UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant | ||
Filed by a Party Other Than the Registrant |
Check the Appropriate Box: | |||
Preliminary Proxy Statement | |||
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |||
Definitive Proxy Statement | |||
Definitive Additional Materials | |||
Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a -12 | |||
Pfizer Inc. | |||
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | |||
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | |||
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Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): |
No fee required | ||
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 | ||
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
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(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0- | |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | ||
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement mother, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | ||
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: | |
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P f i z e r I n c .
N o t i c e o f A n n u a l M e e t i n g
o f S h a r e h o l d e r s ,
P r o x y S t a t e m e n t
a n d 2 0 0 5 F i n a n c i a l R
e p o r t(1)
M a r c h 1 6 , 2 0 0 6
(1) The 2005 Financial Report is not included in this filing. It was filed as Exhibit 13 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K on March 1, 2006 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and will be contained in Appendix A to the Proxy Statement mailed to our shareholders beginning on March 16, 2006.
HOW TO VOTE
Most shareholders have a choice of voting on the Internet, by telephone, or by mail using a traditional proxy card. Please refer to the proxy card or other voting instructions included with these proxy materials for information on the voting methods available to you. If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card.
ANNUAL MEETING ADMISSION
Either an admission ticket or proof of ownership of Pfizer stock, as well as a form of personal photo identification, must be presented in order to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, your admission ticket is attached to your proxy card. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must bring a brokerage statement or other proof of ownership with you to the Meeting, or you may request an admission ticket in advance. Please see the response to the question Do I need a ticket to attend the Annual Meeting? for further details.
REDUCE PRINTING AND MAILING COSTS
If you share the same last name with other shareholders living in your household, you may receive only one copy of our Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, and the 2005 Annual Review. Please see the response to the question What is householding and how does it affect me? for more information on this important shareholder program.
Shareholders may help us to reduce printing and mailing costs further by opting to receive future proxy materials by e-mail. Please see the response to the question Can I access the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, and the 2005 Annual Review, on the Internet? for more information on electronic delivery of proxy materials.
TIME AND DATE | 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time (9:30 a.m., | |
Eastern Daylight Time) on Thursday, April 27, | ||
2006. | ||
PLACE | The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel | |
333 South 13th Street | ||
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 | ||
WEBCAST | A Webcast of our Annual Meeting will be | |
available on our Website at www.pfizer.com | ||
starting at 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time | ||
(9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on April 27, | ||
2006. An archived copy of the Webcast also | ||
will be available on our Website through the | ||
first week of May. Information included on our | ||
Website, other than our Proxy Statement and | ||
form of proxy, is not a part of the proxy | ||
soliciting material. | ||
ITEMS OF BUSINESS | To elect thirteen members of the Board of | |
Directors,
each for a term of one year.
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To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as | ||
our independent registered public | ||
accounting firm for the 2006 fiscal year.
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To approve an amendment to the Companys | ||
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to
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eliminate the supermajority vote and fair
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price provisions. | ||
To consider 7 shareholder proposals, if | ||
presented at the Meeting. See Table of
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Contents for a list of
the Shareholder
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Proposals. | ||
To transact such other business as may | ||
properly come before the Meeting and any
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adjournment or postponement. | ||
RECORD DATE. | You can vote if you are a shareholder of record | |
on March 1, 2006. | ||
ANNUAL REVIEW | ||
AND FINANCIAL REPORT
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Our annual report to shareholders is in two | |
parts: the 2005 Annual Review and the 2005 | ||
Financial Report. The 2005 Annual Review is | ||
enclosed with these materials as a separate | ||
booklet. The 2005 Financial Report is | ||
contained in Appendix A to this Proxy | ||
Statement. These documents are not a part of | ||
the proxy solicitation materials. They may also | ||
be accessed through our Website at | ||
www.pfizer.com. | ||
PROXY VOTING | It is important that your shares be represented | |
and voted at the Meeting. You can vote your | ||
shares by completing and returning your | ||
proxy card or by voting on the Internet or by | ||
telephone. See details under the heading | ||
How do I vote?. | ||
Margaret M. Foran | ||
Senior Vice President-Corporate Governance, | ||
March 16, 2006 |
Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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Page | ||
PROXY STATEMENT | 1 | |
Why did I receive these proxy materials? | 1 | |
Do I need a ticket to attend the Annual Meeting? | 1 | |
Will the Annual Meeting be webcast? | 1 | |
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting? | 1 | |
What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and | ||
as a beneficial owner? | 2 | |
How do I vote? | 2 | |
What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares? | 3 | |
What shares are included on the proxy card? | 3 | |
What is householding and how does it affect me? | 3 | |
Is there a list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting? | 4 | |
What are the voting requirements to elect the Directors and to approve each | ||
of the proposals discussed in the Proxy Statement? | 4 | |
Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting? | 5 | |
Can I access the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 | ||
Financial Report, and the 2005 Annual Review, on the Internet? | 5 | |
Who will pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation? | 5 | |
Who will count the vote? | 5 | |
GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY | 6 | |
Our Corporate Governance Principles | 6 | |
Governance Information | 11 | |
Executive Sessions of Directors | 11 | |
Lead Independent Director | 11 | |
Communications with Directors | 11 | |
Director Qualification Standards | 12 | |
Director Independence | 12 | |
Criteria for Board Membership | 13 | |
Pfizer Policies on Business Ethics and Conduct | 13 | |
Code of Conduct for Directors | 14 | |
Board and Committee Membership | 15 | |
The Audit Committee | 15 | |
Audit Committee Financial Experts | 17 | |
The Corporate Governance Committee | 17 | |
The Compensation Committee | 18 | |
The Science and Technology Committee | 19 | |
The Executive Committee | 19 | |
2005 Compensation of Non-Employee Directors | 20 | |
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 22 | |
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE, RELATED PARTY | ||
TRANSACTIONS AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 23 | |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance | 23 | |
Related Party Transactions | 23 | |
Legal Proceedings | 23 | |
PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE | 25 | |
Item 1Election of Directors | 25 | |
Nominees for Directors | 26 | |
Named Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors | 30 | |
Item 2Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 31 | |
Audit and Non-Audit Fees | 31 | |
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
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of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 31 | |
Audit Committee Report | 32 |
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Item | 3Management Proposal to Amend the Companys Restated Certificate of | ||||
Incorporation to Eliminate the Supermajority Vote Requirements and | |||||
Fair Price Provision | 34 | ||||
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS | 36 | ||||
Item | 4Shareholder Proposal Relating to Term Limits for Directors | 36 | |||
Item | 5Shareholder Proposal Requesting Reporting on Pharmaceutical Price Restraint | 38 | |||
Item | 6Shareholder Proposal Relating to Cumulative Voting | 40 | |||
Item | 7Shareholder Proposal Requesting Separation of Roles of Chairman and CEO | 41 | |||
Item | 8Shareholder Proposal Requesting a Report on Political Contributions | 43 | |||
Item | 9Shareholder Proposal Requesting a Report on the Feasibility of Amending | ||||
Pfizers
Corporate Policy on Laboratory Animal Care and Use
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Item 10Shareholder Proposal Requesting Justification for Financial Contributions | |||||
which Advance Animal-Based Testing Methodologies | 47 | ||||
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 49 | ||||
Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Program | 49 | ||||
General Compensation Philosophy | 50 | ||||
Total CompensationTally Sheets | 51 | ||||
Summary Compensation Table | 52 | ||||
Salaries | 54 | ||||
Executive Annual Incentive Plan | 54 | ||||
Long-Term Incentive Compensation | 56 | ||||
Option Grants in 2005 Table | 57 | ||||
Total Options Exercised in 2005 and Year-End Values | 57 | ||||
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards in 2005 | 58 | ||||
Stock Ownership Requirements | 63 | ||||
Other Benefits | 63 | ||||
Pension Plan Table | 65 | ||||
Perquisites | 66 | ||||
Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits | 68 | ||||
PERFORMANCE GRAPHS | 71 | ||||
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | 73 | ||||
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION PLANS | 74 | ||||
The Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan | 74 | ||||
2001 Stock and Incentive Plan | 74 | ||||
2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan | 74 | ||||
Executive Annual Incentive Plan | 75 | ||||
Warner-Lambert Company 1996 Stock Plan | 75 | ||||
Indemnification | 75 | ||||
REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING DEADLINES, FOR SUBMISSION OF PROXY PROPOSALS,
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NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER BUSINESS OF SHAREHOLDERS | 76 | ||||
ANNEX 1Director Qualification Standards | i | ||||
ANNEX 2Audit Committee Charter | iii | ||||
ANNEX 3Corporate Governance Committee Charter | vi | ||||
ANNEX 4Compensation Committee Charter | vii | ||||
ANNEX 5Science and Technology Committee Charter | viii | ||||
ANNEX 6Lead Independent Director Charter | ix | ||||
ANNEX 7Proposed Amendments to the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation | x | ||||
DIRECTIONS TO THE ANNUAL MEETING | Inside Back Cover |
Pfizer Inc. 235 East 42nd Street New York, New York 10017 |
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Why did I receive these proxy materials?
We are providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer, the Company, we, us or our), a Delaware corporation, of proxies to be voted at our 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and at any adjournment or postponement.
You are invited to attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 27, 2006, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time). The Meeting will be held at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel. See the inside back cover of this Proxy Statement for directions. We will validate parking at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel parking lot for up to three hours for shareholders.
Shareholders will be admitted to the Annual Meeting beginning at 8:00 a.m., Central Time. Seating will be limited.
The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel is accessible to disabled persons and, upon request, we will provide wireless headsets for hearing amplification. Sign interpretation also will be provided upon request. Please mail your request to the address noted below in response to the question Do I need an admission ticket to attend the Annual Meeting?
This Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement, form of proxy and voting instructions are being mailed starting March 16, 2006.
Do I need a ticket to attend the Annual Meeting?
You will need an admission ticket or proof of ownership to enter the Meeting. An admission ticket is attached to your proxy card if you hold shares directly in your name as a shareholder of record. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your proxy but keep the admission ticket and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting.
If your shares are held beneficially in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record and you plan to attend the Meeting, you must present proof of your ownership of Pfizer stock, such as a bank or brokerage account statement, to be admitted to the Meeting. If you would rather have an admission ticket, you can obtain one in advance by mailing a written request, along with proof of your ownership of Pfizer stock, to:
Pfizer Shareholder Services
235 East 42nd Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Shareholders also must present a form of personal photo identification in order to be admitted to the Meeting.
No cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases or packages will be permitted in the Meeting.
Will the Annual Meeting be webcast?
Our Annual Meeting also will be webcast on April 27, 2006. You are invited to visit www.pfizer.com at 8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time (9:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time), on April 27, 2006, to access the Webcast of the Meeting. Registration for the Webcast is required. Pre-registration will be available beginning on April 20, 2006. An archived copy of the Webcast also will be available on our Website through the first week of May.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
Holders of Pfizer common stock at the close of business on March 1, 2006, are entitled to receive this Notice and to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, there were 7,350,749,827 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. In addition, shares of the Companys Preferred Stock having votes equivalent to 10,367,765 shares of common stock were held by one of the Companys employee benefit plan trusts. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Meeting.
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What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
If your shares are registered directly in your name with Pfizers transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record. The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, proxy card and 2005 Annual Review have been sent directly to you by Pfizer.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, proxy card and 2005 Annual Review have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record who is considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record on how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction card included in the mailing or by following their instructions for voting by telephone or on the Internet.
How do I vote?You may vote using any of the following methods:
By MailBe sure to complete, sign and date the proxy card or voting instruction card and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a shareholder of record and you return your signed proxy card but do not indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will vote the shares represented by that proxy as recommended by the Board of Directors.
If you are a shareholder of record, and the prepaid envelope is missing, please mail your completed proxy card to Pfizer Inc., c/o Computershare Investor Services, PO Box 43119, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-5110.
By telephone or on the Internet
The telephone and Internet voting procedures established by Pfizer for shareholders of record are designed to authenticate your identity, to allow you to give your voting instructions and to confirm that those instructions have been properly recorded.
You can vote by calling the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card. Please have your proxy card in hand when you call. Easy-to-follow voice prompts allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you are located outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, see your proxy card for additional instructions.
The Website for Internet voting is www.investorvote.com/pfe. Please have your proxy card handy when you go online. As with telephone voting, you can confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote on the Internet, you also can request electronic delivery of future proxy materials.
Telephone and Internet voting facilities for shareholders of record will be available 24 hours a day, and will close at 11:59 pm. Eastern Daylight Time on April 26, 2006.
The availability of telephone and Internet voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of your broker, bank or other holder of record. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the voting instructions in the materials you receive.
If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, you do not have to return your proxy card or voting instruction card.
In person at the Annual Meeting
All shareholders may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. You may also be represented by another person at the Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other holder of record and present it to the inspectors of election with your ballot to be able to vote at the Meeting.
Your vote is important. You can save us the expense of a second mailing by voting promptly.
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What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?
If you are a shareholder of record, you can revoke your proxy before it is exercised by:
If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your bank, broker or other holder of record. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy as described in the answer to the previous question.
All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
What shares are included on the proxy card?
If you are a shareholder of record you will receive only one proxy card for all the shares you hold:
and if you are a Pfizer employee:
If you are a U.S. Pfizer employee who currently has outstanding stock options, you are entitled to give voting instructions on a portion of the shares held in the Pfizer Inc. Employee Benefit Trust (the Trust). Your proxy card will serve as a voting instruction card for the trustee.
If you do not vote your shares or specify your voting instructions on your proxy card, the administrators of the Pfizer Savings Plan and of the Pharmacia Savings Plan (collectively, the Plans) or the trustee of the Trust will vote your shares in the same proportion as the shares for which voting instructions have been received. To allow sufficient time for voting by the trustee of the Trust and the administrators of the Plans, your voting instructions must be received by April 25, 2006.
If you hold Pfizer shares through any other Company plan, you will receive voting instructions from that plans administrator.
If you are a beneficial owner, you will receive voting instructions, and information regarding consolidation of your vote, from your bank, broker or other holder of record.
What is householding and how does it affect me?
We have adopted a procedure approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) called householding. Under this procedure, shareholders of record who have the same address and last name and do not participate in electronic delivery of proxy materials will receive only one copy of our Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Financial Report, and of our Annual Review, unless one or more of these shareholders notifies us that they wish to continue receiving individual copies. This procedure will reduce our printing costs and postage fees.
Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards. Also, householding will not in any way affect dividend check mailings.
If you are eligible for householding, but you and other shareholders of record with whom you share an address currently receive multiple copies of the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Financial Report and Annual Review, or if you hold stock in more than one account, and in either case you wish to receive only a single copy of each of these documents for your household, please contact our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (in writing: P.O. Box 43069, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3069; by telephone: in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, 1-800-733-9393; outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, 1-781-575-4591).
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If you participate in householding and wish to receive a separate copy of this Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, and 2005 Annual Review, or if you do not wish to participate in householding and prefer to receive separate copies of these documents in the future, please contact Computershare as indicated above.
Beneficial owners can request information about householding from their banks, brokers or other holders of record.
Is there a list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
The names of shareholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the Annual Meeting and for ten days prior to the Meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting, between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at our principal executive offices at 235 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, by contacting the Secretary of the Company.
What are the voting requirements to elect the Directors and to approve each of the proposals discussed in this Proxy Statement?
Discretionary | ||||
Vote | Voting | |||
Proposal | Required | Allowed? | ||
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Election of Directors | Plurality | Yes | ||
Ratification of KPMG | Majority | Yes | ||
Amendment to | 80% of | |||
Certificate of
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Incorporation
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outstanding | Yes | ||
Shareholder | ||||
Proposals | Majority | No |
The presence of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a bank, broker or other holder of record holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because that holder does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
If you are a beneficial owner, your bank, broker or other holder of record is permitted to vote your shares on the election of Directors, the ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm and Managements proposal to amend the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate the supermajority and fair price provisions, even if the record holder does not receive voting instructions from you. The record holder may not vote on any of the shareholder proposals absent instructions from you. Without your voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur.
Election of DirectorsA plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of Directors. This means that the Director nominee with the most votes for a particular slot is elected for that slot. You may vote for or withheld with respect to the election of directors. Only votes for or withheld are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a Director. Abstentions are not counted for purposes of the election of Directors.
Majority Vote PolicyOur Corporate Governance Principles, which appear later in this Proxy Statement, set forth our procedures if a director-nominee is elected, but receives a majority of withheld votes. In an uncontested election, any nominee for Director who receives a greater number of votes withheld from his or her election than votes for such election is required to tender his or her resignation following certification of the shareholder vote.
The Corporate Governance Committee is required to make recommendations to the Board with respect to any such letter of resignation. The Board is required to take action with respect to this recommendation and to disclose their decision-making process. Full details of this Policy are set out in our Corporate Governance Principles and under Item 1 Election of Directors.
Ratification of KPMGUnder the Companys By-laws, the votes cast for must exceed the votes cast against to approve the ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions and, if applicable, broker non-votes, are not counted as votes for or against these proposals.
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Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation to Eliminate Supermajority
Vote Requirements and Fair Price
Provision
The affirmative vote of at least 80% of all outstanding shares of Common Stock is required for approval of managements proposal to eliminate the supermajority and fair price provisions from the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation. An abstention on this proposal is not an affirmative vote and will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.
Shareholder ProposalsThe votes cast for must exceed the votes cast against each of the shareholder proposals. Abstentions and, if applicable, broker nonvotes, are not counted as votes for or against these proposals.
Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?
At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, we did not know of any matters to be raised at the Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement.
If other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the Proxy Committee appointed by the Board of Directors (the persons named in your proxy card if you are a shareholder of record) will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you.
Can I access the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, and the 2005 Annual Review, on the Internet?
The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and 2005 Financial Report, and the 2005 Annual Review, are available on our Website at www.pfizer.com. Instead of receiving future copies of our Proxy Statement and Annual Report materials by mail, most shareholders can elect to receive an e-mail that will provide electronic links to them. Opting to receive your proxy materials online will save us the cost of producing and mailing documents to your home or business, and also will give you an electronic link to the proxy voting site.
Shareholders of Record: If you vote on the Internet at www.investorvote.com/pfe, simply follow the prompts for enrolling in the electronic proxy delivery service. You also may enroll in the electronic proxy delivery service at any time in the future by going directly to www.econsent.com/pfe and following the enrollment instructions.
Beneficial Owners: If you hold your shares in a brokerage account, you also may have the opportunity to receive copies of these documents electronically. Please check the information provided in the proxy materials mailed to you by your bank or other holder of record regarding the availability of this service.
Who will pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation?
We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by Directors, officers or employees in person or by telephone, electronic transmission and facsimile transmission. We have hired Morrow & Co. to distribute and solicit proxies. We will pay Morrow & Co. a fee of $35,000, plus reasonable expenses, for these services.
Who will count the vote?
Representatives of our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will tabulate the votes and act as inspectors of election.
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Role and Composition of the Board of Directors
1. General. The Board of Directors, which is elected by the shareholders, is the ultimate decision-making body of the Company except with respect to those matters reserved to the shareholders. It selects the senior management team, which is charged with the conduct of the Companys business. Having selected the senior management team, the Board acts as an advisor and counselor to senior management and ultimately monitors its performance.
2. Succession Planning. The Board also plans for succession to the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer as well as certain other senior management positions. To assist the Board, the Chairman and CEO annually provides the Board with an assessment of senior managers and of their potential to succeed him or her. He or she also provides the Board with an assessment of persons considered potential successors to certain senior management positions.
3. Chairman and CEO. It is the policy of the Company that the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer be held by the same person, except in unusual circumstances. This combination has served the Company well over a great many years. The function of the Board in monitoring the performance of the senior management of the Company is fulfilled by the presence of outside Directors of stature who have a substantive knowledge of the business.
4. Director Independence. It is the policy of the Company that the Board consist of a majority of independent Directors. The Corporate Governance Committee of the Board has established Director Qualification Standards to assist it in determining director independence, which either meet or exceed the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) corporate governance listing standards. The Board will consider all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination, and not merely from the standpoint of the Director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation.
5. Board Size. It is the policy of the Company that the number of Directors not exceed a number that can function efficiently as a body. The Corporate Governance Committee considers and makes recommendations to the Board concerning the appropriate size and needs of the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates to fill new positions created by expansion and vacancies that occur by resignation, by retirement or for any other reason.
6. Selection Criteria. Candidates are selected for, among other things, their integrity, independence, diversity of experience, leadership and their ability to exercise sound judgment. Scientific expertise, prior government service and experience at policy-making levels involving issues affecting business, government, education, technology, as well as areas relevant to the Companys global business are among the most significant criteria. Final approval of a candidate is determined by the full Board.
7. Voting for Directors. In an uncontested election, any nominee for Director who receives a greater number of votes withheld from his or her election than votes for such election (a Majority Withheld Vote) shall promptly tender his or her resignation following certification of the shareholder vote.
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The Corporate Governance Committee shall promptly consider the resignation offer and a range of possible responses based on the circumstances that led to the Majority Withheld Vote, if known, and make a recommendation to the Board. The Board will act on the Corporate Governance Committees recommendation within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote.
Thereafter, the board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the Directors resignation offer (or the reason(s) for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any Director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer.
However, if each member of the Corporate Governance Committee received a Majority Withheld Vote at the same election, then the independent Directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote shall appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them.
However, if the only Directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote in the same election constitute three or fewer Directors, all Directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers.
8. Director Service on Other Public Boards. Ordinarily, Directors should not serve on more than four other boards of public companies in addition to the Companys Board. Current positions in excess of these limits may be maintained unless the Board of Directors determines that doing so would impair the Directors service on the Companys Board.
9. Former CEO as Director. Commencing with the current CEO, upon retirement from the Company, the former CEO will not retain Board membership.
10. Change in Director Occupation. When a Directors principal occupation or business association changes substantially during his or her tenure as a Director, that Director shall tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the resignation.
11. Director Compensation. The Corporate Governance Committee annually reviews the compensation of Directors.
12. Ownership Requirements. All non-employee Directors are required to hold at least $300,000 worth of Pfizer stock, and/or the units issued as compensation for Board service, while serving as a Director of the Company. New Directors will have five years to attain this ownership threshold. Shares or units held by a Director under any deferral plan, are included in calculating the value of ownership to determine whether this minimum ownership requirement has been met.
13. Director Retirement. Directors are required to retire from the Board when they reach the age of 72.
14. Board and Committee Self-Evaluation. The Board, and each Committee, are required to conduct a self-evaluation of their performance at least annually.
15. Term Limits. The Board does not endorse arbitrary term limits on Directors service, nor does it believe in automatic annual re-nomination until Directors reach the mandatory retirement age. The Board self-evaluation process is an important determinant for continuing service.
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16. Committees. It is the general policy of the Company that all major decisions be considered by the Board as a whole. As a consequence, the Committee structure of the Board is limited to those Committees considered to be basic to, or required for, the operation of a publicly owned company. Currently these Committees are the Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Corporate Governance Committee and Science and Technology Committee.
The members and chairs of these Committees are recommended to the Board by the Corporate Governance Committee. The Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee are made up of only independent Directors. The membership of these Committees is rotated from time to time. In addition to the requirement that a majority of the Board satisfy the independence standards noted above in Paragraph 4, Director Independence, members of the Audit Committee also must satisfy an additional NYSE independence standard. Specifically, they may not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from Pfizer or any of its subsidiaries other than their Director compensation. As a matter of policy, the Board also will apply a separate and heightened independence standard to members of both the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. No member of either Committee may be a partner, member or principal of a law firm, accounting firm or investment banking firm that accepts consulting or advisory fees from Pfizer or any of its subsidiaries.
17. Director Orientation and Continuing Education. In furtherance of its policy of having major decisions made by the Board as a whole, the Company has a full orientation and continuing education process for Board members that includes extensive materials, meetings with key management and visits to Company facilities.
