<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001593636-21-000001.txt : 20210218
<SEC-HEADER>0001593636-21-000001.hdr.sgml : 20210218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210218161526
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001593636-21-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SACCARO JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001593636

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04448
		FILM NUMBER:		21649677

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010456
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				360781620
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PKWY
		STREET 2:		DF2-1W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8479482000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAXTER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		DF2-1W
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BAXTER TRAVENOL LABORATORIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880522

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BAXTER LABORATORIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760608
</SEC-HEADER>
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<SEQUENCE>1
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    <periodOfReport>2021-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001593636</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SACCARO JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BAXTER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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                <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1432</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
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    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares awarded from the performance share unit award granted on March 1, 2018 pursuant to the Equity Plan adopted by Baxter International Inc. (Baxter) as of such date (the 2018 PSUs).  The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on Baxter's Adjusted Operating Margin (OM) performance, as assessed annually over a three-year period.  One-third of the OM performance share units are allocated to each one-year period.  The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares awarded based on Baxter's OM during the January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 performance period.  These shares have vested as the relevant three-year performance period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 (the Three-Year Performance Period) has ended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares awarded from the 2018 PSUs.  The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on Baxter's Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance over the Three-Year Performance Period.  The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares awarded based on Baxter's TSR during the Three-Year Performance Period.  These shares have vested as the Three-Year Performance Period has ended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of shares forfeited by the reporting person to cover the withholding of taxes incurred as a result of the vesting of shares earned in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as part of the 2018 PSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares earned from the performance share unit award granted on February 28, 2019 pursuant to the Equity Plan adopted by Baxter as of such date.  The award provides that fifty percent of the performance share units are earned based on Baxter's OM performance, as assessed annually over a three-year period.  One-third of the OM performance share units are allocated to each one-year period.  The number of shares reported on this Form 4 represents the shares earned based on Baxter's OM, as assessed from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.  These shares are scheduled to vest after the end of the relevant three-year performance period (which runs from Janaury 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Matthew Rice, as attorney in-fact for James Saccaro</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
