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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 2007

Registration No. 333-            



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Agilent Technologies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware   77-0518772
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 553-7777
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

Adrian T. Dillon
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 553-7777
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copy to:

David K. Michaels, Esq.
Scott J. Leichtner, Esq.
Fenwick & West LLP
801 California Street
Mountain View, California 94041
(650) 988-8500
  D. Craig Nordlund, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 553-7777
  William H. Hinman, Jr., Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 251-5000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

        If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.    o

        If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    ý

        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this Form is filed as a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    ý

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of each class of
securities to be registered

  Amount to be
registered

  Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price

  Amount of
registration fee


Debt securities   $                (1)   $                (1)   $                (1)

(1)
An indeterminate amount of securities to be offered at indeterminate prices is being registered pursuant to this registration statement. The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) and is excluding this information in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).




PROSPECTUS


GRAPHIC

Debt Securities


        This prospectus contains a general description of certain material terms of the debt securities which we may offer for sale from time to time. The debt securities may be offered in one or more different series, each of which will have terms and conditions distinct from the terms and conditions of each other series of debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. The specific terms and conditions of the debt securities to be offered from time to time, to the extent they are not described in this prospectus or are different than those described in this prospectus, will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus, which will be provided when we make an offering of such debt securities. A supplement may also contain other important information concerning Agilent Technologies, Inc., the debt securities being offered or the offering, including certain U.S. federal income tax consequences and, in certain circumstances, the consequences under the tax laws of other countries to which you may become subject if you acquire the debt securities being offered by means of that supplement and this prospectus. A supplement may also supplement, change or update information contained in this prospectus, and we may supplement, change or update any of the information contained in this prospectus by incorporating information by reference in this prospectus. Read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.

        The securities will be issued by Agilent Technologies, Inc. See "Description of Debt Securities."

        The common stock of Agilent Technologies, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "A." Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will not list any of the securities described in this prospectus on any securities exchange.

        Investing in our securities involves risks. See "Part II, Item 1A—Risk Factors" beginning on page 27 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in the debt securities.


        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


The date of this prospectus is October 24, 2007.



TABLE OF CONTENTS


Prospectus

 
  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS   1

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

3

THE COMPANY

 

4

RISK FACTORS

 

4

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

5

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

5

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

6

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

16

LEGAL MATTERS

 

18

EXPERTS

 

18

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

18

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

18

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        References in this prospectus to "Agilent," "our company," "we," "us" and "our" are to Agilent Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, including, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries.

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a "shelf" registration procedure. Under this procedure, we may offer and sell debt securities from time to time in one or more series in one or more offerings. No limit exists on the aggregate amount of the debt securities we may sell pursuant to the registration statement. The securities sold may be denominated in U.S. dollars, foreign-denominated currency or currency units. Amounts payable with respect to any securities may be payable in U.S. dollars or foreign-denominated currency or currency units as specified in the prospectus supplement.

        This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of such securities. We may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus through one or more supplements to this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus may be modified or superseded by any statement made by us in a prospectus supplement, and in the event the information set forth in a prospectus supplement differs in any way from the information set forth in this prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in the prospectus supplement. The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede such information. See "Incorporation by Reference."

        You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the captions "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation by Reference."

        You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any pricing supplement and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Agilent, or any underwriter, agent, dealer or remarketing firm. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Agilent since the date hereof or that the information contained or incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

        Any prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement and, in certain circumstances, the consequences under the tax laws of other countries to which you may become subject if you acquire the debt securities being offered by means of that supplement and this prospectus.

        We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time, which agents may be affiliates of ours. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with our

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agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any offer. The prospectus supplement will also contain, with respect to the securities being sold, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of any underwriters and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "Securities Act."

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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

        We have made various forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements regarding:


        The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "aim," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Such factors, some of which are discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein and will be discussed in prospectus supplements, include, but are not limited to:

        We caution you that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There may also be other risks that we are unable to predict at this time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

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THE COMPANY

        Agilent Technologies, Inc. is a premier measurement company providing core bio-analytical and electronic measurement solutions to the communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis industries.