18. CEO Performance Goals and Annual Evaluation. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting annual and long-term performance goals for the Chairman and CEO and for evaluating his or her performance against such goals. The Committee meets annually with the Chairman and CEO to receive his or her recommendations concerning such goals. Both the goals and the evaluation are then submitted for consideration by the outside Directors of the Board at a meeting or executive session of that group. The Committee then meets with the Chairman and CEO to evaluate his or her performance against such goals.
19. Senior Management Performance Goals. The Compensation Committee also is responsible for setting annual and long-term performance goals and compensation for the direct reports to the Chairman and CEO. These decisions are approved or ratified by action of the outside Directors of the Board at a meeting or executive session of that group.
20. Communication with Stakeholders. The Chairman and CEO is responsible for establishing effective communications with the Companys stakeholder groups, i.e., shareholders, customers, company associates, communities, suppliers, creditors, governments and corporate partners.
It is the policy of the Company that management speaks for the Company. This policy does not preclude outside Directors, including the Lead Independent Director, from meeting with shareholders, but it is suggested that in most circumstances any such meetings be held with management present.
21. Annual Meeting Attendance. All Board members are expected to attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders unless an emergency prevents them from doing so.
Board Functions22. Agenda. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer sets the agenda for Board meetings with the understanding that the Board is responsible for providing suggestions for agenda items that are aligned with the advisory and monitoring functions of
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the Board. Agenda items that fall within the scope of responsibilities of a Board Committee are reviewed with the chair of that Committee. Any member of the Board may request that an item be included on the agenda.
23. Board Materials. Board materials related to agenda items are provided to Board members sufficiently in advance of Board meetings to allow the Directors to prepare for discussion of the items at the meeting.
24 Board Meetings. At the invitation of the Board, members of senior management recommended by the Chairman and CEO attend Board meetings or portions thereof for the purpose of participating in discussions. Generally, presentations of matters to be considered by the Board are made by the manager responsible for that area of the Companys operations.
25. Director Access to Corporate and Independent Advisors. In addition, Board members have free access to all other members of management and employees of the Company and, as necessary and appropriate, Board members may consult with independent legal, financial and accounting advisors to assist in their duties to the Company and its shareholders.
26. Executive Sessions. Executive sessions or meetings of outside Directors without management present are held regularly (at least four times a year) to review the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, the criteria upon which the performance of the Chairman and CEO and other senior managers is based, the performance of the Chairman and CEO against such criteria, the compensation of the Chairman and CEO and other senior managers, and any other relevant matter. Meetings are held from time to time with the Chairman and CEO for a general discussion of relevant subjects.
27. Lead Independent Director. It is the policy of the Company that a Lead Independent Director shall be elected annually to preside over executive sessions of Pfizers independent Directors, facilitate information flow and communication between the Directors and the Chairman, and to perform such other duties specified by the Board and outlined in the Charter of the Lead Independent Director.
28. Annual Board Self-Evaluation. The Board, under the direction of the Corporate Governance Committee, will prepare an annual performance self-evaluation.
Committee Functions29. Independence. The Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees consist only of independent Directors.
30. Meeting Conduct. The frequency, length and agenda of meetings of each of the Committees are determined by the chair of the Committee. Sufficient time to consider the agenda items is provided. Materials related to agenda items are provided to the Committee members sufficiently in advance of the meeting where necessary to allow the members to prepare for discussion of the items at the meeting.
31. Scope of Responsibilities. The responsibilities of each of the Committees are determined by the Board from time to time.
32. Annual Committee Self-Evaluation. Each Committee is responsible for preparing an annual performance self-evaluation.
Policy on Poison Pills33. Expiration of Rights Agreement. The Board amended Pfizers Rights Agreement, or Poison Pill, to cause the Agreement to expire on December 31, 2003. The term Poison Pill refers to a type of shareholder rights plan that some companies adopt to provide an opportunity for negotiation during a hostile takeover attempt.
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The Board has adopted a statement of policy that it shall seek and obtain shareholder approval before adopting a Poison Pill; provided, however, that the Board may determine to act on its own to adopt a Poison Pill, if, under the circumstances, the Board, including the majority of the independent members of the Board, in its exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, deems it to be in the best interest of Pfizers shareholders to adopt a Poison Pill without the delay in adoption that would come from the time reasonably anticipated to seek shareholder approval.
If the Board were ever to adopt a Poison Pill without prior shareholder approval, the Board would either submit the Poison Pill to shareholders for ratification, or would cause the Poison Pill to expire within one year.
The Corporate Governance Committee will review this Poison Pill policy statement on an annual basis, including the stipulation which addresses the Boards fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the shareholders without prior shareholder approval, and report to the Board any recommendations it may have concerning the policy.
Periodic Review of Corporate Governance Principles
34. These principles are reviewed by the Board at least annually.
Pfizer Corporate Governance Website
From time to time we revise our Corporate Governance Principles in response to changing regulatory requirements, evolving best practices and the concerns of our shareholders and other constituents. Our Corporate Governance Principles are published on our Website at www.pfizer.com, under the Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate Governance captions.
In addition to our Corporate Governance Principles, other information relating to corporate governance at Pfizer, is available on our Website, including:
We will provide any of the foregoing information without charge upon written request to Margaret M. Foran, Senior Vice President-Corporate Governance, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Pfizer Inc., 235 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5755.
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Governance Information
Executive Sessions of Directors
Executive sessions or meetings of outside (non-management) Directors without management present are held regularly (at least four times a year) to review the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, the criteria upon which the performance of the Chairman and CEO and other senior managers is based, the performance of the Chairman and CEO against such criteria, the compensation of the Chairman and CEO and other senior managers and any other relevant matter. Meetings are held from time to time with the Chairman and CEO for a general discussion of relevant subjects. In 2005, the Directors met in executive session six times.
Lead Independent Director
The Pfizer Board of Directors has appointed a non-management director to serve in a lead capacity (Lead Independent Director) to coordinate the activities of the other non-management directors, and to perform such other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors may determine. Currently the Lead Independent Director is Stanley O. Ikenberry.
The role of the Lead Independent Director includes:
The Charter of the Lead Independent Director is found in this proxy statement as Annex 6 and on our Website at www.pfizer.com/who we are/for investors/corporate governance.
Communications with Directors
Shareholders may communicate with the Lead Independent Director or Chairs of our Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees on board-related issues by sending an e-mail to the appropriate address below:
You also may write to any of the Committee Chairs or to the outside Directors as a group c/o Margaret M. Foran, Senior Vice PresidentCorporate Governance, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Pfizer Inc., 235 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10017.
Relevant communications are distributed to the Board, or to any individual Director or Directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication. In that regard, the Pfizer Board of Directors has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board should be excluded, such as:
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In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly unsuitable will be excluded, with the provision that any communication that is filtered out must be made available to any outside Director upon request.
Director Qualification Standards
Pursuant to New York Stock Exchange listing standards, our Board of Directors has adopted a formal set of categorical Director Qualification Standards with respect to the determination of Director independence. In accordance with these Standards, a Director must be determined to have no material relationship with the Company other than as a Director. The Standards specify the criteria by which the independence of our Directors will be determined, including strict guidelines for Directors and their immediate families with respect to past employment or affiliation with the Company or its independent registered public accounting firm. The Standards also prohibit Audit Committee members from having any direct or indirect financial relationship with the Company, and restrict both commercial and not-for-profit relationships of all Directors with the Company. Directors may not be given personal loans or extensions of credit by the Company, and all Directors are required to deal at arms length with the Company and its subsidiaries, and to disclose any circumstance that might be perceived as a conflict of interest.
Director IndependenceThe provisions of the Boards Director Qualification Standards regarding Director independence meet and in some areas exceed the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Boards Director Qualification Standards are attached to this proxy statement as Annex 1.
In accordance with these Standards, the Board undertook its annual review of Director independence. During this review, the Board considered transactions and relationships between each Director or any member of his or her immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Board also considered whether there were any transactions or relationships between Directors or any member of their immediate family (or any entity of which a Director or an immediate family member is an executive officer, general partner or significant equity holder). As provided in the Director Qualification Standards, the purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions existed that were inconsistent with a determination that the Director is independent.
As a result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that the following Directors nominated for election at the annual meeting are independent of the Company and its management under the standards set forth in the Director Qualification Standards: Drs. Michael S. Brown, Stanley O. Ikenberry, Dana G. Mead, Ruth Simmons; Ms. Constance J. Horner, Messrs. M. Anthony Burns, Robert N. Burt, W. Don Cornwell, William H. Gray III, William R. Howell and George A. Lorch; and that Dr. Henry A. McKinnell and Mr. William C. Steere, Jr. are not independent under these Standards. Dr. McKinnell is considered an inside Director because of his employment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Steere is not considered an independent outside Director as a result of his former status as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
In making these determinations, the Board considered that in the ordinary course of business, transactions may occur between the Company and its subsidiaries and companies at which some of our Directors are or have been officers. In each case, the amount of transactions from these companies in each of the last three years did not approach the thresholds set forth in the Director Qualification Standards. The Board also considered charitable contributions to not-for-profit organizations of which our Directors or immediate family members are executive officers, none of which approached the levels set forth in our Director Qualification Standards.
The full text of our Director Qualification Standards is attached as Annex 1 to this Proxy Statement. These Standards also are published on our Website at www.pfizer.com, under the
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Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate GovernanceDirector Qualification Standards captions.
Criteria for Board Membership
To fulfill its responsibility to recruit and recommend to the full Board nominees for election as Directors, the Corporate Governance Committee reviews the composition of the full Board to determine the qualifications and areas of expertise needed to further enhance the composition of the Board and works with management in attracting candidates with those qualifications. Appropriate criteria for Board membership include the following:
In addition, pursuant to our Corporate Governance Principles, the Committee considers the number of other boards of public companies on which a candidate serves. Moreover, Directors are expected to act ethically at all times and adhere to the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for members of the Board of Directors.
The Governance Committee currently retains a third party search firm to assist the Committee members in identifying and evaluating potential nominees for the Board. The Committee considers candidates for Director suggested by our shareholders, provided that the recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures required under our By-laws and described in this Proxy Statement under the heading Requirements, Including Deadlines, for Submission of Proxy Proposals, Nomination of Directors and Other Business of Shareholders. Shareholder nominees whose nominations comply with these procedures and who meet the criteria outlined above, in the Committees Charter, and in our Corporate Governance Principles, will be evaluated by the Corporate Governance Committee in the same manner as the Committees nominees.
Pfizer Policies on Business Ethics and Conduct
All of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (Officers), are required to abide by Pfizers Policies on Business Conduct to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner. These Policies form the foundation of a comprehensive process that includes compliance with all corporate policies and procedures, an open relationship among colleagues that contributes to good business conduct, and the high integrity level of our employees. Our Policies and procedures cover all areas of professional conduct, including employment policies, conflicts of interest, intellectual property and the protection of confidential information, as well as strict adherence to all laws and regulations applicable to the conduct of our business.
Employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of Pfizers Policies on Business Conduct. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires audit committees to have procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. We have such procedures in place. In addition, the Pfizer Policy regarding Compliance with SEC Attorney Conduct Rules requires all Pfizer lawyers to report to the appropriate persons at the Company evidence of any actual, potential or suspected material
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violation of state or federal law or breach of fiduciary duty by Pfizer or any of its officers, Directors, employees or agents.
Code of Conduct for Directors
The members of our Board of Directors also are required to comply with a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Code). The Code is intended to focus the Board and the individual Directors on areas of ethical risk, help Directors recognize and deal with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical conduct, and foster a culture of honesty and accountability. The Code covers all areas of professional conduct relating to service on the Pfizer Board, including conflicts of interest, unfair or unethical use of corporate opportunities, strict protection of confidential information, compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and oversight of ethics and compliance by employees of the Company.
The full texts of both Pfizers Policies on Business Conduct and of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for our Directors are published on our Website, at www.pfizer.com, under the Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate Governance captions. We will disclose any future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of these ethical policies and standards for Officers and Directors on our Website within two business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.
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Our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Members of our Board are kept informed of our business through discussions with our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them, by visiting our offices and plants and by participating in meetings of the Board and its Committees.
All Board members are expected to attend our Annual Meetings of Shareholders, unless an emergency prevents them from doing so. At our 2005 Annual Meeting, all members of the Board were present.
During 2005, the Board of Directors met ten times and had five Committees. Those Committees consisted of an Audit Committee, a Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Science and Technology Committee and an Executive Committee. Each of our incumbent Directors attended at least 90 percent of the regularly scheduled and special meetings of the Board and Board Committees on which they served in 2005.
The table below provides 2005 membership and meeting information for each of the Board Committees.
Corporate | Science & | |||||||||
Name | Audit | Governance | Compensation | Technology | Executive | |||||
|
||||||||||
Dr. Brown | X | X* | ||||||||
Mr. Burns | X | X | ||||||||
Mr. Burt(1) | X | |||||||||
Mr. Cornwell | X | |||||||||
Mr. Gray | X | |||||||||
Ms. Horner | X | X | ||||||||
Mr. Howell(1) | X* | |||||||||
Dr. Ikenberry | X | X | X | |||||||
Mr. Lorch | X | |||||||||
Dr. McKinnell | X* | |||||||||
Dr. Mead | X* | X | ||||||||
Dr. Simmons | X* | |||||||||
Mr. Steere | ||||||||||
2005 Meetings | 13 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 0 | |||||
* Chair |
(1) | Mr. Burt was Chair of the Audit Committee from January 1, 2005 until April 28, 2005. Mr. Howell became Chair of the Audit Committee on April 28, 2005. |
In 2005, the Audit Committee met 13 times. Under the terms of its Charter, the Audit Committee meets at least six times a year, including periodic meetings held separately with management, the internal auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm and meets to review disclosures in our SEC periodic filings. The Audit Committee represents and assists the Board with the oversight of: the integrity of the Companys financial statements and internal controls; the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the independent registered public accounting firms qualifications and independence; the performance of the Companys internal audit function; and the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Committee is responsible for:
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|
establishing policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to provide permitted non-audit services and pre-approving the performance of such services; | ||
receiving and reviewing at least annually a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing the firms internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised by the most recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) review, or by certain inquiries or investigations by governmental or professional authorities; | |||
considering, at least annually, the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, including whether the provision by the firm of permitted non-audit services is compatible with independence; | |||
obtaining and reviewing a report from the independent registered public accounting firm describing all relationships between the firm and the Company; | |||
reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm: | |||
| the scope and results of the audit; | ||
| problems or difficulties that the independent registered public accounting firm encountered in the course of the audit work and managements response; and | ||
| any questions, comments or suggestions the auditor may have relating to the internal controls and accounting practices and procedures of the Company; | ||
reviewing, at least annually, the scope and results of the internal audit program and any significant matters contained in reports from the Internal Audit Department; | |||
reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm, the Companys Internal Audit Department and management: | |||
|
the adequacy and effectiveness of the systems of internal controls over financial reporting and any significant changes in those controls; | ||
|
accounting practices, and disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and its subsidiaries; and | ||
|
current accounting trends and developments; | ||
and taking such action with respect to these matters as may be deemed appropriate; | |||
reviewing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the annual and quarterly financial statements of the Company, including: any material changes in accounting principles or practices used in preparing the financial statements; disclosures relating to internal controls over financial reporting; items required by relevant auditing standards; and the Companys specific disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Companys reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q; | |||
recommending to the Board of Directors whether the financial statements should be included in the annual report on Form 10-K; | |||
reviewing earnings press releases, as well as Company policies with respect to earnings press releases, financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies; | |||
discussing Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, reviewing contingent liabilities and risks that may be material to the Company and reviewing major legislative and regulatory developments that could materially impact the Companys contingent liabilities and risks; | |||
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A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is attached as Annex 2 to this Proxy Statement, and is also available on our Website at www.pfizer.com, under the Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate GovernanceCharters captions.
Audit Committee Financial Experts
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Audit CommitteeMr. Howell, Mr. Cornwell and Mr. Burnsis an audit committee financial expert for purposes of the SECs rules.
The Board of Directors also has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Corporate Governance Committee
The Corporate Governance Committee met nine times in 2005. Under the terms of its Charter, the Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering and making recommendations to the Board concerning the appropriate size, functions and needs of the Board. This responsibility includes:
The Committees additional functions are:
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The Committee may, in its sole discretion, engage director search firms and may consult with outside advisors to assist it in carrying out its duties to the Company. The Committee has the sole authority to approve the fees and other retention terms with respect to any such firms.
A copy of the Corporate Governance Committee Charter is attached as Annex 3 to this Proxy Statement, and is also available on our Website at www.pfizer.com, under the Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate GovernanceCharters captions.
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee met 15 times in 2005. Under the terms of its Charter, the Compensation Committee is directly responsible for establishing annual and long-term performance goals and objectives for our elected corporate officers. This responsibility includes:
In addition, the Committee:
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, employ a compensation consultant that reports directly to the Committee, and has done so, to assist in the evaluation of the compensation of the Companys CEO and other elected officers.
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The Committee also has the authority, as necessary and appropriate, to consult with other outside advisors to assist in its duties to the Company.
A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is attached as Annex 4 to this Proxy Statement, and is also available on our Website at www.pfizer.com, under the Who We AreFor InvestorsCorporate GovernanceCharters captions.
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Compensation Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Science and Technology Committee
The Science and Technology Committee met twice in 2005. Generally, each meeting is conducted over a two-day period. Under the terms of its Charter, the Science and Technology Committee is responsible for periodically examining managements direction and investment in the Companys pharmaceutical research and development as well as in its technology initiatives.
The Committee may meet privately with independent consultants and is free to speak directly and independently with any members of management in discharging its responsibilities.
In addition, the Committee will:
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee did not meet in 2005. The Executive Committee performs the duties and exercises the powers as may be delegated to it by the Board of Directors from time to time.
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2005 Compensation of Non-Employee Directors
Annual compensation for non-employee Directors for 2005 was comprised of the following components: cash compensation, consisting of annual retainer, meeting and committee fees; and equity compensation, consisting of Unit Awards and Annual Retainer Unit Awards. Each of these components is described in more detail below. The total 2005 compensation of our Non-Employee Directors is shown in the following table.
|
Board |
|
|||||||||||
|
and |
|
|||||||||||
|
Business |
|
|||||||||||
|
Meeting |
|
Unit | ||||||||||
Director | |
Fees |
|
Awards(2) | Total | ||||||||
Dr. Brown* |
|
$37,500 |
|
$122,084 | $229,084 | ||||||||
Mr. Burns |
|
21,000 |
|
122,084 | 198,584 | ||||||||
Mr. Burt |
|
22,500 |
|
122,084 | 193,084 | ||||||||
Mr. Cornwell |
|
21,000 |
|
122,084 | 192,584 | ||||||||
Mr. Gray |
|
21,000 |
|
122,084 | 185,084 | ||||||||
Ms. Horner |
|
27,000 |
|
122,084 | 192,584 | ||||||||
Mr. Howell* |
|
19,500 |
|
122,084 | 195,084 | ||||||||
Dr. Ikenberry |
|
24,000 |
|
122,084 | 205,834 | ||||||||
Mr. Lorch |
|
22,500 |
|
122,084 | 197,084 | ||||||||
Dr. Mead* |
|
19,500 |
|
122,084 | 207,584 | ||||||||
Dr. Simmons* |
|
27,000 |
|
122,084 | 198,584 | ||||||||
Mr. Steere |
|
21,000 |
|
122,084 | 169,084 | ||||||||
* CHAIR OF COMMITTEE |
|
|
(1) | Includes fees associated with chairing a Board Committee. |
(2) | The amounts shown include (i) 3600 Units issued under the Annual Unit Award Plan, valued at the closing price of Pfizer common stock ($26.69) on the award date, April 26, 2005 for a total value of $96,084, and (ii) Units equal in value to $26,000 worth of Pfizer stock on the grant date, April 26, 2005, valued as described below under the heading Annual Retainer Unit Awards. |
Annual Board/Committee Retainer Fees.
Non-employee Directors received an annual cash retainer of $26,000 per year. Non-employee Directors who served on one or more Board Committees (other than the Executive Committee and the Science and Technology Committee) received an additional annual fee of $4,000 per Committee. In addition, the Chair of a Board Committee (other than the Executive Committee and the Science and Technology Committee) received an additional annual fee of $6,000 per Committee. The Lead Independent Director received an Annual Retainer Fee of $25,000, in addition to the Directors annual cash retainer. The annual Committee membership fee for each member of the Science and Technology Committee was $8,000. The Chair of that Committee received an additional $16,000 per year.
Meeting Fees. Non-employee Directors also received a fee of $1,500 for attending each Board meeting, Committee meeting, the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and for each day of a visit to a plant or office and for any other business meeting to which the Director was invited as a representative of the Company.
Annual Unit Awards. Under the Pfizer Inc. Nonfunded Deferred Compensation and Unit Award Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the Unit Award Plan), a Non-employee Director is granted Pfizer stock-equivalent units which are not payable until the director ceases to be a member of the Board. An initial award of 3,600 Pfizer stock-equivalent units was granted to each Non-employee Director when they joined the Board. Thereafter, each Non-employee Director was granted an annual award of 3,600 units on the day of our Annual Meeting, provided the Director continued to serve as a Director following the Meeting.
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On the day of the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all of our Non-employee Directors who continued as Directors were awarded 3,600 units under the Unit Award Plan, with a value at time of grant of $96,084 (calculated based on the closing stock price of Pfizer stock ($22.69) on the grant date).
Deferred Compensation. Non-employee Directors may defer all or a part of their annual cash retainers and meeting fees under the Unit Award Plan until they cease to be members of the Board. At a Directors election, the fees held in the Directors account may be credited either with interest at the rate of return of the Intermediate Treasury Index Fund of the Pfizer Savings Plan, or with units. The average rate of return of the Intermediate Treasury Index Fund for 2005 was 1.05% . The numbers of units are calculated by dividing the amount of the deferred fee by the closing price of our common stock on the last business day of the fiscal quarter. The number of units in a Directors account is increased by the value of any distributions on the common stock. When a Director ceases to be a member of the Board, the amount held in the individuals account is paid in cash. The amount paid with respect to units is determined by multiplying the number of units in the account by the closing price of our common stock on the last business day before the payment date.
Annual Retainer Unit Awards. Under the Pfizer Inc. Annual Retainer Unit Award Plan, each year, on the day of our Annual Meeting, every Non-employee Director who continued to serve as a Director following the Meeting received an annual retainer unit award, the equivalent of the value of his or her annual Board retainer fee in units. The number of units awarded to the Non-employee Director was based upon the five-day average of the closing trading price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the first five trading days after April 1 of each year (rounded up to the nearest unit). On the day of the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all of our Non-employee Directors who continued as Directors were awarded 977 units under this Plan with a value at time of grant of $26,000.
Effective March 1, 2006, no further awards will be granted under this plan.
Legacy Warner-Lambert Equity Compensation Plans. The former Warner-Lambert Directors receive reinvested dividends on their equity based awards, and one former Warner-Lambert Director receives interest at a rate of prime plus two percent, on deferred cash balances under these Plans.
In certain circumstances, we fund trusts established to secure our obligations to make payments to our non-employee Directors under the above benefit plans, programs or agreements in advance of the date that payment is due.
Director Compensation Changes Effective March 1, 2006
Effective March 1, 2006, the compensation for non-employee Directors has been modified to eliminate meeting fees and Committee retainers and consists solely of the following:
If a Director attends less than 80% of Board and Committee meetings in a year, the Directors annual retainer will be pro-rated.
In addition, the Chairs of Board Committees and the Lead Independent Director will receive annual retainers as follows:
21
Securities Ownership of Officers and Directors
The table below shows the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of March 1, 2006 by each of our Directors and each Named Executive Officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table, as well as the number of shares beneficially owned by all of our Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Together these individuals beneficially own less than one percent (1%) of our common stock. The table also includes information about stock options, stock units, restricted stock and deferred Performance-Contingent Share Awards credited to the accounts of our Directors and Executive Officers under various compensation and benefit plans.
There are currently no known beneficial owners of five percent (5%) or more of our common stock.
