniel J. Brennan
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.

SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Boston Scientific Corporation (the “Company”) for the period ended March 31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned Chief Executive Officer of the Company hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that based on his knowledge:

(1)	the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Boston Scientific Corporation.

This certification shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

By:	/s/ Michael F. Mahoney
	Michael F. Mahoney
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	May 3, 2017

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.

SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Boston Scientific Corporation (the “Company”) for the period ended March 31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned Chief Financial Officer of the Company hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that based on his knowledge:

(1)	the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Boston Scientific Corporation.

This certification shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

By:	/s/ Daniel J. Brennan
	Daniel J. Brennan
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	May 3, 2017

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Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000885725
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,369,401,733

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net sales	$ 2,160	$ 1,964
Cost of products sold	650	573
Gross profit	1,510	1,391
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	794	716
Research and development expenses	235	210
Royalty expense	17	19
Amortization expense	143	136
Contingent consideration expense (benefit)	(50)	4
Restructuring charges (credits)	4	3
Litigation-related charges (credits)	3	10
Operating expenses	1,146	1,098
Operating income (loss)	364	293
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(57)	(59)
Other, net	(2)	(6)
Income (loss) before income taxes	305	228
Income tax expense (benefit)	15	26
Net income (loss)	$ 290	$ 202
Net income (loss) per common share — basic	$ 0.21	$ 0.15
Net income (loss) per common share — assuming dilution	$ 0.21	$ 0.15
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	1,365.4	1,350.4
Assuming dilution	1,390.2	1,369.9

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net income (loss)	$ 290	$ 202
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	8	16
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments	(55)	(69)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(47)	(53)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 243	$ 149

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 156	$ 196
Trade accounts receivable, net	1,429	1,472
Inventories	971	955
Deferred and prepaid income taxes	65	75
Other current assets	405	541
Total current assets	3,026	3,239
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,652	1,630
Goodwill	6,680	6,678
Other intangible assets, net	5,743	5,883
Other long-term assets	842	666
TOTAL ASSETS	17,943	18,096
Current liabilities:
Current debt obligations	5	64
Accounts payable	376	447
Accrued expenses	2,298	2,312
Other current liabilities	811	764
Total current liabilities	3,490	3,587
Long-term debt	5,509	5,420
Deferred income taxes	19	18
Other long-term liabilities	1,872	2,338
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 50,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 2,000,000,000 shares - issued 1,616,648,758 shares as of March 31, 2017 and 1,609,670,817 shares as of December 31, 2016	16	16
Treasury stock, at cost - 247,566,270 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	(1,717)	(1,717)
Additional paid-in capital	17,015	17,014
Accumulated deficit	(8,215)	(8,581)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(46)	1
Total stockholders’ equity	7,053	6,733
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 17,943	$ 18,096

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	1,616,648,758	1,609,670,817
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,369,082,488	1,362,104,547
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	0	0
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	0	0
Treasury Stock, Shares	247,566,270	247,566,270

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$ 114	$ 116
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(112)	(60)
Proceeds on disposals of property, plant and equipment	0	30
Payments for investments, acquisitions of certain technologies and issuances of notes receivable	(28)	(18)
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(140)	(48)
Financing activities:
Payments on long-term borrowings	(250)	0
Payment of contingent consideration amounts previously established in purchase accounting	(18)	(21)
Proceeds from borrowings on credit facilities	1,016	40
Payments on borrowings from credit facilities	(735)	(40)
Cash used to net share settle employee equity awards	(61)	(57)
Proceeds from issuances of shares of common stock	33	27
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(15)	(51)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	1	2
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(40)	19
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	196	319
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	156	338
Supplemental Information
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 30	$ 28

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Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Boston Scientific Corporation have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Subsequent Events

We evaluate events occurring after the date of our most recent accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets for potential recognition or disclosure in our financial statements. We did not identify any material subsequent events requiring adjustment to our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (recognized subsequent events) for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Those items requiring disclosure (unrecognized subsequent events) in the financial statements have been disclosed accordingly. Refer to Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements andNote I – Commitments and Contingenciesfor more information.

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Acquisitions and Strategic Investments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Business Combinations [Abstract]

ACQUISITIONS AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

NOTE B – ACQUISITIONS AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

We did not close any material acquisitions during the first quarter of 2017 or 2016.

Symetis SA

On March 29, 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Symetis SA (Symetis) for $435 millionin cash. Symetis is a privately-held Swiss structural heart company focused on minimally-invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) devices. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Symetis will be integrated into our Interventional Cardiology business.

Contingent Consideration

Certain of our acquisitions involve contingent consideration arrangements. Payment of additional consideration is generally contingent on the acquired company reaching certain performance milestones, including attaining specified revenue levels, achieving product development targets and/or obtaining regulatory approvals. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we recognize a liability equal to the fair value of the contingent payments we expect to make as of the acquisition date. We re-measure this liability each reporting period and record changes in the fair value through a separate line item within our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

We recorded a net benefit related to the changes in fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities of $50 million during the first quarter of 2017 and net expenses of $4 million during the first quarter of 2016. We made contingent consideration payments of $28 million during the first quarter of 2017 and $63 million during the first quarter of 2016.

Changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities were as follows (in millions):

Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	204
Fair value adjustments	(50		)
Contingent payments related to prior period acquisitions	(28		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	126

As of March 31, 2017, the maximum amount of future contingent consideration (undiscounted) that we could be required to pay was approximately $1.283 billion.

Contingent consideration liabilities are remeasured to fair value each reporting period using projected revenues, discount rates, probabilities of payment and projected payment dates. The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our contingent consideration liabilities include the following significant unobservable inputs:

Contingent Consideration Liabilities	Fair Value as of March 31, 2017	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestones	$45 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	2% - 3%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2021
Revenue-based Payments	$81 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11% - 15%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2026

Increases or decreases in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities can result from changes in discount periods and rates, as well as changes in the timing and amount of revenue estimates or in the timing or likelihood of achieving R&D and commercialization-based and revenue-based milestones. Projected contingent payment amounts related to some of our R&D and commercialization-based and revenue-based milestones are discounted back to the current period using a discounted cash flow model. Projected revenues are based on our most recent internal operational budgets and long-range strategic plans. Increases in projected revenues and probabilities of payment may result in higher fair value measurements. Increases in discount rates and the time to payment may result in lower fair value measurements. Increases or decreases in any of those inputs together, or in isolation, may result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.

Strategic Investments

We did not close any material strategic investments during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016.

We account for certain of our strategic investments as equity method investments, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323).

The aggregate carrying amount of our strategic investments as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were comprised of the following categories:

(in millions)	As of
	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Equity method investments	$	266	$	265
Cost method investments	34		20
Available-for-sale securities	28		20
Notes receivable	43		42
	$	371	$	347

These investments are classified as other long-term assets within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with U.S. GAAP and our accounting policies. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, the net losses from our strategic investments, presented within the Other, net caption of our condensed consolidated statement of operations were immaterial.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

NOTE C – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization for intangible assets subject to amortization and accumulated write-offs of goodwill as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

	As of
	March 31, 2017					December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/			Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/
(in millions)	Amount		Write-offs			Amount		Write-offs
Amortizable intangible assets
Technology-related	$	9,123	$	(4,570	)	$	9,123	$	(4,468	)
Patents	516		(372		)	529		(374		)
Other intangible assets	1,584		(750		)	1,583		(722		)
	$	11,223	$	(5,692	)	$	11,235	$	(5,564	)
Unamortizable intangible assets
Goodwill	$	16,580	$	(9,900	)	$	16,578	$	(9,900	)
In-process research and development	92		—			92		—
Technology-related	120		—			120		—
	$	16,792	$	(9,900	)	$	16,790	$	(9,900	)

Our technology-related intangible assets that are not subject to amortization represent technical processes, intellectual property and/or institutional understanding acquired through business combinations that are fundamental to the on-going operations of our business and have no limit to their useful life. Our technology-related intangible assets that are not subject to amortization are comprised primarily of certain acquired balloon and other technology, which is foundational to our continuing operations within the Cardiovascular market and other markets within interventional medicine. We assess our indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually for impairment and reassess their classification as indefinite-lived assets. We assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that our indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, we then determine the fair value of the intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350).

The following represents our goodwill balance by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular		Rhythm Management		MedSurg		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	3,513	$	290	$	2,875	$	6,678
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	1		—		1		2
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	3,514	$	290	$	2,876	$	6,680

Goodwill Impairment Testing

We test our goodwill balances for impairment during the second quarter of each year, or more frequently if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest an impairment may exist. Refer to Note D - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets contained in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for discussion of our most recent goodwill impairment test.

The following is a rollforward of accumulated goodwill write-offs by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2016	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Accumulated write-offs as of March 31, 2017	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)

Intangible Asset Impairment Testing

On a quarterly basis, we monitor for events or other potential indicators of impairment that would warrant an interim impairment test of our intangible assets. We did not record any intangible asset impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

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Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

NOTE D – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We address market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates through a risk management program that includes the use of derivative financial instruments and we operate the program pursuant to documented corporate risk management policies. Our derivative instruments do not subject our earnings or cash flows to material risk, as gains and losses on these derivatives generally offset losses and gains on the item being hedged. We do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes and we do not have any non-derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).

Currency Hedging

We are exposed to currency risk consisting primarily of foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities, forecasted foreign currency denominated intercompany transactions and third-party transactions, and net investments in certain subsidiaries. We manage our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on a consolidated basis to take advantage of offsetting transactions. We use derivative instruments and non-derivative transactions to reduce the risk that our earnings and cash flows associated with these foreign currency denominated balances and transactions will be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate changes.

Currently or Previously Designated Foreign Currency Hedges

All of our designated currency hedge contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 intended to protect the U.S. dollar value of our forecasted foreign currency denominated transactions. We record the effective portion of any change in the fair value of foreign currency cash flow hedges in other comprehensive income (OCI) until the related third-party transaction occurs. Once the related third-party transaction occurs, we reclassify the effective portion of any related gain or loss on the foreign currency cash flow hedge to earnings. In the event the hedged forecasted transaction does not occur, or it becomes no longer probable that it will occur, we reclassify the amount of any gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge to earnings at that time. We had currency derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges outstanding in the contract amount of $2.161 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $2.271 billion as of December 31, 2016.

We recognized net gains of $28 million in earnings on our cash flow hedges during the first quarter of 2017, as compared to net gains of $48 million during the first quarter of 2016. All currency cash flow hedges outstanding as of March 31, 2017 mature within 60 months. As of March 31, 2017, $47 million of net gains, net of tax, were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to recognize the effective portion of the fair value of any currency derivative instruments that are, or previously were, designated as foreign currency cash flow hedges, as compared to net gains, net of tax, of $102 million as of December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2017, $30 million of net gains, net of tax, may be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

The success of our hedging program depends, in part, on forecasts of transaction activity in various currencies (primarily British pound sterling, Euro and Japanese yen). We may experience unanticipated currency exchange gains or losses to the extent that there are differences between forecasted and actual activity during periods of currency volatility. In addition, changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to any unhedged transactions may impact our earnings and cash flows.

Non-designated Foreign Currency Contracts

We use currency forward contracts as a part of our strategy to manage exposure related to foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. These currency forward contracts are not designated as cash flow, fair value or net investment hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815. The currency forward contracts are marked-to-market with changes in fair value recorded to earnings and are entered into for periods consistent with currency transaction exposures, generally less than one year. We had currency derivative instruments not designated as hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 outstanding in the contract amount of $2.048 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $1.830 billion as of December 31, 2016.