        We currently have two businesses, the electronic measurement business and the bio-analytical measurement business. Our electronic measurement business focuses on growth opportunities in the communications and electronics industries, while our bio-analytical measurement business focuses on core business and growth opportunities in the life sciences industry and in the environmental, chemical, food and petrochemical industries. In addition to our two businesses, we conduct centralized research through Agilent Technologies Laboratories.

        We were incorporated in Delaware in May 1999 and, prior to our initial public offering in November 1999, our operations comprised Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement, semiconductor products, healthcare solutions and chemical analysis businesses, related portions of Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, and associated infrastructure. Our principal executive offices are located at 5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara, California 95051. Our telephone number at that location is (408) 553-7777. Our home page on the Internet is www.agilent.com. Other than the information expressly set forth in this prospectus, the information contained, or referred to, on our website is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.


RISK FACTORS

        Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks discussed or incorporated by reference in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2007, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include repurchases of our outstanding shares of common stock, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of debt and the financing of possible acquisitions and investments.


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the fiscal years in the five year period ended October 31, 2006 and for the nine months ended July 31, 2007.

Nine Months
Ended

  Fiscal year ended
July 31,
2007

  October 31,
2006

  October 31,
2005

  October 31,
2004

  October 31,
2003

  October 31,
2002

6.45x   6.70x   6.02x   2.21x   (a)   (a)

(a)
In order to cover fixed charges in the years ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, our earnings from continuing operations before taxes and equity income would have had to increase by $746 million and $1,566 million, respectively.

        For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as income from continuing operations before taxes and equity income plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness and that portion of operating lease rental expense that is a reasonable approximation of the interest factor and amortization of capitalized expenses related to indebtedness.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        References to "Agilent" in this section of this prospectus are only to Agilent Technologies, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

        The debt securities will be direct obligations of Agilent and will rank equally and ratably in right of payment with other indebtedness of Agilent that is not subordinated. The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, a copy of which has been filed with the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

        The discussion of the material provisions of the indenture and the debt securities set forth below and the discussion of the material terms of a particular series of debt securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by, reference to all of the provisions of the indenture, which provisions of the indenture (including defined terms) are incorporated in this description of debt securities by reference.

        The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under it. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a series of debt securities, a series may be reopened, without notice to or consent of any holder of outstanding debt securities, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by, or pursuant to, a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in an officers' certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The following description of debt securities summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the series of debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of each series of debt securities offered by a prospectus supplement or prospectus supplements will be described in the prospectus supplement or prospectus supplements relating to that series.

        Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement are stated in United States dollars.

General

        We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, to the extent required, the following terms of the series of debt securities in respect of which the prospectus supplement is delivered:

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        The debt securities will be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, or in the form of one or more global debt securities. The debt securities will be issued only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the debt securities will be payable at our office or agency maintained for this purpose within New York City, or, at our option, payment of interest on the debt securities may be made by check mailed to the holders of the debt securities at their respective addresses set forth in the register of holders of debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the trustee will initially be a paying agent and registrar under the indenture. We may act as paying agent or registrar under the indenture.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If a payment date is not a business day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and interest will not accrue for the intervening period.

Certain Covenants

        The indenture governing the terms of the debt securities will contain the following principal covenants:

        Agilent will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any lien on (i) any Principal Property or (ii) the capital stock of any subsidiary, to secure any indebtedness of Agilent, any subsidiary or any other person without securing the debt securities equally and ratably with such indebtedness for so long as such indebtedness shall be so secured, subject to certain exceptions. Exceptions include:

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        Agilent will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any person pursuant to which Agilent or any subsidiary leases any property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by Agilent or the subsidiary to such person (a "sale and leaseback transaction"), except that a sale and leaseback transaction is permitted if Agilent or such subsidiary would be entitled to incur indebtedness secured by a lien on the property to be leased (without equally and ratably securing the outstanding debt securities of any series) in an amount equal to the present value of the lease payments with respect to the term of the lease remaining on the date as of which the amount is being determined, discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease, compounded semi-annually (such amount is referred to as the "attributable debt").