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Beneficial Owners |
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Michael S. Brown | 1,200 | 47,751 | (1) | |||||
M. Anthony Burns | 21,162 | 54,552 | (1) | |||||
Robert N. Burt | 12,200 | 44,776 | (1) | |||||
W. Don Cornwell | 1,000 | (2) | 56,926 | (1) | ||||
William H. Gray III | 954 | 70,679 | (1) | |||||
Constance J. Horner | 11,884 | 54,552 | (1) | |||||
William R. Howell | 6,350 | 57,813 | (1) | |||||
Stanley O. Ikenberry | 49,682 | (2) | 155,754 | (1) | ||||
Karen Katen | 995,384 | (3) | 35,301 | (4) | 1,536,784 | |||
Jeffrey B. Kindler | 154,734 | (3) | 7,129 | (4) | 166,667 | |||
John L. LaMattina | 481,205 | (2)(3) | 39,788 | (4) | 594,251 | |||
George A. Lorch | 1,750 | 47,221 | (1) | |||||
Henry A. McKinnell | 2,057,455 | (3)(5) | 86,709 | (4) | 3,600,732 | |||
Dana G. Mead | 9,350 | 59,124 | (1) | |||||
David L. Shedlarz | 652,278 | (2)(3) | 61,394 | (4) | 1,145,946 | |||
Ruth J. Simmons | 1,200 | 59,956 | (1) | |||||
William C. Steere, Jr. | 1,955,768 | (2)(3) | 135,078 | (1)(4) | 4,386,950 | |||
All Directors and Executive Officers | ||||||||
as a group (17) | 6,413,556 | 1,074,503 | 11,431,330 |
(1) | As of March 1, 2006, these units are held under the Pfizer Inc. Nonfunded Deferred Compensation and Unit Award Plan for Non-Employee Directors and the Pfizer Inc. Annual Retainer Unit Award Plan. The value of a Directors unit account is measured by the price of our common stock. The Plans are described in this Proxy Statement under the heading 2005 Compensation of Non-Employee Directors. This number also includes the following number of units resulting from the conversion into Pfizer units of previously deferred Warner-Lambert director compensation under the Warner-Lambert Company 1996 Stock Plan; Mr. Burt, 17,613 units; Mr. Gray, 43,515 units; Mr. Howell, 30,649 units; and Mr. Lorch, 11,453 units. That Plan is described in this Proxy Statement under the heading Long-Term Compensation PlansWarner- Lambert Company 1996 Stock Plan. |
(2) | These shares include the following number of shares held in the names of family members, as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed: Mr. Cornwell, 400 shares; Dr. Ikenberry, 8,300 shares; Dr. LaMattina, 17,396 shares; Mr. Shedlarz, 2,098 shares; and Mr. Steere, 14,808 shares. |
(3) | As of March 1, 2006, this number includes shares credited under the Pfizer Savings Plan and/or deferred Performance- Contingent Share Awards granted under the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan or its predecessor Program. These plans are described in this Proxy Statement under the headings Long-Term Compensation Plans and Pfizer Savings Plan. |
(4) | As of March 1, 2006, these units are held under the Supplemental Savings Plan. The value of these units is measured by the price of our common stock. The Supplemental Savings Plan is described in this Proxy Statement under the heading Pfizer Savings Plan. Mr. Steere holds units under the Supplemental Savings Plan and units as described in footnote 1. |
(5) | As of March 1, 2006, this includes the following number of shares held in a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust: Dr. McKinnell, 172,462 shares. |
22
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our Directors and certain of our officers to file reports of holdings and transactions in Pfizer shares with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Based on our records and other information, we believe that in 2005 our Directors and our officers who are subject to Section 16 met all applicable filing requirements, except as described below:
Related Party Transactions
In connection with his retirement, we entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Steere, a member of our Board of Directors. The agreement provides that Mr. Steere will serve as Chairman Emeritus of the Company and, when and as requested by the Chief Executive Officer, will provide consulting services and advice to the Company and participate in various external activities and events for the benefit of the Company. The term of the agreement, which began on July 1, 2001 after Mr. Steere ceased his employment with the Company, is for five years, and automatically extends for successive five-year terms unless Mr. Steere or the Company terminates the agreement at the end of its then-current term. Mr. Steere may provide up to 30 days per year to the Company, subject to his reasonable availability, for his consulting services or his participation as a Company representative in external activities and events. He must obtain the approval of the Board of Directors before providing any consulting services, advice or service of any kind to any other company or organization that competes with us. For his services and commitments, the Company pays Mr. Steere (i) an annual retainer of $50,000 for his consulting services (subject to his ability to continue to provide the contemplated services), and (ii) an additional fee of $5,000 for each day in excess of 30 days per year that he renders services as described above. We also reimburse him for reasonable expenses that he incurs in providing these services for us.
In addition, under the terms of the agreement, we provide him lifetime access to Company facilities and services comparable to those that were made available to him by the Company prior to his retirement. These include the use of an office and access to the secretarial services of an administrative assistant; access to financial planning services; and the use of a car and driver and of Company aircraft. Mr. Steere has chosen to personally pay for his financial planning services and voluntarily reimburses the Company for all personal use of Company-provided transportation.
We paid Mr. Steere $50,000 in 2005 under the terms of this consulting agreement.
Legal ProceedingsBeginning in late 2004, actions, including purported class and shareholder derivative actions, have been filed in various federal and state courts against Pfizer, all current Non-employee Directors, all Named Executive Officers listed in the Summary Compensation
23
Table, certain other current and former officers and employees and certain former Directors of Pfizer. These actions include: (i) purported class actions alleging that Pfizer and certain officers of Pfizer violated federal securities laws by misrepresenting the safety of certain arthritis medicines; (ii) purported shareholder derivative actions alleging that certain of Pfizers current and former officers and Directors breached fiduciary duties by causing Pfizer to misrepresent the safety of those arthritis medicines; and (iii) purported class actions filed by persons who claim to be participants in the Pfizer Savings Plan alleging that Pfizer and certain officers, Directors and employees of the Company violated certain provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) by selecting and maintaining Pfizer stock as an investment alternative when it allegedly no longer was a suitable or prudent investment option. In June 2005, the federal securities, fiduciary duty and ERISA actions were transferred for consolidated pre-trial proceedings to a Multi-District Litigation (In re Pfizer Inc. Securities, Derivative and ERISA Litigation MDL-1688) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Pursuant to the indemnification provision contained in our By-laws, the Company is paying the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by these current and former officers, Directors and employees in defending these actions. Each of these individuals has provided an undertaking to repay all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified.
24
PROPOSALS REQUIRING YOUR VOTE
Our Board of Directors currently has thirteen members. Each of these Board members is standing for re-election, to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A plurality of votes cast is required for the election of Directors.
However, under our Corporate Governance Principles, in an uncontested election, any nominee for Director who receives a greater number of votes withheld from his or her election than votes for such election (a Majority Withheld Vote) is required to tender his or her resignation following certification of the shareholder vote.
The Corporate Governance Committee shall promptly consider the resignation offer and a range of possible responses based on the circumstances that led to the Majority Withheld Vote, if known, and make a recommendation to the Board. The Board will act on the Corporate Governance Committees recommendation within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote.
Thereafter, the board will promptly disclose its decision-making process and decision regarding whether to accept the Directors resignation offer (or the reason(s) for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Form 8-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any Director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer.
However, if each member of the Corporate Governance Committee received a Majority Withheld Vote at the same election, then the independent Directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote will appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offers and recommend to the Board whether to accept them. However, if the only Directors who did not receive a Majority Withheld Vote in the same election constitute three or fewer Directors, all Directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers.
Each nominee elected as a Director will continue in office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or retirement.
We expect each nominee for election as a Director to be able to serve if elected. If any nominee is not able to serve, proxies will be voted in favor of the remainder of those nominated and may be voted for substitute nominees, unless the Board chooses to reduce the number of Directors serving on the Board.
The principal occupation and certain other information about the nominees is set forth on the following pages.
The Proxy Committee appointed by the Board of Directors intends to vote the proxy (if you are a shareholder of record) for the election of each of these nominees, unless you indicate on the proxy card that your vote should be withheld from any or all of the nominees.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of these nominees as Directors.
25
April 27, 2006 Annual Meeting |
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships | ||
Michael S. Brown |
Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences from 1989 and | ||
Regental Professor from 1985 at the University of Texas | |||
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Co-recipient of the Nobel | |||
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1985 and the National Medal | |||
of Science in 1988. Member of the National Academy of Sciences | |||
and the Institute of Medicine. Director of Regeneron | |||
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Our Director since 1996. Chair of our | |||
Science and Technology Committee and member of our | |||
Corporate Governance Committee. | |||
M. Anthony Burns |
Chairman Emeritus since May 2002, Chairman of the Board from | ||
May 1985 to May 2002, Chief Executive Officer from January 1983 | |||
to November 2000, and President from December 1979 to June | |||
1999 of Ryder System, Inc., a provider of transportation and | |||
logistics services. Director of The Black & Decker Corporation and | |||
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. Life Trustee of the University of Miami. | |||
Our Director since 1988. Member of our Audit Committee and our | |||
Executive Committee. | |||
Robert N. Burt |
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Corporation, | ||
a company that manufactures chemicals, and FMC Technologies, | |||
Inc., a company that manufactures machinery. Mr. Burt was | |||
Chairman of the Board of FMC Corporation from 1991 to | |||
December 2001, its Chief Executive Officer from 1991 to August | |||
2001 and a member of its Board of Directors from 1989 to April | |||
2002. Chairman of the Board of FMC Technologies, Inc., from June | |||
2001 to December 2001 and its Chief Executive Officer from June | |||
2001 to August 2001. Director of Phelps Dodge Corporation, Life | |||
Trustee of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Director of | |||
the Chicago Public Education Fund. Our Director since June 2000. | |||
Member of our Compensation Committee. | |||
W. Don Cornwell |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 1988 of | ||
Granite Broadcasting Corporation, a group broadcasting | |||
company. Director of Avon Products, Inc. and CVS Corporation. | |||
(Mr. Cornwell has announced his intention to step down from the | |||
board of one public company before the end of 2006.) Also a | |||
Director of the Wallace Foundation and the Telecommunications | |||
Development Fund. Trustee of Big Brothers/Sisters of New York. | |||
Our Director since February 1997. Member of our Audit | |||
Committee. | |||
26
April 27, 2006 Annual Meeting |
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships | ||
William H. Gray III |
Chairman of the Amani Group, a government affairs firm, since | ||
August 2004. Senior Advisor on Public Policy and Business | |||
Diversity at the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll PC since June 2005. | |||
Pastor Emeritus of the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia | |||
since June 2005. President and Chief Executive Officer of The | |||
College Fund/UNCF (Educational Assistance) from September 1991 | |||
to March 2004. Mr. Gray served as a Congressman from the | |||
Second District of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1991, and at various | |||
times during his tenure, served as Budget Committee Chair and | |||
House Majority Whip. Director of Dell Inc., J. P. Morgan Chase & | |||
Co., Prudential Financial, Inc. and Visteon Corporation. Our | |||
Director since June 2000. Member of our Corporate Governance | |||
Committee. | |||
Constance J. Horner |
Guest Scholar from 1993 until 2005 at The Brookings Institution, | ||
an organization devoted to nonpartisan research, education and | |||
publication in economics, government, foreign policy and the | |||
social sciences. Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Civil | |||
Rights from 1993 to 1998. Served at the White House as Assistant | |||
to President George H. W. Bush and as Director of Presidential | |||
Personnel from August 1991 to January 1993. Deputy Secretary, | |||
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1989 to | |||
1991. Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management from | |||
1985 to 1989. Director of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited and | |||
Prudential Financial, Inc.; Fellow, National Academy of Public | |||
Administration; Trustee, Annie E. Casey Foundation; Member of | |||
the Board of Trustees of the Prudential Foundation. Our Director | |||
since 1993. Member of our Corporate Governance Committee and | |||
our Executive Committee. | |||
William R. Howell |
Chairman Emeritus of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., a major retailer, | ||
since 1997. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of | |||
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. from 1983 to 1997. Director of | |||
American Electric Power Company, ExxonMobil Corporation, | |||
Halliburton Company and The Williams Companies, Inc. He is also | |||
a Director of Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation and Deutsche Bank | |||
Trust Company Americas, the non-public wholly owned | |||
subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank A.G. Our Director since June 2000. | |||
Chair of our Audit Committee. | |||
27
April 27, 2006 Annual Meeting |
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships | ||
Stanley O. Ikenberry |
President Emeritus, Regent Professor, Department of Educational | ||
Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois, since | |||
September 2001. President, from November 1996 to June 2001, of | |||
the American Council on Education, an independent nonprofit | |||
association dedicated to ensuring high-quality education at | |||
colleges and universities throughout the United States. President, | |||
from 1979 through July 1995, of the University of Illinois. Director | |||
of Aquila, Inc. President, Board of Overseers of Teachers | |||
Insurance & Annuity Association College Retirement Equities | |||
Fund (TIAA-CREF). Our Director since 1982. Our Lead Independent | |||
Director since October 1, 2005. Member of our Compensation | |||
Committee, Science and Technology Committee and our Executive | |||
Committee. | |||
George A. Lorch |
Chairman Emeritus of Armstrong Holdings, Inc., a global company | ||
that manufactures flooring and ceiling materials, since August | |||
2000. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Armstrong | |||
Holdings, Inc. from May 2000 to August 2000, and its President | |||
and Chief Executive Officer from September 1993 to May 1994. | |||
Chairman of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. from May 1994 to | |||
May 2000, its President and Chief Executive Officer from | |||
September 1993 to May 2000, and a Director from 1988 to | |||
November 2000. Director of Autoliv, Inc. and The Williams | |||
Companies, Inc. He is also a Director of HSBC Finance Co. and | |||
HSBC North America Holding Company, the non-public, wholly | |||
owned subsidiaries of HSBC LLC. Our Director since June 2000. | |||
Member of our Compensation Committee. | |||
Henry A. McKinnell |
Chairman of our Board since May 2001. Our Chief Executive | ||
Officer since January 2001. Our President from May 1999 to May | |||
2001, and President, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group, the principal | |||
operating division of the Company, from January 1997 to April | |||
2001. Chief Operating Officer from May 1999 to December 2000 | |||
and Executive Vice President from 1992 to 1999. Director of | |||
ExxonMobil Corporation and Moodys Corporation. Chairman of | |||
the Business Roundtable. Trustee of the New York City Public | |||
Library and the New York City Police Foundation. Our Director | |||
since June 1997. Chair of our Boards Executive Committee and a | |||
member of the Pfizer Executive Committee. | |||
28
April 27, 2006 Annual Meeting |
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships | ||
Dana G. Mead |
Chairman of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporation | ||
since July 1, 2003. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of | |||
Tenneco, Inc. from 1994 until his retirement in 1999. Chairman of | |||
two of the successor companies of the Tenneco conglomerate, | |||
Tenneco Automotive Inc. and Pactiv Corporation, global | |||
manufacturing companies with operations in automotive parts | |||
and packaging, from November 1999 to March 2000. Director of | |||
Zurich Financial Services. Chairman of the Board of the Ron Brown | |||
Award for Corporate Leadership and a Lifetime Trustee of the | |||
Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, West Point. | |||
Former Chairman of the Business Roundtable and of the National | |||
Association of Manufacturers. Our Director since January 1998. | |||
Chair of our Compensation Committee and a member of our | |||
Science and Technology Committee. | |||
Ruth J. Simmons |
President of Brown University since July 1, 2001. President, from | ||
1995 to 2001, of Smith College. Vice Provost of Princeton | |||
University from 1992 to 1995. Director of The Goldman Sachs | |||
Group, Inc. and Texas Instruments Incorporated. Member of the | |||
National Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American | |||
Philosophical Society, the Council on Foreign Relations and the | |||
Secretarys Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management | |||
of the U.S. Department of State. Member of the Board, Alliance | |||
for Lupus Research. Chair, Visiting Committee, Bennett College. | |||
Our Director since January 1997. Chair of our Corporate | |||
Governance Committee. | |||
William C. Steere, Jr. |
Chairman Emeritus of Pfizer Inc. since July 2001. Chairman of our | ||
Board from 1992 to April 2001 and our Chief Executive Officer | |||
from February 1991 to December 2000. Director of Dow Jones & | |||
Company, Inc., MetLife, Inc. and Health Management Associates, | |||
Inc. Director of the New York University Medical Center and the | |||
New York Botanical Garden. Member of the Board of Overseers of | |||
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Our Director since 1987. | |||
29
Name and Age as of the | |||
|
Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships | ||
Karen Katen |
|
Our Vice Chairman and President Pfizer Human Health, since | |
|
March 2005. Executive Vice President and President of Pfizer | ||
|
Global Pharmaceuticals, the Companys worldwide | ||
|
pharmaceutical organization, from April 2001 to March 2005. | ||
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President of our U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group from June 1995 to | ||
|
July 2002. Senior Vice President of the Company from May 1999 | ||
|
to April 2001. She is a Director of General Motors Corporation and | ||
|
Harris Corporation. Ms. Katen, a member of the Pfizer Executive | ||
Committee, joined us in
1974. |
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David L. Shedlarz |
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Our Vice Chairman since March 2005. Executive Vice President | |
|
from May 1999 to March 2005 and our Chief Financial Officer | ||
|
from June 1995 to March 2005. Mr. Shedlarz was appointed a | ||
|
Senior Vice President in January 1997 with additional worldwide | ||
|
responsibility for our former Medical Technology Group. He is a | ||
|
Director of Pitney Bowes Inc., Trustee of the International | ||
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Accounting Standards Committee Foundation and a member of | ||
|
the J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. National Advisory Board and the | ||
|
Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting | ||
|
Oversight Board. He also serves as Director of the Board of | ||
|
Overseers, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York | ||
|
University; as a Director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society | ||
|
and as a Director of Junior Achievement of New York. Mr. | ||
|
Shedlarz, a member of the Pfizer Executive Committee, joined us | ||
|
in 1976. | ||
|
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Jeffrey B. Kindler |
|
Our Vice Chairman and General Counsel since March 2005. | |
|
Executive Vice President and General Counsel from April 2004 to | ||
|
March 2005, and Senior Vice President and General Counsel from | ||
|
January 2002 to April 2004. Prior to joining Pfizer, Mr. Kindler | ||
|
served as Chairman of Boston Market Corporation, a food service | ||
|
company owned by McDonalds Corporation, from 2000 to 2001, | ||
|
and President of Partner Brands, also owned by McDonalds, | ||
|
during 2001. He was Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations | ||
|
and General Counsel of McDonalds Corporation from 1997 to | ||
|
2001, and from 1996 to 1997 served as that companys Senior Vice | ||
|
President and General Counsel. Mr. Kindler is a member of the | ||
|
Pfizer Executive Committee. | ||
|
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John L. LaMattina |
|
Our Senior Vice President; President, Pfizer Global Research and | |
|
Development since October 2003. Dr. LaMattina has held various | ||
|
positions of increasing responsibility in research and | ||
|
development. He was elected Vice President of Pfizer Inc.; | ||
|
Executive Vice President Pfizer Global Research and | ||
|
Development; President Worldwide Research and Technology | ||
|
Alliances in May 2002. He was elected Vice President of Pfizer Inc.; | ||
|
Executive Vice President Pfizer Global Research and | ||
|
Development; President Worldwide Research in April 2001. He | ||
|
was elected Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development in | ||
|
1999. He is a Director of Thermo Electron Corporation. Dr. | ||
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LaMattina, a member of the Pfizer Human Health Leadership | ||
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Team, joined us in 1977. |
30
The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, has ratified the selection of KPMG LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2006, subject to ratification by our shareholders.
Representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to answer questions. They also will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.
We are asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our By-laws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of KPMG LLP to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders views on the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our shareholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered as a direction to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm, subject to ratification by the Board, at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2006.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2004, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP during those periods.
|
|
|
||||
|
||||||
Audit fees:1 |
$
|
23,328,000 |
$
|
25,493,000 | ||
Audit-related | ||||||
fees:2 | 1,005,000 | 2,827,000 | ||||
Tax fees:3 | 5,952,000 | 10,950,000 | ||||
All other fees:4 | 0 | 0 | ||||
|
||||||
Total |
$
|
30,285,000 |
$
|
39,270,000 | ||
|
(1) | Audit fees were principally for audit work performed on the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, as well as work generally only the independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably be expected to provide, such as statutory audits. |
(2) | Audit-related fees were principally for the audits of employee benefit plans in 2005. In 2004 these fees were principally for documentation assistance procedures to meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and also included fees for the audits of employee benefit plans. |
(3) | Tax fees were for services related to tax compliance, reporting and assistance with matters related to the merging of various Pharmacia corporate entities with Pfizer in 2005 and 2004. |
(4) | The Company generally does not engage KPMG LLP for other services. |
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, the Audit Committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, the Audit Committee has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
Prior to engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for the next years audit, management will submit a list of services and related fees expected to be rendered during that year within each of four categories of services to the Audit Committee for approval.
1. | Audit services include audit work performed on the financial statements and internal control over financial | |
31
reporting, as well as work that generally only the independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably be expected to provide, including comfort letters, statutory audits, and discussions surrounding the proper application of financial accounting and/or reporting standards. | ||
2. | Audit-Related services are for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, including due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits, and special procedures required to meet certain regulatory requirements. | |
3. | Tax services include all services, except those services specifically related to the audit of the financial statements, performed by the independent registered public accounting firms tax personnel, including tax analysis; assisting with coordination of execution of tax-related activities, primarily in the area of corporate development; supporting other tax-related regulatory requirements; and tax compliance and reporting. | |
4. | All Other services are those services not captured in the audit, audit-related or tax categories. The Company generally does not request such services from the independent registered public accounting firm. |
Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves independent public accounting firm services within each category and the fees for each category are budgeted. The Audit Committee requires the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval categories. In those instances, the Audit Committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee reviews the Companys financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls.
In this context, the Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding the fair and complete presentation of the Companys results and the assessment of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. The Committee has discussed significant accounting policies applied by the Company in its financial statements, as well as alternative treatments. Management represented to the Committee that the Companys consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and the Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).
In addition, the Committee reviewed and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the auditors independence from the Company and its management. As part of that review, the Committee received the written disclosures and letter required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and by all relevant professional and regulatory standards relating to KPMGs independence from the Company. The Committee also has considered
32
whether the independent registered public accounting firms provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with the auditors independence. The Committee has concluded that the independent registered public accounting firm is independent from the Company and its management.
The Committee reviewed and discussed Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management.
The Committee discussed with the Companys internal auditor and independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal auditor and independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Companys internal controls, and the overall quality of the Companys financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee has selected, and the Board of Directors has ratified, subject to shareholder ratification, the selection of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee:
Mr. Howell (Chair)
Mr. Cornwell
Mr. Burns
The Audit Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material, and shall not be deemed to be filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates the Audit Committee Report by reference therein.
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The Board of Directors has considered carefully the advantages and disadvantages of the supermajority vote requirements and the fair price provision (explained below) in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation. After this review, the Board of Directors determined that it is appropriate to propose an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would eliminate these provisions. This determination by the Board furthers its goal of increasing its accountability to Shareholders.
Some supermajority vote provisions, such as the fair price provision in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, are intended to encourage a person making an unsolicited bid for a company to negotiate with the Board of Directors to reach terms that are fair and in the best interests of Shareholders. Other provisions, such as those in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation that require a supermajority vote to amend certain provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, can be viewed as facilitating corporate governance stability by requiring broad stockholder consensus to effect changes. However, many investors and others view these provisions as inconsistent with principles of good corporate governance. Although these measures can be beneficial, the Board recognizes that the requirement of a supermajority vote can limit the ability of a majority of the Shareholders at any particular time to effect change by essentially providing a veto to a large minority shareholder or group of shareholders. In addition, a lower threshold for shareholder votes can increase shareholders ability to participate effectively in corporate governance.
To effect these changes, our Board of Directors is recommending that the Shareholders approve certain amendments to Article Seventh, and the deletion of Article Eighth, of Pfizers Restated Certificate of Incorporation. These provisions and the proposed amendments are described below.