Interest Rate Hedging

Our interest rate risk relates primarily to U.S. dollar borrowings, partially offset by U.S. dollar cash investments. We have historically used interest rate derivative instruments to manage our earnings and cash flow exposure to changes in interest rates by converting fixed-rate debt into floating-rate debt or floating-rate debt into fixed-rate debt. We had no interest rate derivative instruments outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

We designate these derivative instruments either as fair value or cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815. We record changes in the value of fair value hedges in interest expense, which is generally offset by changes in the fair value of the hedged debt obligation. Interest payments made or received related to our interest rate derivative instruments are included in interest expense. We record the effective portion of any change in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges as unrealized gains or losses in OCI, net of tax, until the hedged cash flow occurs, at which point the effective portion of any gain or loss is reclassified to earnings. We record the ineffective portion of our cash flow hedges in interest expense. In the event the hedged cash flow does not occur, or it becomes no longer probable that it will occur, we reclassify the amount of any gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge to interest expense at that time.

We are amortizing the gains and losses on previously terminated interest rate derivative instruments, including fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts designated as fair value hedges and forward starting interest rate derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges into earnings as a component of interest expense over the remaining term of the hedged debt, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815. The carrying amount of certain of our senior notes included unamortized gains of $48 million as of March 31, 2017 and $51 million as of December 31, 2016. We had no unamortized losses as of March 31, 2017 compared to an immaterial amount as of December 31, 2016. In addition, we had pre-tax net gains within AOCI related to terminated forward starting interest rate derivative contracts of $9 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The net gains that we recognized as a reduction of interest expense in earnings related to previously terminated interest rate derivatives were $3 million during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016. As of March 31, 2017, $14 million of net gains may be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months from amortization of our previously terminated interest rate derivative contracts.

Counterparty Credit Risk

We do not have significant concentrations of credit risk arising from our derivative financial instruments, whether from an individual counterparty or a related group of counterparties. We manage our concentration of counterparty credit risk on our derivative instruments by limiting acceptable counterparties to a diversified group of major financial institutions with investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of credit exposure to each counterparty and by actively monitoring their credit ratings and outstanding fair values on an on-going basis. Furthermore, none of our derivative transactions are subject to collateral or other security arrangements and none contain provisions that are dependent on our credit ratings from any credit rating agency.

We also employ master netting arrangements that reduce our counterparty payment settlement risk on any given maturity date to the net amount of any receipts or payments due between us and the counterparty financial institution. Thus, the maximum loss due to counterparty credit risk is limited to the unrealized gains in such contracts net of any unrealized losses should any of these counterparties fail to perform as contracted. Although these protections do not eliminate concentrations of credit risk, as a result of the above considerations, we do not consider the risk of counterparty default to be significant.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The following presents the effect of our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 on our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016:

(in millions)	Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)		Location in Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Currency hedge contracts	$	(58	)	$	28	Cost of products sold
	$	(58	)	$	28
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Currency hedge contracts	$	59		$	48	Cost of products sold
	$	59		$	48

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings related to the ineffective portion of hedging relationships was immaterial in all periods presented.

Net gains and losses on currency hedge contracts not designated as hedging instruments were offset by net losses and gains from foreign currency transaction exposures, as shown in the following table:

(in millions)	Location in Statement of Operations	Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2017			2016
Net gain (loss) on currency hedge contracts	Other, net	$	(17	)	$	(39	)
Net gain (loss) on foreign currency transaction exposures	Other, net	17			34
Net foreign currency gain (loss)	Other, net	$	—		$	(5	)

FASB ASC Topic 815 requires all derivative instruments to be recognized at their fair values as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We determine the fair value of our derivative instruments using the framework prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, by considering the estimated amount we would receive or pay to transfer these instruments at the reporting date and by taking into account current interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, the creditworthiness of the counterparty for the assets and our creditworthiness for liabilities. In certain instances, we may utilize financial models to measure fair value. In doing so, we use inputs that include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, other observable inputs for the asset or liability, and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. As of March 31, 2017, we have classified all of our derivative assets and liabilities within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, as discussed below, because these observable inputs are available for substantially the full term of our derivative instruments.

The following are the balances of our derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

		As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in millions)	Location in Balance Sheet (1)	2017		2016
Derivative Assets:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	$	55	$	98
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term assets	36		65
		91		163
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	17		36
Total Derivative Assets		$	108	$	199
Derivative Liabilities:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	$	13	$	3
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term liabilities	9		4
		22		7
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	27		19
Total Derivative Liabilities		$	49	$	26

(1) We classify derivative assets and liabilities as current when the remaining term of the derivative contract is one year or less.

Other Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

On a recurring basis, we measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value based upon quoted market prices, where available. Where quoted market prices or other observable inputs are not available, we apply valuation techniques to estimate fair value. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The categorization of financial assets and financial liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value. The three levels of the hierarchy are defined as follows:

• Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are other observable inputs, including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities and market-corroborated inputs.

• Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs based on management’s best estimate of inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date, including assumptions about risk.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of the following as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

	As of
	March 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Money market and government funds	$	2	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	42	$	—	$	—	$	42
Available-for-sale securities	28		—		—		28		20		—		—		20
Currency hedge contracts	—		108		—		108		—		199		—		199
	$	30	$	108	$	—	$	138	$	62	$	199	$	—	$	261
Liabilities
Currency hedge contracts	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	26	$	—	$	26
Accrued contingent consideration	—		—		126		126		—		—		204		204
	$	—	$	49	$	126	$	175	$	—	$	26	$	204	$	230

Our investments in money market and government funds are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. These investments are classified as cash and cash equivalents within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with U.S. GAAP and our accounting policies. In addition to $2 million invested in money market and government funds as of March 31, 2017, we had $154 million in interest bearing and non-interest bearing bank accounts. In addition to $42 million invested in money market and government funds as of December 31, 2016, we had $19 million in short-term deposits and $135 million in interest bearing and non-interest bearing bank accounts.

Our recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) relate solely to our contingent consideration liability. Refer to Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investmentsfor a discussion of the changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liability.

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

We hold certain assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition. The fair value of a cost method investment is not estimated if there are no identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. Refer to Note B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investments for a discussion of our strategic investments.

The fair value of our outstanding debt obligations was $5.794 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $5.739 billion as of December 31, 2016, which was determined by using quoted market prices for our publicly registered senior notes, classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Refer to Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements for a discussion of our debt obligations.

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Borrowings and Credit Arrangements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

BORROWINGS AND CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

NOTE E – BORROWINGS AND CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

We had total debt of $5.514 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $5.484 billion as of December 31, 2016. The debt maturity schedule for the significant components of our debt obligations as of March 31, 2017 is as follows:

(in millions)	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
Senior Notes	$	—	$	600	$	—	$	1,450	$	—	$	2,350	$	4,400
Term Loans	—		225		150		375		—		—		750
Revolving Credit Facility	—		—		—		125		—		—		125
Accounts Receivable Securitization	—		—		216		—		—		—		216
	$	—	$	825	$	366	$	1,950	$	—	$	2,350	$	5,491

Note: The table above does not include unamortized discounts associated with our senior notes, or amounts related to interest rate contracts used to hedge the fair value of certain of our senior notes or debt issuance costs.

Revolving Credit Facility

On April 10, 2015, we entered into a $2.000 billion revolving credit facility (the 2015 Facility) with a global syndicate of commercial banks and terminated our previous $2.000 billionrevolving credit facility.The 2015 Facility matures on April 10, 2020. Eurodollar and multicurrency loans under the 2015 Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin of between 0.9 percent and 1.5 percent, based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio (1.3 percent as of March 31, 2017). In addition, we are required to pay a facility fee based on our credit ratings, consolidated leverage ratio and the total amount of revolving credit commitment, regardless of usage, under the credit agreement (0.2 percent as of March 31, 2017).The 2015 Facility contains covenants which, among other things, required that we maintained a minimum interest coverage ratio of 3.0 times consolidated EBITDA and a maximum leverage ratio of 4.5 times consolidated EBITDA for the first four fiscal quarter-ends following the closing of the acquisition of the American Medical Systems male urology portfolio (AMS Portfolio Acquisition) on August 3, 2015 and decreasing to 4.25 times, 4.0 times and 3.75 times consolidated EBITDA for the next three fiscal quarter-ends after such four fiscal quarter-ends and then to 3.50 times for each fiscal quarter-end thereafter. There was $125 millionborrowed under our current revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2017 and no borrowings under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2016.

Our revolving credit facility agreement in place as of March 31, 2017 requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, as follows:

	Covenant Requirement as of March 31, 2017	Actual as of March 31, 2017
Maximum leverage ratio (1)	3.75 times	2.40 times
Minimum interest coverage ratio (2)	3.0 times	9.9 times

(1) Ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

(2) Ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, to interest expense for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

The credit agreement for the 2015 Facility provides for an exclusion from the calculation of consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, through the credit agreement maturity, of any non-cash charges and up to $620 million in restructuring charges and restructuring-related expenses related to our current or future restructuring plans. As of March 31, 2017, we had$468 million of the restructuring charge exclusion remaining. In addition, any cash litigation payments (net of any cash litigation receipts), as defined by the agreement, are excluded from the calculation of consolidated EBITDA and any new debt issued to fund any tax deficiency payments is excluded from consolidated total debt, as defined in the agreement, provided that the sum of any excluded net cash litigation payments and any new debt issued to fund any tax deficiency payments does not exceed $2.000 billionin the aggregate. As of March 31, 2017, we had $728 million of the combined legal and debt exclusion remaining.

As of and through March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with the required covenants.

Any inability to maintain compliance with these covenants could require us to seek to renegotiate the terms of our credit facility or seek waivers from compliance with these covenants, both of which could result in additional borrowing costs. Further, there can be no assurance that our lenders would agree to such new terms or grant such waivers.

Term Loans

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate of $750 million outstanding under our unsecured term loan facilities. These facilities include an unsecured term loan facility entered into in August 2013 (2013 Term Loan) which had $150 million outstanding as of March 31, 2017 andDecember 31, 2016, along with an unsecured term loan facility entered into in April 2015 (2015 Term Loan) which had $600 millionoutstanding as of March 31, 2017andDecember 31, 2016.

Borrowings under the 2013 Term Loan bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin between 1.00 percent and 1.75 percent (currently 1.50 percent) based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio. We repaid $150 million of our 2013 Term Loan facility in the fourth quarter of 2015 and repaid an additional $100 million during the second quarter of 2016. As a result and in accordance with the credit agreement, the outstanding balance of $150 million is the remaining principal amount due at the final maturity date in August 2018. The 2013 Term Loan borrowings are repayable at any time without premium or penalty.

On April 10, 2015, we entered into a new $750 million unsecured term loan credit facility (2015 Term Loan) which matures on August 3, 2020. The 2015 Term Loan was funded on August 3, 2015 and was used to partially fund the AMS Portfolio Acquisition, including the payment of fees and expenses. Term loan borrowings under this facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin of between 1.00 percent and 1.75 percent (currently 1.50 percent), based on our corporate credit ratings and consolidated leverage ratio. We repaid $150 million of our 2015 Term Loan during the second quarter of 2016. The remaining 2015 Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $38 million commencing in the third quarter of 2018 and the remaining principal amount is due at the final maturity date of August 3, 2020.

Our 2013 Term Loan agreement and our 2015 Term Loan agreement require that we comply with certain covenants, including financial covenants with respect to maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage, consistent with our revolving credit facility. The maximum leverage ratio requirement is 3.75 times and our actual leverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 2.40 times. The minimum interest coverage ratio requirement is 3.0 times and our actual interest coverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 9.9 times.

In April 2017, we repaid $350 million of our term loan credit facilities. The payment was applied to the nearest maturities and primarily funded with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Senior Notes

We had senior notes outstanding of $4.400 billion as ofMarch 31, 2017 and$4.650 billion as of December 31, 2016. On January 12, 2017, we used our existing credit facilities to repay the $250 million of our senior notes due in January 2017.Our senior notes were issued in public offerings, are redeemable prior to maturity and are not subject to any sinking fund requirements. Our senior notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations and rank on parity with each other. These notes are effectively junior to borrowings under our credit and security facility and to the extent borrowed by our subsidiaries, to liabilities of our subsidiaries (see Other Arrangements below).

