As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2018

Registration No. 333-             

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ZOETIS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

10 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 822-7000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Heidi C. Chen, Esq.

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

10 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 822-7000

(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies To:

Eric W. Blanchard

Covington & Burling LLP

620 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

(212) 841-1000

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.  ☐

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.  ☒

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

If this Form is 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.  ☐

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.  ☒

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.  ☐

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

PROSPECTUS

ZOETIS INC.

DEBT SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

WARRANTS

DEPOSITARY SHARES

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

PURCHASE UNITS

GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

HYBRID SECURITIES COMBINING ELEMENTS OF THE FOREGOING

We may from time to time offer to sell debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, purchase units, guarantees of debt securities or hybrid securities combining elements of the foregoing. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. In addition, we may supplement, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus by incorporating information by reference in this prospectus.

In addition, selling securityholders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer our securities from time to time. To the extent that any selling securityholder resells any securities, the selling securityholder may be required to provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement identifying and containing specific information about the selling securityholder and the terms of the securities being offered.

You should read this prospectus, the supplements to this prospectus and any incorporated documents carefully before you invest in any of our securities. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

We may offer and sell securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers. The names and compensation of any underwriters or agents involved in the sale of securities will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ZTS.” If we decide to seek a listing of any securities offered by this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which such securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated in this prospectus by reference and described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4.

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 July 31, 2018.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with an offering. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, nor any sale of securities made under these documents, will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with an offering or that the information contained or incorporated by reference is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, is accurate only as of the date of the documents containing the information, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

References in this prospectus to “Zoetis,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” are to Zoetis Inc. and its subsidiaries unless otherwise stated or the context so requires.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus and selling securityholders may, from time to time, offer such securities owned by them. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered by us and/or selling securityholders. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. If this prospectus is inconsistent with the prospectus supplement, you should rely upon the prospectus supplement. In addition, the prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus.

If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you.

Wherever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules or regulations, we may instead include such information or add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, through filings we make with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or by any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules or regulations. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to a prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus unless the context requires otherwise.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, may include forward-looking statements made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “seek,” “continue,” “outlook,” “objective”, “target,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” or the negative version of these words or comparable words and terms, or by using future dates in connection with any discussion of future performance, actions or events.

In particular, forward-looking statements include statements relating to our indebtedness, our ability to make interest and principal payments on our indebtedness, our ability to satisfy the covenants contained in our indebtedness, 2018 financial guidance, future actions, business plans or prospects, prospective products, product approvals or products under development, product supply disruptions, R&D costs, timing and likelihood of success, future operating or financial performance, future results of current and anticipated products and services, strategies, sales efforts, expenses, production efficiencies, production margins, integration of acquired businesses, interest rates, tax rates, changes in tax regimes and laws, foreign exchange rates, growth in emerging markets, the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings, plans related to share repurchases and dividends, our agreements with Pfizer, government regulation and financial results. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions.

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Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from past results and future plans and projected future results are the following:

However, there may also be other risks that we are unable to predict at this time. These risks or uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. You should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or by the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports and our other filings with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider the above to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties.

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THE COMPANY

Overview

Zoetis Inc. is a global leader in the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of animal health medicines and vaccines, with a focus on both livestock and companion animals. We have a diversified business, commercializing products across eight core species: cattle, swine, poultry, fish and sheep (collectively, livestock) and dogs, cats and horses (collectively, companion animals); and within five major product categories: anti-infectives, vaccines, parasiticides, medicated feed additives and other pharmaceuticals. For more than 60 years, we have been committed to enhancing the health of animals and bringing solutions to our customers who raise and care for them.

We were incorporated in Delaware in July 2012 and prior to that the company was a business unit of Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”). The address of our principal executive offices is 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 and our telephone number is (974) 822-7000.

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RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our most recent fiscal year, in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K, before making an investment decision. Each of the risks described in these documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth the historical ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated. For the purpose of computing these ratios, “earnings” consists of income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income, plus fixed charges, and amortization of capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” consists of interest expense (which includes amortization of debt premium, discount and other debt costs) net of capitalized interest, the estimated interest portion of rental expense, and capitalized interest. The ratio was calculated by dividing the sum of the earnings (as defined above) by the sum of the fixed charges (as defined above).

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and the refinancing of existing debt. We may use funds that are not immediately needed for these purposes to temporarily invest in short-term marketable securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured obligations. The debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of January 28, 2013, between Zoetis Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement.

The following description is a summary of selected portions of the indenture. The indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you should read the indenture carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. A prospectus supplement relating to original issue discount securities will describe federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in a prospectus supplement relating to any of these types of debt securities. A prospectus supplement relating to indexed debt securities or foreign currency debt securities will also describe any additional tax consequences or other special considerations applicable to these types of debt securities.

In addition, the material specific terms particular to debt securities of each series will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of that series.

General

The debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may issue under the indenture or otherwise. We may issue the debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par or a premium or with original issue discount. We may reopen a previous issue of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of the series.

The prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

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The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the series will be attached to the front of this prospectus.