Supermajority Vote Requirements
Article SEVENTH of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of at least 80% of our outstanding voting stock to amend, alter or repeal certain provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The proposed amendments would remove the 80% supermajority vote requirement currently in place to approve, alter, amend or repeal the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to:
If such amendment is approved by the Shareholders, the principal effect will be that those provisions may be amended, altered or repealed upon approval of the Board of Directors and the vote of the holders of a majority of Pfizers outstanding stock entitled to vote on such amendment.
Fair Price ProvisionArticle EIGHTH of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which is sometimes referred to as a fair price provision, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock to approve certain transactions involving any person or group that beneficially owns at least 10% of our outstanding voting stock (a Related Person). Under the proposed amendments, this Article would be deleted in its entirety. The current supermajority requirements of Article EIGHTH apply to the following transactions between a Related Person and Pfizer:
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This voting requirement does not apply to (a) transactions approved by the Board of Directors and the majority of the Continuing Directors (directors who were directors prior to the time the Related Person became a Related Person, and directors recommended for election by such directors) and (b) in the case of any action or transaction pursuant to which shareholders will receive cash, property, securities or other consideration, the cash or market value of the property, securities or other consideration to be received by the shareholders is deemed to be fair (the cash or market value must be not less than the higher of (x) the highest price per share paid by the Related Person in acquiring any of its holdings of Pfizer stock, or (y) the highest closing sale price on any day either since the Related Person acquired its first share of capital stock of Pfizer which it continues to own or control or during the five years preceding the date of consideration of the action or transaction by the Pfizers Board of Directors, whichever period is shorter). ARTICLE EIGHTH also includes: restrictions on certain other actions by Related Persons; certain technical provisions; and a requirement that Article EIGHTH can only be amended, altered or repealed with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class.
The repeal of Article EIGHTH will have two principal effects on stockholder voting: First, those transactions covered by Article EIGHTH that would otherwise require a stockholder vote under the Delaware General Corporation Law would require the vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding stock, rather than an 80% supermajority vote. Second, since the supermajority vote requirement will no longer apply, the Board of Directors will be able to effect, without obtaining stockholder approval, those transactions covered by Article EIGHTH that do not otherwise require stockholder approval under Delaware law.
Pfizer will continue to be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law without regard to whether the proposed amendments are approved. Section 203 provides, in general, that a transaction constituting a business combination within the meaning of Section 203 involving a person owning 15% or more of our voting stock (referred to as an interested stockholder), cannot be completed for a period of three years after the date the person became an interested stockholder unless (1) the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder prior to such business combination or transaction, (2) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, that person owned at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock (excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers of Pfizer and shares owned by certain Pfizer employee benefit plans), or (3) the business combination was approved by the Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of our outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
The Board of Directors has adopted resolutions approving and declaring the advisability of amendments to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate these supermajority vote requirements and the fair price provision. The proposed amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation are set forth in Annex 7, with deletions indicated by strikeout and additions indicated by underline.
The affirmative vote of at least 80% of all outstanding shares of Common Stock is required for approval of this proposal. An abstention on this proposal is not an affirmative vote and therefore will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. Therefore, it is important that you vote your shares either in person at the Meeting or by proxy.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the proposal to amend the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate all supermajority vote requirements and the fair price provision.
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We expect the following proposals (Items 4 through 10 on the proxy card) to be presented by shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Some of the proposals contain assertions about Pfizer that we believe are incorrect. We have not attempted to refute all these inaccuracies. However, the Board of Directors has recommended a vote against these proposals for broader policy reasons as set forth following each proposal. Names, addresses and share holdings of the various shareholder proponents and, where applicable, of co-filers, will be supplied upon request.
Resolved: That the stockholders of Pfizer recommend that the Board take the necessary steps so that future outside directors shall not serve for more than six years.
Reasons: The President of the U.S.A. has a term limit, so do Governors of many states.
Newer directors may bring in fresh outlooks and different approaches with benefits to all shareholders.
No director should be able to feel that his or her directorship is until retirement.
Last year the owners of 369,835,214 shares, representing approximately 7.9% of shares voting, voted for this proposal.
If you AGREE, please mark your proxy FOR this resolution.
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
We believe that arbitrary six-year terms for members of Pfizers Board of Directors is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The process that brings a new medicine from initial discovery to approval for patients is among the most complex, lengthy and investment-intensive research processes in industry. Setting an arbitrary limit on the terms of Directors could result in the premature departure of Directors who have acquired extensive knowledge of our industry and Company. Rather than deprive the Company and the Board of the service of highly valued Directors by imposing fixed-term limits, our Board follows practices designed to ensure that directors are well qualified and well evaluated in their performance. In addition, every member of the Board of Directors stands for election by the shareholders every year. Below are our practices for Director Qualification and election, as stated in our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in our Corporate Governance Principles.
Annual Election of Directors
All Directors are elected on an annual basis, following a formal nomination by the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. This Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, annually considers the merits of all candidates and their individual contributions to the Board prior to making these nominations.
Majority VotingIn June 2005, the Board adopted an innovative amendment to the Companys Corporate Governance Principles that requires any Director receiving a greater number of Withheld votes than For votes to tender his or her resignation to the Corporate Governance Committee. A full description of the policy on Voting for Directors is found in this Proxy Statement under the caption Election of Directors and in our Corporate Governance Principles under Voting for Directors.
Annual Board Self Evaluation
The Board prepares an annual self-evaluation, and this process is also an important factor in determining continuing service.
Change in Director Occupation
When a Directors principal occupation or business association changes substantially during his or her tenure as a Director, that Director must tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee, which recommends to the full Board the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the resignation.
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Mandatory Retirement Age
Directors are required to retire from the Board when they reach the age of 72.
Director Qualification Standards
As outlined in this Proxy Statement, our Board of Directors has adopted a formal set of categorical Director Qualification Standards with respect to the determination of director independence, which either meet or exceed the standards set by the New York Stock Exchange. These standards must be met by all Directors not only at the time of initial election to the Board, but in each year of a Directors service.
We believe that the principles and practices currently in place provide the means to ensure the continuity of independent oversight by the Pfizer Board, and that requiring term limits could weaken the Board and undermine our system of corporate governance.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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Shareholders request the Board of Directors report by September 2006 on measures Pfizer is taking to contain the price increases of its most-prescribed drugs to levels equal to or below the annual rate of inflation.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
Enacting this proposal will align our company with its previously stated practice on prescription drug price increases.
Access to pharmaceutical products is essential for adequate health care for all Americans; we believe that restraining price increases is an effective way to expand access to pharmaceutical products.
In 2002, Pfizer stated: Over the past decade, after accounting for discounts to federal government buyers and Medicaid, Pfizers annual price increase in the United States has averaged less than the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. (Improving Access to Innovative Medicines, Pfizer Forum, 2002).
2004 saw the largest average annual price increases in four years, with Pfizers increases ranging from 2.9% (Lipitor 20 mg and 40 mg) to Norvasc (7.1%) . (AARP Public Policy Institute, April 2005).
In 2003, more than 14 million American adults with chronic conditions could not afford all of their prescriptions. As medical needs for prescription drugs increase, the proportion of working-age Americans, especially those with chronic conditions, going without prescription drugs because of cost concerns will likely grow. (Center for Studying Health System Change Issue Briefing 95, May 2005);
In a survey, one-fifth of all women said they hadnt bought at least one prescribed drug because they felt they couldnt afford it. (Kaiser Family Foundation July 2005)
Spending in the U.S. for prescription drugs rose by 400% since 1990, with price increases for existing drugs accounting for 25% of the increase. (Kaiser Family Foundation, Prescription Drug Trends, October 2004).
We believe our proposal can be implemented with minimal disruption of research and development. As The Economist noted: There is a fallacy that the price of a drug is somehow related to the cost of R&D. One will often hear arguments made by industry to justify high prices. The reality is that the price of a drug on the market has absolutely no relation to how much it cost to produce it. Drugs are priced in a way...that is essentially what the market will bear.(Prescription for Change, The Economist, June 16, 2005)
Rapidly rising drug costs reduce the impact of drug discount programs and prescription drug benefits. The LA Times reported that industry discount programs are not easy to work with and some health care providers have had to hire full-time staff members who do nothing but help patients with their applications. (Free drugs for poor may be hard to get, Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2005).
Our company offers a discount drug program for the uninsured, Pfizer Pfriends. While such programs are welcome, moderating price increases could be a more efficient and effective way to increase access to medicines, with minimal impacts of profits and research.
If you agree, please vote in favor of this proposal.
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
Pfizer is deeply concerned about Americans who do not have adequate access to healthcare, including their medicines. We have demonstrated a commitment to meaningful and sustainable programs that provide greater access to our medicines. In 2005, we provided more than $1 billion in free and low cost medicines to patients in the United States.
We are committed to maintaining our effort to assure that our medicines are available to those who need them. This commitment extends to new cancer medicines, such as Sutent, as well as HIV medicines either marketed or in development.
In our view, part of Pfizers commitment to access in the United States has been a history of moderate pricing. Over the past decade, we have typically introduced our new medicines at prices lower than those of competing products and have typically raised prices less than have the makers of other products.
Over 30 years of providing access to Pfizer medicines
Pfizer has over a 30-year history in providing access to medicines for those without
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prescription coverage. These programs provide access to many Pfizer medicines, including new medicines and those most widely prescribed. Through a single toll free number (866 706 2400) live operators guide patients to programs best suited to their needs, including both Pfizer-sponsored and public assistance programs, based on their income and medical needs. Anyone interested in knowing more about these programs and how they are helping people today can visit www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com.
Pfizer Helpful AnswersIn July 2004, we launched Pfizer Helpful Answers to help expand access to Pfizer prescription medicines. Pfizer Helpful Answers is a family of programs to help people without prescription coverage save on many Pfizer medicines; regardless of age or income. Some people may qualify to get their Pfizer medicines for free depending on their income.
Together Rx AccessAdditionally, Pfizer participates in Together Rx Access (www.togetherrxaccess.com), a program where 10 pharmaceutical companies offer savings on over 275 medicines to Americans without prescription coverage and not eligible for Medicare.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Pfizer also participates in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which is an industry program that offers a single point of access to more than 475 patient assistance programs, including 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer Helpful Answers.
International Initiatives
Internationally, we are combating HIV/AIDS and trachoma in developing countries through donating medicines, training health care providers, funding public health initiatives and building medical infrastructure. We are very proud of our efforts in all parts of the world and are convinced that we are doing a great deal of good for people everywhere by keeping people healthy and helping them avoid the often very painful and costly consequences of illness.
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
In addition to the steps we have taken, the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit will help millions of Americas seniors afford the medicines they need. We have worked hard to assure that access to our products is as wide as possible under this program and when it is fully implemented, we expect millions of Americans to have improved access to our products.
Pressing for More Affordable Co-Pays
Unfortunately, Pfizer cannot control the co-pays that insurers charge for our medicines. Patients who are insured have faced significant increases in their co-pays, well beyond the underlying wholesale price increase of pharmaceuticals. For example, from 2001 to 2005, our compound annual average net price increase was 3.3 percent. This compares with compound annual co-payment increases of 11.1 and 15.5 percent charged by insurers for preferred and nonpreferred drugs, respectively. (Source: 2005 Employer Health Benefits Survey, an annual publication by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust, available at http://www.kff.org/insurance/7148/index.cfm). In our opinion, keeping co-pays affordable is critical to better health at more manageable costs for payers, as good preventive and disease management care can limit the costly complications that truly drive up our health care costs as a society.
Pfizer is committed to doing our part to respond to public need today, but we also care about patients who are still waiting for new treatments. Prices that adequately reflect the value of our products provide us with the best opportunity to invest in the research and other operations needed to discover, develop and manufacture treatments for people with untreated medical conditions. In our opinion, we help more people in more effective ways by setting prices based on the real value of our medicines, and then working hard to help those who genuinely need assistance, than by adopting the mostly symbolic policy advocated by this proposal.
In light of our commitment to access, our long-standing record of responsible pricing, and our responsibility to maintain shareholder value, we believe the resolution as set forth by the proponents is unnecessary and not in the best interest of our Company, our patients, and our investors.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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RESOLVED: Cumulative Voting. Shareholders recommend that our Board adopt cumulative voting as a bylaw or long-term policy. Cumulative voting means that each shareholder may cast as many votes as equal to number of shares held, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. A shareholder may cast all such cumulated votes for a single candidate or split votes between multiple candidates, as that shareholder sees fit. Under cumulative voting shareholders can withhold votes from certain nominees in order to cast multiple votes for others.
Cumulative voting won impressive yes-votes of 54% at Aetna and 56% at Alaska Air in 2005. Cumulative voting also won an all-time record support for any GM shareholder proposal topic at the 2005 GM annual meetingmore than 49% of the yes and no votes.
I believe Cumulative voting will improve our corporate governance and increase the possibility of electing at least one director with a specialized expertise needed at our company from time to time.
Cumulative voting allows a significant group of shareholders to elect a director or directors of its choice safeguarding minority shareholder interests and bringing independent perspectives to Board decisions.
Cumulative Voting Yes on 6.
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
The Board opposes this proposal because we do not believe cumulative voting is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders for the following reasons:
This proposal would alter the current process by which each director is elected by the vote of all shareholders. The proposal could permit shareholders representing a relatively small minority of all shares to elect a director. Since each director oversees the management of the Company for the benefit of ALL shareholders, the Board believes that changing the current voting procedure would not be in the best interest of all shareholders.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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RESOLVED: The shareholders of Pfizer request the Board of Directors establish a policy of, whenever possible, separating the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, so that an independent director who has not served as an executive officer of the Company serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
This proposal shall not apply to the extent that complying would necessarily breach any contractual obligations in effect at the time of the 2006 shareholder meeting.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
We believe in the principle of the separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. This is a basic element of sound corporate governance practice.
We believe an independent Board Chairseparated from the CEOis the preferable form of corporate governance. The primary purpose of the Board of Directors is to protect shareholders interests by providing independent oversight of management and the CEO. The Board gives strategic direction and guidance to our Company.
The Board will likely accomplish both roles more effectively by separating the roles of Chair and CEO. An independent Chair will enhance investor confidence in our Company and strengthen the integrity of the Board of Directors.
A number of respected institutions recommend such separation. CalPERs Corporate Core Principles and Guidelines state: the independence of a majority of the Board is not enough and that the leadership of the board must embrace independence, and it must ultimately change the way in which directors interact with management.
An independent Board structure will also help the Board address complex issues facing our company, including the increasing criticism of our companys business model. Those criticisms include skepticism of our marketing practices, increased demands for disclosure of trial data, and concerns about the rate of innovation in the industry. All of these issues may impact our companys long-term value.
Independent board leadership will also help the board address reputation issues facing our company. Recent surveys found 70% of respondents say drug companies put profits ahead of people. Fully one half say they have an unfavorable view of drug companies, according to the study, which was completed by the Kaiser Family Foundation in February of 2005. As the largest drug company (by total revenue and market capitalization, as of the date this resolution was filed) in the world, Pfizer may be materially impacted by these perceptions.
We believe an independent Chair and vigorous Board will be better able to forge solutions to these challenges.
A similar resolution voted on in 2005 was supported by 41 percent of shareholders.
In order to ensure that our Board can provide the proper strategic direction for our Company with independence and accountability, we urge a vote FOR this resolution.
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
Your Board fully recognizes that independence from management is an important component of an effective board and believes that it has discharged this responsibility well to date.
Your Board is composed of a majority of independent board members with the autonomy to act independently from management when making decisions that will benefit the Company and long-term shareowners.
We take seriously our commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance, including independent leadership, and we base our policies and practices on the principles of transparency, accountability and integrity.
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Corporate Governance Principles
The Boards Corporate Governance Principles, instituted over a decade ago and evaluated annually, support the autonomy of our oversight and preserve the integrity of our function as shareholder representatives. These Principles are designed to ensure independence and thought leadership whether or not the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles are separated.
Lead Independent Director
In September 2005, the Board elected a Lead Independent Director, with clearly defined leadership authority and responsibilities. The role of the Lead Independent Director is to:
Independent Board Committees
Except for the Executive Committee, all of the committees are composed entirely of independent directors.
Corporate Governance Website
In furtherance of your Boards commitment to transparency and accountability, our governance structure has been available on our Website long before recent regulatory mandates, and includes our Corporate Governance Principles, Committee Charters, Director Qualification Standards, Board member backgrounds and contact information for directors.
As indicated above, the governance profile of the Company is sufficient to ensure Board independence and accountability. The Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to retain flexibility to exercise its collective judgment to determine who should serve as Chairman, given the circumstances at any particular point in time.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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RESOLVED: That the shareholders of Pfizer (Pfizer or the Company) hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated semi-annually, disclosing the Companys:
1. | Policies and procedures for political contributions and expenditures (both direct and indirect) made with corporate funds. | ||
2. | Monetary and non-monetary political contributions and expenditures not deductible under section 162 (e)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, including but not limited to contributions to or expenditures on behalf of political candidates, political p arties, political committees and other political entities organized and operating under 26 USC Sec. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code and any portion of any dues or similar payments made to any tax exempt organization that is used for an expenditure or contribution if made directly by the corporation would not be deductible under section 162 (e)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The report shall include the following: | ||
a. | An accounting of the Companys funds that are used for political contributions or expenditures as described above; | ||
b. | Identification of the person or persons in the Company who participated in making the decisions to make the political contribution or expenditure; and, | ||
c. | The internal guidelines or policies, if any, governing the Companys political contributions and expenditures. |
This report shall be presented to the board of directors audit committee or other relevant oversight committee, and posted on the Companys Website to reduce costs to shareholders.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
As long-term shareholders of Pfizer, we support policies that apply transparency and accountability to corporate spending on political activities. Such disclosure is consistent with public policy and in the best interest of the Companys shareholders.
Company executives exercise wide discretion over the use of corporate resources for political activities. These decisions involve political contributions with corporate funds, called soft money. They also involve payments to trade associations and other tax-exempt groups used for political activities that media accounts call the new soft money. Most of these expenditures are not publicly disclosed. In 2003-04, the last fully reported election cycle; our Company contributed at least $1,052,681 in soft money contributions. (Center for Public Integrity, Silent Partners: http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/db.aspx?act =main). However, its payments to trade associations used for political activities are undisclosed and unknown. Our proposal asks the Company to disclose its political contributions and payments to tax-exempt organizations including trade associations.
The Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 allows companies to contribute to independent political committees, also known as 527s, and to give to tax-exempt organizations that make political expenditures and contributions.
Absent a system of accountability, corporate executives will be free to use company assets for political objectives that are not shared by and may be inimical to the interests of the Company and its shareholders. Relying on publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of the Companys political expenditures. The Companys Board and its shareholders need complete disclosure to be able to fully evaluate the political use of corporate assets. Thus, we urge your support FOR this critical governance reform.
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
Pfizer Must be Actively Involved in the Political Process.
Pfizers involvement in the political process is essential. The pharmaceutical business is one
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of the most highly regulated industries in our country. Pfizer is directly impacted by federal tax, trade, environmental and health policies, including the enactment of a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Additionally, state governments are extremely active in proposing further regulations on the pharmaceutical industry, including access restrictions and price controls. As a major participant in this highly regulated business environment, Pfizer must be actively involved in the political process. Indeed, it is vital that we engage legally in appropriate activities to help elect policy makers who support innovation and access in health care.
Pfizer complies with all Federal, State and Local Laws regarding Reporting of Political Contributions.
Pfizer complies fully with all Federal, state and local laws and reporting requirements governing Political Action Committees (PAC) and corporate political contributions. Any contributions of the types described by the proponent are fully disclosed by the Company or by the recipient of the contribution, or by both the Company and recipient, in publicly available filings as required by applicable federal and state laws.
Pfizers Corporate Reporting Procedure
Pfizer also has a specific Corporate Procedure that requires all PAC and corporate political contributions to be compiled and published semi-annually in a report that is made available on the Companys Website at www.pfizer.com under the Who We AreFor Investors in the Corporate Governance section. The semi-annual reports are presented to the Pfizer Board of Directors prior to release.
Trade Associations and Contributions
With respect to trade associations, Pfizer generally does not earmark payments for political purposes. In those isolated instances in which it does, Pfizer discloses those payments as political contributions, as the Policy requires. Thus, all payments that Pfizer makes to trade associations specifically for political purposes are reported under the Policy.
Steering Committee Oversight
With respect to political contribution governance, Pfizer has a Steering Committee comprised of eight colleagues that review and approve all PAC and corporate political contributions on a monthly basis. To ensure adequate representation, Steering Committee members represent different divisions within the Pfizer organization. In addition, all Federal PAC contribution requests are shared with the Pfizer Political Contributions Policy Committee for review and approval. Representatives serving on the Political Contributions Policy Committee include the General Counsel, Pfizer PAC Treasurer, head of Government Relations, and several others.
Pfizer also has a long-standing policy forbidding the use of corporate contributions in Federal elections, and the Company expects all colleagues to comply with the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) and Pfizer Corporate Policy regarding U.S. Election Contributions. Pfizer colleagues are prohibited from using corporate resources, including corporate funds or in-kind items or services, to support or oppose a Federal election. In state and local jurisdictions that permit corporate contributions, colleagues must seek review and approval from the Legal Division prior to committing corporate funds or resources to a state or local candidate, political party or political committee.
Pfizer has been recognized as a leader in disclosure with respect to its political contributions. In 2004, representatives of the Nathan Cummings Foundation stated that in their opinion, Pfizers report on political contributions represented the standard of disclosure to which other companies should aspire.
We believe that the Companys current policies and practices as well as federal and state reporting requirements are sufficient to advance the Companys interest and provide public disclosure. Adopting a policy as set forth in the proposal would create an unnecessary expense and would therefore not be a productive use of the Companys funds.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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WHEREAS: the Company conducts tests on animals as part of its product research and development; and
WHEREAS: the Company also retains independent laboratories to conduct tests on animals as part of product research and development; and
WHEREAS: abuses in independent laboratories have recently been revealed and disclosed by the media; and
WHEREAS: the Company has a Laboratory Animal Care and Use policy posted on its Website as part of its commitment to Corporate Responsibility;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the shareholders request that the Board issue a report to shareholders on the feasibility of amending the Companys Laboratory Animal Care and Use policy to ensure (a) that it extends to all contract laboratories and that it is reviewed with such outside laboratories on a regular basis, and (b) superior standards of care for animals who continue to be used for these purposes, both by the Company itself and by all independently retained laboratories, including provisions to ensure that animals psychological, social and behavioral needs are met. Further, the shareholders request that the Board issue an annual report to shareholders on the extent to which in-house and contract laboratories are adhering to this policy, including the implementation of the psychological enrichment measures.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
A number of pharmaceutical companies have adopted and prominently published animal welfare policies on their Websites relating to the care of animals used in product research and development. The Company has a published policy committed to approaching all research involving animals with the highest level of humane concern ...l
However, the recent disclosure of atrocities recorded at Covance, Inc. has made the need for a formalized, publicly available animal welfare policy that extends to all outside contractors all the more relevant, indeed urgent. Filmed footage showed primates being subjected to such gross physical abuses and psychological torments that Covance sued to stop PETA Europe from publicizing it. The Honorable Judge Peter Langan, in the United Kingdom, who denied Covances petition, stated in his decision that the video was highly disturbing and that just two aspects of it, namely the rough manner in which animals are handled and the bleakness of the surroundings in which they are kept ... even to a viewer with no particular interest in animal welfare, at least cry out for explanation.2
Shareholders cannot monitor what goes on behind the closed doors of the animal testing laboratories, so the Company must. Accordingly, we urge the Board to commit to ensuring that basic animal welfare measures are an integral part of our Companys corporate stewardship.
We urge shareholders to support this Resolution.
1 | http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/about_public /mn_about_ laboratory_use.jsp |
2 | The case captioned Covance Laboratories Limited v. PETA Europe Limited was filed in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Leeds District Registry, Claim No. 5C-00295. In addition to ruling in PETAs favor, the Court ordered Covance to pay PETA £50,000 in costs and fees. |
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
Pfizer is a global research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to finding cures for human AND animal disease and improving their quality of life. We are committed to expanding the application and accuracy of alternative methods, but in the course of discovering new cures, it is necessary to conduct some research in animals. There are many questions in research and safety assessment that only studies in whole animals can answer. In addition, a number of studies are also required by regulatory authorities for approval of our medicines for human use.
