ABT Abbott Laboratories

In 2016, we received 94% shareholder support for our annual advisory vote on "Say on Pay" demonstrating strong support for our approach to executive compensation. We continue to evolve our compensation program based upon feedback we receive during our ongoing shareholder outreach, as well as continual review of market practices. The following program changes and pay decisions demonstrate the direct alignment between the interests of our executive officers and shareholders.

KEY FEATURES OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The compensation program for our executive officers includes key features that align the interests of our executive officers with our business strategies and goals, as well as the interests of our shareholders. The program does not include features that could misalign these interests.

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				Use multiple performance hurdles to determine long-term incentive awards (Relative total shareholder return (TSR), Individual Performance, and ROE target)				No tax gross-ups under our executive officer pay program
				Benchmark peers with investment profile, operating characteristics, and employment and business markets similar to Abbott				No guaranteed bonuses
				Align annual incentive payouts to drivers of shareholder value (growth, EPS, etc.)				No employment contracts
​				Provide change in control benefits under double-trigger circumstances only				No change in control agreement for the Chief Executive Officer
				Forfeiture for misconduct provision in equity grants and recoup compensation when warranted				No highly leveraged incentive plans that encourage excessive risk taking
​				Require significant share ownership for officers and directors				No immediate vesting of stock options or restricted stock
				Apply pledging policy for Abbott shares				No hedging of Abbott shares
​				Cap incentive award payments				No discounted stock options
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION DECISIONS BASED ON 2016 PERFORMANCE

Compensation for executive officers is determined by the Compensation Committee based on Company performance relative to our peer group, executive officer performance relative to goals, and compensation levels relative to our peer group. Despite the significant positive impact of the closing of the St. Jude Medical acquisition on our stock price (moving Abbott's relative TSR to the top of our peer group at the time the Compensation Committee awarded bonuses and made LTI awards in 2017) and the critical importance of the transaction on our long-term strategy, the pay decisions outlined below did not reflect the impact of the acquisition, as it closed after the end of 2016. Compensation decisions based on 2016 performance were made in February 2017 as follows:

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Base salary increases averaged 1.3%. The CEO did not receive an increase; his base salary was last adjusted in 2010.



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Annual incentive payouts were tied to 2016 operating performance—results were aligned with our goals and the payouts reflect that. Average bonus payouts were 92% of target despite overachievement of goals related to EPS, net income, cash flow, and return on assets targets and 99.8% achievement of the sales goal. Individual payouts were aligned with performance and ranged from 10% to 122% of target.



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Long-term incentive awards are tied to longer-term returns to shareholders—results were low relative to peers and the awards reflect that. The value of 2017 LTI awards was targeted at the 25th percentile of our peer group, consistent with lower relative total shareholder returns through 2016. Individual awards were aligned with individual performance and ranged from the 5th to the 51st percentile. On average, the value of 2017 LTI grants that were awarded to executive officers was 22% less than the value of the 2016 grants, with the CEO receiving 22% less as well. If we had granted at the 50th percentile instead of the 25th, the grant guidelines would have been approximately $2 million higher for the CEO and $650,000 higher for each of the other NEOs.

The impact of these pay decisions on our CEO's compensation is shown in the table below:

It is important to note that the amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table (page 44) reflect the annual bonus for 2016 performance, but the LTI awards shown are for 2015 performance. Due to the significantly different LTI amounts granted in 2017 (using the 25 ^th percentile guidelines) vs. 2016 (using the 50 ^th percentile guidelines), we have disclosed the 2017 grant in this proxy to aid shareholders in their understanding of our approach to compensation which definitively aligns our LTI grant guidelines with relative TSR (as outlined on page 35).

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors regularly monitors best practices in governance and adopts measures that it determines are in the best interest of Abbott and its shareholders. Highlights of our governance practices include:

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10 of the 11 directors nominated for election are independent



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All directors elected annually by majority vote



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Independent lead director since 2005



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No former employees serve as directors



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Executive sessions of independent directors at each regularly scheduled Board meeting



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95% average attendance of all directors at Board and committee meetings in 2016



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Annual succession planning for management



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Annual Board and Board committee self-assessment

The independent directors nominated for election bring diverse and relevant skills, experience, and perspectives.

CEO EXPERIENCE		GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE		FINANCIAL ACUMEN		WOMEN OR MINORITIES		ACADEMIC LEADERS

AVERAGE TENURE		AVERAGE AGE

SHAREHOLDER INTERESTS

We actively engage with our shareholders throughout the year to understand and consider issues that matter most to them. During 2016, we conducted outreach with a cross-section of shareholders representing more than 40% of our outstanding shares. We received positive feedback on the following practices:

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Annual "Say on Pay" advisory vote to approve executive compensation



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Proxy Access



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Public Policy Committee oversees corporate political contributions, legal and regulatory compliance, and healthcare compliance



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No shareholder rights plan or "poison pill"

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As an innovative, responsible, and sustainable business, Abbott strives to foster economic, environmental, and social well-being everywhere we operate, in everything we do, and in partnership with others.