Other Arrangements

As ofDecember 31, 2016, we maintained a$300 million credit and security facility secured by our U.S. trade receivables maturing on June 9, 2017. The credit and security facility required that we maintained a maximum leverage covenant consistent with our revolving credit facility. On February 7, 2017, we amended the terms of this credit and security facility, including increasing the facility size to$400 million. The amendment retained a similar maximum leverage ratio requirement and extended the facility maturity to February 2019. The maximum leverage ratio requirement is 3.75 times and our actual leverage ratio as of March 31, 2017 is 2.40 times. We had borrowings of $216 million outstanding under this facility as of March 31, 2017 and $60 million as of December 31, 2016.

We have accounts receivable factoring programs in certain European countries that we account for as sales under FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing. These agreements provide for the sale of accounts receivable to third parties, without recourse, of up to $406 million as of March 31, 2017. We have no retained interests in the transferred receivables, other than collection and administrative responsibilities and, once sold, the accounts receivable are no longer available to satisfy creditors in the event of bankruptcy. We de-recognized $156 million of receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of1.1 percent and $152 million as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.8 percent.

In addition, we have uncommitted credit facilities with a commercial Japanese bank that provide for borrowings, promissory notes discounting and receivables factoring of up to 21.0 billion Japanese yen (approximately $188 million as ofMarch 31, 2017). We de-recognized $154 million of notes receivable and factored receivables as of March 31, 2017 at an average interest rate of 1.3 percent and $149 million of notes receivable as of December 31, 2016 at an average interest rate of 1.6 percent. De-recognized accounts and notes receivable are excluded from trade accounts receivable, net in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had outstanding letters of credit of $44 million, which consisted primarily of bank guarantees and collateral for workers' compensation insurance arrangements. As ofMarch 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, none of the beneficiaries had drawn upon the letters of credit or guarantees; accordingly, we did not recognize a related liability for our outstanding letters of credit in our consolidated balance sheets as ofMarch 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016. We believe we will generate sufficient cash from operations to fund these arrangements and intend to fund these arrangements without drawing on the letters of credit.

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Restructuring Related Activities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

NOTE F – RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES

2016 Restructuring Plan

On June 6, 2016, our Board of Directors approved and we committed to, a restructuring initiative (the 2016 Restructuring Plan). The 2016 Restructuring Plan is intended to develop global commercialization, technology and manufacturing capabilities in key growth markets, build on our Plant Network Optimization (PNO) strategy which is intended to simplify our manufacturing plant structure by transferring certain production lines among facilities and expand operational efficiencies in support of our operating income margin goals. Key activities under the 2016 Restructuring Plan include strengthening global infrastructure through evolving global real estate and workplaces, developing global commercial and technical competencies, enhancing manufacturing and distribution expertise in certain regions and continuing implementation of our ongoing PNO strategy. These activities were initiated in the second quarter of 2016 and are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2018.

The implementation of the 2016 Restructuring Plan is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $175 million to $225 million and approximately $160 million to $210 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. We have recorded related costs of $66 million since the inception of the plan through March 31, 2017 and recorded a portion of these expenses as restructuring charges and the remaining portion through other lines within our consolidated statements of operations.

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with the 2016 Restructuring Plan through the end of 2018 by major type of cost:

Type of cost	Total estimated amount expected to be incurred
Restructuring charges:
Termination benefits	$65 million to $80 million
Other (1)	$10 million to $20 million
Restructuring-related expenses:
Other (2)	$100 million to $125 million
	$175 million to $225 million

(1) Consists primarily of consulting fees and costs associated with contract cancellations.

(2) Comprised of other costs directly related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan, including program management, accelerated depreciation and costs to transfer product lines among facilities.

We recorded restructuring charges pursuant to our restructuring plans of $4 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $3 million in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, we recorded expenses within other lines of our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations related to our restructuring initiatives of $15 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $10 million in the first quarter of 2016.

The following presents these costs (credits) by major type and line item within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	3	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	4
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		12		—		12
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		2		—		1		3
	—		2		12		1		15
	$	3	$	2	$	12	$	2	$	19

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2017 were related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	3
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		5		—		5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		1		—		4		5
	—		1		5		4		10
	$	1	$	1	$	5	$	6	$	13

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2016 were related to a previous restructuring plan that was substantially completed in 2015.

Termination benefits represent amounts incurred pursuant to our ongoing benefit arrangements and amounts for “one-time” involuntary termination benefits and have been recorded in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 712,Compensation - Nonretirement and Postemployment Benefits (Topic 712) and FASBASC Topic 420,Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (Topic 420). Other restructuring costs, which represent primarily consulting fees and costs related to contract cancellations, are being recorded as incurred in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420. Accelerated depreciation is being recorded over the adjusted remaining useful life of the related assets and program management and production line transfer costs are being recorded as incurred.

As of March 31, 2017, we incurred cumulative restructuring charges related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan of $32 million and restructuring-related charges of $34 million since we committed to the plan. The following presents these costs by major type:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Termination benefits	$	27
Other	5
Total restructuring charges	32
Accelerated depreciation	3
Transfer costs	27
Other	4
Restructuring-related expenses	34
	$	66

We made cash payments of $16 million in the first quarter of 2017 associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan and as of March 31, 2017, we had made total cash payments of $43 million related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan since committing to the plan. These payments were made using cash generated from operations and are comprised of the following:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Termination benefits	$	4
Transfer costs	11
Other	1
	$	16
Program to Date
Termination benefits	$	12
Transfer costs	26
Other	5
	$	43

Our restructuring liability is primarily comprised of accruals for termination benefits. The following is a rollforward of the termination benefit liability associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan, which is reported as a component of accrued expenses included in our accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Accrued as of December 31, 2016	$	16
Charges (credits)	3
Cash payments	(4		)
Accrued as of March 31, 2017	$	15

In addition to our accrual for termination benefits, we had a $6 million liability as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for other restructuring-related items.

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Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]

Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures

NOTE G – SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

Components of selected captions in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

Trade accounts receivable, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Accounts receivable	$	1,548		$	1,591
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(75		)	(73		)
Less: allowance for sales returns	(44		)	(46		)
	$	1,429		$	1,472

The following is a rollforward of our allowance for doubtful accounts for the first quarter and first three months of2017 and 2016:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	73		$	75
Net charges to expenses	3			4
Utilization of allowances	(1		)	1
Ending balance	$	75		$	80

Inventories

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Finished goods	$	624	$	625
Work-in-process	66		94
Raw materials	281		236
	$	971	$	955

Prepaids and other current assets

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Prepaid expenses	$	98	$	58
Restricted cash	127		243
Other	180		240
	$	405	$	541

Property, plant and equipment, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Land	$	91	$	91
Buildings and improvements	1,010		981
Equipment, furniture and fixtures	3,027		2,955
Capital in progress	318		338
	4,446		4,365
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,794		2,735
	$	1,652	$	1,630

Depreciation expense was $63 million for the first quarter of 2017 and $64 million for the first quarter of 2016.

Accrued expenses

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Legal reserves	$	1,236	$	1,062
Payroll and related liabilities	459		572
Accrued contingent consideration	52		63
Other	551		615
	$	2,298	$	2,312

Other long-term liabilities

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Accrued income taxes	$	812	$	781
Legal reserves	515		961
Accrued contingent consideration	74		141
Other long-term liabilities	471		455
	$	1,872	$	2,338

Accrued warranties

We offer warranties on certain of our product offerings. The majority of our warranty liability relates to implantable devices offered by our Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) business, which include defibrillator and pacemaker systems. Our CRM products come with a standard limited warranty covering the replacement of these devices. We offer a full warranty for a portion of the period post-implant and a partial warranty for a period of time thereafter. We estimate the costs that we may incur under our warranty programs based on the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim and record a liability equal to these estimated costs as cost of products sold at the time the product sale occurs. We reassess the adequacy of our recorded warranty liabilities on a quarterly basis and adjust these amounts as necessary. The current portion of our warranty accrual is included in other accrued expenses in the table above and the non-current portion of our warranty accrual is included in other long-term liabilities in the table above. Changes in our product warranty accrual during the first three months of2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning Balance	$	22		$	23
Provision	6			4
Settlements/reversals	(3		)	(6		)
Ending Balance	$	25		$	21

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

NOTE H – INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rates from continuing operations were 4.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 11.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The change in our reported tax rate for the first quarter of 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016, relates primarily to the impact of certain receipts and charges that are taxed at different rates than our effective tax rate, including acquisition-related items, contingent consideration, restructuring and restructuring-related items, litigation-related items and amortization expense, as well as the impact of certain discrete tax items. During the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a discrete tax benefit related to share-based payment awards due to application of ASC Update No. 2016-09. Refer to Note M – New Accounting Pronouncements to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information.

As of March 31, 2017, we had $1.106 billion of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $1.017 billion, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2016, we had $1.095 billion of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which a net $1.006 billion, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate.

We have received Notices of Deficiency from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reflecting proposed audit adjustments for Guidant Corporation for its 2001 through 2006 tax years and for Boston Scientific Corporation for its 2006 and 2007 tax years. The total incremental tax liability asserted by the IRS for the applicable periods is $1.162 billion plus interest. The primary issue in dispute for all years is the transfer pricing associated with the technology license agreements between domestic and foreign subsidiaries of Guidant. In addition, the IRS has proposed adjustments in connection with the financial terms of our Transaction Agreement with Abbott Laboratories pertaining to the sale of Guidant's vascular intervention business to Abbott in April 2006. During 2014, we received a Revenue Agent Report from the IRS reflecting significant proposed audit adjustments to our 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years based upon the same transfer pricing methodologies that the IRS applied to our 2001 through 2007 tax years.

We do not agree with the transfer pricing methodologies applied by the IRS or its resulting assessment. We have filed petitions with the U.S. Tax Court (Tax Court) contesting the Notices of Deficiency for the 2001 through 2007 tax years in challenge and submitted a letter to the IRS Office of Appeals (IRS Appeals) protesting the Revenue Agent Report for the 2008 through 2010 tax years and requesting an administrative appeal hearing. The issues in dispute were scheduled to be heard in Tax Court in late July 2016. On July 19, 2016, we entered into a Stipulation of Settled Issues with the IRS intended to resolve all of the aforementioned transfer pricing issues, as well as the issues related to our transaction with Abbott. The Stipulation of Settled Issues is contingent upon IRS Appeals applying the same basis of settlement to all transfer pricing issues for the Company’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years and if applicable, review by the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. In October 2016, we reached an agreement in principle with the IRS Appeals as to the resolution of transfer pricing issues in 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years, subject to additional calculations of tax as well as documentation to memorialize our agreement.

In the event that the conditions in the Stipulation of Settled Items are satisfied, we expect to make net tax payments to the IRS of approximately $275 million, plus interest through the date of payment. If finalized, payments related to the resolution are expected in the next six to 12 months. We believe that our income tax reserves associated with these matters are adequate as of March 31, 2017 and we do not expect to recognize any additional charges related to the resolution of this controversy. However, the final resolution of these issues is contingent and if the Stipulation of Settled Issues is not finalized, it could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

We recognize interest and penalties related to income taxes as a component of income tax expense. We had $592 million accrued for gross interest and penalties as of March 31, 2017 and $572 million as of December 31, 2016. We recognized net tax expense related to interest and penalties of $13 million during the first quarter of 2017 and $10 million during the first quarter of 2016.

It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months we will resolve multiple issues including transfer pricing and transactional-related issues with foreign, federal and state taxing authorities, in which case we could record a reduction in our balance of unrecognized tax benefits of up to approximately $757 million.