Our Company has long recognized that ensuring the health and well-being of our research animals is not only an ethical
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imperative but also fundamental to good scientific outcomes in the discovery and development of important new medicines.
| We conduct each of our studies with the highest level of humane concern for the animals. | |
| All our sites have one or more veterinarians whose primary responsibility is the care and welfare of the research animals and our animal care staff is trained to very high standards. | |
| Our comprehensive programs of animal care and use at each site, which meet or exceed regulatory standards, also include provisions for environmental enrichment for our animals. |
The 3Rs of Animal Research
Pfizer is committed to the principles embodied by the 3Rs of animal research: seeking alternatives that Reduce, Replace or Refine our work with animals wherever such alternatives are available and appropriate.
Fourth and Fifth RsThese principles form the foundation of our Corporate Policy on Laboratory Animal Care and Use, but Pfizer also has added fourth and fifth Rs as fundamental and important principles in all our work. These are Respect for Animals and Recognition of the important contributions that animal-based research makes to our goal of improving human and animal health worldwide.
MonitoringPfizer believes that we have already implemented the superior standards of care requested by the proposal. Furthermore, contract research organizations engaged by Pfizer are required to demonstrate their compliance with applicable regulations and standards, which include provisions for both the physical and psychological well-being of animals. Regular monitoring of these facilities by Pfizer is already standard practice, and they are held accountable not only to Pfizer and their other customers, but also to many regulatory authorities and accrediting agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Public Health Service (PHS) and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), and others.
Should the rare circumstance arise that a contract testing facility is found to be out of compliance, Pfizer will take immediate and appropriate action. As a rule, we would not publicly announce, comment on, or discuss these actions.
Producing an annual report to shareholders on the extent to which in-house and contract laboratories are adhering to this policy, including the implementation of the psychological enrichment measures would not serve any useful purpose and create an unnecessary expense.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
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WHEREAS, The Company has adopted a Laboratory Animal Care and Use policy (the Policy) which appears on the Pfizer Website;1
WHEREAS, the Policy asserts that Pfizer is committed to the principles known as the 3Rs of animal research;
WHEREAS, the 3Rs include i) the refinement of the use of research animals to use less painful or the least invasive procedures whenever possible; ii) the reduction of the numbers of animals used in each study to the absolute minimum necessary to obtain valid results; and iii) the replacement of animal experiments with non-animal experiments such as mathematical models, computer simulations, and in vitro biological systems whenever appropriate;
WHEREAS, it was reported in the Financial Times2 that Pfizer and two other pharmaceutical companies3 donated four million pounds (£4M) to British universities to promote medical research and training specifically using animals;
WHEREAS, the article reported that Pfizer and the other two companies stated the donation was part of a greater willingness by their industry to back animal testing publicly;
WHEREAS, a credibility gap arises from the Companys professed Policy and its affirmative promotion of animal testing as reported in the Financial Times;
RESOLVED, that the Board is requested to report to shareholders on the justification for affirmatively contributing to the advancement of animal-based testing while publicly promoting an animal care Policy that affirmatively commits to the advancement of non-animal based test methodologies.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Affirmatively supporting and promoting animal testing is wholly inconsistent with Pfizers Policy of reducing, refining, and replacing animal-based methods. Moreover, in the Proxy Materials for the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders, the Company relied on its commitment to the Policy in an effort to convince shareholders to vote against a Shareholder Proposal Relating to In Vitro Testing. That Proposal sought support for five validated non-animal test methods. The Company opposed the Proposal, arguing that Pfizer was fully committed to its animal care Policy which rendered the Proposal unnecessary. Pfizer made the following statements in the 2004 Proxy Statement:
These statements cannot be reconciled with the decision to commit significant funds for the purpose of affirmatively promoting and publicly advancing animal testing and training graduate students to conduct animal experiments.
We urge our fellow shareholders to support this Resolution and bring Pfizers actions into harmony with the Companys Animal Care and Use Policy.
1 | http:/www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/about_publc /mn_about_ laboratory_use.jsp |
2 | Drugs groups to fund university animal research, 7/29/04 |
3 | The other two pharmaceutical companies are AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. |
YOUR COMPANYS RESPONSE
Pfizer remains committed to the use of alternative testing methods wherever such tests are scientifically valid and do not compromise patient safety or the effectiveness of our medicines. We are working with regulators in
47
an effort to increase the use of alternative models where such alternatives can be used appropriately. However, we are in agreement with regulators that the overall testing process must involve some level of in vivo testing in order to meet our overriding responsibility to provide patients with medicines that are both effective and as safe as possible.
It is in connection with this responsibility that Pfizer and the other pharmaceutical companies are working to support the quality of in vivo research in the UK. By providing these grants to institutions with expertise in the conduct of in vivo studies under the highest standards of animal welfare, we support training of a new generation of skilled scientists that will understand and apply the principles of humane care and use of research animals.
We believe that such funding is in complete harmony with those aspects of our Policy that relate to Respect for animals and Recognition of the important contributions that animal-based research makes to our goal of improving human and animal health worldwide, as well as seeking alternatives that Reduce, Replace or Refine our work with animals when such alternatives are available and appropriate.
The concerns of the proponent have been substantially addressed. The Board does not believe that adopting this proposal would be in the shareholders best interest.
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this proposal.
48
Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Program
The Compensation Committee, composed entirely of independent directors, administers the Companys executive compensation program. The role of the Committee is to oversee Pfizers compensation and benefit plans and policies, administer its stock plans (including reviewing and approving equity grants to elected officers) and review and approve annually all compensation decisions relating to elected officers, including those for the Chairman and CEO and the other executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (the Named Executive Officers). The Committee submits its decisions regarding compensation for the Chairman and CEO to the independent Directors of the Board for ratification.
The Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining sound principles for the development and administration of compensation and benefit programs, and has taken steps to significantly enhance the Committees ability to effectively carry out its responsibilities as well as ensure that the Company maintains strong links between executive pay and performance. Examples of actions that the Committee has taken include:
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Rotated Committee members over the past year; | ||
Initiated a practice of holding executive sessions (without Company management present) at every Committee meeting; | |||
Hired an independent compensation consultant to advise on executive compensation issues; | |||
Made the following changes in the executive compensation program: | |||
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Enhanced the transparency of compensation policy and actions; | ||
Realigned compensation structures based on targeting median competitive pay; | |||
Established a higher-performing pharmaceutical peer group for performance comparisons; | |||
Introduced a Fortune-100 peer group to better align target compensation with median competitive data; | |||
Strengthened the link between the CEO annual pay and shareholder value through specific objectives; | |||
Refocused the 2006 performance- share grants in the Executive Long- Term Incentive Program so that payouts are determined solely on shareholder value; | |||
Established annual reviews of detailed compensation tally sheets for the Named Executive Officers; | |||
Established limitations on executive pension benefits, on a going-forward basis; and | |||
Initiated limitations, with concurrence of management, on executive change-in-control agreements. | |||
The Compensation Committees Charter reflects these responsibilities, and the Committee and the Board periodically review and revise the Charter. The full text of the Compensation Committee Charter is shown in Annex 4 to this Proxy Statement. The Committees membership is determined by the Board. There were 15 meetings of the Committee in 2005, including seven executive sessions with the Committee members only.
Compensation Consultant
The Executive Compensation group in Pfizers Corporate Human Resources Department supports the Committee in its work. In addition, the Committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services of outside advisors, experts and others to assist the Committee. In accordance with this authority, the Committee engages George B. Paulin, Chief Executive Officer of Frederic W. Cook & Co., as independent outside compensation consultant to advise the Committee on all matters related to CEO and other executive compensation. The independent compensation consultants firm does not advise management of the Company, and receives no other compensation from the
49
Company, other than a fee of less than $5,000 to provide an executive salary survey. The consultant attended all of the Committee meetings in 2005.
General Compensation Philosophy
The Committee believes that compensation paid to executive officers should be closely aligned with the performance of the Company on both a short-term and long-term basis, and that such compensation should assist the Company in attracting and retaining key executives critical to its long-term success. Compensation should be structured to ensure that a significant portion of compensation opportunity will be directly related to Company stock performance and other factors that directly and indirectly influence shareholder value. To that end, it is the view of the Board that the total compensation program for executive officers should consist of the following:
It is the intent of the Committee that midpoint salary, target bonus levels and target annual long-term incentive award values be set at the median of a peer group of pharmaceutical companies and also a general industry peer group of Fortune-100 companies, based on available survey data. The companies that comprised our pharmaceutical peer group in 2005 consist of Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Co., Inc., Schering-Plough Corporation and Wyeth. Where appropriate, the target position is adjusted to reflect Pfizers scale and scope. For salary and bonus levels, these adjustments, if any, are generally based on differences in revenues and relative market capitalization. In 2005, the long-term incentive target awards were positioned to align with the median of the survey data.
As noted above, the Committee also uses a general industry peer group consisting of about one half of the Fortune-100 companies that best align with our sales volume, cash flow and market capitalization, as well as with the nature of our business and workforce, in determining the competitive positioning of pay. This general industry peer group can change from time to time based on the criteria stated above. In addition to reviewing executive officers compensation against the comparative groups, the Committee also considers recommendations from the Chairman and CEO regarding total compensation for those executives reporting directly to him. Management provides to the Committee historical and prospective breakdowns of the total compensation components for each executive officer.
Financial Restatement
It is the Board of Directors Policy that the Committee will, to the extent permitted by governing law, have the sole and absolute authority to make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity based incentive compensation paid to executive officers and certain other officers where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement. Where applicable, the Company will seek to recover any amount determined to have been inappropriately received by the individual executive.
Tax Deductibility of Pay
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Tax Code), places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that Pfizer may deduct in any one year with respect to each of its five most highly paid executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements. Annual cash incentive compensation, stock option awards and Performance-Contingent Share Awards generally are performance-based compensation meeting those requirements and, as such, are fully deductible. To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the Committee has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible. Since Dr. McKinnells and Ms. Katens salaries are above the $1,000,000 threshold, a portion of their salaries and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) value of their perquisites are not deductible by the Company. Restricted stock and restricted stock units are not considered performance-based under Section 162(m) of the
50
Tax Code and, as such, are generally not deductible by the Company. All other annual incentives and long-term incentive amounts will be deductible when they are paid to the executive officers.
Total CompensationTally Sheets
The Company intends to continue its strategy of compensating its executives through programs that emphasize performance-based incentive compensation. To that end, executive compensation is tied directly to the performance of the Company and is structured to ensure that, due to the nature of the business, there is an appropriate balance between the long-term and short-term performance of the Company, and also a balance between Company financial performance and shareholder return. For 2005, the actual total compensation of the Named Executive Officers generally fell within the third quartile of total compensation paid to executives holding equivalent positions in the pharmaceutical peer group companies. The Committee believes that this position was consistent with Company financial performance and the individual performance of each of the Named Executive Officers, and also believes that the compensation was reasonable in its totality. Compensation tally sheets for each of the Named Executive Officers were prepared and reviewed by the Committee in 2005. These tally sheets affixed dollar amounts to all components of the Named Executive Officers 2005 compensation, including current pay (salary and bonus), deferred compensation, outstanding equity awards, benefits, perquisites and potential change-in-control severance payments. The Committee has committed to review tally sheets at least on an annual basis.
51
The following Summary Compensation Table includes salary, bonus, other compensation, long-term compensation and the number of stock options granted in 2005.
Summary Compensation Table
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Dr. McKinnell |
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2,270,500 | 3,700,000 | 145,814 | 0 | 880,000 | 5,489,400 | 281,556 | ||||||||||
Chairman and CEO |
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2,224,900 | 3,986,300 | 19,482 | 4,292,181 | 525,000 | 5,829,120 | 307,454 | ||||||||||
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2,042,700 | 4,607,400 | 19,534 | 0 | 1,000,000 | 2,786,978 | 249,390 | |||||||||||
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Ms. Katen |
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Vice Chairman and |
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1,176,200 | 1,535,600 | 143,644 | 0 | 371,000 | 3,326,576 | 110,263 | ||||||||||
President, Pfizer |
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1,158,300 | 1,274,100 | 7,459 | 2,326,218 | 350,000 | 3,307,392 | 117,751 | ||||||||||
Human Health |
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1,086,700 | 1,434,400 | 10,459 | 326,840 | 275,000 | 1,510,448 | 103,631 | ||||||||||
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Mr. Shedlarz |
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983,100 | 1,088,000 | 99,193 | 0 | 301,000 | 2,316,527 | 89,473 | ||||||||||
Vice Chairman |
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966,500 | 1,005,200 | 11,405 | 1,873,326 | 275,000 | 2,521,728 | 90,432 | ||||||||||
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889,133 | 1,043,100 | 8,108 | 260,866 | 225,000 | 1,216,379 | 79,922 | |||||||||||
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Mr. Kindler |
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902,200 | 1,000,000 | 99,379 | 0 | 261,000 | 1,041,418 | 79,731 | ||||||||||
Vice Chairman and |
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887,300 | 869,600 | 7,388 | 792,561 | 225,000 | 1,319,472 | 80,496 | ||||||||||
General Counsel |
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827,900 | 901,500 | 8,254 | 248,989 | 200,000 | 857,703 | 68,962 | ||||||||||
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Dr. LaMattina |
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Senior V.P.; President, |
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837,500 | 787,300 | 14,342 | 0 | 219,500 | 1,630,352 | 69,421 | ||||||||||
Pfizer Global Research |
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820,000 | 705,200 | 512 | 1,024,154 | 175,000 | 1,622,016 | 63,760 | ||||||||||
and Development |
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677,250 | 596,900 | 0 | 199,303 | 100,000 | 664,998 | 50,353 |
(1) | The amounts shown in this column constitute the cash Annual Incentive Awards made to each Named Executive Officer based on the Boards evaluation of each Officers performance. These awards are discussed in further detail under the heading Executive Annual Incentive Awards. |
(2) | The amounts shown in this column represent tax payments made by Pfizer on behalf of each Named Executive Officer relating to his or her use of Company transportation and, in 2005, the value of perquisites. In 2005, this amount also includes a nominal tax payment associated with participation in our Healthy Directions program. This program, which is designed to foster healthier living for our employees and their families, is open to all U.S. Pfizer employees. Program participants received a small incentive and related tax gross-up in 2005. In 2004, the amounts also included tax payments relating to a holiday gift, a program which ended in 2005. For Mr. Kindler, in 2003 the amount also includes tax payments relating to temporary housing costs incurred in connection with his relocation. In 2005, the perquisite value was determined based on our revised incremental cost methodology. |
(3) | The amounts shown in this column represent the dollar value of the grant of restricted stock based on the value of the Pfizer common stock on the grant date. All grants of restricted stock were made under the 2001 Stock and Incentive Plan or its predecessor Plan. Dividends are paid or reinvested during the restricted period. The Company grants awards of restricted stock from time to time either as part of a program for a particular year, or on an ad hoc basis to encourage retention of key talent. |
The Company has granted restricted stock units rather than restricted stock since 2003. The restricted stock units are settled in stock, and accumulate reinvested dividend equivalent units which are also paid in stock at the same time that the restricted stock units are paid. A table of outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards to the Named Executive Officers appears below. | |
(4) | The amounts shown in this column represent the dollar market value of shares of Pfizer common stock on February 23, 2006 (the payment date), earned under the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan and the previous Performance- Contingent Share Award Program based on the closing price of Pfizer common stock ($26.14) on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. The number of Performance-Contingent Shares awarded to each Named Executive Officer was as follows: Dr. McKinnell, 210,000 shares; Ms. Katen, 127,260 shares; Mr. Shedlarz, 88,620 shares; Mr. Kindler, 39,840 shares; and Dr. LaMattina, 62,370 shares. |
(5) | The amounts shown in this column represent Company matching funds under the Pfizer Savings Plan (a tax-qualified retirement savings plan) and related Supplemental Plan, which are discussed under the heading Pfizer Savings Plan. |
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Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards Not Yet Vested
The table below provides additional detail about the Restricted Stock Awards shown in Column 3 of the Summary Compensation Table.
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Dr. McKinnell | March 25, 2004 | March 25, 2007 | 125,100 | $34.31 |
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4,292,181
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131,053 |
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3,056,156 | |||||||||
Ms. Katen | March 25, 2004 | March 25, 2007 | 67,800 | $34.31 |
$
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2,326,218
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71,027 |
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1,656,350 | |||||||||
February 27, 2003 | February 27, 2006 | 11,117 | $29.40 |
326,840
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11,863 | 276,645 | ||||||||||||
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Total | 1,932,995 | |||||||||||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | March 25, 2004 | March 25, 2007 | 54,600 | $34.31 |
$
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1,873,326
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57,198 |
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1,333,857 | |||||||||
February 27, 2003 | February 27, 2006 | 8,873 | $29.40 |
260,866
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9,468 | 220,794 | ||||||||||||
Total | 1,554,651 | |||||||||||||||||
Mr. Kindler | March 25, 2004 | March 25, 2007 | 23,100 | $34.31 |
$
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792,561
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24,199 |
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564,321 | |||||||||
February 27, 2003 | February 27, 2006 | 8,469 | $29.40 |
248,989
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9,037 | 210,743 | ||||||||||||
January 1, 2002 | 1/5 per year | 20,000 | $39.90 |
798,000
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8,000 | (3) | 186,560 | |||||||||||
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Total | 961,624 | |||||||||||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | March 25, 2004 | March 25, 2007 | 29,850 | $34.31 |
$
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1,024,154
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31,270 |
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729,216 | |||||||||
February 27, 2003 | February 27, 2006 | 6,975 | $29.40 |
205,065
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7,233 | 168,674 | ||||||||||||
July 1, 2002 | July 1, 2007 | 15,000 | 33.90 | 508,500 | 15,000 | (3) | 349,800 | |||||||||||
Total | 1,247,690 |
(1) | Includes reinvested dividend equivalent units which are paid upon vesting of the award. |
(2) | Determined based on the closing price of Pfizer common stock ($23.32) on December 31, 2005. |
(3) | Cash dividends are paid to the recipient during the restricted period on these awards. Through December 31, 2005 Mr. Kindler has received $34,240 in dividends and Dr. LaMattina has received $34,500 in dividends on these awards since their grant date. For all grants in 2003 and later, all dividends are reinvested. |
The Company provides the opportunity to defer, as shares, Performance-Contingent Share Awards that are earned and otherwise would be paid under that Program. Dividends are paid on those deferred shares and are reinvested. Annual incentives, as shown in the Bonus column of the Summary Compensation Table, may also be deferred into a Pfizer unit fund or a fund earning interest at 120% of the Federal Long-Term rate (which fluctuated between 5.09% and 5.65% in 2005). The Pfizer unit fund is credited with dividend equivalent units which are then reinvested in the fund.
Present Value of 2005 Total Compensation
Because elements of the Summary Compensation Table do not lend themselves to being totaled due to different presentation requirements, to provide additional transparency on the total compensation for our Named Executive Officers, we are providing the following Present Value of Total Compensation table. The components of executive compensation included in this table are as follows:
53
Present Value of 2005 Total Compensation
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Dr. McKinnell | $2,270,500 |
$3,700,000 |
$4,532,000
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$4,530,504
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407,000 |
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281,556 |
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159,429
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Ms. Katen | 1,176,200 | 1,535,600 |
1,910,650
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2,183,246
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1,989,000 | 110,263 |
151,950
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9,056,909
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Mr. Shedlarz | 983,100 | 1,088,000 |
1,550,150
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1,746,754
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1,366,000 | 89,473 |
116,415
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6,939,892
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Mr. Kindler | 902,200 | 1,000,000 |
1,344,150
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1,528,246
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215,000 | 79,731 |
116,051
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5,185,378
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Dr. LaMattina | 837,500 | 787,300 |
1,130,425
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1,310,000
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958,000 | 69,421 |
31,202
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5,123,848
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(1) | Present value of the stock option award granted in February 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated by the Company for financial reporting purposes ($5.15 per share). The Company cautions that the actual amount ultimately realized by a Named Executive Officer from the disclosed equity awards will likely vary based a number of factors, including the Company's actual operating performance, stock price fluctuations, differences from the valuation assumptions used and the timing of exercise or applicable vesting. |
(2) | Target Performance-Contingent Shares for the performance period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2009. These have been valued based on the average of the highest and lowest price of Pfizer common stock on the date of the grant, February 24, 2005 ($26.20) and may not reflect the value of the award upon payment. |
(3) | This accrual represents the difference between the lump sum values on December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005 of the then currently payable annual pension benefit. The calculation is explained in the Pension Plan section of this Report. Since Mr. Kindler is not retirement eligible, the accrual is based on the difference of the present values of his accrued age 65 benefit on December 31, 2004 and 2005. |
(4) | The amounts shown in the Savings Plan Match column represent Company matching funds under the Pfizer Savings Plan (a tax-qualified retirement savings plan) and related Supplemental Plan, which are discussed under the heading Pfizer Savings Plan. |
(5) | The Other Benefits and Perquisites column represents the employer portion of active employee benefits including medical, dental, life insurance and disability coverage, which are available to all U.S. employees, as well as the value of perquisites and tax gross-ups. |
Salaries
The salaries of the Named Executive Officers are reviewed on an annual basis, as well as at the time of a promotion or other change in responsibilities. Increases in salary are based on an evaluation of the individuals performance and level of pay compared to pharmaceutical and general industry peer group pay levels. Merit increases normally take effect on April 1st of each year. In April 2005, the effective date of annual increases, the salaries for the Named Executive Officers remained at the same level as the April 2004 salaries (the salaries for the first 3 months of 2004 were at the prior years level) because of the anticipated need for cost control measures in 2005.
Executive Annual Incentive Plan
In 1997, the Board of Directors adopted, and the shareholders approved, the Pfizer Inc. Executive Annual Incentive Plan. Under the terms of this Plan, a maximum annual cash incentive award of 0.3% of Plan Adjusted Net Income, as defined in the Plan, (which definition is included below in the discussion of the Plan under the heading Long-Term Compensation Plans) was established for each Executive Officer participating in the Plan. The awards for 2005 performance are below the aggregate maximum of $24.25 million permitted under the plan. The Committee will continue to base these awards on Company and individual performance criteria subject to the established maximum.
Annual incentive awards are determined as a percentage of each Named Executive Officers base salary. The Committee determines the performance measures and other terms and conditions of awards for Named Executive Officers covered under the Plan. For 2005, the bonus targets for the Named Executive Officers ranged from 60% to 125% of base salary depending on the officers position, as shown in the table below.
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Executive Annual Incentives
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Dr. McKinnell | 125 | % | 0-250% | $2,838,100 |
$5,676,200
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$3,700,000 | 163 | % | ||||||||||||
Ms. Katen | 83 | % | 0-166% | 976,200 |
1,952,400
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1,535,600 | 131 | % | ||||||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 69 | % | 0-138% | 678,300 |
1,356,600
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1,088,000 | 111 | % | ||||||||||||
Mr. Kindler | 64 | % | 0-128% | 577,400 |
1,154,800
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1,000,000 | 111 | % | ||||||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 60 | % | 0-120% | 502,500 |
1,005,000
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787,300 | 94 | % | ||||||||||||
Under the Plan, the target bonus is established through an analysis of compensation for comparable positions in the pharmaceutical and general industry peer group companies and is intended to provide a competitive level of compensation when the Named Executive Officers achieve their performance objectives as approved by the Committee. The actual bonus award is determined according to each Named Executive Officers level of achievement against his or her individual financial and strategic performance objectives. Target and Actual Annual Incentive Awards for 2005 paid to each of the Named Executive Officers are shown in the above table. Prorated changes in the annual target bonus levels can occur during the year if there are changes in the officers salary grade level that warrant a target change. The actual awards are also included in the Bonus column of the Summary Compensation Table.