We may issue debt securities other than the debt securities described in this prospectus. There is no requirement that any other debt securities that we issue be issued under the indenture. Thus, any other debt securities that we issue may be issued under other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different from those included in the indenture or applicable to one or more issues of the debt securities described in this prospectus.

Certain Covenants

We may elect to have the following covenants apply to any series of debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture.

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Limitations on Liens

We shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (an “Initial Lien”), other than Permitted Liens, on any Principal Property to secure any Debt of Zoetis or any Restricted Subsidiary unless it has made or will make effective provision whereby the notes and any other debt securities of any series issued pursuant to the indenture and having the benefit of this covenant will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other Debt secured by such Lien. Any Lien created for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series issued pursuant to the indenture and having the benefit of this covenant shall provide by its terms that such Lien will be automatically released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the applicable Initial Lien.

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

Zoetis shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction covering any Principal Property unless:

Because the definition of Principal Property covers only buildings, structures or other facilities together with the underlying land and fixtures used primarily for manufacturing, processing or production that we own in the United States, our manufacturing facilities elsewhere in the world are excluded from the operation of the covenants described above. There are currently no Liens on, or any Sale and Leaseback Transactions covering, any property that would potentially qualify as Principal Property that would require any debt securities to be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) Debt secured by such Lien. We do not keep records identifying which of our properties, if any, would qualify as Principal Property and we believe that we have few, if any, properties that would qualify as Principal Property, and as such, few, if any, of our subsidiaries would qualify as a Restricted Subsidiary.

Definitions

Set forth below are certain of the defined terms used in the indenture.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets after deducting (a) all current liabilities (excluding any indebtedness maturing within 12 months of the end of the most recent quarter for which financial statements are available) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and any other like intangibles.

“Debt” of any Person means (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (other than any such obligations to the extent that (i) the liability of such Person is limited solely to the property or asset financed by such obligations or (ii) such obligations result from the requirement to return collateral posted to such Person by a counterparty pursuant to one or more hedging contracts or other similar risk management contracts) and (b) all Debt of others guaranteed by such Person.

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interests.

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“Lien” means, with respect to any property of any Person, any mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, lien, charge, easement (other than any easement not materially impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such property.

“Permitted Liens” means

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a company, a voluntary association, a partnership, a trust, a joint venture, a limited liability company or other business entity, an unincorporated organization, or a government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

“Principal Property” means any building, structure or other facility together with the underlying land and its fixtures, used primarily for manufacturing, processing or production, owned in the United States and the net book value of such building, structure or other facility exceeds 2% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets measured as of the end of the most recent quarter for which financial statements are available; provided that no building,

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structure or other facility will be a Principal Property if, in the good faith opinion of our Board of Directors (or a committee thereof), such building, structure or other facility is not of material importance to our business taken as a whole.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any of our Subsidiaries that owns a Principal Property.

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any direct or indirect arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby we or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to another Person and we or a Restricted Subsidiary leases or rents it from such Person (other than (i) leases between us and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) temporary leases for a term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more than three years and (iii) leases of a property executed by the time of, or within 90 days after the latest of, the acquisition, the completion of construction or improvement, or the commencement of commercial operation of the property).

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of the Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Value” means, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, 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, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease, discounted at the weighted average interest rate of all series of debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture and having the benefit of the covenants described above under “—Limitation on Liens” and “—Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” (including the effective interest rate of any original issue discount debt securities) which are outstanding on the date of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

“Voting Stock” means Equity Interests of any Person having ordinary power to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors, managers, trustees or other controlling Persons of such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of a contingency).

The indenture contains no other restrictive covenants, including those that would afford holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction involving Zoetis or any of its affiliates, or any covenants relating to total indebtedness, interest coverage, stock repurchases, recapitalizations, dividends and distributions to shareholders, current ratios or acquisitions and divestitures.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We will not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ property and assets taken as a whole (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to any person, or permit any person to merge with or into us, unless:

The Surviving Person will succeed to, and except in the case of a lease, be substituted for, us under the indenture.

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Modification of Indenture

Under the indenture, if the trustee and we agree, we can modify the indenture without notifying any holders or seeking their consent in certain specified circumstances, including if the amendment does not materially adversely affect any holder. In other circumstances, our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders may be modified if the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series affected by the modification consent to it. No modification of the maturity date or principal or interest payment terms, no modification of the currency for payment, no impairment of the right to sue for the enforcement of payment at the maturity of the notes, no modification of any conversion rights and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications or modifying the foregoing requirements or redoing the percentage required to waive certain specified covenants, is effective against any holder without its consent. In connection with any modification of the indenture, we will deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and an officer’s certificate, upon which the trustee may rely, each stating that such modification complies with the applicable provisions of the indenture.

