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     <TITLE>8-K</TITLE>
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UNITED STATES<BR>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>Washington, DC 20549</b> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3><b>FORM 8-K</b></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>CURRENT
REPORT<BR>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the<BR>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date
of report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <!-- DATE --> <U>Apirl 27, 2005</U></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="3">&nbsp;<!-- Name of Registrant -->GUIDANT CORPORATION</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="MIDDLE">
     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="60%"></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;<!-- State -->INDIANA</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="41%"></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>&nbsp;<!-- File No.-->001-13388</font></td>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>&nbsp;</font></td>
<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>&nbsp;<!-- Irs No.-->35-1931722</font></td>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="60%" ALIGN="center"></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"> &nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="75%"></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>(Commission File Number)</font></td>
<td ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>&nbsp;</font></td>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>(IRS Employer Identification No.) </font></td>
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<!-- ADDRESS -->111 Monument Circle, Suite 2900<BR>
Indianapolis, Indiana
</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=15%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;<!-- Zip Code.-->46204</FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER"> &nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="center"></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="center" WIDTH="33%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
(Address of principal executive offices)
</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>(Zip Code) </FONT></TD>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;<!-- Phone No..-->(317) 971-2004</FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="50%"></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Registrant's
Telephone Number, Including Area Code) </FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;<!-- FORMER NAME OR ADDRESS --></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><HR SIZE="1" WIDTH="58%"></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.) </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General
Instruction A.2. below): </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>

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<TD WIDTH=4%><font face="wingdings"> &#168; </font></TD>
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 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </FONT></TD>
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 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act <BR>(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=96%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act <BR>(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></TD>
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<TD>
<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item
8.01 Other Events </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B></B> Guidant
Corporation (&#147;Guidant&#148;) announced that at a special meeting of shareholders
held on April 27, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Guidant shareholders approved the
agreement whereby Johnson &amp; Johnson will acquire Guidant.  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A
copy of the press release issued by Guidant on April 27, 2005 making the announcement is
filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD>
<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits</FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH=15%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>Exhibit No.</U></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=85%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>Description</U></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=15%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><!-- EXHIBIT NO. -->&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;99.1 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=85%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><!-- DESCRIPTION -->Press Release of Guidant Corporation, dated April 27, 2005</FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>SIGNATURES </b></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.  </FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; <!-- TYPE "DATE:" HERE--></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="48%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"> <!-- TYPE "COMPANY" HERE-->GUIDANT CORPORATION</FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Dated: </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="39%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"> <!-- DATE-->April 28, 2005</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">By: </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="43%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;/s/&nbsp;  <!-- NAME -->Keith E. Brauer</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
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    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD> <HR NOSHADE SIZE="1"> </TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="57%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Name:</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="35%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">  <!-- NAME -->Keith E. Brauer</FONT></TD>
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    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Title: </FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><!-- TITLE -->Vice President, Finance and<BR>
Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>EXHIBIT
INDEX </FONT></H1></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH=15%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>Exhibit No.</U></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=85%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><U>Description</U></FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<TD WIDTH=15%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><!-- EXHIBIT NO. -->&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;99.1 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=85%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><!-- DESCRIPTION -->Press Release of Guidant Corporation, dated April 27, 2005</FONT></TD>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GUIDANT CORP", "cik": "0000929987", "assigned-sic": "3841", "irs-number": "351931722", "state-of-incorporation": "IN", "fiscal-year-end": "1217"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-13388", "film-number": "05780762"}, "business-address": {"street1": "111 MONUMENT CIRCLE", "street2": "29TH FLOOR", "city": "INDIANAPOLIS", "state": "IN", "zip": "46204-5129", "phone": "3179712000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 44906", "street2": "29TH FLOOR", "city": "INDIANAPOLIS", "state": "IN", "zip": "46244-0906"}}
8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of report (Date of earliest event reported):
Apirl 27, 2005
GUIDANT CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
INDIANA
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-13388
35-1931722
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
111 Monument Circle, Suite 2900
Indianapolis, Indiana
46204
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(317) 971-2004
(Registrant's
Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General
Instruction A.2. below):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item
8.01 Other Events
Guidant
Corporation ("Guidant") announced that at a special meeting of shareholders
held on April 27, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Guidant shareholders approved the
agreement whereby Johnson & Johnson will acquire Guidant.
A
copy of the press release issued by Guidant on April 27, 2005 making the announcement is
filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release of Guidant Corporation, dated April 27, 2005
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
GUIDANT CORPORATION
Dated:
April 28, 2005
By:
/s/
Keith E. Brauer
Name:
Keith E. Brauer
Title:
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release of Guidant Corporation, dated April 27, 2005