In 2005, the performance objectives for the Named Executive Officers generally included the following, depending on each Officers role in the Company:
For each Named Executive Officer, their specific objectives are weighted according to the extent to which the Officer will be responsible for delivering the results on the objectives. In 2005, the weightings assigned to the objectives for each Named Executive Officer are shown in the table below.
Weightings Assigned in 2005 to Each Performance Objective
for the Named Executive Officers
Objective | Dr. McKinnell | Ms. Katen | Mr. Shedlarz | Mr. Kindler | Dr. LaMattina | ||||||||||
Financial Results | 25 | % | 30 | % | 25 | % | 25 | % | 20 | % | |||||
Deliver more new medicines | |||||||||||||||
more quickly to patients | 25 | % | 10 | % | 5 | % | 5 | % | 30 | %* | |||||
Adapting to Scale | 15 | % | 15 | % | 20 | % | 10 | % | * | ||||||
Promote new directions in | |||||||||||||||
health and wellness | 10 | % | 15 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | * | ||||||
Shape a positive environment | |||||||||||||||
for better healthcare | 15 | % | 15 | % | 10 | % | 25 | % | * | ||||||
Developing People/Talent/ | |||||||||||||||
Organization | 10 | % | 15 | % | 10 | % | 5 | % | 15 | % | |||||
Other Operating Responsibilities | 20 | % | 20 | % | 35 | % |
55
In assessing performance against the objectives, the Committee considers actual results against the specific deliverables associated with each objective, the extent to which the objective was a significant stretch goal for the organization, and whether significant unforeseen obstacles or favorable circumstances altered the expected difficulty of achieving the desired results. The Committee assesses the level of achievement against each objective, and then determines an overall assessment for each Named Executive Officer. The Committees overall assessment also considers the performance achievements relative to shareholder value. The overall assessment for each Named Executive Officer then determines the percent of the target award that will be paid to the Officer as the Annual Incentive for that year.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
The Committee believes that equity-based compensation ensures that the Companys executive officers have a continuing stake in the long-term success of the Company.
Dr. McKinnell and the other executive officers participate in the Companys Executive Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, which for 2005 generally consisted of stock options and Performance-Contingent Share Awards. The annual total long-term incentive target value is divided evenly, so that half of the value is delivered in stock options and half is delivered in Performance-Contingent Share Awards.
Stock OptionsThe Committee granted stock options to each executive officer in February 2005 under the Companys 2004 Stock Plan.
Executive officers were awarded non-qualified stock options with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of Pfizer common stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, those stock options will have value only if the market price of the common stock increases after that date. In determining the size of stock option grants to executive officers, the Committee considers similar awards to individuals holding comparable positions in our comparative groups, Company performance against the strategic plan, individual performance against the individuals objectives, as well as the allocation of overall share usage attributed to executive officers. Actual stock option awards can range from zero to two times the target awards based on individual performance.
The Named Executive Officers were awarded the number of stock options shown in the table below. As shown in the table, the stock option grants vest ratably on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary of the option grant date. This table shows all options to purchase Pfizer common stock granted to each of the Named Executive Officers in 2005 and the potential value of such grants at stock price appreciation rates of 0%, 5% and 10%, compounded annually over the maximum ten-year term of the options, as well as the fair value of the grant on the award date. Also shown is the potential value of all outstanding shares of Pfizer common stock held by our shareholders as of December 31, 2005, using the exercise price of $26.20 and the same appreciation rates and compounded over a ten-year period. The 5% and 10% rates of appreciation are required to be disclosed by SEC rules and are not intended to forecast possible future appreciation, if any, in our stock price.
56
Option Grants in 2005
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Dr. McKinnell | 880,000 | 1.70 | % | 26.20 | 2/23/15 |
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14,499,795 | 36,745,326 | $4,532,000 | |||||||||||||
Ms. Katen | 371,000 | 0.72 | % | 26.20 | 2/23/15 |
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6,112,982 | 15,491,495 | 1,910,650 | |||||||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 301,000 | 0.58 | % | 26.20 | 2/23/15 |
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4,959,589 | 12,568,572 | 1,550,150 | |||||||||||||
Mr. Kindler | 261,000 | 0.50 | % | 26.20 | 2/23/15 |
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4,300,507 | 10,898,330 | 1,344,150 | |||||||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 219,500 | 0.42 | % | 26.20 | 2/23/15 |
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3,616,710 | 9,165,454 | 1,130,425 | |||||||||||||
Potential Gain for All Shareholders at Assumed Appreciation Rates |
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121,283,867,000 | 307,357,131,000 | N/A |
(1) | These options vest (become exercisable) ratably on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the option grant date beginning on February 24, 2008. |
(2) | The exercise price for all stock option grants is the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. |
(3) | The value of the stock option awards granted in February 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated by the Company for financial reporting purposes ($5.15 per option). |
If the options are held for at least one year prior to retirement, the options will generally become exercisable on schedule and remain exercisable for the full term of the grant.
The material terms of these grants are discussed in the section of the Proxy Statement entitled Employee Benefit and Long-Term Compensation Plans.
The following table shows a summary of the stock options exercised by the Named Executive Officers in 2005, as well as the total number and value of unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2005.
Total Options Exercised in 2005 and Year-End Values
Number of Securities | Value of Unexercised | ||||||||||||
Underlying Unexercised | In-The-Money Options | ||||||||||||
Options Held at 12/31/05 |
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Dr. McKinnell | 347,760 | 6,240,414 | 2,807,398 | 3,165,000 | 5,789,372 | 0 | |||||||
Ms. Katen | 0 | 0 | 1,325,784 | 1,198,666 | 2,732,760 | 0 | |||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 39,000 | 403,372 | 968,279 | 970,333 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Mr. Kindler | 0 | 0 | 50,000 | 786,000 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 0 | 0 | 507,584 | 581,166 | 68,862 | 0 |
(1) | Value is determined based on stock price less exercise price, using the average of the high and low trading prices of Pfizer common stock on December 31, 2005 ($23.34). |
Performance-Contingent Share Awards
The Committee awarded the right to earn shares of Pfizer common stock to the executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers, for the 2005-2009 performance period under the 2004 Stock Plan. These awards are determined according to each participants salary level, based on competitive survey data, and do not vary based on individual performance. Estimated future payouts may be adjusted prospectively to reflect changes in the Executive Officers salary grade level. Actual payouts of these Performance-Contingent Shares, if any, will be determined by a non-discretionary formula, which measures our performance over a five-year period using total shareholder return (including reinvestment of dividends) and growth in diluted earnings per share, measured over the performance period relative to the pharmaceutical peer group.
57
The performance formula weighs these two criteria equally. If our performance in both measures is below the threshold level relative to the pharmaceutical peer group, then no Performance-Contingent Shares will be earned. To the extent that the Companys performance on either or both measures exceeds the threshold performance level relative to the peer group, a varying number of Performance-Contingent Shares up to the maximum will be earned.
The number of Performance-Contingent Shares that the Named Executive Officers may earn at the end of the five-year performance period 1/1/2005-12/31/2009 is shown in the table below. The other outstanding Performance-Contingent Share Award performance periods are also included in the table. The payout from the Performance-Contingent Share Award Program can range from zero to 167% of the target awards based on Company performance versus the pharmaceutical peer group, as discussed later in this Report.
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards in 2005
Current Performance Period | ||||||||||
Estimated Future Payouts | ||||||||||
Performance Period (or | Non-Stock-Price-Based Plans | |||||||||
Other Period Until |
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Number of Shares(1) | Maturation or Payment) | Threshold(2) (#) |
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Maximum (#) | |||||
Dr. McKinnell | * | 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009 |
28,820
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172,920 | 288,200 | |||||
Ms. Katen | * | 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009 |
13,889
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83,330 | 138,890 | |||||
Mr. Shedlarz | * | 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009 |
11,112
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66,670 | 111,120 | |||||
Mr. Kindler | * | 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009 |
9,722
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58,330 | 97,220 | |||||
Dr. LaMattina | * | 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009 |
8,333
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50,000 | 83,330 | |||||
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Other Outstanding Performance Periods | ||||||||||
Dr. McKinnell | * | 1/1/2004 - 12/31/2008 |
44,170
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265,000 | 441,700 | |||||
* | 1/1/2003 - 12/31/2007 |
33,000
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198,000 | 330,000 | ||||||
* | 1/1/2002 - 12/31/2006 |
33,000
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198,000 | 330,000 | ||||||
Ms. Katen | * | 1/1/2004 - 12/31/2008 |
21,370
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128,200 | 213,700 | |||||
* | 1/1/2003 - 12/31/2007 |
20,140
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120,840 | 201,400 | ||||||
* | 1/1/2002 - 12/31/2006 |
18,520
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111,120 | 185,200 | ||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | * | 1/1/2004 - 12/31/2008 |
12,850
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77,100 | 128,500 | |||||
* | 1/1/2003 - 12/31/2007 |
12,850
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77,100 | 128,500 | ||||||
* | 1/1/2002 - 12/31/2006 |
12,240
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73,440 | 122,400 | ||||||
Mr. Kindler | * | 1/1/2004 - 12/31/2008 |
12,580
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75,500 | 125,800 | |||||
* | 1/1/2003 - 12/31/2007 |
12,310
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73,860 | 123,100 | ||||||
* | 1/1/2002 - 12/31/2006 |
12,780
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76,680 | 127,800 | ||||||
Dr. LaMattina | * | 1/1/2004 - 12/31/2008 |
11,500
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69,000 | 115,000 | |||||
* | 1/1/2003 - 12/31/2007 |
10,420
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62,520 | 104,200 | ||||||
* | 1/1/2002 - 12/31/2006 |
9,340
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56,040 | 93,400 |
(1) | The actual number of Performance-Contingent Shares that will be paid out at the end of the applicable period, if any, cannot be determined because the shares earned by the Named Executive Officers will be based upon the Companys future performance compared to the future performance of the peer group. |
(2) | If our minimum performance in both measures is below the threshold level relative to the peer group, then no Performance-Contingent Shares will be earned. To the extent the Companys performance on either or both measures exceeds the threshold performance level relative to the peer group, a varying amount of shares up to the maximum will be earned. |
These estimated future payouts may be prospectively adjusted to reflect changes in the Executive Officers salary grade level. Under the Performance Contingent Share Award Program, if the participant retires after one or more years from the start of the performance period, the grant will generally be prorated for service and paid in accordance with the provisions of the Program upon completion of the performance period.
58
Recently Completed Performance Periods
The following table sets forth the final ranking of Pfizers performance with respect to total shareholder return and diluted earnings per share (as reported) relative to the performance of our pre-2005 pharmaceutical peer group, which consisted of Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Co., Inc., Schering-Plough Corporation, and Wyeth. Based on the final rankings, the Named Executive Officers received the following shares under the Program:
Pfizer Relative Performance for Performance Periods Ending
December 31, 2005 and Resulting Performance-Share Awards
Percentile | Ranking - | Percentile | Ranking - | ||||||||||||||||||
Ranking - | Pfizer out | Ranking - | Pfizer out | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Share- | of # of | Change in | of # of |
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Performance | holder | Peer | Diluted | Peer |
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Award - | |||||||||||
Name | Period | Return | Companies |
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Companies |
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Value | ||||||||||
Dr. McKinnell | 2001-2005 | 33 | rd | 7/10 | 88 | th | 2/9 | 116.7 | % |
180,000
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210,000
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$5,489,400 | |||||||||
Ms. Katen | 2001-2005 | 33 | rd | 7/10 | 88 | th | 2/9 | 116.7 | % |
109,080
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127,260
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$3,326,576 | |||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 2001-2005 | 33 | rd | 7/10 | 88 | th | 2/9 | 116.7 | % |
75,960
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88,620
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$2,316,527 | |||||||||
Mr. Kindler | 2002-2005 | 22 | nd | 8/10 | 44 | th | 6/10 | 66.7 | % |
59,760
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39,840
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$1,041,418 | |||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 2001-2005 | 33 | rd | 7/10 | 88 | th | 2/9 | 116.7 | % |
53,460
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62,370
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$1,630,352 |
Evaluation of Executive Performance in 2005 and CEO Compensation
The Committee does not rely solely on predetermined formulas or a limited set of criteria when it evaluates the performance of the Chairman and CEO and the Companys other elected officers.
In 2005, the Committee considered managements continuing achievement of its short and long-term goals versus its strategic imperatives, including Dr. McKinnells objectives which are shown below:
The Committee based their compensation decisions for Dr. McKinnell on their assessment of the Companys performance and his performance based on the objectives listed above.
Overall, the financial targets, which reflected a significant stretch for the organization given the dynamic business environment and the loss of exclusivity for certain key products, were exceeded. However, given the performance of the Companys stock price in 2005 when compared to prior years, the Committee felt that the goal of effectively communicating strategy and financial results to increase shareholder value was not met.
59
All R&D productivity and licensing goals were met or exceeded, with, notably, five products under priority review at the FDA an industry first. As the R&D organization continues to establish the industry standard in productivity, the Committee determined that performance against this objective significantly surpassed expectations.
In 2005, initiatives related to Adapting to Scale resulted in twice the cost reduction that had been estimated for the year, giving a very strong start to the Companys efforts to reduce the cost base and streamline the organization. In addition, significant improvements were made in streamlining governance and decision-making, rationalizing enterprise-wide processes, and integrating the Human Health operating division. Although challenges remain with respect to improving colleague engagement through effective communications, the Committee believes that overall performance significantly surpassed the expected outcomes for this objective.
In promoting new directions in health and wellness, Pfizers newly launched Healthy Directions program for U.S. based colleagues far exceeded expectations, with over 80% of eligible colleagues participating and over 50% of eligible spouses/partners participating. On the external front, Pfizer continues to lead health system effectiveness efforts for the pharmaceutical industry. Pfizer was the only pharmaceutical company selected to participate in the Medicare chronic care improvement program pilots, and has significantly expanded health solutions initiatives in Europe. As a result, the Committee determined that these goals were significantly exceeded.
The Company is also leading efforts to rebuild trust in the industry and large companies in general. The Committee recognized Pfizers leadership in addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis around the world, developing and launching the PhRMA Partnership for Prescription Assistance (with over one million patients linked up to company donations by year-end) as well as leadership in the development of the PhRMA Guiding Principles on Direct-to-Consumer Advertisements. The Committee also acknowledged the Companys significant efforts to ensure that all stakeholders understand that Pfizer is helping to ensure affordable access to pharmaceutical medicines and are working toward a health system based on health, wellness, and prevention. Overall, the Committee believes that the Company surpassed expectations of performance against this particularly challenging objective.
With respect to the final objective for 2005 Developing People, Talent, and the Organization the Committee recognized that senior leadership of the Company has been instrumental in developing and implementing new People & Talent strategies related to long-term development planning for key talent, enhancing leadership skills for all people managers, and enabling Pfizer to become a global leader in attracting, developing, and engaging a diverse workforce that delivers superior business results. As a result, the Committee determined that the goals of this objective were surpassed.
Based on its overall assessment, the Committee decided to maintain Dr. McKinnells current base salary ($2,270,500) for 2006, and award an annual incentive of $3,700,000 for 2005 performance, which is a decrease of 7.2% from last years annual incentive award. The total of all compensation for 2005 including salary, bonus, other annual compensation, present value of stock options, present value of performance-share grants, and other compensation decreased by 22% compared to the total of the same compensation awarded in 2004.
The Committee awarded Dr. McKinnell 880,000 stock options in 2006, which is the same number of options granted in 2005, and under the new Executive Long-Term Incentive Program, Dr. McKinnell will receive 89,180 restricted stock units and a range of 0 to 178,360 performance shares for the three-year performance period 1/1/2006-12/31/2008. Upon his retirement in February 2008, the stock option grant will continue to become exercisable in accordance with the provisions of the grant and remain exercisable for the remainder of the term. At the normal vesting date, after his retirement, the Restricted Stock Unit grant and the performance share grant, if any, will be paid to Dr. McKinnell.
60
Dr. McKinnell was awarded 880,000 stock options in February 2005. The number of Performance-Contingent shares that Dr. McKinnell may earn at the end of the five-year performance period 1/1/2005-12/31/2009 will range from 0 to 288,200. The February 2005 stock option grant was determined in relation to Dr. McKinnells 2004 performance, which was discussed in the 2005 Proxy Statement.
These awards were approved by the Committee and ratified by the Board.
New Executive Long-Term Incentive Program
Effective February 23, 2006, the Compensation Committee adopted the Executive Long-Term Incentive Program. This Program consists of stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares. The following tables set forth information concerning the number of stock options and restricted stock units as well as information about participation of the Named Executive Officers in the performance share portion of the Executive Long-Term Incentive Program for the performance period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. Under the 2006 Program, the Named Executive Officers were awarded the right to earn performance shares of our common stock. Actual payouts of these shares, if any, will be determined by a non-discretionary formula, which measures our performance over a three-year period using total shareholder return (including reinvestment of dividends) (TSR), measured over the performance period relative to the pharmaceutical peer group. If our minimum TSR performance is below the threshold level relative to the peer group, then no shares will be earned. If our TSR over the performance period is above the threshold level relative to the peer group, but is negative in the absolute, then the payout will be limited to no more than the target award. Otherwise, to the extent the Companys performance exceeds the threshold performance level relative to the peer group, a varying amount of shares of common stock up to the maximum will be earned as follows:
Pfizers | Maximum | |||
Relative | Payout as a | |||
Performance
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% of Target | |||
1
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(highest) | 200 | % | |
2 | 200 | % | ||
3 | 175 | % | ||
4 | 150 | % | ||
5 | 125 | % | ||
6 | 100 | % | ||
7 | 75 | % | ||
8 | 50 | % | ||
9 | 25 | % | ||
10 | 0 | % | ||
11
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(lowest) | 0 | % |
61
2006 Executive Long-Term Incentive Grant
Estimated Future | ||||||||||||||||||
Performance |
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Period (or | Performance-Share Program | |||||||||||||||||
Number | Other Period |
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Stock | Restricted | ||||||||||||||
of |
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Threshold | Target | Maximum | Option | Stock Unit | ||||||||||||
Name | Shares(1) | or Payment) |
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(#) | (#) |
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Dr. McKinnell | * |
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22,295 | 89,180 | 178,360 |
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Ms. Katen | * |
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11,868 | 47,470 | 94,940 |
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Mr. Shedlarz | * |
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7,913 | 31,650 | 63,300 |
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Mr. Kindler | * |
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6,923 | 27,690 | 55,380 |
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Dr. LaMattina | * |
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5,768 | 23,070 | 46,140 |
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(1) | The actual number of shares that will be paid out at the end of the performance period, if any, cannot be determined because the shares earned by the Officers will be based upon our future performance compared to the future performance of the peer group. Dividend equivalents will be reinvested during the performance period. |
(2) | If our performance is below the threshold level relative to the peer group, then no shares will be earned. To the extent the Companys performance exceeds the threshold performance level relative to the pharmaceutical peer group; a varying amount of shares of common stock up to the maximum will be earned. |
(3) | These options vest (become exercisable) on the third anniversary of the option grant date beginning on February 23, 2009. The exercise price for these stock option grants is the fair market value of our common stock ($26.20) on the date of the grant, February 23, 2006. |
(4) | These grants vest on February 23, 2009. Dividend equivalents are reinvested during the restricted period. |
62
Stock Ownership Requirements
The Company maintains stock ownership requirements for its Named Executive Officers and other executives. Stock ownership is defined to include stock owned by the officer directly, stock owned indirectly through the Companys Savings Plan, and stock awarded under any performance-contingent share award grant and subsequently deferred. Under the current guidelines of the stock ownership program established by the Committee, employee Directors (currently, Dr. McKinnell) are required to own Company common stock equal in value to at least five times their annual salaries. This program also extends to the other Named Executive Officers and other elected Corporate Officers, who are required to own Company common stock equal in value to at least four times their annual salaries. All other participants in the Performance-Contingent Share Award Program are required to own an amount equal in value to three times their annual salaries. The Committee has also established milestone guidelines that are used to monitor progress over time toward the five-year targets as described above.
The Committee has determined that, as of December 31, 2005, all Named Executive Officers have met their milestone guidelines (as shown below) and all other employees covered by the stock ownership program have met or are making significant progress toward their milestone guidelines.
Stock Ownership for the Named Executive Officers
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Dr. McKinnell | 37,467 | 1,588,316 | 131,052 | 38,244 |
1,795,079
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$41,897,144 |
$11,352,500 |
Yes | ||||||||
Ms. Katen | 173,872 | 631,829 | 82,888 | 62,466 |
951,055
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22,197,624
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4,704,800 | Yes | ||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 1,441 | 522,827 | 66,666 | 29,204 |
620,138
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14,474,021
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3,932,400 | Yes | ||||||||
Mr. Kindler* | 13,969 | 76,816 | 37,235 | 1,795 |
129,815
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3,029,882
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2,526,160 | Yes | ||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 66,263 | 272,361 | 53,503 | 50,200 |
442,327
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10,323,912
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3,350,000 | Yes |
* | Since Mr. Kindler has been with Pfizer for four years, his milestone guideline is 70% of the full five-year ownership target of four times salary (2.8 times salary). The value of the shares is based on the average of the high and low trading prices of Pfizer common stock ($23.34) on December 31, 2005. |
Trading in Pfizer Stock Derivatives
It is the policy of the Company that Officers and Directors may not purchase or sell options on Pfizer stock, nor engage in short sales with respect to Pfizer common stock. Also, trading by Officers and Directors in puts, calls, straddles, equity swaps or other derivative securities that are directly linked to Pfizer stock is prohibited.
Other Benefits
The Company provides the Pfizer Retirement Annuity Plan, the Pfizer Savings Plan and their related supplemental (restoration) plans. These plans are described later in the Proxy Statement under the headings Pfizer Retirement Annuity Plan and Pfizer Savings Plan. The Company also provides other benefits such as medical, dental and life insurance and disability coverage to each Named Executive Officer in a flexible benefits plan, which is also provided to all other eligible U.S. based Pfizer employees. Under the flexible benefits plan, eligible employees, including the Named Executive Officers, can purchase a higher or lower level of coverage in their active employee benefits.
Medical, Dental, Life Insurance and
Disability Coverage
Active employee benefits such as medical, dental, life insurance and disability coverage are available to all U.S. based participants through our active employee flexible benefits plan. The Company provides up to $250,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $300,000 in long-term disability coverage. The value of these benefits is not required to be included in the Summary Compensation Table since they are made available on a Company-wide basis to all U.S. employees. The cost of these Company-provided benefits in 2005 for the Named Executive Officers was as follows:
63
Cost of | |||
Officer | Active Benefits | ||
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Dr. McKinnell | $13,615 | ||
Ms. Katen | 8,306 | ||
Mr. Shedlarz | 17,222 | ||
Mr. Kindler | 16,672 | ||
Dr. LaMattina | 16,860 |
In addition to the active benefits, the Company provides post-retirement medical, dental and life insurance coverage to its retirees in accordance with the legacy company plans under which the eligible employees are covered. The Named Executive Officers are all covered under the legacy Pfizer plans. The Companys aggregate plan-wide post-retirement medical costs are capped at $12,000 per participant prior to age 65 and $3,000 per participant after age 65. The Company also provides $200,000 of life insurance coverage, which reduces ratably to $2,500 ten years after retirement.
Other Paid Time-Off Benefits
The Company also provides vacation and other paid holidays to all employees, including the Named Executive Officers, which are comparable to those provided at other large companies.
Pfizer Retirement Annuity Plan
The Pfizer Retirement Annuity Plan (the Retirement Plan) is a funded, tax-qualified, noncontributory defined-benefit pension plan that covers certain employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Benefits under the Retirement Plan are based upon the employees years of service and the employees highest average earnings for a five calendar-year period with us and/or our Associate Companies, and are payable after retirement in the form of an annuity or a lump sum. Compensation covered by the Retirement Plan and its related supplemental plan for the Named Executive Officers equals the amounts set forth in the 2005 Salary, and Bonus columns of the Summary Compensation Table, as well as restricted stock awards granted on or prior to April 26, 2001 and any Performance-Contingent Share Awards granted for performance periods beginning before January 1, 2001. After the payment of the awards for the five year period ending on December 31, 2004, no further Performance-Contingent Share Awards are included in the determination of pensions under the Pfizer Retirement Annuity Plan. The amount of annual earnings that may be considered in calculating benefits under the Retirement Plan is limited by law. For 2006, the annual limitation is $220,000.