        In addition, permitted sale and leaseback transactions not subject to the limitation above and the provisions described in "—Limitation on Liens" above include:

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        Agilent may not consolidate or merge with or into another entity, or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its property and assets substantially as an entirety to another entity unless:

        In connection with any transaction that is covered by this covenant, Agilent must deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that the transaction complies with the terms of the indenture.

        In the case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other conveyance, but not a lease, in a transaction in which there is a successor entity, the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, Agilent under the indenture and, subject to the terms of the indenture, Agilent will be released from the obligation to pay principal and interest on the debt securities and all obligations under the indenture.

Further Issuances

        Agilent may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, create and issue additional debt securities having the same terms as, and ranking equally and ratably with, the debt securities of such series in all respects (except for the issue date and, if applicable, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional debt securities and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such additional debt securities). Such additional debt securities may be consolidated and form a single series with, and will have the same terms as to ranking, redemption, waivers, amendments or otherwise, as a previously issued series of debt securities and will vote together as one class on all matters with respect to such debt securities.

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Events of Default

        Each of the following is an "event of default" under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series:

        A default under clause (5) above is not an event of default until the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding notify Agilent of the default and Agilent does not cure such default within the time specified after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a "Notice of Default."

        Agilent shall deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an officer's certificate of any event that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become an event of default, its status and what action Agilent is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

        If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Agilent) shall have occurred and be continuing, the trustee or the registered holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may declare, by notice to Agilent in writing (and to the trustee, if given by the holders of the debt securities) specifying the event of default, to be immediately due and payable the principal amount of all the outstanding debt securities of such series, plus accrued but unpaid interest to the date of acceleration. In case an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Agilent shall occur, such amount with respect to all the outstanding debt securities of such series shall be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or the holders of the outstanding debt securities of such series. Unless as otherwise provided herein, after any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration is obtained by the trustee, the registered holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series may, under certain

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circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration and waive such event of default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, premium or interest with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture.

        Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an event of default shall occur and be continuing with respect to a series of debt securities, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the debt securities of such series, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.

        No holder of debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, unless:

        However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of any debt securities for enforcement of payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such debt securities on or after the respective due dates expressed in such debt securities.

        The indenture requires Agilent to furnish to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a statement of an officer regarding compliance with the indenture. Upon becoming aware of any default or event of default, Agilent is required to deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such default or event of default.

Definitions

        The indenture contains the following defined terms:

        "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, as of the time of determination, the aggregate amount of the assets of Agilent and the assets of its consolidated subsidiaries after deducting (1) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, service marks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other intangible assets and (2) all current liabilities, as reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared by Agilent in accordance with GAAP contained in an annual report on Form 10-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q timely filed by Agilent with the SEC or any amendment thereto (and not subsequently disclaimed as not being reliable by Agilent) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the "Exchange Act," prior to the time as of which "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" is being determined.

        "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect on the date of the indenture and from time to time.

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        "guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any indebtedness of any other person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such indebtedness of such other person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term "guarantee" will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "guarantee," when used as a verb, has a correlative meaning.

        "incur" means issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for.

        "indebtedness" means, with respect to any person, obligations (other than Non-recourse Obligations) of such person for borrowed money (including, without limitation, indebtedness for borrowed money evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments).

        "Non-recourse Obligation" means indebtedness or other obligations substantially related to the acquisition of assets not previously owned by Agilent or any direct or indirect subsidiaries of Agilent or the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of properties of Agilent or any direct or indirect subsidiaries of Agilent, in each case as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to Agilent or any direct or indirect subsidiary of Agilent or such subsidiary's assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof).

        "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.