Product Excellence —Committed to offering products and services consistent with the highest standards of quality and safety.

Improving Access —Dedicated to creating technologies and products that meet local needs around the world, as well as informing and empowering people to make well-informed choices about healthcare.

Safeguarding the Environment —We've set 2020 goals to significantly reduce our environmental impacts in the areas of carbon dioxide emissions, total water intake and total generated waste.

Our sustainability progress and efforts are recognized by 3rd party organizations.

Dow Jones Sustainability Index Industry Group Leader for the 4th consecutive year

Currently one of only two U.S.-based companies recognized as a global industry group leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

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Ranked No. 1 for Social Responsibility in the Medical Products and Equipment sector on the Fortune Most Admired Companies list each of the past four years

Ranked as one of the global 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for eight consecutive years

To learn more about Abbott's sustainability efforts, please visit www.abbott.com/citizenship .

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

WHO CAN VOTE

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2017 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of January 31, 2017, Abbott had 1,727,997,596 outstanding common shares, which are Abbott's only outstanding voting securities. All shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors and one vote per share on all other matters.

NOTICE AND ACCESS

In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's "Notice and Access" rules, Abbott mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") to certain shareholders in mid-March of 2017. The Notice describes the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting and how the shareholders can access the proxy materials online. It also provides instructions on how those shareholders can vote their shares. If you received the Notice, you will not receive a print version of the proxy materials, unless you request one. If you would like to receive a print version of the proxy materials, free of charge, please follow the instructions on the Notice.

CUMULATIVE VOTING

Cumulative voting allows a shareholder to multiply the number of shares owned by the number of directors to be elected and to cast the total for one nominee or distribute the votes among the nominees, as the shareholder desires. Shareholders may not cumulate their votes against a nominee. If shares are voted cumulatively and there are more nominees than there are director vacancies, nominees who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected. If you wish to cumulate your votes, you must sign and mail in your proxy card or attend the Annual Meeting.

VOTING BY PROXY

All of Abbott's shareholders may vote by mail or at the Annual Meeting. Abbott's By-Laws provide that a shareholder may authorize no more than two persons as proxies to attend and vote at the meeting. Most of Abbott's shareholders may also vote their shares by telephone or the Internet. If you vote by telephone or the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. The instructions for voting can be found with your proxy card or on the Notice.

REVOKING A PROXY

You may revoke your proxy by voting in person at the Annual Meeting or, at any time prior to the meeting:

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by delivering a written notice to the Secretary of Abbott,



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by delivering an authorized proxy with a later date, or



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by voting by telephone or the Internet after you have given your proxy.

DISCRETIONARY VOTING AUTHORITY

Unless authority is withheld in accordance with the instructions on the proxy, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares covered by proxies they receive to elect the 11 nominees named in Item 1 on the proxy card. Should a nominee become unavailable to serve, the shares will be voted for a substitute designated by the Board of Directors, or for fewer than 11 nominees if, in the judgment of the proxy holders, such action is necessary or desirable. The persons named in the proxy may also decide to vote shares cumulatively in their sole discretion so that one or more of the nominees may receive fewer votes than the other nominees (or no votes at all), although they have no present intention of doing so. The proxy holders may not cast your vote for any nominee from whom you have withheld authority to vote.

Where a shareholder has specified a choice for or against the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors, the advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation, the advisory vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on executive compensation, the approval of the Abbott Laboratories 2017 Incentive Stock Program, the approval of the Abbott Laboratories Laboratories 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan for Non-U.S. Employees,

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or the approval of a shareholder proposal, or where the shareholder has abstained on these matters, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted (or not voted) as specified. Where no choice has been specified, the proxy will be voted FOR the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors, FOR the approval of executive compensation, FOR an annual (1 year) shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation, FOR the approval of the Abbott Laboratories 2017 Incentive Stock Program, FOR the approval of the Abbott Laboratories 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan for Non-U.S. Employees, and AGAINST the shareholder proposal.

The Board of Directors is not aware of any other issue which may properly be brought before the meeting. If other matters are properly brought before the meeting, the accompanying proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders.

QUORUM AND VOTE REQUIRED TO APPROVE EACH ITEM ON THE PROXY

A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for consideration of that matter at the meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on a matter shall be the act of the shareholders with respect to that matter.