Benefits under our Retirement Plan are calculated as an annuity equal to the greater of:
Years of service under these formulas cannot exceed 35. Contributions to the Retirement Plan are made entirely by us and are paid into a trust fund from which the benefits of participants will be paid.
The Retirement Plan currently limits pensions paid under the Plan to an annual maximum of $175,000, payable at age 65 in accordance with IRS requirements. We also have an unfunded supplemental plan that provides out of our general assets an amount substantially equal to the difference between the amount that would have been payable under the Retirement Plan, in the absence of legislation limiting pension benefits and earnings that may be considered in calculating pension benefits, and the amount actually payable under the Retirement Plan. In certain circumstances, we fund trusts established to secure obligations to make payments under the supplemental plan.
Pension Plan Table
The following table shows, for the highest average compensation and years of service indicated, the annual pension benefit payable commencing upon retirement at age 65 under the present benefit formula of the Retirement Plan and its related supplemental plan. The estimated retirement benefits have been computed on the assumptions that:
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Pension Plan Table
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$ | 100,000 | $ | 16,428 | $ | 21,904 | $ | 27,380 | $ | 32,856 | $ | 38,332 | |||||
$ | 500,000 | $ | 100,228 | $ | 133,637 | $ | 167,046 | $ | 200,456 | $ | 233,865 | |||||
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 204,977 | $ | 273,303 | $ | 341,629 | $ | 409,955 | $ | 478,281 | |||||
$ | 2,000,000 | $ | 414,477 | $ | 552,636 | $ | 690,795 | $ | 828,954 | $ | 967,113 | |||||
$ | 3,000,000 | $ | 623,976 | $ | 831,968 | $ | 1,039,960 | $ | 1,247,953 | $ | 1,455,945 | |||||
$ | 4,000,000 | $ | 833,476 | $ | 1,111,301 | $ | 1,389,126 | $ | 1,666,951 | $ | 1,944,777 | |||||
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 1,042,975 | $ | 1,390,633 | $ | 1,738,292 | $ | 2,085,950 | $ | 2,433,609 | |||||
$ | 7,500,000 | $ | 1,566,724 | $ | 2,088,965 | $ | 2,611,206 | $ | 3,133,447 | $ | 3,655,688 | |||||
$ | 10,000,000 | $ | 2,090,472 | $ | 2,787,296 | $ | 3,484,120 | $ | 4,180,944 | $ | 4,877,768 | |||||
$ | 12,500,000 | $ | 2,614,221 | $ | 3,485,628 | $ | 4,357,034 | $ | 5,228,441 | $ | 6,099,848 | |||||
$ | 15,000,000 | $ | 3,137,969 | $ | 4,183,959 | $ | 5,229,949 | $ | 6,275,938 | $ | 7,321,928 |
Current Accrued Pension Benefits and Projected Benefits at Age 65
Listed below are the current and projected (to age 65) years of service and present value of the current accrued pension as of December 31, 2005 for each of the Named Executive Officers. The plan currently limits credited service to 35 years. The disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that will be paid to the Named Executive Officers, which will only be known at the time that they become eligible for payment.
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Current Annual | Present Value | Age 65 | ||||||||||||||
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Accrued Pension | of Current | Projected Years | Projected | |||||||||||||
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(Payable at | Accrued | of Plan Service | Annual | |||||||||||||
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age 65) | Benefit(1) | At Age 65 | Benefit(2) | ||||||||||||
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Dr. McKinnell |
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$6,502,939 | $83,036,028 | 35 | $6,518,459 | ||||||||||||
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Ms. Katen |
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1,938,092 | 28,001,559 | 35 | 3,091,056 | ||||||||||||
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Mr. Shedlarz |
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1,664,137 | 23,845,419 | 35 | 2,812,626 | ||||||||||||
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Mr. Kindler(3) |
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117,099 | 688,309 | 18 | 536,704 | ||||||||||||
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Dr. LaMattina |
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803,691 | 11,931,590 | 35 | 1,546,692 |
(1) | This amount is equal to the present value of the immediately payable benefit at December 31, 2005 for the officers who are retirement eligible. Mr. Kindlers benefit is the present value of his age 65 benefit on December 31, 2005. The present value was determined using the December 2005 lump sum interest rate of 4.65% and the mortality table as indicated in the Retirement Plan. |
(2) | The age 65 projected benefit is determined by continuing the December 31, 2005 final average earnings through age 65 as well as including the years of service indicated in the previous column. |
(3) | Mr. Kindler is not currently vested in his benefits under the Retirement Plan. |
The actual amount of pension benefits ultimately paid to a Named Executive Officer may vary based on a number of factors, including differences from the assumptions used to calculate the amounts.
Board Policy on Pension Benefits for Executives
The Board will seek shareholder approval prior to the payment to any senior executive from the Companys defined benefit pension plans if his or her benefit, computed as a single life annuity, will exceed 100% of the senior executives final average salary, as calculated at the discretion of the Companys Compensation Committee. This policy will apply prospectively, for all benefit accruals after January 1, 2006. For purposes of this policy, final average salary means the average of the highest five calendar years earnings, where earnings includes salary earned during the year and annual cash incentives (or bonus) earned for the year.
Pfizer Savings Plan
Under the Pfizer Savings Plan (the Savings Plan), a tax-qualified retirement savings plan, participating employees may contribute up to 20 percent of compensation on a before-tax basis and 15 percent of compensation on an after-tax basis, into their Savings Plan accounts. Total combined before-tax and after-tax contributions may not exceed 20 percent of regular earnings. In addition, under the Savings
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Plan, we match an amount equal to one dollar for each dollar contributed by participating employees on the first three percent of their regular earnings and fifty cents for each additional dollar contributed on the next three percent of their regular earnings. Our matching contributions generally are invested solely in our common stock. However, participants who are age 40 or older may diversify varying portions of their matching contributions.
Pursuant to IRS rules, effective for 2006, the Savings Plan limits the additions that can be made to a participating employees account to $44,000 per year. Additions include our matching contributions, before-tax contributions made by us at the request of the participating employee under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and employee after-tax contributions.
Of those additions, the current maximum before-tax contribution is $15,000 per year (or $20,000 per year for certain participants age 50 and over). In addition, no more than $220,000 of annual compensation may be taken into account in computing benefits under the Savings Plan.
We have a Supplemental Savings Plan to pay out of general assets an amount substantially equal to the difference between the amount that, in the absence of legislation limiting such additions and the $220,000 limitation on earnings, would have been allocated to an employees account as before-tax contributions, our matching contributions and the amount actually allocated under the Savings Plan.
In certain circumstances, we fund trusts established to secure obligations to make payments under the Supplemental Plan.
Amounts deferred, if any, under the Pfizer Savings Plan and the related Supplemental Plan by the Named Executive Officers are included in the Salary and Bonus columns of the Summary Compensation Table. Our matching contributions allocated to the Named Executive Officers under the Savings Plan and the related Supplemental Savings Plan are shown in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Deferred Compensation
The Company also provides the opportunity to defer, as shares, Performance-Contingent Share Awards, as well as performance shares under the 2006 Executive Long-Term Incentive Program, that are earned and otherwise would be paid under those programs. Restricted stock units that would otherwise be paid to Named Executive Officers under the 2006 Program will automatically be deferred until retirement. Dividends are paid on deferred shares and reinvested. Annual incentives, as shown in the Bonus column of the Summary Compensation Table, may also be deferred into a Pfizer unit fund or a fund earning interest at 120% of the Federal Long-Term rate. The rate for December, 2005 was 5.61%, which is not considered an above market interest rate by the SEC. These deferral opportunities are available to U.S. based Performance-Contingent Share Award Program participants, as well as to certain participants in other countries.
Perquisites
The Company provided certain perquisites to senior management in 2005 as summarized below.
Company Aircraft
With the approval of the Chairman and CEO, the Companys aircraft were used in the following situations:
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For total compensation purposes, in 2005 we valued the incremental cost of the personal use of Company aircraft, using a method that takes into account:
For tax purposes, as a result of the recommendations contained in an independent, third-party security study, the Board of Directors passed a resolution requiring that Dr. McKinnell use Company aircraft for personal travel. Under IRS regulations, if there is an independent, third-party security study, such personal use is valued at two times the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rates, as published by the IRS. For tax purposes, we valued Dr. McKinnells personal use of Company aircraft at this multiple of the SIFL rate. For all other Named Executive Officers, personal use of an airplane was valued at four times the SIFL rate and helicopter use was valued at three times that rate. The SIFL rate is only used for calculating the taxable income to the executive.
Car and DriverFor total compensation purposes, for all Named Executive Officers, the incremental cost of personal use of a Company car has been valued at the cost of the annual lease, a portion of the cost of the driver, and fuel. The policy on the use of the cars for 2005 is outlined below:
For tax purposes, with respect to the personal use by the CEO and commutation for the three Vice-Chairmen, the cost of the cars and fuel were imputed as income and grossed up for all taxes. As a result of the recommendations contained in an independent, third-party security study, the cost of the drivers was not charged as income for tax purposes.
Other PerquisitesThe Company provides a taxable allowance of up to $10,000 to our executive officers for financial counseling services, which may include tax preparation and estate planning services. We value this benefit based on the actual charge for the services.
The Company does not provide or reimburse for country club memberships for any officers. The Company maintains a limited number of memberships that may be used for business purposes. Home security systems were available to the EC members.
The following table summarizes the incremental value of perquisites for the Named Executive Officers in 2005.
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Incremental Cost of Perquisites Provided to Named Executive Officers in 2005
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Dr. McKinnell | $43,855 | $ 8,500 | $63,120 | $13,513 | | $16,826 | $145,814 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Ms. Katen | 81,941 | 10,000 | 43,663 | | | 8,040 | 143,644 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Mr. Shedlarz | 40,320 | 7,800 | 40,002 | | | 11,071 | 99,193 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Mr. Kindler | 43,923 | 10,000 | 34,491 | 1,147 | | 9,818 | 99,379 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Dr. LaMattina | 1,166 | 10,000 | | | 3,034 | 142 | 14,342 |
The aggregate value of all perquisites received by each of the Named Executive Officers, based on the valuation methodology used in 2003 and 2004, did not exceed $50,000.
Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits
Upon certain types of terminations of employment (other than a termination following a change in control of the Company), severance benefits may be paid to the Named Executive Officers. The severance benefits payable to Dr. McKinnell are addressed in his employment agreement, discussed below, and he would receive the benefits provided to him under that arrangement. The other Named Executive Officers are not covered under a general severance plan and any severance benefits payable to them would be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
Employment Agreement for Chief
Executive Officer
In 2001, we entered into an employment agreement with Dr. McKinnell that provides for his employment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company through February 29, 2008. Dr. McKinnells agreement provides that he will receive an annual base salary of at least $1,350,000, and will be eligible to receive an incentive bonus in accordance with the guidelines established by the Compensation Committee, as well as to participate in our executive benefit and incentive plans (including stock-based plans).
Under the terms of the agreement, if Dr. McKinnells employment is terminated by reason of death, disability or retirement, he or his estate is entitled to receive (a) a payment equal to his base salary through the date of termination to the extent not already paid, (b) a prorated portion of his incentive bonus based on his prior years incentive bonus, (c) his actual earned incentive bonus for any period not already paid, (d) amounts to which he is entitled under our benefit plans, (e) vesting of outstanding unvested stock options and other equity-based awards, and (f) continued coverage in our health benefit plans. If Dr. McKinnells employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Dr. McKinnell for good reason (as defined in the agreement), he is entitled to receive (a) a payment equal to his base salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination, a prorated portion of his incentive bonus based on the prior years incentive bonus, and any incentive bonus amount earned but not yet paid, (b) a payment equal to his annual base salary plus the most recent years incentive bonus multiplied by the greater of (i) two or (ii) the number of years remaining on the contract, (c) vesting of outstanding unvested stock options and equity-based awards, (d) benefits under all plans for a period of two years following termination, as well as vesting of all awards under the plans, and (e) continued coverage in the Companys health benefit plans.
If any payment or distribution by the Company to Dr. McKinnell is determined to be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, he is entitled to receive from the Company a payment on an after-tax basis equal to the federal, state and local income and excise taxes imposed, and any penalties and interest. The agreement also contains provisions that restrict
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Dr. McKinnells ability to: engage in any business that is competitive with the Companys business for a period of one year following his retirement or termination for cause or without good reason; or to solicit Company employees for a period of two years following such retirement or termination.
Severance AgreementsWe have entered into change-in-control severance agreements with most of our elected corporate officers, including each of the Named Executive Officers. The agreements continue through September 30 of each year, and provide that they are to be automatically extended in one-year increments unless we give prior notice of termination.
These agreements are intended to provide for continuity of management in the event of a change in control. The agreements provide that covered executive officers could be entitled to certain severance benefits following a change in control of the Company. If, following such a change in control, the executive officer is terminated for any reason, other than for disability or for cause, or if such executive officer terminates his or her employment for good reason (as defined in the agreements), then the executive officer is entitled to a severance payment that will be 2.99 times the greater of (i) the executive officers base amount, as defined in the agreements or (ii) the sum of the executive officers (a) base salary in effect at the time of termination and (b) the higher of the (x) last full-year annual incentive payment or (y) target annual incentive payment for the year in which termination occurs. The severance payment generally would be made in the form of a lump sum.
In addition, in the event of such a termination following a change in control, under the agreements each covered elected officer, other than the Named Executive Officers, would receive a payout of all outstanding Performance-Contingent Share Awards that had been granted prior to the date of termination at the maximum amounts that could have been earned pursuant to the awards, along with all shares earned but deferred in accordance with the deferral feature of the Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan, the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan and its predecessor program. The Named Executive Officers would receive a payout of all Performance Contingent Share Awards at the target amounts. The covered elected officer also would receive a benefit payable from our general funds calculated using the benefit calculation provisions of our Retirement Annuity Plan and our unfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan with the following additional features:
The executive officer would also become vested in all other benefits available to our retirees. All restrictions on restricted stock awarded to such executive officer would lapse and all unvested options granted to such executive officer would vest and become exercisable for the remainder of the term of the option.
If a change in control occurs, the agreements are effective for a period of four years from the end of the then existing term. Under the severance agreements, a change in control would include any of the following events:
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In the event that any payments made in connection with a change in control would be subjected to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, we will gross up, on an after-tax basis, the executive officers compensation for all federal, state and local income and excise taxes and any penalties and interest.
In certain circumstances, we fund trusts established to secure our obligations to make payments under the severance agreements in advance of the time payment is due.
Under the individual severance agreements with the Named Executive Officers that address their termination of employment following a change in control of the Company, each Named Executive Officer would be entitled to receive the following estimated benefits. These disclosed amounts are estimates only and do not necessarily reflect the actual amounts that would be paid to the Named Executive Officers, which would only be known at the time that they become eligible for payment and would only be payable if a change in control were to occur. The Table reflects the amount that could be payable under the various arrangements assuming that the change of control occurred at December 31, 2005, including a gross-up for certain taxes in the event that any payments made in connection with a change in control would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Estimated Current Value of Change-in-Control Benefits
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Dr. McKinnell | $17,851,795 | $ 337,000 | $19,447,000 | | $458,000 | |
$8,486,572
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Ms. Katen | 8,108,282 | 16,022,000 | 8,794,000 | | 254,000 | | 8,306,994 | 41,485,276 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Shedlarz | 6,192,589 | 12,577,000 | 6,863,000 | | 204,000 | | 5,778,389 | 31,614,978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Kindler | 5,687,578 | 1,805,000 | 6,282,000 | | 100,000 | 160,000 | 3,975,463 | 18,010,041 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. LaMattina | 4,858,152 | 8,693,000 | 5,539,000 | | 176,000 | | 5,548,589 | 24,814,741 |
(1) | This amount represents the 2.99 times the greater of (i) the executive officers base amount, as defined above or (ii) the sum of the executive officers (a) base salary in effect at the time of termination and (b) the higher of the (x) last full-year annual incentive payment or (y) target annual incentive payment for the year in which termination occurs. These amounts are based on the 2005 salary and bonus paid in 2006 for 2005 performance. |
(2) | This amount represents the present value of an additional three years of service and elimination of the early retirement reduction under the pension plan. |
(3) | This amount represents the payout of all outstanding Performance-Contingent Share Awards at the target payout level based on the Companys closing stock price on December 31, 2005 ($23.32). |
(4) & (5) | These awards would become vested and the number shown represents the IRS value under section 4999 of the Code due to the vesting of the awards. |
(6) | This amount represents the present value of post-retirement medical coverage for Mr. Kindler since he does not currently meet the requirement for coverage. |
(7) | The estimated tax gross up is based on the 20% excise tax, grossed up for taxes, on the amount of severance and other benefits above each individuals average five-year W-2 earnings times 2.99. |
The Compensation Committee:
Mr. Burt70
The ten and five year performance graphs below compare our total shareholder returns (assuming reinvestment of dividends) with the Standard and Poors Composite Stock Index (S&P 500) and those of the peer groups described below.
The graphs assume $100 invested at the per-share closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on each of December 31, 1995 and December 31, 2000, respectively, in Pfizer and each of the indices. We believe that Pfizers performance is best compared with peer organizations over a ten-year period, in so far as the development and clinical trial process for new medicines, plus the time it takes a new medicine to be widely accepted by formularies in the United States, is roughly ten years.
Ten Year Performance Graph
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||||||
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PFIZER | 100.0 | 134.0 | 243.7 | 411.7 | 323.2 | 462.4 | 404.6 | 315.0 | 370.9 | 288.2 | 257.6 | |||||||||||
PEER | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GROUP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(OLD) | 100.0 | 124.6 | 188.2 | 267.3 | 242.5 | 317.7 | 274.3 | 214.0 | 221.0 | 224.9 | 223.5 | |||||||||||
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(NEW) | 100.0 | 125.0 | 181.0 | 256.1 | 256.2 | 316.9 | 274.6 | 215.4 | 245.1 | 246.5 | 262.0 | |||||||||||
S&P 500 | 100.0 | 123.0 | 164.0 | 210.8 | 255.2 | 232.0 | 204.4 | 159.2 | 204.9 | 227.2 | 238.3 | |||||||||||
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Five Year Performance Graph
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PFIZER | 100.0 | 87.5 | 68.1 | 80.2 | 62.3 | 55.7 | ||||||
PEER GROUP (OLD) | 100.0 | 86.4 | 67.3 | 69.6 | 70.8 | 70.4 | ||||||
PEER GROUP (NEW) | 100.0 | 88.6 | 68.0 | 77.3 | 77.8 | 82.7 | ||||||
S&P 500 | 100.0 | 88.1 | 68.6 | 88.3 | 97.9 | 102.7 | ||||||
(1) | For 2005, Pfizers pharmaceutical peer group consisted of the following companies: Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Co., Schering-Plough Corporation and Wyeth (New Peer Group). Prior to that, Pfizers pharmaceutical peer group was comprised of Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Co., Schering-Plough Corporation, and Wyeth (Old Peer Group). |
We believe that the companies included in the New Peer Group are more reflective of the Companys core business, and therefore will provide a more meaningful comparison of stock performance. We have included the New Peer Group in the graph to show what the comparison to those companies would have been if the New Peer Group had been in place during the periods shown in the two graphs. | |
Pfizer merged with Warner-Lambert Company in 2000. Warner-Lambert Company was included as part of our Peer Group in our Proxy Statement for 1999. | |
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. merged with Monsanto Company to form Pharmacia Corporation in 2000. Pharmacia Corporation completed the spin-off of the Monsanto Company in August 2002. Pfizer merged with Pharmacia Corporation in 2003. Pharmacia was included as part of our Peer Group in proxy statements in the five-year period from 1998 to 2002. | |
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
This table provides certain information as of December 31, 2005 with respect to our equity compensation plans:
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remaining available for | ||||||||
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Number of securities | Weighted-average | equity compensation | ||||||
to be issued upon exercise | exercise price of | plans (excluding | ||||||
of outstanding options, | outstanding options, | securities reflected in | ||||||
Plan category | warrants and rights | warrants and rights | column (a)) | |||||
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Equity compensation | ||||||||
plans approved by | ||||||||
security holders | 483,049,774 | (1) | $34.98 | 385,930,586 | (2) | |||
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by security holders | 0 | N/A | 0 | |||||
Total | 483,049,774 | $34.98 | 385,930,586 |
(1) | This amount includes the following: | |
467,676,553 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options. |
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2,559,510; 11,025,711; and 1,788,000 shares, respectively, issuable pursuant to outstanding share awards that have been granted under the Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan, the Pfizer Inc. 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan, and the previous Pfizer Inc. Performance-Contingent Share Award Program, but not yet earned as of December 31, 2005. The number of shares, if any, to be issued pursuant to such outstanding awards will be determined by a non-discretionary formula that measures our performance, in terms of total shareholder return and diluted earnings-per-share growth, over the applicable performance period relative to the performance of the pharmaceutical peer group. Since these awards have no exercise price, they are not included in the weighted average exercise price calculation in column (b). | ||
(2) | This amount represents the number of shares available (385,930,586) for issuance pursuant to stock options and awards that could be granted in the future under the Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan. In accordance with plan provisions, any option granted under the Plan will reduce the available number of shares on a one-to-one basis and any whole share award granted will reduce the available number of shares on a three-to-one basis. |
On April 16, 2003, Pfizer acquired Pharmacia Corporation and assumed various stock-based plans. No subsequent grants will be made from any of these plans. As of December 31, 2005, under the Pharmacia 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 50,986,820 shares were issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, including 5,373,542 outstanding reload options, at a weighted average exercise price of $30.51. The reload obligations will be satisfied under this plan from the remaining 16,609,672 shares available. In addition, under the other assumed Pharmacia plans, as of December 31, 2005, there were 81,147,958 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, and those options had a weighted average exercise price per share of $30.55. Information regarding these various options is not included in the above table.
On June 19, 2000, Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert Company and assumed stock options outstanding under various Warner-Lambert plans pursuant to which no subsequent awards have been or will be made. As of December 31, 2005, there were 27,592,635 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options under these plans, and those options had a weighted average exercise price per share of $22.90. In addition, 460,082 shares were issuable pursuant to the Warner-Lambert 1996 Stock Plan in settlement of Warner-Lambert Directors compensation that had been deferred by certain former Warner-Lambert Directors prior to Pfizers acquisition of Warner-Lambert. Information regarding those options and shares is not included in the above table.
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Long-Term Compensation Plans
The Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan
Under the Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan, our employees may be granted stock options, stock awards (including restricted stock), stock appreciation rights, performance-contingent awards and other equity-based awards. The 2004 Stock Plan also provides the flexibility to grant equity-based awards to our non-employee Directors.
Where an employee also is an elected corporate officer, the performance criteria for awards granted under the Plan are determined by the Compensation Committee. Any executive performance award is expected to include total shareholder return as a performance measure and also could include other measures such as: revenues, cost reductions, operating income, income before taxes, net income, adjusted net income, earnings per share, adjusted earnings per share, operating margins, working capital measures, return on assets, return on equity, return on invested capital, cash flow measures, market share, and/or economic value added, of the Company, or the affiliate or division of the Company for or within which the participant is primarily employed.
Performance goals may be based on the achievement of specified levels of Company performance (or performance of the applicable affiliate or division of the Company) under one or more of the measures described above, relative to the performance of other corporations or comparable businesses. The performance goals will be set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and will otherwise comply with, the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The material terms of the stock options granted in 2005 under this Plan generally are as follows:
This Plan was approved by our shareholders at our 2004 Annual Meeting and replaced the 2001 Stock and Incentive Plan and the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan (the 2001 Plans).
2001 Stock and Incentive Plan
Under the 2001 Stock and Incentive Plan, our employees were granted stock options, stock awards (including restricted stock awards) and Performance-based stock awards, as a result of either a general grant or an award based on having met certain performance criteria. Where an employee was an elected corporate officer, the performance criteria were determined by the Compensation Committee. Our non-employee Directors were not eligible to participate in this Plan.