Events of Default

When we use the term “Event of Default” in the indenture, here are some examples of what we mean. An Event of Default occurs if:

A default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under another series. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default (except for defaults that involve our failure to pay principal or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. The trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default (other than defaults that involve our failure to pay principal or interest) unless an officer of the trustee having responsibility for administration of the indenture has received written notice of such default or Event of Default, and such notice references the notes and the indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of such series may declare, in a written notice, the principal amount (or specified amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest on that series to be immediately due and payable. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to any series has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series may rescind and annul the acceleration if:

If a default in the performance or breach of the indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series, by written notice to the trustee, may waive any past Event of Default or its consequences under the indenture so long as certain

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conditions are met (including, but not limited to, the deposit with the trustee of a sum sufficient to pay all sums paid or advanced by the trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee, its agents and counsel). However, an Event of Default cannot be waived with respect to any series of securities in the following two circumstances:

Other than its duties in case of a default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity and/or security. If they provide this reasonable indemnity and/or security, the holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of notes may, subject to certain limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

We are required to deliver to the trustee an annual statement as to our fulfillment of all of our obligations under the indenture.

Defeasance

When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. If we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities in a particular series, then at our option:

If this happens, the holders of the debt securities of the affected series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of the notes and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated notes. Such holders may look only to such deposited funds or obligations for payment.

To exercise our defeasance option, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that, among other things, the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the notes to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance, but not in the case of covenant defeasance, this opinion must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of this prospectus supplement, since that result would not occur under current tax law.

Governing Law

The indenture and notes are governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Regarding the Trustee

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the trustee under the indenture. The trustee or its affiliates may from time to time in the future provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their business.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description of certain terms of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), our by-laws, as amended and restated (the “By-Laws”), and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). For more information on how you can obtain the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Common Stock

Under the Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 6 billion shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The common stock is not redeemable, does not have any conversion rights and is not subject to call. Holders of shares of common stock have no preemptive rights to maintain their percentage of ownership in future offerings or sales of our stock. Holders of shares of common stock have one vote per share in all elections of Directors and on all other matters submitted to vote of our stockholders. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as and when may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of common stock will be entitled to participate equally and ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held, in our net assets available for distribution to holders of common stock. The shares of common stock currently outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable. As of June 30, 2018, there were 482,290,154 shares of common stock outstanding.

The prospectus supplement relating to any common stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering.

Preferred Stock

Under the Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 1 billion shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. The preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, and our Board of Directors is expressly authorized (i) to fix the descriptions, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions with respect to any series of preferred stock and (ii) to specify the number of shares of any series of preferred stock. As of June 30, 2018, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

The prospectus supplement relating to any preferred stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering.

Anti-takeover Effects of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and Delaware Law

Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. Various provisions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws could delay or discourage some transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or a change in our management and may limit the ability of our stockholders to remove current management or approve transactions that our stockholders may deem to be in their best interests. Among other things, these provisions include:

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Delaware Law. We are a Delaware corporation and consequently are also subject to certain anti-takeover provisions of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of the corporation’s board of directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of the corporation’s assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person. Section 203 makes it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts not approved in advance by our Board of Directors, and, as a result, could discourage attempts to acquire us, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement, a description of any warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, purchase units or guarantees that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

Selling securityholders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, our securities in various private transactions. Such selling securityholders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us, or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities, as well as their transferees, pledgees, donees or successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling securityholders,” may from time to time offer and sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the name of each selling securityholder and the number of and type of securities beneficially owned by such selling securityholder that are covered by such prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement also will disclose whether any of the selling securityholders have held any position or office with, have been employed by or otherwise have had a material relationship with us during the three years prior to the date of the prospectus supplement.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We and any selling securityholder may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

In addition, we, or any selling securityholder, may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

We and any selling securityholder may sell the securities offered by this prospectus at:

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers, and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Covington & Burling LLP, New York, New York.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The consolidated financial statements of Zoetis Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and April 2, 2017, incorporated by reference herein, the independent registered public accounting firm has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report included in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the 1933 Act.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly, current and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services. These filings are also available at the Internet website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The filings are also available on our website at http://www.zoetis.com.

THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED IN OR DELIVERED WITH THIS PROSPECTUS. YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OR IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained in this prospectus or by information contained in documents filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

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We also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus and the date all of the securities offered by this prospectus are sold or the offering is otherwise terminated, with the exception of any information furnished under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, which is not deemed filed and which is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any such filings shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference and to be a part of this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of those documents.

We will provide without charge upon written or oral request to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any and all of the documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). You may request a copy of these documents by writing or telephoning us at:

Corporate Secretary

Zoetis Inc.

10 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 822-7000

The information contained in our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

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PART II

The following table sets forth the estimated fees and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the registration of the securities registered hereby:

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of being or having been in any such capacity, if he acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action, or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that with respect to an action brought by or in the right of the corporation such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees). Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We have also entered into indemnification agreements with certain of our directors and officers that provide for us to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto, to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for such limitations on liability for our directors.

We currently maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers.

Reference is made to the form of underwriting agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto for provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated under certain circumstances, to indemnify our directors, officers and controlling persons against certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

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The Exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index on page II-4 and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new 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.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be

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deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new 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 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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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 Parsippany, State of New Jersey, on July 31, 2018.

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Juan Ramón Alaix, Heidi C. Chen and Katherine H. Walden and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully 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.

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