EFFECT OF WITHHOLD VOTES, BROKER NON-VOTES, AND ABSTENTIONS

Shares represented by proxies which are present and entitled to vote on a matter but which have elected to withhold authority to vote for one or more directors or to abstain from voting on another matter will have the effect of votes against those directors or that matter. A proxy submitted by an institution, such as a broker or bank that holds shares for the account of a beneficial owner, may indicate that all or a portion of the shares represented by that proxy are not being voted with respect to a particular matter. This could occur, for example, when the broker or bank is not permitted to vote those shares in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares. These "non-voted shares" will be considered shares not present and, therefore, not entitled to vote on those matters, although these shares may be considered present and entitled to vote for other purposes. Brokers and banks have discretionary authority to vote shares in absence of instructions on matters the New York Stock Exchange considers "routine", such as the ratification of the appointment of the auditors. They do not have discretionary authority to vote shares in absence of instructions on "non-routine" matters. The election of directors and the advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation are "non-routine" matters. Non-voted shares will not affect the determination of the outcome of the vote on any matter to be decided at the meeting.

INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

The inspectors of election and the tabulators of all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations that identify shareholders are independent and are not Abbott employees.

COST OF SOLICITING PROXIES

Abbott will bear the cost of making solicitations from its shareholders and will reimburse banks and brokerage firms for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this solicitation. Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone, Internet, or in person by directors, officers, or employees of Abbott and its subsidiaries.

Abbott has retained Georgeson LLC to aid in the solicitation of proxies at an estimated cost of $19,500 plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

ABBOTT LABORATORIES STOCK RETIREMENT PLAN

Participants in the Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan will receive voting instructions for their shares held in the Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Trust. The Stock Retirement Trust is administered by both a trustee and an Investment Committee. The trustee of the Trust is The Northern Trust Company. The members of the Investment Committee are Stephen R. Fussell, Karen M. Peterson, and Brian P. Wentworth, employees of Abbott. The voting power with respect to the shares is held by and shared between the Investment Committee and the participants. The Investment Committee must solicit voting instructions from the participants and follow the voting instructions it receives. The Investment Committee may use its own discretion with respect to those shares for which no voting instructions are received.

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CONFIDENTIAL VOTING

It is Abbott's policy that all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations that reveal how a particular shareholder has voted be kept confidential and not be disclosed, except:

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where disclosure may be required by law or regulation,



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where disclosure may be necessary in order for Abbott to assert or defend claims,



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where a shareholder provides comments with a proxy,



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where a shareholder expressly requests disclosure,



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to allow the inspectors of election to certify the results of a vote, or



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in other limited circumstances, such as a contested election or proxy solicitation not approved and recommended by the Board of Directors.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

Shareholders sharing an address may receive only one copy of the proxy materials or the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, unless their broker, bank, or other intermediary has received contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. This is known as "householding." Shareholders wishing to discontinue householding and receive separate copies of the proxy materials or the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials should notify their broker, bank, or other intermediary.

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NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS

		ROBERT J. ALPERN, M.D. Director since 2008 Age 66 Ensign Professor of Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Dean of Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

		ROXANNE S. AUSTIN Director since 2000 Age 56 President and Chief Executive Officer, Austin Investment Advisors, Newport Coast, California (Private Investment and Consulting Firm)

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		SALLY E. BLOUNT, PH.D. Director since 2011 Age 55 Dean of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the Michael L. Nemmers Professor of Management and Organizations at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

		EDWARD M. LIDDY Director since 2010 Age 71 Retired Chairman & CEO, The Allstate Corporation, Northbrook, Illinois (Insurance Company)

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		NANCY MCKINSTRY Director since 2011 Age 58 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Wolters Kluwer N.V., Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands (Global Information, Software, and Services Provider)

		PHEBE N. NOVAKOVIC Director since 2010 Age 59 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Dynamics Corporation, Falls Church, Virginia (Worldwide Defense, Aerospace, and Other Technology Products Manufacturer)

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		WILLIAM A. OSBORN Director since 2008 Age 69 Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Trust Corporation (A Multibank Holding Company) and The Northern Trust Company, Chicago, Illinois (Banking Services Company)

		SAMUEL C. SCOTT III Director since 2007 Age 72 Retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Corn Products International, Inc., Westchester, Illinois (A Corn Refining Company)

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		DANIEL J. STARKS Director since 2017 Age 62 Retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota (A Medical Device Manufacturer)

		GLENN F. TILTON Director since 2007 Age 68 Retired Chairman of the Midwest, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Chicago, Illinois (Banking and Financial Services Company)

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		MILES D. WHITE Director since 1998 Age 62 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Abbott Laboratories

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors held 11 meetings in 2016. The average attendance of all directors at Board and committee meetings in 2016 was ninety-five percent and each director attended at least seventy-five percent of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which he or she served. Abbott encourages its Board members to attend the annual shareholders meeting. Last year, all of Abbott's directors attended the annual shareholders meeting.