        "Principal Property" means our principal offices in Santa Clara, California, each manufacturing facility, each research and development facility and each service and support facility (in each case including associated office facilities) located within or outside the territorial limits of the United States of America owned by us or any of our wholly owned subsidiaries, except such as our board of directors by resolution determines in good faith (taking into account, among other things, the importance of such property to the business, financial condition and earnings of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole) not to be of material importance to the business of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

        "Significant Subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

        "subsidiary" means, with respect to any person (the "parent") at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of that date, owned, controlled or held by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Modification and Waiver

        Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such amendment (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the debt

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securities of such series). Agilent and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders, change the indenture for any of the following purposes:

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification, supplement, waiver or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

        The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may waive compliance by Agilent with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture with respect to the debt securities. The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt

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securities may waive any past default under the indenture, except a default not theretofore cured in the payment of principal or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security.

Defeasance

        Agilent at any time may terminate all its obligations with respect to the debt securities of any series (such termination, "legal defeasance"), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of such series, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt securities of such series. Agilent at any time may also terminate its obligations with respect to the debt securities of any series under the covenants described under "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Liens" and "—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions" and under clause (5) under "—Events of Default," which termination is referred to in this prospectus as "covenant defeasance." Agilent may exercise its legal defeasance option with respect to any series of debt securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option with respect to such series of debt securities.

        If Agilent exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an event of default with respect thereto. If Agilent exercises its covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series, payment of the debt securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an event of default specified in clauses (5) and (6) under "—Events of Default" with respect to the covenants described under "—Certain Covenants."

        The legal defeasance option or the covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of any series may be exercised only if:

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Discharge

        When (i) Agilent delivers to the trustee all outstanding debt securities of any series (other than debt securities replaced because of mutilation, loss, destruction or wrongful taking) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding debt securities of any series have become due and payable, or are by their terms due and payable within one year whether at maturity or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, and in the case of clause (ii) Agilent irrevocably deposits with the trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding debt securities of such series, including interest thereon, and if in either case Agilent pays all other sums related to the debt securities of such series payable under the indenture by Agilent, then the indenture shall, subject to certain surviving provisions, cease to be of further effect with respect to such series. The trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series on demand of Agilent accompanied by an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel of Agilent.

Governing Law

        The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell the debt securities offered by this prospectus through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The prospectus supplement with respect to particular debt securities will set forth the terms and conditions of the securities, including the public offering or purchase price and the proceeds to Agilent from the sale, the expenses of the offering, the securities exchanges, if any, on which the debt securities will be listed and the other terms and conditions listed below.

        If we use agents who we designate to solicit or receive offers to purchase the debt securities:

        If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the offer or sale of our debt securities:

        If we use a dealer to sell the debt securities:

        We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities, and we may directly sell the securities to institutional or other investors. We will describe the terms of our direct sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        We may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms and their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Such agents, underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms and their controlling persons may also be entitled to contribution with respect to payments they may be required to make in respect of those liabilities. Our

16



agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

        We may authorize our agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the debt securities at the public offering price under contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date.

        Each series of debt securities will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered debt securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered debt securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any offered securities.

        Any underwriter may engage in stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Rule 104 permits stabilizing bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. The underwriters may over-allot offered securities, thereby creating a short position in the underwriters' account. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of offered securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the offered securities to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

        Any underwriter may from time to time make loans to us and our subsidiaries or affiliates and may perform other services for us and our subsidiaries or affiliates in the normal course of their business, including investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services, for which they may receive customary compensation.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, Fenwick & West LLP, Mountain View, California, will provide opinions regarding the authorization and validity of the securities. Any underwriters will also be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Palo Alto, California, or any other counsel to the underwriters named in the prospectus supplement.


EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements of Agilent Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of October 31, 2006 and 2005, and for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2006, and the related financial statement schedule, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Agilent Technologies, Inc. filed with the SEC on October 12, 2007, and Agilent Technologies, Inc. management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2006, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Agilent Technologies, Inc. filed with the SEC on October 12, 2007, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus some of the information included in the registration statement. This information may be inspected and copied at, or obtained at prescribed rates from the public reference room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site, http://www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

        We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. We fulfill our obligations with respect to such requirements by filing periodic reports and other information with the SEC. These reports and other information are available as provided above.

