Notice of Exempt Solicitation. Definitive Material. (px14a6g)
08 Avril 2019 - 4:36PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
United States Securities and Exchange
Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Notice of Exempt Solicitation
Pursuant to Rule 14a-103
PROXY MEMORANDUM
Registrant: Pfizer, Inc.
Subject:
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Shareholder resolution requesting the Board of Directors adopt a policy requiring the Chair of the Board, whenever possible, to be an independent member of the Board
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Contact:
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Tom McCaney, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
tmccaney@osfphila.org
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At the upcoming Pfizer, Inc. (“Pfizer” or “the
“Company”) annual shareholders’ meeting on April 25, 2019, shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on
a Proposal (the “Proposal”) sponsored by multiple shareholders
1
asking Pfizer to consider adopting as policy, and amend the by-laws as necessary, to require that the Chair of the Board be an
independent member of the Board..
We urge you to vote FOR proposal #7 as described below.
RESOLVED: The shareholders request the Board of
Directors to adopt as policy, and amend the bylaws as necessary, to require the Chair of the Board of Directors, whenever possible,
to be an independent member of the Board. This policy would be phased in for the next CEO transition.
If the Board determines that a Chair who was independent
when selected is no longer independent, the Board shall select a new Chair who satisfies the requirements of the policy within
a reasonable amount of time. Compliance with this policy is waived if no independent director is available and willing to serve
as Chair.
_____________________________
1
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and co-filers, including Dana Investment Advisors, Miller/Howard Investments.
The Proponents submitted the Proposal to Pfizer because we believe
shareholders, as well as the company, would benefit from an independent presence in the role of Chair. A potential conflict of
interest exists when a company’s board of directors, which is responsible for overseeing the company’s CEO, is chaired
by the CEO. This conflict is heightened by the fact that the CEO provides the board with the information it depends on to oversee
business practices and assess risk management.
We believe that the primary duty of the Board is to monitor
the management of the company on behalf of the shareholders. Combined Chair /CEO roles may create several kinds of risk:
A CEO who also serves as chair can exert excessive
influence on the board and its agenda, weakening the board’s oversight of management. Separating the chair and CEO positions
reduces this conflict, and an independent chair provides the clearest separation of power between the CEO and the rest of the
board.
2
Concerned shareholders often urge that a unified role
leads to a lack of oversight and diminishes the independence of a board. Prior to the financial crisis, several failed banks such
as Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns employed unified Chairman and CEOs, a fact which has led to criticism of the unified role.
3
“Global experience has shown that the model is a tested
instrument of governance. Having an independent chairman is a means to ensure that the CEO is accountable for managing the company
in close alignment with the interests of shareowners, while recognizing that managing the board is a separate and time intensive
responsibility.”
4
_____________________________
2
https://www.cii.org/independent_board
3
https://www.corporatecomplianceinsights.com/split-decisions-the-pros-and-cons-of-separating-ceo-and-chairman-roles/
4
https://web.law.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/microsites/millstein-center/2009%2003%2030%20Chairing%20The%20Board%20final.pdf
As written in Investopedia, May 31, 2018, the author cites three
reasons to separate the roles. Along with the potential for a) conflict of interest, specifically with a Chair/CEO voting on his/her
own compensation, and b) corporate governance issues resulting from a CEO monitoring oneself, a Chair/CEO may compromise the independence
of the audit committee. “However, because the committee is a sub-group of the board of directors and reports to the chair,
having the CEO in the chair role limits the effectiveness of the committee. This is especially true for the whistleblower clause.
Sarbanes-Oxley requires that the audit committee have a procedure where employees and other connected individuals can report fraud
and other abuse directly to the committee without reprisal. When the board is led by management, employees may be less likely to
report such activities and the audit committee may be less likely to act on such reports.”
5
Proxy Advisory Services company Glass Lewis, in its March 2016
report “In-Depth – Independent Board Chairman”, explains “…that shareholders are better served when
the board is led by an independent chairman who we believe is better able to oversee the executives of the Company and set a pro-shareholder
agenda without the management conflicts that exists when a CEO or other executive also serves as chairman. This, in turn, leads
to a more proactive and effective board of directors.”
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In our view, many Boards prefer to rely on the comfort of the
familiar. However, independent voices, particularly in challenging times, are needed to keep the best interests of shareholders
as a priority. A similar resolution filed with Pfizer last year received a 25.59% vote.
We therefore urge shareholders to vote FOR proposal #7.
_____________________________
5
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/3-reasons-to-separate-ceo-and-chairman-positions.aspx
6
http://www.glasslewis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2016-In-Depth-Report-INDEPENDENT-BOARD-CHAIRMAN.pdf
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