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Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE I – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The medical device market in which we primarily participate is largely technology driven. As a result, intellectual property rights, particularly patents and trade secrets, play a significant role in product development and differentiation. Over the years, there has been litigation initiated against us by others, including our competitors, claiming that our current or former product offerings infringe patents owned or licensed by them. Intellectual property litigation is inherently complex and unpredictable. In addition, competing parties frequently file multiple suits to leverage patent portfolios across product lines, technologies and geographies and to balance risk and exposure between the parties. In some cases, several competitors are parties in the same proceeding, or in a series of related proceedings or litigate multiple features of a single class of devices. These forces frequently drive settlement not only for individual cases, but also for a series of pending and potentially related and unrelated cases. Although monetary and injunctive relief is typically sought, remedies and restitution are generally not determined until the conclusion of the trial court proceedings and can be modified on appeal. Accordingly, the outcomes of individual cases are difficult to time, predict or quantify and are often dependent upon the outcomes of other cases in other geographies.

During recent years, we successfully negotiated closure of several long-standing legal matters and have received favorable rulings in several other matters, however, there continues to be outstanding intellectual property litigation. Adverse outcomes in one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell certain products and on our operating margins, financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In the normal course of business, product liability, securities and commercial claims are asserted against us. Similar claims may be asserted against us in the future related to events not known to management at the present time. We maintain an insurance policy providing limited coverage against securities claims and we are substantially self-insured with respect to product liability claims and fully self-insured with respect to intellectual property infringement claims. The absence of significant third-party insurance coverage increases our potential exposure to unanticipated claims or adverse decisions. Product liability claims, securities and commercial litigation and other legal proceedings in the future, regardless of their outcome, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In addition, like other companies in the medical device industry, we are subject to extensive regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which we operate. From time to time we are the subject of qui tam actions and governmental investigations often involving regulatory, marketing and other business practices. These qui tam actions and governmental investigations could result in the commencement of civil and criminal proceedings, substantial fines, penalties and administrative remedies and have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, we accrue anticipated costs of settlements, damages and losses for product liability claims and, under certain conditions, costs of defense, based on historical experience or to the extent specific losses are probable and estimable. Otherwise, we expense these costs as incurred. If the estimate of a probable loss is a range and no amount within the range is more likely, we accrue the minimum amount of the range.

Our accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable was $1.751 billion as of March 31, 2017 and $2.023 billion as of December 31, 2016 and includes certain estimated costs of settlement, damages and defense. The decrease in our legal accrual was primarily due to settlement payments authorized during the quarter associated with product liability cases or claims related to transvaginal surgical mesh products. We recorded $3 million of litigation-related charges during the first three months of2017 and $10 million of litigation-related charges during the first three months of2016. We continue to assess certain litigation and claims to determine the amounts, if any, that management believes will be paid as a result of such claims and litigation and, therefore, additional losses may be accrued and paid in the future, which could materially adversely impact our operating results, cash flows and/or our ability to comply with our debt covenants.

In management's opinion, we are not currently involved in any legal proceedings other than those disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and those specifically identified below, which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operations and/or cash flows. Unless included in our legal accrual or otherwise indicated below, a range of loss associated with any individual material legal proceeding cannot be estimated.

Patent Litigation

On October 30, 2015, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and Edwards Lifesciences Services GmbH in Düsseldorf District Court in Germany for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ SAPIEN™ 3 Heart Valve infringes our patent related to adaptive sealing technology. On February 25, 2016, we extended the action to allege infringement of a second patent related to adaptive sealing technology. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that Edwards infringed both patents. Edwards has filed an appeal.

On November 9, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences, LLC filed an invalidity claim against one of our subsidiaries, Sadra Medical, Inc. (Sadra), in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division Patents Court in the United Kingdom, alleging that a European patent owned by Sadra relating to a repositionable heart valve is invalid. On January 15, 2016, we filed our defense and counterclaim for a declaration that our European patent is valid and infringed by Edwards. On February 25, 2016, we amended our counterclaim to allege infringement of a second patent related to adaptive sealing technology. A trial was held from January 18 to January 27, 2017. On March 3, 2017, the court found one patent of the Company valid and infringed and some claims of the second patent of the Company invalid and the remaining claims not infringed. Both parties have filed an appeal.

On November 23, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences PVT, Inc. filed a patent infringement action against us and one of our subsidiaries, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging a European patent (Spenser '672) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus™ Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that the Company did not infringe the Spenser '672 patent. Edwards has filed an appeal.

On November 23, 2015, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation filed a patent infringement action against us and Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging an European patent (Bourang) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 28, 2017, the European Patent Office revoked the Bourang patent and on April 3, 2017, the court suspended the infringement action pending Edwards' appeal of the revocation of the patent at the European Patent Office.

On April 19, 2016, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ SAPIEN 3 Valve infringes a patent related to adaptive sealing technology. On June 9, 2016, Edwards filed a counterclaim alleging that our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System infringes three patents owned by Edwards. On October 12, 2016, Edwards filed a petition for inter partes review of our patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Patent Trial and Appeal Board. On March 29, 2017, the USPTO granted the inter partes review request. On April 18, 2017, Edwards filed a second petition for inter partes review of our patent with the USPTO. The trial has been set to begin on July 30, 2018.

On April 19, 2016, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific filed suit against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for patent infringement. We allege that Edwards’ aortic valve delivery systems infringe eight of our catheter related patents. On October 13, 2016, Edwards filed a petition for inter partes review of one asserted patent with the USPTO, Patent Trial and Appeal Board. On April 21, 2017, the USPTO denied the petition. On April 19 and 20, 2017, Edwards filed multiple inter partes review petitions against the patents in suit. The trial has been set to begin on May 29, 2018.

On April 26, 2016, Edwards Lifesciences PVT, Inc. filed a patent infringement action against us and one of our subsidiaries, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, in the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany alleging a European patent (Spenser '550) owned by Edwards is infringed by our Lotus Transcatheter Heart Valve System. The trial began on February 7, 2017. On March 9, 2017, the court found that the Company infringed the Spenser '550 patent. The Company has filed an appeal.

On March 10, 2017, Imran Niazi filed a patent infringement action against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin alleging that a U.S. patent owned by him is infringed by our Acuity lead delivery catheter.

Product Liability Litigation

As of April 26, 2017, approximately 43,000 product liability cases or claims related to transvaginal surgical mesh products designed to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse have been asserted against us. The pending cases are in various federal and state courts in the United States and include eight putative class actions. There were also fewer than 20 cases in Canada, inclusive of one certified and three putative class actions, and fewer than 25 claims in the United Kingdom. Generally, the plaintiffs allege personal injury associated with use of our transvaginal surgical mesh products. The plaintiffs assert design and manufacturing claims, failure to warn, breach of warranty, fraud, violations of state consumer protection laws and loss of consortium claims. Over 3,100 of the cases have been specially assigned to one judge in state court in Massachusetts. On February 7, 2012, the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL) established MDL-2326 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and transferred the federal court transvaginal surgical mesh cases to MDL-2326 for coordinated pretrial proceedings. During the fourth quarter of 2013, we received written discovery requests from certain state attorneys general offices regarding our transvaginal surgical mesh products. We have responded to those requests. As of April 26, 2017, we have entered into master settlement agreements in principle or are in final stages of entering one with certain plaintiffs' counsel to resolve an aggregate of approximately 37,000 cases and claims. These master settlement agreements provide that the settlement and distribution of settlement funds to participating claimants are conditional upon, among other things, achieving minimum required claimant participation thresholds. Of the approximately 37,000 cases and claims, approximately 12,000 have met the conditions of the settlement and are final. All settlement agreements were entered into solely by way of compromise and without any admission or concession by us of any liability or wrongdoing.

On or about January 12, 2016, Teresa L. Stevens filed a claim against us and three other defendants asserting for herself and on behalf of a putative class of similarly-situated women, that she was harmed by a vaginal mesh implant that she alleges contained a counterfeit or adulterated resin product that we imported from China. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, before the same Court that is hearing the mesh MDL. The complaint, which alleges Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations, fraud, misrepresentation, deceptive trade practices and unjust enrichment, seeks both equitable relief and damages under state and federal law. On January 26, 2016, the Court issued an order staying the case and directing the plaintiff to submit information to allow the FDA to issue a determination with respect to her allegations. In addition, we are in contact with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and are responding voluntarily to their requests in connection with that office’s review of the allegations concerning the use of mesh resin in the complaint. We deny the plaintiff’s allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

On February 27, 2017, Carolyn Turner filed a complaint against us and five other defendants asserting for herself and on behalf of a putative class of similarly situated women, that she was harmed by a vaginal mesh implant that she alleges contained a counterfeit or adulterated resin product that we imported from China. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division and alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), negligence, strict liability, breach of an express or implied warranty, intentional and negligent misrepresentation, fraud and unjust enrichment. Ms. Turner served this complaint against the Company on April 7, 2017. We deny the plaintiff’s allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

We have established a product liability accrual for known and estimated future cases and claims asserted against us as well as with respect to the actions that have resulted in verdicts against us and the costs of defense thereof associated with our transvaginal surgical mesh products. While we believe that our accrual associated with this matter is adequate, changes to this accrual may be required in the future as additional information becomes available. While we continue to engage in discussions with plaintiffs’ counsel regarding potential resolution of pending cases and claims and intend to vigorously contest the cases and claims asserted against us that do not settle, the final resolution of the cases and claims is uncertain and could have a material impact on our results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity. Initial trials involving our transvaginal surgical mesh products have resulted in both favorable and unfavorable judgments for us. We do not believe that the judgment in any one trial is representative of potential outcomes of all cases or claims related to our transvaginal surgical mesh products.

Governmental Investigations and Qui Tam Matters

On May 5, 2014, we were served with a subpoena from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. The subpoena seeks information relating to the launch of the Cognis™ and Teligen™ line of devices in 2008, the performance of those devices from 2007 to 2009 and the operation of the Physician Guided Learning Program. We are cooperating with this request. On May 6, 2016, a qui tam lawsuit in this matter was unsealed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. At the same time, we learned that the U.S. government and the State of California had earlier declined to intervene in that lawsuit on April 15, 2016. The complaint was served on us on July 21, 2016. On October 7, 2016, the plaintiff/relator served an amended complaint that dropped the allegations relating to the Physician Guided Learning Program. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on December 7, 2016, the court heard our motion to dismiss on April 5, 2017 and we are currently awaiting a decision on the motion.

On December 14, 2016, we learned that the Associacao Brasileira de Medicina de Grupo d/b/a ABRAMGE filed a complaint against the Company, Arthrex and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. This complaint, which ABRAMGE never served against the Company, alleges that the defendants or their agents paid kickbacks to health care providers in order to increase sales and prices and are liable under a variety of common law theories. On February 6, 2017, ABRAMGE filed and served an amended complaint on the Company and the other defendants. The amended complaint does not contain any material changes in the allegations against the Company. We deny these allegations and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.

Matters Concluded Since December 31, 2016

On September 27, 2010, Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Boston Scientific Ltd., Endovascular Technologies, Inc. and we filed suit against Taewoong Medical, Co., Ltd., Standard Sci-Tech, Inc., EndoChoice, Inc. and Sewoon Medical Co., Ltd for infringement of three patents on stents for use in the GI system (the Pulnev and Hankh patents) and against Cook Medical Inc. (and related entities) for infringement of the same three patents and an additional patent (the Thompson patent). The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief. In December 2010, we amended our complaint to add infringement of six additional Pulnev patents. In January 2011, the defendants filed a counterclaim of invalidity and unenforceability. In September 2011, we amended the complaint to add Chek-Med Systems d/b/a GI Supply as a defendant. On December 22, 2016 the following defendants were dismissed: Taewoong Medical Co., Ltd., GI Supply, Inc., Standard Sci-Tech, Inc., EndoChoice, Inc. and Sewoon Medical Co. The remaining parties reached a settlement and on March 21, 2017, the case was dismissed.