The Board has determined that each of the following directors is independent in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange listing standards: R. J. Alpern, R. S. Austin, S. E. Blount, W. J. Farrell, E. M. Liddy, N. McKinstry, P. N. Novakovic, W. A. Osborn, S. C. Scott III, D. J. Starks, and G. F. Tilton. To determine independence, the Board applied the categorical standards attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement. The Board also considered whether a director has any other material relationships with Abbott or its subsidiaries and concluded that none of these directors had a relationship that impaired the director's independence. This included consideration of the fact that some of the directors are officers or serve on boards of companies or entities to which Abbott sold products or made contributions or from which Abbott purchased products and services during the year. In making its determination, the Board relied on both information provided by the directors and information developed internally by Abbott.

The Board has risk oversight responsibility for Abbott and administers this responsibility both directly and with assistance from its committees.

The Board has determined that the current leadership structure, in which the offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by one individual and an independent director acts as lead director, ensures the appropriate level of oversight, independence, and responsibility is applied to all Board decisions, including risk oversight, and is in the best interests of Abbott and its shareholders.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer

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Coherent leadership and direction for the Board and executive management



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Clear accountability and a single focus for the chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans



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CEO's extensive industry expertise, leadership experience, and familiarity with our business



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By leading management and chairing the Board, we benefit from our CEO's strategic and operational insights, enabling a focused vision encompassing the full range, from long-term strategic direction to day-to-day execution

Lead Independent Director

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Currently, the Chairman of the Nominations and Governance Committee acts as the lead director



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Chosen by and from the independent members of the Board of Directors, and serves as the liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors



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Facilitates communication with the Board and presides over regularly conducted executive sessions of the independent directors or sessions where the Chairman of the Board is not present



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Reviews and approves matters, such as agenda items, schedule sufficiency, and, where appropriate, information provided to other Board members



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Has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors and, if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he or she is available for consultation and direct communication



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The lead director, and each of the other directors, communicates regularly with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer regarding appropriate agenda topics and other Board related matters

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The Nominations and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends to the Board the nominees for election as directors at the next annual meeting of shareholders. The process used by the Nominations and Governance Committee to identify a nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors depends on the qualities being sought. From time to time, Abbott engages an executive search firm to assist the Committee in identifying individuals qualified to be Board members.

Abbott's outline of directorship qualifications, which as part of Abbott's corporate governance guidelines, is available in the corporate governance section of Abbott's investor relations website ( www.abbottinvestor.com ). These qualifications describe specific characteristics that the Nominations and Governance Committee and the Board take into consideration when selecting nominees for the Board, such as: strong management experience and senior level experience in medicine, hospital administration, medical and scientific research and development, finance, international business, government, and academic administration. An individual nominee is not required to satisfy all the characteristics listed in the outline of directorship qualifications and there is no requirement that all such characteristics be represented on the Board.

In addition, Board members should have backgrounds that, when combined, provide a portfolio of experience and knowledge that will serve Abbott's governance and strategic needs. Board candidates will be considered on the basis of a range of criteria, including broad-based business knowledge and relationships, prominence, and excellent reputations in their primary fields of endeavor, as well as a global business perspective and commitment to good corporate citizenship. Directors should have demonstrated experience and ability that is relevant to the Board of Directors' oversight role with respect to Abbott's business and affairs. Each director's biography includes the particular experience and qualifications that led the Board to conclude that the director should serve on the Board. The directors' biographies are on pages 13 through 18.

A description of the procedure for the recommendation and nomination of directors, including by proxy access, is on page 86.

In the process of identifying nominees to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the Nominations and Governance Committee considers the Board's diversity of relevant experience, areas of expertise, ethnicity, gender, and geography and assesses the effectiveness of the process in achieving that diversity. Fifty percent of the independent directors nominated for election are women or minorities.

The process used to identify and select nominees has resulted in an experienced, diverse, and well-rounded Board of Directors that possesses the skills and perspectives necessary for its oversight role. All of Abbott's directors exhibit:

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The following table details some of the attributes, skills, and experience represented on Abbott's Board of Directors.

Other Abbott Independent Director Metrics

The independent directors nominated for election bring diverse and relevant skills, experience, and perspectives.