        We maintain an Internet site at www.agilent.com. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement.


INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" in this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus:

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        Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purpose of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus (or in any document incorporated by reference therein) or in any other subsequently filed document that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

        To the extent that any information contained in any Current Report on Form 8-K, or any exhibit thereto, was furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, such information or exhibit is specifically not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

        You may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding certain exhibits to the documents) at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 553-7777

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GRAPHIC



PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

        The following is a statement of the estimated expenses (other than underwriting compensation) to be incurred by Registrant in connection with the distribution of debt securities registered under this registration statement.

SEC registration fee   $ *
Accounting fees and expenses     85,000
Trustees' fees and expenses (including counsel fees)     17,500
Legal fees and expenses (including Blue Sky fees)     200,000
Printing and engraving fees     10,000
Rating agency fees     650,000
Miscellaneous     37,500
   
Total   $ 1,000,000
   

*
Excluded because the SEC registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456.

Item 15.  Indemnification of directors and officers.

        Agilent is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify persons who were, are or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was illegal.

        Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

        Agilent's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for the indemnification of officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        All of Agilent's directors and officers are covered by insurance policies maintained by Agilent against certain liabilities for actions taken in their capacities as such, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, Agilent has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors and executive officers and certain former directors and officers of acquired companies that obligate it to indemnify such directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17.

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Item 16.  Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number

  Exhibit Description
  1.01   Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities.*

  4.01

 

Indenture, dated October 24, 2007, between Agilent Technologies, Inc. and the trustee for the debt securities.

  4.02

 

Forms of notes related to the debt securities (contained in Exhibit 4.01).

  5.01

 

Opinion of Fenwick & West LLP.

12.01

 

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

23.01

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

23.02

 

Consent of Fenwick & West LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.01).

24.01

 

Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto).

25.01

 

T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the trustee, in respect of the Indenture.

*
To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference or by post-effective amendment.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

        (a)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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        (b)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new

II-3


registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Santa Clara, State of California, on October 24, 2007.

    AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
WILLIAM P. SULLIVAN      
William P. Sullivan,
President and Chief Executive Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN AND WOMEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William P. Sullivan, Adrian T. Dillon and D. Craig Nordlund, or any of them, his or her attorney-in-fact, each with the power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, or any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  WILLIAM P. SULLIVAN      
William P. Sullivan
  Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  October 24, 2007

/s/  
ADRIAN T. DILLON      
Adrian T. Dillon

 

Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration,
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
JAMES G. CULLEN      
James G. Cullen

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
PAUL N. CLARK      
Paul N. Clark

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007
         

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/s/  
ROBERT J. HERBOLD      
Robert J. Herbold

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
ROBERT L. JOSS      
Robert L. Joss

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
KOH BOON HWEE      
Koh Boon Hwee

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
HEIDI KUNZ      
Heidi Kunz

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
DAVID M. LAWRENCE, M.D.      
David M. Lawrence, M.D.

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

/s/  
A. BARRY RAND      
A. Barry Rand

 

Director

 

October 24, 2007

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

  Exhibit Description
  1.01   Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities.*

  4.01

 

Indenture, dated October 24, 2007, between Agilent Technologies, Inc. and the trustee for the debt securities.

  4.02

 

Forms of notes related to the debt securities (contained in Exhibit 4.01).

  5.01

 

Opinion of Fenwick & West LLP.

12.01

 

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

23.01

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

23.02

 

Consent of Fenwick & West LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.01).

24.01

 

Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto).

25.01

 

T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the trustee, in respect of the Indenture.

*
To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference or by post-effective amendment.

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QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
THE COMPANY
RISK FACTORS
USE OF PROCEEDS
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
LEGAL MATTERS
EXPERTS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Exhibit Index