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Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding [Text Block]

NOTE J – WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017	2016
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,365.4	1,350.4
Net effect of common stock equivalents	24.8	19.5
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution	1,390.2	1,369.9

Weighted average shares outstanding, assuming dilution, excludes the impact of four million stock options for the first quarter of 2017 and one million stock options for the first quarter of 2016, due to the exercise prices of these stock options being greater than the average fair market value of our common stock during the period.

We issued approximately seven million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2017 and eight million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2016, following the exercise of underlying stock options, vesting of deferred stock units or purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the first three months of2017 or 2016.

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Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

SEGMENT REPORTING

NOTE K – SEGMENT REPORTING

We have three reportable segments comprised of Cardiovascular, Rhythm Management and MedSurg, which represent an aggregation of our operating segments.

Each of our reportable segments generates revenues from the sale of medical devices. We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment net sales and operating income, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency. Sales generated from reportable segments, as well as operating results of reportable segments and corporate expenses, are based on internally-derived standard currency exchange rates, which may differ from year to year and do not include intersegment profits.

We restated segment information for the prior period based on our internally-derived standard currency exchange rates as of January 1, 2017, used for the current period in order to remove the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuation. We exclude from segment operating income certain corporate-related expenses and certain transactions or adjustments that our chief operating decision maker considers to be non-operational, such as acquisition-related, restructuring- and restructuring-related, and litigation-related net credits and charges, and amortization expense. Although we exclude these amounts from segment operating income, they are included in reported consolidated operating income (loss) and are included in the reconciliation below.

A reconciliation of the totals reported for the reportable segments to the applicable line items in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
				(restated)
Net sales
Interventional Cardiology	$	605		$	560
Peripheral Interventions	266			248
Cardiovascular	871			808
Cardiac Rhythm Management	471			439
Electrophysiology	65			60
Rhythm Management	536			499
Endoscopy	387			339
Urology and Pelvic Health	265			230
Neuromodulation	142			122
MedSurg	794			691
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,201			1,998
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(41		)	(34		)
	$	2,160		$	1,964
Income (loss) before income taxes
Cardiovascular	$	245		$	254
Rhythm Management	101			67
MedSurg	238			214
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	584			535
Corporate expenses and currency exchange	(88		)	(41		)
Acquisition-related, restructuring- and restructuring-related, and litigation-related net credits (charges)	11			(65		)
Amortization expense	(143		)	(136		)
Operating income (loss)	364			293
Other expense, net	(59		)	(65		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	305		$	228

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Changes in Other Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Changes in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]

NOTE L – CHANGES IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table provides the reclassifications out of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016. Amounts in the chart below are presented net of tax.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	(79	)	$	107		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	8			(37		)	—			(3		)	(32		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(18		)	—			3			(15		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	8			(55		)	—			—			(47		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	(71	)	$	52		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	(46	)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(54	)	$	152		$	(10	)	$	88
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	16			(38		)	(2		)	(24		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(31		)	2			(29		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	16			(69		)	—			(53		)
Balance as of March 31, 2016	$	(38	)	$	83		$	(10	)	$	35

The income tax impact of the amounts in other comprehensive income for unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments before reclassifications was a benefit of $21 million in both the first quarter of 2017 and in the first quarter of 2016. The gains and losses on derivative financial instruments reclassified were reduced by income tax impacts of $10 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $17 million in the first quarter of 2016. Refer to Note D – Fair Value Measurements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further detail on the reclassifications related to derivatives.

The income tax impact of the amounts in other comprehensive income for defined benefit and pension items before reclassification was an immaterial benefit for the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2016.

The gains and losses on defined benefit and pension related items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income were reduced by immaterial income tax impacts in the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2016.

The gains and losses on available-for-sale securities were reduced by immaterial income tax impacts in the first quarter of 2017. Refer toNote B – Acquisitions and Strategic Investments and Note D – Fair Value Measurements for further detail on the gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

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New Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

NOTE M – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies. Recently issued standards typically do not require adoption until a future effective date. Prior to their effective date, we evaluate the pronouncements to determine the potential effects of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.

Standards Implemented since December 31, 2016

ASC Update No. 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2016-09 is to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, such as, the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements, forfeitures and statement of cash flow presentation. Update No. 2016-09 was effective for annual periods after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.

We adopted Update No. 2016-09 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017 and, as such, no prior periods were adjusted. We previously recorded income tax benefits or deficiencies to additional paid-in capital, however, Update No. 2016-09 requires that all tax benefits or deficiencies to be recorded to the provision for income taxes. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $28 million, which we expect represents the majority of excess tax benefits in 2017 due to the annual vesting of our awards during the first quarter. The actual impact to future periods will depend on the price of our stock, number of stock options exercised and other factors that are difficult to predict. In the first quarter of 2017, a cumulative effect adjustment of $76 million was recorded to retained earnings upon adoption for windfall tax benefits not previously recognized.

ASC Update No. 2016-17

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. Update No. 2016-17 amends the consolidation guidance from ASC Update No. 2015-02 on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE) should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment requires that a single decision maker include those indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control with the single decision maker on a proportionate basis consistent with indirect interests held through other related parties. Update No. 2016-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted Update No. 2016-17 in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-17 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-19

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. Update No. 2016-19 clarifies or corrects unintended applications of guidance that affects a wide variety of topics in the ASC. The update is effective immediately for most of the amendments. Update No. 2016-19 contains six amendments, which clarify guidance or correct references in the ASC and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted these amendments in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-19 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-04

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The purpose of Update No. 2017-04 is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. It eliminates the need for entities to calculate the impaired fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this amendment, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. We elected to early adopt Update No. 2017-04 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2017-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Standards to be Implemented

ASC Update No. 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Update No. 2014-09 provides enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. GAAP. The core principle requires entities to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one year deferral, making the standard effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The purpose of Update No. 2016-08 is to clarify the guidance on principal versus agent considerations. It includes indicators that help to determine whether an entity controls the specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer and to assist in determining when the entity satisfied the performance obligation and as such, whether to recognize a gross or a net amount of consideration in their consolidated statement of operations.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. Update No. 2016-10 clarifies that entities are not required to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract. Update No. 2016-10 also addresses how to determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable and permits entities to make a policy election to treat shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities. In addition, it clarifies key provisions in Topic 606 related to licensing.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). Update No. 2016-11 rescinds previous SEC comments that were codified in Topic 605, Topic 932 and Topic 815. Upon adoption of Topic 606, certain SEC comments including guidance on accounting for shipping and handling fees and costs and consideration given by a vendor to a customer should not be relied upon.

In May 2016, the FASB also issued ASC Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. Update No. 2016-12 provides clarity around collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration, contract modifications at transition and completed contracts at transition. Update No. 2016-12 also includes a technical correction within Topic 606 related to required disclosures if the guidance is applied retrospectively upon adoption.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Update No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and requires entities that use any of the optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. Update No. 2016-20 also clarifies other areas of the new revenue standard, including disclosure requirements for prior period performance obligations, impairment guidance for contract costs and the interaction of impairment guidance in ASC 340-40 with other guidance elsewhere in the Codification.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. Update No. 2017-05 is effective at the same time as the amendments in Update 2014-09. Therefore, public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities and certain employee benefit plans should apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted. An entity is required to apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 at the same time that it applies the amendments in Update No. 2014-09.

We expect to adopt Topic 606 and the aforementioned updates, effective January 1, 2018. We established a cross-functional implementation team consisting of representatives from all of our business divisions and regions. During 2016, we analyzed the impact of the standard on our contract portfolio by reviewing a representative sample of our contracts to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard. The implementation team has apprised both management and the Audit Committee of project status on a recurring basis.

We have not finalized our assessment of the impact of Topic 606. We continue to analyze variable consideration and disclosures. Additionally, we are monitoring updates issued by the FASB. During the second quarter of 2017, we expect to substantially complete our impact assessment, finalize our adoption method and initiate efforts to redesign impacted processes, policies and controls.

ASC Update No. 2016-01

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. Update No. 2016-01 requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value with changes recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. Update No. 2016-01 also requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset and liability. Update No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of certain provisions is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Update No. 2016-02 is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease asset and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including those previously classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Update No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-13

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-15

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-15 is to reduce the diversity in practice in presentation and classification of the following items within the statement of cash flows: debt prepayments, settlement of zero coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments, insurance proceeds, securitization transactions and distributions from equity method investees. The update also addresses classification of transactions that have characteristics of more than one class of cash flows. Update No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

ASC Update No. 2016-16

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The purpose of Update No. 2016-16 is to allow an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, as opposed to waiting until the asset is sold to a third party, or impaired. Update No. 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-18

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The purpose of Update No. 2016-18 is to clarify guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The amendment requires beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to include cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Update No. 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect the adoption will have on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

ASC Update No. 2017-01

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The purpose of Update No. 2017-01 is to change the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Update No. 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-07

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The purpose of Update No. 2017-07 is to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. Update No. 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. That is, early adoption should be within the first interim period if an employer issues interim financial statements. The adoption of Update No. 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective, during the period had, or are expected to have, a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

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New Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2017-07

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The purpose of Update No. 2017-07 is to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. Update No. 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. That is, early adoption should be within the first interim period if an employer issues interim financial statements. The adoption of Update No. 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2017-01

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The purpose of Update No. 2017-01 is to change the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Update No. 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-18

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The purpose of Update No. 2016-18 is to clarify guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The amendment requires beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to include cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Update No. 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect the adoption will have on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

NOTE M – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies. Recently issued standards typically do not require adoption until a future effective date. Prior to their effective date, we evaluate the pronouncements to determine the potential effects of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.

Standards Implemented since December 31, 2016

ASC Update No. 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2016-09 is to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, such as, the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements, forfeitures and statement of cash flow presentation. Update No. 2016-09 was effective for annual periods after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.

We adopted Update No. 2016-09 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017 and, as such, no prior periods were adjusted. We previously recorded income tax benefits or deficiencies to additional paid-in capital, however, Update No. 2016-09 requires that all tax benefits or deficiencies to be recorded to the provision for income taxes. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $28 million, which we expect represents the majority of excess tax benefits in 2017 due to the annual vesting of our awards during the first quarter. The actual impact to future periods will depend on the price of our stock, number of stock options exercised and other factors that are difficult to predict. In the first quarter of 2017, a cumulative effect adjustment of $76 million was recorded to retained earnings upon adoption for windfall tax benefits not previously recognized.

ASC Update No. 2016-17

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. Update No. 2016-17 amends the consolidation guidance from ASC Update No. 2015-02 on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE) should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment requires that a single decision maker include those indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control with the single decision maker on a proportionate basis consistent with indirect interests held through other related parties. Update No. 2016-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted Update No. 2016-17 in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-17 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-19

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. Update No. 2016-19 clarifies or corrects unintended applications of guidance that affects a wide variety of topics in the ASC. The update is effective immediately for most of the amendments. Update No. 2016-19 contains six amendments, which clarify guidance or correct references in the ASC and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted these amendments in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-19 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-04

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The purpose of Update No. 2017-04 is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. It eliminates the need for entities to calculate the impaired fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this amendment, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. We elected to early adopt Update No. 2017-04 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2017-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Standards to be Implemented

ASC Update No. 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Update No. 2014-09 provides enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. GAAP. The core principle requires entities to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one year deferral, making the standard effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The purpose of Update No. 2016-08 is to clarify the guidance on principal versus agent considerations. It includes indicators that help to determine whether an entity controls the specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer and to assist in determining when the entity satisfied the performance obligation and as such, whether to recognize a gross or a net amount of consideration in their consolidated statement of operations.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. Update No. 2016-10 clarifies that entities are not required to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract. Update No. 2016-10 also addresses how to determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable and permits entities to make a policy election to treat shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities. In addition, it clarifies key provisions in Topic 606 related to licensing.