CEO EXPERIENCE		GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE		FINANCIAL ACUMEN		WOMEN OR MINORITIES		ACADEMIC LEADERS

AVERAGE TENURE		AVERAGE AGE

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COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors has five committees established in Abbott's By-Laws: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, Public Policy Committee, and Executive Committee. Each of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, and Public Policy Committee is independent.

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Current Members

Audit*

Compensation

Nominations and Governance

Public Policy

Executive

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R. J. Alpern

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R. S. Austin

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S. E. Blount

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W. J. Farrell

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E. M. Liddy

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N. McKinstry

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P. N. Novakovic

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W. A. Osborn

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S. C. Scott III

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D. J. Starks**

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G. F. Tilton

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M. D. White

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Total Meetings Held in 2016

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Audit Committee

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to Abbott's accounting and financial reporting practices and the audit process; the quality and integrity of Abbott's financial statements; the independent auditors' qualifications, independence, and performance; the performance of Abbott's internal audit function and internal auditors; and certain areas of legal and regulatory compliance. The Committee is governed by a written charter. A copy of the report of the Audit Committee is on page 62.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in carrying out the Board's responsibilities relating to the compensation of Abbott's executive officers and directors. The Committee is governed by a written charter. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the compensation paid to the members of the Board and gives its recommendations to the full Board regarding both the amount of director compensation that should be paid and the allocation of that compensation between equity-based awards and cash. In recommending director compensation, the Compensation Committee takes comparable director fees into account and reviews any arrangement that could be viewed as indirect director compensation.

This Committee also reviews, approves, and administers the incentive compensation plans in which any executive officer of Abbott participates and all of Abbott's equity-based plans. It may delegate the responsibility to administer and make grants under these plans to management, except to the extent that such delegation would be inconsistent

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with applicable law or regulation or with the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The processes and procedures used for the consideration and determination of executive compensation are described in the section of the proxy captioned, "Compensation Discussion and Analysis."

The Compensation Committee has the sole authority, under its charter, to select, retain, and/or terminate independent compensation advisors. The Committee engaged Meridian as its compensation consultant for 2016. Meridian performs no other work for Abbott. The Committee engages compensation consultants to provide counsel and advice on executive and non-employee director compensation matters. The consultant and its principal report directly to the Chair of the Committee. The principal meets regularly and as needed with the Committee in executive sessions, has direct access to the Chair during and between meetings, and performs no other services for Abbott or its senior executives. The Committee determines what variables it will instruct the consultant to consider, and they include: peer groups against which performance and pay should be examined, financial metrics to be used to assess Abbott's relative performance, competitive long-term incentive practices in the marketplace, and compensation levels relative to market practice. The Committee negotiates and approves any fees paid to the consultant for these services. Based on its evaluation of Meridian's independence in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and information provided by Meridian, the Committee determined that the work performed by Meridian does not present any conflicts of interest. A copy of the Compensation Committee report is on page 41.

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Nominations and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends to the Board the nominees for election as directors at the next annual meeting of shareholders; recommends to the Board the people to be elected as executive officers of Abbott; develops and recommends to the Board the corporate governance guidelines applicable to Abbott; and serves in an advisory capacity to the Board and the Chairman of the Board on matters of organization, management succession plans, major changes in the organizational structure of Abbott, and the conduct of Board activities. The Committee is governed by a written charter. The process used by this Committee to identify a nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors depends on the qualities being sought. From time to time, Abbott engages an executive search firm to assist the Committee in identifying individuals qualified to be Board members. The process used by the Committee to identify nominees is described on page 20 in the section captioned, "Director Selection."

Public Policy Committee

The Public Policy Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to Abbott's public policy, certain areas of legal and regulatory compliance, and governmental affairs and healthcare compliance issues that affect Abbott. The Committee is governed by a written charter.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee may exercise all the authority of the Board in the management of Abbott, except for matters expressly reserved by law for Board action.

Interested parties may communicate with the Board of Directors by writing a letter to the Chairman of the Board, to the Chairman of the Nominations and Governance Committee, who acts as the lead director at the meetings of the independent directors, or to the independent directors c/o Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott Park Road, D-364, AP6D, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The General Counsel and Corporate Secretary regularly forwards to the addressee all letters other than mass mailings, advertisements, and other materials not relevant to Abbott's business. In addition, directors regularly receive a log of all correspondence received by the Company that is addressed to a member of the Board and may request any correspondence on that log.

Abbott's corporate governance guidelines, outline of directorship qualifications, director independence standards, code of business conduct, and the charters of Abbott's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, and Public Policy Committee are all available in the corporate governance section of Abbott's investor relations website ( www.abbottinvestor.com ).

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