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). Update No. 2016-11 rescinds previous SEC comments that were codified in Topic 605, Topic 932 and Topic 815. Upon adoption of Topic 606, certain SEC comments including guidance on accounting for shipping and handling fees and costs and consideration given by a vendor to a customer should not be relied upon.

In May 2016, the FASB also issued ASC Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. Update No. 2016-12 provides clarity around collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration, contract modifications at transition and completed contracts at transition. Update No. 2016-12 also includes a technical correction within Topic 606 related to required disclosures if the guidance is applied retrospectively upon adoption.

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Update No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and requires entities that use any of the optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. Update No. 2016-20 also clarifies other areas of the new revenue standard, including disclosure requirements for prior period performance obligations, impairment guidance for contract costs and the interaction of impairment guidance in ASC 340-40 with other guidance elsewhere in the Codification.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. Update No. 2017-05 is effective at the same time as the amendments in Update 2014-09. Therefore, public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities and certain employee benefit plans should apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted. An entity is required to apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 at the same time that it applies the amendments in Update No. 2014-09.

We expect to adopt Topic 606 and the aforementioned updates, effective January 1, 2018. We established a cross-functional implementation team consisting of representatives from all of our business divisions and regions. During 2016, we analyzed the impact of the standard on our contract portfolio by reviewing a representative sample of our contracts to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard. The implementation team has apprised both management and the Audit Committee of project status on a recurring basis.

We have not finalized our assessment of the impact of Topic 606. We continue to analyze variable consideration and disclosures. Additionally, we are monitoring updates issued by the FASB. During the second quarter of 2017, we expect to substantially complete our impact assessment, finalize our adoption method and initiate efforts to redesign impacted processes, policies and controls.

ASC Update No. 2016-01

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. Update No. 2016-01 requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value with changes recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. Update No. 2016-01 also requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset and liability. Update No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of certain provisions is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Update No. 2016-02 is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease asset and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including those previously classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Update No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-13

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-15

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-15 is to reduce the diversity in practice in presentation and classification of the following items within the statement of cash flows: debt prepayments, settlement of zero coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments, insurance proceeds, securitization transactions and distributions from equity method investees. The update also addresses classification of transactions that have characteristics of more than one class of cash flows. Update No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

ASC Update No. 2016-16

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The purpose of Update No. 2016-16 is to allow an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, as opposed to waiting until the asset is sold to a third party, or impaired. Update No. 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-18

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The purpose of Update No. 2016-18 is to clarify guidance and presentation related to restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The amendment requires beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows to include cash and cash equivalents as well as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Update No. 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect the adoption will have on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

ASC Update No. 2017-01

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The purpose of Update No. 2017-01 is to change the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. Update No. 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The adoption of Update No. 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-07

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The purpose of Update No. 2017-07 is to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. Update No. 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. That is, early adoption should be within the first interim period if an employer issues interim financial statements. The adoption of Update No. 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective, during the period had, or are expected to have, a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Subsequent Events

We evaluate events occurring after the date of our most recent accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets for potential recognition or disclosure in our financial statements. We did not identify any material subsequent events requiring adjustment to our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (recognized subsequent events) for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Those items requiring disclosure (unrecognized subsequent events) in the financial statements have been disclosed accordingly. Refer to Note E – Borrowings and Credit Arrangements andNote I – Commitments and Contingenciesfor more information.

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

FASB ASC Topic 815 requires all derivative instruments to be recognized at their fair values as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. We determine the fair value of our derivative instruments using the framework prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, by considering the estimated amount we would receive or pay to transfer these instruments at the reporting date and by taking into account current interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, the creditworthiness of the counterparty for the assets and our creditworthiness for liabilities. In certain instances, we may utilize financial models to measure fair value. In doing so, we use inputs that include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, other observable inputs for the asset or liability, and inputs derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. As of March 31, 2017, we have classified all of our derivative assets and liabilities within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 820, as discussed below, because these observable inputs are available for substantially the full term of our derivative instruments.

ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging

We address market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates through a risk management program that includes the use of derivative financial instruments and we operate the program pursuant to documented corporate risk management policies. Our derivative instruments do not subject our earnings or cash flows to material risk, as gains and losses on these derivatives generally offset losses and gains on the item being hedged. We do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes and we do not have any non-derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).

ASC Topic 712, Compensation - Non-retirement Postemployment Benefits and ASC Topic 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations

Termination benefits represent amounts incurred pursuant to our ongoing benefit arrangements and amounts for “one-time” involuntary termination benefits and have been recorded in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 712,Compensation - Nonretirement and Postemployment Benefits (Topic 712) and FASBASC Topic 420,Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (Topic 420). Other restructuring costs, which represent primarily consulting fees and costs related to contract cancellations, are being recorded as incurred in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420. Accelerated depreciation is being recorded over the adjusted remaining useful life of the related assets and program management and production line transfer costs are being recorded as incurred.

Legal Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, we accrue anticipated costs of settlements, damages and losses for product liability claims and, under certain conditions, costs of defense, based on historical experience or to the extent specific losses are probable and estimable. Otherwise, we expense these costs as incurred. If the estimate of a probable loss is a range and no amount within the range is more likely, we accrue the minimum amount of the range.

ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Update No. 2014-09 provides enhancements to the quality and consistency of how revenue is reported while also improving comparability in the financial statements of companies using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. GAAP. The core principle requires entities to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one year deferral, making the standard effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-01

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. Update No. 2016-01 requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value with changes recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. It also simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. Update No. 2016-01 also requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset and liability. Update No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of certain provisions is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-02

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Update No. 2016-02 is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease asset and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, including those previously classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Update No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) [Policy Text Block]

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The purpose of Update No. 2016-08 is to clarify the guidance on principal versus agent considerations. It includes indicators that help to determine whether an entity controls the specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer and to assist in determining when the entity satisfied the performance obligation and as such, whether to recognize a gross or a net amount of consideration in their consolidated statement of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718) [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of Update No. 2016-09 is to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, such as, the accounting for income taxes, statutory tax withholding requirements, forfeitures and statement of cash flow presentation. Update No. 2016-09 was effective for annual periods after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.

We adopted Update No. 2016-09 prospectively in the first quarter of 2017 and, as such, no prior periods were adjusted. We previously recorded income tax benefits or deficiencies to additional paid-in capital, however, Update No. 2016-09 requires that all tax benefits or deficiencies to be recorded to the provision for income taxes. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded an income tax benefit of $28 million, which we expect represents the majority of excess tax benefits in 2017 due to the annual vesting of our awards during the first quarter. The actual impact to future periods will depend on the price of our stock, number of stock options exercised and other factors that are difficult to predict. In the first quarter of 2017, a cumulative effect adjustment of $76 million was recorded to retained earnings upon adoption for windfall tax benefits not previously recognized.

Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) [Policy Text Block]

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. Update No. 2016-10 clarifies that entities are not required to assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract. Update No. 2016-10 also addresses how to determine whether promised goods or services are separately identifiable and permits entities to make a policy election to treat shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities. In addition, it clarifies key provisions in Topic 606 related to licensing.

ASC Update No. 2016-11 [Policy Text Block]

In May 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-11, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). Update No. 2016-11 rescinds previous SEC comments that were codified in Topic 605, Topic 932 and Topic 815. Upon adoption of Topic 606, certain SEC comments including guidance on accounting for shipping and handling fees and costs and consideration given by a vendor to a customer should not be relied upon.

ASC Update No. 2016-12 [Policy Text Block]

In May 2016, the FASB also issued ASC Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. Update No. 2016-12 provides clarity around collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, non-cash consideration, contract modifications at transition and completed contracts at transition. Update No. 2016-12 also includes a technical correction within Topic 606 related to required disclosures if the guidance is applied retrospectively upon adoption.

ASC Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers [Policy Text Block]

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Update No. 2016-20 allows entities not to make quantitative disclosures about remaining performance obligations in certain cases and requires entities that use any of the optional exemptions to expand their qualitative disclosures. Update No. 2016-20 also clarifies other areas of the new revenue standard, including disclosure requirements for prior period performance obligations, impairment guidance for contract costs and the interaction of impairment guidance in ASC 340-40 with other guidance elsewhere in the Codification.

ASC Update No. 2017-05, Other Income—G/L from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance&Actg Partial Sales NonFS Assets [Policy Text Block]

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. Update No. 2017-05 is effective at the same time as the amendments in Update 2014-09. Therefore, public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities and certain employee benefit plans should apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted. An entity is required to apply the amendments in Update No. 2017-05 at the same time that it applies the amendments in Update No. 2014-09.

ASC Update No. 2016-13 [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-13

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-13 is to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology for financial assets measured at amortized cost with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including forecasted information, to develop credit loss estimates. Update No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-15

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The purpose of Update No. 2016-15 is to reduce the diversity in practice in presentation and classification of the following items within the statement of cash flows: debt prepayments, settlement of zero coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments, insurance proceeds, securitization transactions and distributions from equity method investees. The update also addresses classification of transactions that have characteristics of more than one class of cash flows. Update No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

ASU Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-16

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The purpose of Update No. 2016-16 is to allow an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, as opposed to waiting until the asset is sold to a third party, or impaired. Update No. 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. We are in the process of determining the effect that the adoption will have on our financial position and results of operations.

ASU Update No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-17

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control. Update No. 2016-17 amends the consolidation guidance from ASC Update No. 2015-02 on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a variable interest entity (VIE) should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The amendment requires that a single decision maker include those indirect interests held through related parties that are under common control with the single decision maker on a proportionate basis consistent with indirect interests held through other related parties. Update No. 2016-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted Update No. 2016-17 in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-17 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2016-19

In December 2016, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements. Update No. 2016-19 clarifies or corrects unintended applications of guidance that affects a wide variety of topics in the ASC. The update is effective immediately for most of the amendments. Update No. 2016-19 contains six amendments, which clarify guidance or correct references in the ASC and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted these amendments in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2016-19 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment [Policy Text Block]

ASC Update No. 2017-04

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASC Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The purpose of Update No. 2017-04 is to reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. It eliminates the need for entities to calculate the impaired fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this amendment, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. We elected to early adopt Update No. 2017-04 on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of Update No. 2017-04 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

XML

Acquisitions and Strategic Investments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Investment [Table Text Block]

The aggregate carrying amount of our strategic investments as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were comprised of the following categories:

(in millions)	As of
	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Equity method investments	$	266	$	265
Cost method investments	34		20
Available-for-sale securities	28		20
Notes receivable	43		42
	$	371	$	347

Rollforward of Fair Value of Contingent Consideration [Table Text Block]

Changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities were as follows (in millions):

Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	204
Fair value adjustments	(50		)
Contingent payments related to prior period acquisitions	(28		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	126

Description of unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements [Table Text Block]

The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our contingent consideration liabilities include the following significant unobservable inputs:

Contingent Consideration Liabilities	Fair Value as of March 31, 2017	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestones	$45 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	2% - 3%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2021
Revenue-based Payments	$81 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11% - 15%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2026

XML

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Note C - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Description of unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements [Table Text Block]

The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of our contingent consideration liabilities include the following significant unobservable inputs:

Contingent Consideration Liabilities	Fair Value as of March 31, 2017	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestones	$45 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	2% - 3%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2021
Revenue-based Payments	$81 million	Discounted Cash Flow	Discount Rate	11% - 15%
			Projected Year of Payment	2017 - 2026

Goodwill

The gross carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization for intangible assets subject to amortization and accumulated write-offs of goodwill as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

	As of
	March 31, 2017					December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/			Gross Carrying		Accumulated Amortization/
(in millions)	Amount		Write-offs			Amount		Write-offs
Amortizable intangible assets
Technology-related	$	9,123	$	(4,570	)	$	9,123	$	(4,468	)
Patents	516		(372		)	529		(374		)
Other intangible assets	1,584		(750		)	1,583		(722		)
	$	11,223	$	(5,692	)	$	11,235	$	(5,564	)
Unamortizable intangible assets
Goodwill	$	16,580	$	(9,900	)	$	16,578	$	(9,900	)
In-process research and development	92		—			92		—
Technology-related	120		—			120		—
	$	16,792	$	(9,900	)	$	16,790	$	(9,900	)

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

The following represents our goodwill balance by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular		Rhythm Management		MedSurg		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	3,513	$	290	$	2,875	$	6,678
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	1		—		1		2
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	3,514	$	290	$	2,876	$	6,680

The following is a rollforward of accumulated goodwill write-offs by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	Cardiovascular			Rhythm Management			MedSurg			Total
Accumulated write-offs as of December 31, 2016	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)
Goodwill written off	—			—			—			—
Accumulated write-offs as of March 31, 2017	$	(1,479	)	$	(6,960	)	$	(1,461	)	$	(9,900	)

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Gains (losses) recognized in earnings for derivatives designed as hedging instruments

The following presents the effect of our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815 on our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations during the first quarter of 2017 and 2016:

(in millions)	Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Amount of Pre-tax Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Earnings (Effective Portion)		Location in Statement of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Currency hedge contracts	$	(58	)	$	28	Cost of products sold
	$	(58	)	$	28
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Currency hedge contracts	$	59		$	48	Cost of products sold
	$	59		$	48

Gains (losses) recognized in earnings for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings related to the ineffective portion of hedging relationships was immaterial in all periods presented.

Net foreign currency gain (loss) [Table Text Block]

Net gains and losses on currency hedge contracts not designated as hedging instruments were offset by net losses and gains from foreign currency transaction exposures, as shown in the following table:

(in millions)	Location in Statement of Operations	Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2017			2016
Net gain (loss) on currency hedge contracts	Other, net	$	(17	)	$	(39	)
Net gain (loss) on foreign currency transaction exposures	Other, net	17			34
Net foreign currency gain (loss)	Other, net	$	—		$	(5	)

Classification of derivative assets and liabilities within level 2

The following are the balances of our derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

		As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in millions)	Location in Balance Sheet (1)	2017		2016
Derivative Assets:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	$	55	$	98
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term assets	36		65
		91		163
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current assets	17		36
Total Derivative Assets		$	108	$	199
Derivative Liabilities:
Currently or Previously Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	$	13	$	3
Currency hedge contracts	Other long-term liabilities	9		4
		22		7
Non-Designated Hedging Instruments
Currency hedge contracts	Other current liabilities	27		19
Total Derivative Liabilities		$	49	$	26

(1) We classify derivative assets and liabilities as current when the remaining term of the derivative contract is one year or less.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consist of the following as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

	As of
	March 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Money market and government funds	$	2	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	42	$	—	$	—	$	42
Available-for-sale securities	28		—		—		28		20		—		—		20
Currency hedge contracts	—		108		—		108		—		199		—		199
	$	30	$	108	$	—	$	138	$	62	$	199	$	—	$	261
Liabilities
Currency hedge contracts	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	49	$	—	$	26	$	—	$	26
Accrued contingent consideration	—		—		126		126		—		—		204		204
	$	—	$	49	$	126	$	175	$	—	$	26	$	204	$	230

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Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of debt maturities

The debt maturity schedule for the significant components of our debt obligations as of March 31, 2017 is as follows:

(in millions)	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
Senior Notes	$	—	$	600	$	—	$	1,450	$	—	$	2,350	$	4,400
Term Loans	—		225		150		375		—		—		750
Revolving Credit Facility	—		—		—		125		—		—		125
Accounts Receivable Securitization	—		—		216		—		—		—		216
	$	—	$	825	$	366	$	1,950	$	—	$	2,350	$	5,491

Note: The table above does not include unamortized discounts associated with our senior notes, or amounts related to interest rate contracts used to hedge the fair value of certain of our senior notes or debt issuance costs.

Summary of revolving credit facility agreement compliance with debt covenants

	Covenant Requirement as of March 31, 2017	Actual as of March 31, 2017
Maximum leverage ratio (1)	3.75 times	2.40 times
Minimum interest coverage ratio (2)	3.0 times	9.9 times

(1) Ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

(2) Ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined by the credit agreement, to interest expense for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters.

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Restructuring Related Activities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]

Restructuring and related costs

The following presents these costs (credits) by major type and line item within our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	3	$	—	$	—	$	1	$	4
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		12		—		12
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		2		—		1		3
	—		2		12		1		15
	$	3	$	2	$	12	$	2	$	19

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2017 were related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Termination Benefits		Accelerated Depreciation		Transfer Costs		Other		Total
Restructuring charges	$	1	$	—	$	—	$	2	$	3
Restructuring-related expenses:
Cost of products sold	—		—		5		—		5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	—		1		—		4		5
	—		1		5		4		10
	$	1	$	1	$	5	$	6	$	13

All charges incurred in the first quarter of 2016 were related to a previous restructuring plan that was substantially completed in 2015.

Cumulative restructuring charges

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Termination benefits	$	27
Other	5
Total restructuring charges	32
Accelerated depreciation	3
Transfer costs	27
Other	4
Restructuring-related expenses	34
	$	66

Cash payments associated with restructuring initiatives

We made cash payments of $16 million in the first quarter of 2017 associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan and as of March 31, 2017, we had made total cash payments of $43 million related to our 2016 Restructuring Plan since committing to the plan. These payments were made using cash generated from operations and are comprised of the following:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Termination benefits	$	4
Transfer costs	11
Other	1
	$	16
Program to Date
Termination benefits	$	12
Transfer costs	26
Other	5
	$	43

Summary of accrued expenses within accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets

The following is a rollforward of the termination benefit liability associated with our 2016 Restructuring Plan, which is reported as a component of accrued expenses included in our accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets:

(in millions)	2016 Restructuring Plan
Accrued as of December 31, 2016	$	16
Charges (credits)	3
Cash payments	(4		)
Accrued as of March 31, 2017	$	15

2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]

Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]

Restructuring and related costs

The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with the 2016 Restructuring Plan through the end of 2018 by major type of cost:

Type of cost	Total estimated amount expected to be incurred
Restructuring charges:
Termination benefits	$65 million to $80 million
Other (1)	$10 million to $20 million
Restructuring-related expenses:
Other (2)	$100 million to $125 million
	$175 million to $225 million

(1) Consists primarily of consulting fees and costs associated with contract cancellations.

(2) Comprised of other costs directly related to the 2016 Restructuring Plan, including program management, accelerated depreciation and costs to transfer product lines among facilities.

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Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]

Trade accounts receivable, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Accounts receivable	$	1,548		$	1,591
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(75		)	(73		)
Less: allowance for sales returns	(44		)	(46		)
	$	1,429		$	1,472

Rollforward of allowances for doubtful accounts

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	73		$	75
Net charges to expenses	3			4
Utilization of allowances	(1		)	1
Ending balance	$	75		$	80

Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Finished goods	$	624	$	625
Work-in-process	66		94
Raw materials	281		236
	$	971	$	955

Other Current Assets [Text Block]

Prepaids and other current assets

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Prepaid expenses	$	98	$	58
Restricted cash	127		243
Other	180		240
	$	405	$	541

Property, plant and equipment, net

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Land	$	91	$	91
Buildings and improvements	1,010		981
Equipment, furniture and fixtures	3,027		2,955
Capital in progress	318		338
	4,446		4,365
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,794		2,735
	$	1,652	$	1,630

Schedule of Accrued Liabilities

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Legal reserves	$	1,236	$	1,062
Payroll and related liabilities	459		572
Accrued contingent consideration	52		63
Other	551		615
	$	2,298	$	2,312

Other long-term liabilities

	As of
(in millions)	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Accrued income taxes	$	812	$	781
Legal reserves	515		961
Accrued contingent consideration	74		141
Other long-term liabilities	471		455
	$	1,872	$	2,338

Accrued warranties

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
Beginning Balance	$	22		$	23
Provision	6			4
Settlements/reversals	(3		)	(6		)
Ending Balance	$	25		$	21

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Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017	2016
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,365.4	1,350.4
Net effect of common stock equivalents	24.8	19.5
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution	1,390.2	1,369.9

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Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Information By Segment

A reconciliation of the totals reported for the reportable segments to the applicable line items in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)	2017			2016
				(restated)
Net sales
Interventional Cardiology	$	605		$	560
Peripheral Interventions	266			248
Cardiovascular	871			808
Cardiac Rhythm Management	471			439
Electrophysiology	65			60
Rhythm Management	536			499
Endoscopy	387			339
Urology and Pelvic Health	265			230
Neuromodulation	142			122
MedSurg	794			691
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	2,201			1,998
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	(41		)	(34		)
	$	2,160		$	1,964
Income (loss) before income taxes
Cardiovascular	$	245		$	254
Rhythm Management	101			67
MedSurg	238			214
Operating income allocated to reportable segments	584			535
Corporate expenses and currency exchange	(88		)	(41		)
Acquisition-related, restructuring- and restructuring-related, and litigation-related net credits (charges)	11			(65		)
Amortization expense	(143		)	(136		)
Operating income (loss)	364			293
Other expense, net	(59		)	(65		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	305		$	228

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Changes in Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Changes in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Changes in Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]

The following table provides the reclassifications out of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016. Amounts in the chart below are presented net of tax.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	(79	)	$	107		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	8			(37		)	—			(3		)	(32		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(18		)	—			3			(15		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	8			(55		)	—			—			(47		)
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	(71	)	$	52		$	(6	)	$	(21	)	$	(46	)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(in millions)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments			Defined Benefit Pension Items / Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(54	)	$	152		$	(10	)	$	88
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	16			(38		)	(2		)	(24		)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	—			(31		)	2			(29		)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	16			(69		)	—			(53		)
Balance as of March 31, 2016	$	(38	)	$	83		$	(10	)	$	35

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Acquisitions and Strategic Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 6,680		$ 6,678
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Asset		126		$ 204
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability		50	$ (4)
Payment of contingent consideration		28	$ 63
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		1,283
revenue-based payments [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		81
R&D and Commercialization-based Milestone [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		$ 45
Minimum [Member] | revenue-based payments [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		11.00%
contingent consideration liability, projected year of payment		2017
Minimum [Member] | R&D and Commercialization-based Milestone [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		2.00%
contingent consideration liability, projected year of payment		2017
Maximum [Member] | revenue-based payments [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		15.00%
contingent consideration liability, projected year of payment		2026
Maximum [Member] | R&D and Commercialization-based Milestone [Member] | Discounted cash flow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		3.00%
contingent consideration liability, projected year of payment		2021
Xlumena [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	$ 435

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Strategic Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments	$ 266	$ 265
Cost Method Investments	34	20
Available-for-sale Securities	28	20
Notes Receivable From Portfolio Companies	43	42
Investments	$ 371	$ 347

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 11,223	$ 11,235
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(5,692)	(5,564)
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill	16,792	16,790
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, accumulated write-offs	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill	6,680	6,678
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	2
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	3,514	3,513
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	1
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,479)	(1,479)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Rhythm Management [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	290	290
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	0
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(6,960)	(6,960)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,876	2,875
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	1
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(1,461)	(1,461)
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill impairment charge	0
Unclassified Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	16,580	16,578
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)	(9,900)
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120	120
In-process research and development [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	92	92
Technology-related [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,123	9,123
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(4,570)	(4,468)
Patents [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	516	529
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(372)	(374)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,584	1,583
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (750)	$ (722)

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Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
ERROR in label resolution. | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	$ (58)	$ 59
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	28	48
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,161		$ 2,271
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net	28	48
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months	30
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax, Ending Balance	47		102
Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments at Fair Value, Net	2,048		1,830
Unamortized gains on senior notes	48		51
Unrealized gain on interest rate cash flow hedges, pretax, AOCI	9		9
reduction of interest expense, related to amortization of previously terminated interest rate contracts	3	3
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months, Net	14
Derivative Assets	108		199
Derivative Liabilities	49		26
Available-for-sale Securities	28		20
Time Deposits, at Carrying Value			19
Cash	154		135
Cost-method Investments, Aggregate Carrying Amount	34		20
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	5,794		5,739
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	2		42
Available-for-sale Securities	28		20
Foreign Currency Contract, Asset, Fair Value Disclosure	108		199
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	138		261
Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure	49		26
Accrued Contingent Consideration	126		204
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	175		230
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	2		42
Available-for-sale Securities	28		20
Foreign Currency Contract, Asset, Fair Value Disclosure			0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	30		62
Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Accrued Contingent Consideration	0		0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities	0		0
Foreign Currency Contract, Asset, Fair Value Disclosure	108		199
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	108		199
Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure	49		26
Accrued Contingent Consideration	0		0
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	49		26
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Money Market Funds, at Carrying Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities	0		0
Foreign Currency Contract, Asset, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure	0		0
Accrued Contingent Consideration	126		204
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure	126		204
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Assets, at Fair Value	91		163
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Liabilities, at Fair Value	22		7
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid And Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Assets, at Fair Value	55		98
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long Term Assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Assets, at Fair Value	36		65
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Liabilities, at Fair Value	13		3
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Liabilities, at Fair Value	9		4
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid And Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	17		36
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	27		$ 19
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other, net [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	(17)	(39)
Net gain (loss) from foreign currency transaction exposures	17	34
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized	0	(5)
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	(58)	59
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ 28	$ 48

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Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Details) $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 JPY (¥)	Apr. 10, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 06, 2013	Apr. 18, 2012 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		$ 0
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two		825
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		366
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		1,950
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five		0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal After Year Five		2,350
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		5,491
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total debt		5,514		$ 5,484
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		400		300
Line of Credit Facility, Fair Value of Amount Outstanding		216		$ 60
Maximum amount of proceeds from sale of finance receivables		$ 406
Average interest rate of de-recognized receivables		1.10%		1.80%
De-recognized receivables		$ 156		$ 152
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		44		44
Uncommitted Credit Facilities With A Commercial Japanese Banks [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Maximum amount of proceeds from sale of finance receivables		188				¥ 21.0
De-recognized receivables		$ 154		$ 149
Average discounted rates of notes receivables		1.30%		1.60%		1.30%
Covenant Requirement [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		3.75				3.75
Minimum interest coverage ratio		3.0				3.0
Covenant Requirement [Member] | First four fiscal quarter-ends following the closing of the AMS Portfolio Acquisition [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		4.5				4.5
Covenant Requirement [Member] | Fifth fiscal quarter-end following the closing of the AMS Portfolio Acquisition [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		4.25				4.25
Covenant Requirement [Member] | Sixth fiscal quarter-end following the closing of the AMS Portfolio Acquisition [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		4.0				4.0
Covenant Requirement [Member] | Seventh fiscal quarter-end following the closing of the AMS Portfolio Acquisition [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		3.75				3.75
Covenant Requirement [Member] | Eighth fiscal quarter-end and thereafter following the closing of the AMS Portfolio Acquisition [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		3.50				3.50
Actual, Covenant [Member]
Summary of compliance with debt covenants
Maximum Leverage Ratio		2.40				2.40
Minimum interest coverage ratio		9.9				9.9
2015 Term Loan [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Minimum							1.00%
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Maximum							1.75%
Unsecured Term Loan Facility, Interest Rate During Period		1.50%				1.50%
Unsecured Term Loan Repayment			$ 150
Quarterly term-loan principal payments							$ 38
Revolving credit facility [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity									$ 2,000
the 2015 Facility [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity							$ 2,000
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Minimum							0.90%
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Maximum							1.50%
Line of Credit Facility, Current Interest Rate		1.30%
Commitment fee percentage		0.20%
Exclusion from EBITDA for Restructuring Charges							$ 620
Restructuring charges remaining to be excluded from calculation of consolidated EBITDA		$ 468
Litigation and Debt Exclusion from EBITDA							2,000
Legal payments and debt remaining to be excluded from calculation of consolidated EBITDA		$ 728
2013 Term Loan [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Minimum								1.00%
Interest Margin above LIBOR, Maximum								1.75%
Unsecured Term Loan Facility, Interest Rate During Period		1.50%				1.50%
Unsecured Term Loan Repayment			$ 100		$ 150
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		$ 125
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		125
2013 Term Loan [Member]
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		150		$ 150
2015 Term Loan [Member]
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		600		600			$ 750
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		0
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two		600
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		1,450
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five		0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal After Year Five		2,350
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		4,400		4,650
Unsecured Term Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities		0
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two		225
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		150
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four		375
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five		0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal After Year Five		0
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		750		$ 750
Financing Receivable [Member]
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three		216
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Total Repayments of Principal		216
Senior Notes [Member]
Schedule of debt maturities
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Current Year		$ 250
Subsequent Event [Member]
Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Unsecured Term Loan Repayment	$ 350

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Restructuring Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		10 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges Incurred to Date			$ 32
Restructuring-related Costs Incurred to Date			34
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Payments for Restructuring	$ (16)		(43)
Restructuring Related Expenses	15	$ 10
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	19	13
Restructuring Charges	4	3
2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges Incurred to Date			32
Restructuring-related Costs Incurred to Date			34
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	66		66
Payments for Restructuring	(16)		(43)
Termination Benefits [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	3	1
Restructuring Charges	3	1
Termination Benefits [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	15		15	$ 16
Restructuring Charges Incurred to Date			27
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Payments for Restructuring	(4)		(12)
Restructuring Charges	3
Accelerated depreciation [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	2	1
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	2	1
Restructuring Charges	0	0
Accelerated depreciation [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring-related Costs Incurred to Date			3
Transfer costs [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	12	5
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	12	5
Restructuring Charges	0	0
Transfer costs [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring-related Costs Incurred to Date			27
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Payments for Restructuring	(11)		(26)
Other [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	6		6	$ 6
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	1	4
Restructuring and Related Cost, Incurred Cost	2	6
Restructuring Charges	1	2
Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges Incurred to Date			5
Restructuring-related Costs Incurred to Date			4
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Payments for Restructuring	(1)		(5)
Minimum [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	175		175
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring plan estimated future cash outflow	160
Minimum [Member] | Restructuring Plan [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	65		65
Minimum [Member] | Restructuring Plan [Member] | Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	10		10
Minimum [Member] | Restructuring Related To Plan [Member] | Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	100		100
Maximum [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	225		225
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring plan estimated future cash outflow	210
Maximum [Member] | Restructuring Plan [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	80		80
Maximum [Member] | Restructuring Plan [Member] | Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	20		20
Maximum [Member] | Restructuring Related To Plan [Member] | Other [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	125		$ 125
Cost of Sales [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	12	5
Cost of Sales [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Cost of Sales [Member] | Accelerated depreciation [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Cost of Sales [Member] | Transfer costs [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	12	5
Cost of Sales [Member] | Other [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	3	5
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Accelerated depreciation [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	2	1
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Transfer costs [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Other [Member]
Estimated costs of restructuring program by major type of cost
Restructuring Related Expenses	$ 1	$ 4

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Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Trade accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable	$ 1,548		$ 1,591
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(75)		(73)
Less: allowance for sales returns	(44)		(46)
Trade accounts receivable, net	1,429		1,472
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Beginning balance	73	$ 75
Charges to expenses	3	4
Utilization of allowances	(1)	1
Ending balance	75	80
Inventories
Finished goods	624		625
Work-in-process	66		94
Raw materials	281		236
Inventories	971		955
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current
Prepaid Expense	98		58
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	127		243
Other Assets, Current	180		240
prepaid and other current assets	405		541
Property, plant and equipment, net
Land	91		91
Buildings and improvements	1,010		981
Equipment, furniture and fixtures	3,027		2,955
Capital in progress	318		338
Property, plant and equipment	4,446		4,365
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,794		2,735
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,652		1,630
Accrued expenses
Legal reserves	1,236		1,062
Payroll and related liabilities	459		572
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Current	52		63
Other	551		615
Accrued expenses	2,298		2,312
Other long-term liabilities
Accrued income taxes	812		781
Legal reserves	515		961
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Noncurrent	74		141
Other Accrued Liabilities, Noncurrent	471		455
Other long-term liabilities	1,872		$ 2,338
Accrued warranties
Beginning Balance	22	23
Provision	6	4
Settlements/ reversals	(3)	(6)
Ending Balance	25	21
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Depreciation expense	$ 63	$ 64

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Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 1,106				$ 1,095
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	1,017				1,006
Incremental tax liability asserted by IRS	$ 1,162
Reported tax rate	4.90%	11.40%
Net tax expense/benefits related to interest and penalties	$ 13	$ 10
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued, Total	$ 592				$ 572
Subsequent Event [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
Litigation Settlement, Amount			$ 275
Potential Reduction In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Over Next Twelve Months As Result Of Concluding Certain Matters				$ 757

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 26, 2017 claims	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Accrual for legal matters that are probable and estimable | $	$ 1,751				$ 2,023
Litigation Settlement, Expense | $	$ 3	$ 10
Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount | $			$ 275
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product				43,000
Putative class actions in the U.S., Mesh				8
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - Canada				20
Certified class actions in Canada, Mesh				1
Putative class actions in Canada, Mesh				3
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product - United Kingdom				25
Assigned to one judge in MA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product				3,100
Settled Litigation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Product liability cases or claims related to mesh product				37,000
Total Product liability cases and claims settled related to Mesh product				12,000

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Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,365.4	1,350.4
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	24.8	19.5
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution	1,390.2	1,369.9
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	7.0	8.0
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4.0	1.0

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Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) reportablesegments	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 2,201	$ 1,998
Impact Of Foreign Currency Fluctuations On Net Sales	(41)	(34)
Net sales	2,160	1,964
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	584	535
Amortization expense	(143)	(136)
Operating income (loss)	364	293
Other expense, net	(59)	(65)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 305	228
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments	3
Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 245	254
Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	101	67
MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	238	214
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	(88)	(41)
Special Charges [Member]
Net sales
Operating (Loss) Income Unallocated to Segment	11	(65)
Operating Segments [Member] | Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	871	808
Operating Segments [Member] | Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	536	499
Operating Segments [Member] | MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	794	691
Global Interventional Cardiology (IC) Reporting Unit [Member] | Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	605	560
Global Peripheral Interventions (PI) Reporting Unit [Member] | Cardiovascular [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	266	248
Global CRM Reporting Unit [Member] | Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	471	439
Global Electrophysiology (EP) Reporting Unit [Member] | Rhythm Management [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	65	60
Global Endoscopy (Endo) Reporting Unit [Member] | MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	387	339
Global Urology (Uro) Reporting Unit [Member] | MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	265	230
Global Neuromodulation (NM) Reporting Unit [Member] | MedSurg [Member]
Net sales
Net sales allocated to reportable segments	$ 142	$ 122

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Changes in Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Changes in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	$ (71)	$ (38)	$ (79)	$ (54)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	52	83	107	152
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	(6)		(6)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(21)	(10)	(21)	(10)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(46)	35	$ 1	$ 88
Cumulative Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)	8	16
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(37)	(38)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	(3)	(2)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(32)	(24)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Reclassified from OCI, Net of Tax	(18)	(31)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	3	2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassifications out of OCI, Net of Tax	(15)	(29)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	8	16
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(55)	(69)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments and Tax	0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(47)	(53)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax	21	21
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising Reclassed from OCI, Tax	$ 10	$ 17

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New Accounting Pronouncements New ASU impacts (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
New ASU impacts [Abstract]
Proceeds and Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	$ 28
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	$ 76