Options granted prior to April 22, 2004, were granted under the 2001 Plan. The 2001 Plan was replaced by the Pfizer Inc. 2004 Stock Plan, as described above, and no further options or awards will be granted under the 2001 Plan. However, outstanding awards and options granted under the 2001 Plan, or under our previous Stock and Incentive Plan, will continue to vest, and the options may be exercised, in the future.
2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan
Under the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan, participating employees were granted an opportunity by the Compensation Committee to earn shares of Pfizer common stock, subject to attaining certain performance criteria. The performance formula was nondiscretionary and was comprised of two performance criteria:
measured over the applicable performance period relative to the performance of the Old Peer Group. Our 100 highest-ranking
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employees were eligible to participate. All awards granted under the Plan were based upon a five-year performance period.
Awards granted under our previous performance-contingent share award program were based on the same performance criteria described above.
Awards for performance periods beginning in 2005, as shown in the table under the heading Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards in 2005 were granted under the 2004 Stock Plan, generally with the same criteria as under the previous plan. After the 2004 awards were granted, the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan was replaced by the 2004 Pfizer Inc. Stock Plan, as described above, and no further awards will be granted under the 2001 Plan. However, outstanding awards granted under the 2001 Plan, or under our previous performance-contingent share award program, will continue to vest in the future.
Awards earned by the Named Executive Officers under the 2001 Performance-Contingent Share Award Plan and the previous award program for the performance period ended December 31, 2005, are shown in the LTIP Payouts column of the Summary Compensation Table. Receipt of shares awarded under the current and previous Plans may be deferred.
Executive Annual Incentive Plan
The Named Executive Officers and other senior employees participate in the Executive Annual Incentive Plan. The Plan is intended to ensure the tax deductibility of the executives bonus for the Company. The maximum individual annual bonus under this plan is 0.3% (three tenths of one percent) of Adjusted Net Income. The Annual Incentive Plan defines Adjusted Net Income to mean income before cumulative effect of accounting changes as shown on the audited Consolidated Statement of Income of the Company. If income before the cumulative effect of accounting changes is not shown on the Statement, then Adjusted Net Income will mean net income as shown on the Statement. Receipt of bonuses paid from this Plan can be deferred by the executives until a later date or retirement. Such deferred bonuses may be invested under the Pfizer Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan in either a Pfizer unit fund (shares plus reinvested dividends) or a fund earning 120% of the federal long-term rate. As of December 31, 2005, this rate was 5.61% .
Warner-Lambert Company 1996 Stock Plan
Under the Warner-Lambert 1996 Stock Plan, as a result of our merger with Warner-Lambert, all stock options and restricted stock awards outstanding as of June 19, 2000, became immediately exercisable or vested.
Under this Plan, the Directors of Warner-Lambert could elect to defer any or all of the compensation they received for their services. These deferred amounts could have been credited to a Warner-Lambert Common Stock Equivalent Account (the Equivalent Account). That Equivalent Account was credited, as of the day the fees would have been payable, with stock credits equal to the number of shares of Warner-Lambert common stock that could have been purchased with the dollar amount of such deferred fees. The former Warner-Lambert DirectorsMessrs. Burt, Gray, Howell, and Lorchwho joined our Board after the merger, had deferred compensation and were entitled to Warner-Lambert stock credits in the Equivalent Account under this Plan. Dividends received under this Plan are reinvested. Upon the closing of the merger, these Warner-Lambert stock credits were converted into Pfizer stock equivalent units. These units will be payable in Pfizer common stock at various times in accordance with the Directors election. These units are described in footnote 1 to the table entitled Securities Ownership of Officers and Directors.
IndemnificationWe indemnify our Directors and most of our elected officers to the fullest extent permitted by law so that they will be free from undue concern about personal liability in connection with their service to the Company. This is required under our By-laws, and we have also entered into agreements with certain of those individuals contractually obligating us to provide this indemnification to them.
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Under the rules of the SEC, if a shareholder wants us to include a proposal in our Proxy Statement and form of proxy for presentation at our 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the proposal must be received by us at our principal executive offices at 235 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5755 by November 17, 2006. The proposal should be sent to the attention of the Secretary of the Company.
Under our By-laws, and as permitted by the rules of the SEC, certain procedures are provided that a shareholder must follow to nominate persons for election as Directors or to introduce an item of business at an Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These procedures provide that nominations for Director nominees and/or an item of business to be introduced at an Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company at our principal executive offices. We must receive the notice of your intention to introduce a nomination or to propose an item of business at our 2007 Annual Meeting no later than:
For any other meeting, the nomination or item of business must be received by the tenth day following the date of public disclosure of the date of the meeting.
Our Annual Meeting of Shareholders is generally held on the fourth Thursday of April. Assuming that our 2007 Annual Meeting is held on schedule, we must receive notice of your intention to introduce a nomination or other item of business at that meeting by February 26, 2007. If we do not receive notice by that date, or if we meet certain other requirements of the SEC rules, the persons named as proxies in the proxy materials relating to that meeting will use their discretion in voting the proxies when these matters are raised at the meeting.
The nomination must contain the following information about the nominee:
Notice of a proposed item of business must include:
The Board is not aware of any matters that are expected to come before the 2006 Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement. If any other matter should come before the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Committee appointed by the Board of Directors intends to vote the proxies in accordance with their best judgment.
The chairman of the Meeting may refuse to allow the transaction of any business, or to acknowledge the nomination of any person,
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not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, please vote by telephone, on the Internet, or by mail.
If you vote by telephone, the call is toll-free. No postage is required for mailing in the United States.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Margaret M. Foran
Senior Vice PresidentCorporate Governance,
Associate General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
March 16, 2006
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Director Qualification Standards
Determination of Independence
To be considered independent for purposes of these standards, a director must be determined, by resolution of the Board as a whole, after due deliberation, to have no material relationship with the Company other than as a director. These determinations will be made public annually prior to the directors standing for election to the Board. Except as otherwise noted below, the Company includes Pfizer Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. In each case, the Board shall broadly consider all relevant facts and circumstances and shall apply the following standards:
1. | In no event will a director be considered independent if: | |
(i) | the director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Company; or | |
(ii) | an immediate family member of the director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the Company; or | |
(iii) | the director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $100,000 in direct compensation from the Company (other than directors fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service with the Company); or | |
(iv) | (A) the director or an immediate family member of the director is a current partner of the firm that is the Companys independent registered public accounting firm; or (B) the director is a current employee of such firm; or (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such firm and who participates in the firms audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice, or (D) the director or an immediate family member of the director was within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such firm and personally worked on the Companys audit within that time; or | |
(v) | an executive officer of the Company serves or served on the compensation committee of the board of directors of a company that, at the same time within the last three years, employs or employed either the director or an immediate family member of the director as an executive officer. | |
2. | Audit Committee members may not have any direct or indirect financial relationship whatsoever with the Company other than as directors, and may not be affiliated persons of the Company. Audit committee members may receive directors fees, in the form of cash, stock, stock units, stock options or other in-kind consideration ordinarily available to directors, and fixed amounts of compensation for prior service with the Company. | |
3. | No director, or immediate family member of a director, may serve as a paid consultant or advisor to the Company or to any executive officer of the Company, or may have a personal services contract with the Company or with any executive officer of the Company. | |
4. | The following commercial relationships will not be considered to be material relationships that would impair a directors independence: (i) if a director is a current employee, or an immediate family member of a director of the Company is a current executive officer of another company that does business with the Company and the annual sales to, or purchases from, the Company in any of the last three fiscal years were less than one percent of the annual revenues of the company the director or the directors immediate family member serves as an executive officer or employee, as applicable; or (ii) if a director | |
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or an immediate family member of a director of the Company is an executive officer of another company which is indebted to the Company, or to which the Company is indebted, and the total amount of either companys indebtedness to the other is less than one percent of the total consolidated assets of the company he or she serves as an executive officer. | |
5. | The following not-for-profit relationship will not be considered to be a material relationship that would impair a directors independence: if a director of the Company, or a directors spouse, serves as an executive officer of a not-for-profit organization, and the Companys, or the Pfizer Foundations discretionary charitable contributions to the organization, in the aggregate, are less than two percent (or $1,000,000, whichever is greater) of that organizations latest publicly available total revenues. |
6. | Annually, the Board will review all commercial and charitable relationships of directors to determine whether directors meet the categorical independence tests described in paragraphs 4 and 5. The Board may determine that a director who has a relationship that exceeds the limits described in paragraph 4 (to the extent that any such relationship would not constitute a bar to independence under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards) or paragraph 5, is nonetheless independent. The Company will explain in the next proxy statement the basis for any Board determination that a relationship is immaterial despite the fact that it does not meet the categorical standards set forth in paragraphs 4 or 5. |
7. | The Company will not make any personal loans or extensions of credit to directors or executive officers. |
8. | To help maintain the independence of the Board, all directors are required to deal at arms length with the Company and its subsidiaries and to disclose circumstances material to the director that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. |
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ANNEX 2
Charter
Audit Committee
Status
The Audit Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors.
MembershipThe Audit Committee shall consist of three or more directors all of whom in the judgment of the Board of Directors shall be independent in accordance with New York Stock Exchange listing standards. Each member shall in the judgment of the Board of Directors have the ability to read and understand the Companys basic financial statements or shall at the time of appointment undertake training for that purpose. At least one member of the Audit Committee shall in the judgment of the Board of Directors be an audit committee financial expert in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and at least one member (who may also serve as the audit committee financial expert) shall in the judgment of the Board of Directors have accounting or related financial management expertise in accordance with New York Stock Exchange listing standards.
PurposeThe Audit Committee shall represent and assist the Board of Directors with the oversight of: (a) the integrity of the Companys financial statements and internal controls, (b) the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the independent registered public accounting firms qualifications and independence and (d) the performance of the Companys internal audit function and the independent registered public accounting firm. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws, regulations or listing standards, all major decisions are considered by the Board of Directors as a whole.
Responsibilities1. | Select and retain (subject to approval by the Companys stockholders), evaluate and terminate when appropriate, the independent registered public accounting firm, set the independent registered public accounting firms compensation, oversee the work of the independent registered public accounting firm and pre-approve all audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. |
2. | Pre-approve all permitted non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm and establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to provide permitted audit and non-audit services. |
3. | At least annually, receive and review: (a) a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing the independent registered public accounting firms internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, peer review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) review, of the independent auditing firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (b) other required reports from the independent registered public accounting firm. |
4. | At least annually, consider the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, including whether the provision by the independent registered public accounting firm of permitted non-audit services is compatible with independence, and obtain and review a report from the independent registered public accounting firm describing all relationships between the firm and the Company. |
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5. | Review with the independent registered public accounting firm: | |
(a) | the scope and results of the audit; | |
(b) | any problems or difficulties that the auditor encountered in the course of the audit work, and managements response; and | |
(c) | any questions, comments or suggestions the auditor may have relating to the internal controls, and accounting practices and procedures, of the Company or its subsidiaries. | |
6. | Review, at least annually, the scope and results of the internal audit program, including then current and future programs of the Companys Internal Audit Department, procedures for implementing accepted recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm, and any significant matters contained in reports from the Internal Audit Department. | |
7. | Review with the independent registered public accounting firm, the Companys Internal Audit Department, and management: (a) the adequacy and effectiveness of the systems of internal controls (including any significant deficiencies and significant changes in internal controls reported to the Audit Committee by the independent registered public accounting firm or management), accounting practices, and disclosure controls and procedures (and management reports thereon), of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (b) current accounting trends and developments, and take such action with respect thereto as may be deemed appropriate. | |
8. | Review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the annual and quarterly financial statements of the Company, including: (a) any material changes in accounting principles or practices used in preparing the financial statements prior to the filing of a report on Form 10-K or 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (b) disclosures relating to internal controls over financial reporting; (c) the items required by Statement of Auditing Standards 61 as in effect at that time in the case of the annual statements and Statement of Auditing Standards 100 as in effect at that time in the case of the quarterly statements; and (d) meet to review the Companys specific disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations included in the Companys Form 10-K or 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
9. | Recommend to the Board of Directors, based on the review described in paragraphs 4 and 8 above, whether the financial statements should be included in the annual report on Form 10-K. |
10. | Review earnings press releases, as well as Company policies with respect to earnings press releases, financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies (this function may be performed by the Chair or the full Committee). |
11. | Discuss Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and review contingent liabilities and risks that may be material to the Company and major legislative and regulatory developments which could materially impact the Companys contingent liabilities and risks. |
12. | Review: (a) the status of compliance with laws, regulations, and internal procedures; and (b) the scope and status of systems designed to promote Company compliance with laws, regulations and internal procedures, through review of reports from management, legal counsel and third parties as determined by the Audit Committee. |
13. | Establish procedures for the confidential and anonymous receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding the Companys accounting, internal controls and auditing matters, as well as for the confidential, anonymous submissions by Company employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
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14. | Establish policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. |
15. | Obtain the advice and assistance, as appropriate, of independent counsel and other advisors as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the Audit Committee, and receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Audit Committee, for the payment of compensation to any such advisors. |
16. | Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Audit Committee and annually evaluate the adequacy of its charter. |
The Audit Committee shall meet at least six times each year and at such other times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. The Audit Committee shall periodically meet separately, in executive session, with management, the internal auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee shall report regularly to the Board of Directors with respect to its activities and make recommendations to the Board of Directors as appropriate.
ReportThe Audit Committee shall prepare a report each year for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement relating to the election of directors.
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ANNEX 3
Charter
Corporate Governance Committee
Status
The Corporate Governance Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors.
MembershipThe Corporate Governance Committee shall consist of directors all of whom in the judgment of the Board of Directors shall be independent in accordance with New York Stock Exchange listing standards.
ResponsibilitiesThe Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering and making recommendations to the Board concerning the appropriate size, functions and needs of the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee may, at its sole discretion, engage director search firms and has the sole authority to approve the fees and other retention terms with respect to any such firms. The Corporate Governance Committee also has the authority, as necessary and appropriate, to consult with outside advisors to assist in their duties to the Company. This responsibility includes:
The Committees additional functions are:
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ANNEX 4
Charter
Compensation Committee
Status
The Compensation Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors.
MembershipThe Compensation Committee shall consist of three or more directors all of whom in the judgment of the Board of Directors shall be independent in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. In addition, a person may serve on the Compensation Committee only if the Board of Directors determines that he or she (i) is a Non-employee Director for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) satisfies the requirements of an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
PurposeThe purposes of the Compensation Committee are (i) to discharge the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to compensation of the Companys CEO and other executives, and (ii) to produce an annual report on executive officer compensation for inclusion in the Companys annual proxy statement that complies with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws, regulations or listing standards, all major decisions are considered by the Board of Directors as a whole.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for establishing annual and long-term performance goals and objectives for our elected officers. This responsibility includes:
(i) | evaluating the performance of the CEO and other elected officers in light of the approved performance goals and objectives; | |
(ii) | setting the compensation of the CEO and other elected officers based upon the evaluation of the performance of the CEO and the other elected officers, respectively; | |
(iii) | making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to new cash-based incentive compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans; and | |
(iv) | preparing an annual performance self- evaluation of the Compensation Committee. | |
In addition, the Compensation Committee:
(i) | administers the Companys stock plans; | |
(ii) | determines and certifies the shares awarded under corporate performance- based plans; | |
(iii) | grants options and awards under the stock plans; | |
(iv) | advises on the setting of compensation for senior executives whose compensation is not otherwise set by the Committee; and | |
(v) | monitors compliance by officers with our program of required stock ownership. | |
In determining the long-term incentive component of the compensation of the Companys CEO and other elected officers, the Compensation Committee may consider: (i) the Companys performance and relative shareholder return; and, (ii) the value of similar incentive awards to chief executive officers and elected officers at comparable companies.
The Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, employ a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of the compensation of the Companys CEO or other elected officers. The Compensation Committee shall have the sole authority to approve the fees and other retention terms with respect to such a compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee also has the authority, as necessary and appropriate, to consult with other outside advisors to assist in its duties to the Company.
MeetingsThe Compensation Committee shall meet at least four times each year and at such other times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
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ANNEX 5
Charter
Science and Technology Committee
Status
The Science and Technology Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors.
PurposeThe Science and Technology Committee shall periodically examine managements direction and investment in the Companys pharmaceutical research and development and technology initiatives. The Committee will function as a broadly knowledgeable and objective group of scientists and non-scientists to consider and report periodically to the Board on matters relating to the investment in the Companys research and development and technology initiatives.
MembershipThe Science and Technology Committee shall consist of three or more directors. At least one member of the Committee shall, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, have scientific research expertise. The Committee may engage external consultants, providing a broad range of expertise in both basic and clinical sciences, as well as technologies. Their individual service will extend for a one-year term, renewable at the discretion of the Science and Technology Committee of the Board.
ResponsibilitiesThe Science and Technology Committee may meet privately with independent consultants and be free to speak directly and independently with any members of management in discharging its responsibilities.
The Committee shall meet at such times as it deems to be necessary or appropriate, but not less than twice each year, and shall report at the next Board meeting following each such committee meeting.
The Committee will conduct an annual evaluation of its effectiveness, to determine if the purpose and responsibilities are consistent with the guidelines of the Charter of the Science and Technology Committee, and are clearly aligned with the Companys strategic science and technology research goals and objectives.
In addition, the Committee will:
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CHARTER OF THE LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
The Pfizer Board of Directors considers it to be useful and appropriate to designate a non-management director to serve in a lead capacity to coordinate the activities of the other non-management directors, and to perform such other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors may determine. The specific responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director will be as follows:
Preside at Executive Sessions
Call Meetings of Independent Directors
Function as Liaison with the Chairman
Participate in flow of information to the Board such as board meeting agendas and schedules
Recommend Outside Advisors and Consultants
Shareholder Communication
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ANNEX 7
SEVENTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and it is expressly provided that the same are intended to be in furtherance and not in limitation or exclusion of the powers conferred by statute:
(1) The number of directors of the Corporation (exclusive of directors (the Preferred Stock Directors) who may be elected by the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock which may at any time be outstanding, voting separately as a class or classes) shall not be less than ten nor more than twenty-four, the exact number within said limits to be fixed from time to time solely by resolution of the Board of Directors, acting by not less than a majority of the directors then in office.
(2) Election of directors need not be by ballot unless the By-laws so provide.
(3) Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled solely by the Board of Directors, acting by not less than a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum. Any director so chosen shall hold office until his successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(4) Deleted.
(5) The Bylaws may prescribe the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum and such number may be less than a majority of the total number of directors, but shall not be less than one-third of the total number of directors.
(6) Both shareholders and directors shall have power, if the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide, to hold their meetings either within or without the State of Delaware, to have one or more offices in addition to the principal office in the State of Delaware, and to keep the books of the Corporation (subject to the provisions of the statutes) outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may from time to time be designated by them.
(7) The Board of Directors shall have power to determine from time to time whether and if allowed under what conditions and regulations the accounts, and except as otherwise provided by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the books of the Corporation shall be open to the inspection of the shareholders, and the shareholders rights in this respect are and shall be restricted or limited accordingly, and no shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation except as conferred by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation, or authorized by the Board of Directors or by a resolution of the shareholders.
(8) The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.
(9) The Board of Directors acting by a majority of the whole board shall have power to appoint three or more of their number to constitute an Executive Committee, which Committee shall, when the Board of Directors is not in session and subject to the Bylaws, have and exercise any or all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. The Board of Directors acting by a majority of the whole board shall also have power to appoint any other committee or committees, such committees to have and exercise such powers as shall be conferred by the Board of Directors or be authorized by the Bylaws.
(10) Except as may be otherwise provided by statute or in this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of this Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.
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(11) Directors, for their services as such, may be paid such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(12) The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to fix and determine and vary the amount of the working capital of the Corporation and, subject to any restrictions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, to direct and determine the use and disposition of any surplus over and above the capital stock paid in, and in its discretion to use and apply any such surplus in purchasing or acquiring property, bonds or other obligations of the Corporation or shares of its own capital stock, to such extent and in such manner and upon such terms as the Board of Directors shall deem expedient, but any shares of such capital stock so purchased or acquired may be resold unless such shares shall have been retired in the manner provided by law for the purpose of decreasing the Corporations capital stock.
(13) Deleted.
(13) Notwithstanding any other provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular
class of capital stock of the Corporation as are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (ìVoting Stockî) required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of all
of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal paragraphs (1),(3),(5), (8), (10) or this paragraph (13) of this Article SEVENTH.
(14) The liability of the Corporations Directors to the Corporation or its shareholders shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as amended from time to time. No amendment to or repeal of this paragraph (14) of Article SEVENTH shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class of Voting Stock required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of all of the then outstanding shares of
Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this paragraph (14) of this Article SEVENTH.
(15) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of the Corporation must be effected solely at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders.
EIGHTH:
Deleted.
A. Applicability of Article.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section C of this Article EIGHTH, none of the actions or transactions listed below shall be effected by the Corporation, or approved by
the Corporation as a shareholder of any majorityowned subsidiary of the Corporation if, as of the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, any Related Person (as hereinafter defined) exists, unless the
applicable requirements of Sections B, C, D, E and F of this Article EIGHTH are fully complied with:
(1) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries into or with such Related Person;
(2) any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Corporation or any of its majorityowned subsidiaries to or with such Related
Person;
(3) the issuance or delivery of any Voting Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Voting Stock, or of voting securities of any of the
Corporations majorityowned subsidiaries to such Related Person in exchange for cash, other assets or securities, or a combination thereof; or
(4) any voluntary dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation.
B. Stockholder Vote Required.
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The actions and transactions described in Section A of this Article EIGHTH shall have been authorized by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of all of the outstanding shares of
Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.
C. Minimum Price Required.
Notwithstanding Section B hereof, the 80% voting requirement shall not be applicable if (1) any action or transaction specified in Section A hereof is approved by the
Corporations Board of Directors and by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that if there are not at least five Continuing Directors this exception for approval by the Board of Directors shall not
be applicable or (2) in the case of any action or transaction pursuant to which the holders of the capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to receive cash, property, securities or other consideration, the cash or fair market value of the
property, securities or other consideration to be received per share by holders of the capital stock of the Corporation in such action or transaction is not less than the higher of (a) the highest price per share paid by the Related Person in
acquiring any of its holdings of capital stock of the Corporation, or (b) the highest closing sale price on any day either since the Related Person acquired its first share of capital stock of the Corporation which it continues to own or control or
during the five years preceding the date of consideration of the action or transaction by the Corporations Board of Directors, whichever period is shorter; such highest closing sale price shall be determined by the reports of closing sale
prices on the Composite Tape for New York Exchange Listed Stocks or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape on the New York Stock Exchange or other principal United States securities exchange on which such stock is listed or, for any
period when such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System; such price, in either case (a) or
(b), to be proportionately adjusted for any subsequent increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of the Corporations capital stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or any other capital adjustments, the payment of a stock dividend, or other increase or decrease in such shares of capital stock effected without receipt of consideration by the
Corporation.
D. Restrictions on Certain Actions.
After becoming a Related Person and prior to consummation of such action or transaction (1) such Related Person shall not have acquired from the Corporation or any of its
majorityowned subsidiaries any newly issued or treasury shares of capital stock or any newly issued securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the Corporation or any of its majorityowned subsidiaries, directly or indirectly
(except upon conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities acquired by it prior to becoming a Related Person or as a result of a pro rata stock dividend or stock split or other distribution of stock to all shareholders pro rata);
(2) such Related Person shall not have received the benefit directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or tax credits provided by the Corporation or any
of its majorityowned subsidiaries, or made any major changes in the Corporations or any of its majorityowned subsidiaries businesses or capital structures or reduced the current rate of dividends payable on the Corporations capital
stock below the rate in effect immediately prior to the time such Related Person became a Related Person (the current rate of dividends being the ratio of the current dividend to the net income of the Corporation for the full fiscal quarter
immediately preceding the quarter in which such dividend is paid; and the rate of dividends in effect immediately prior to the time such Related Person became a Related Person being the ratio of (a) the aggregate dividends paid during the four full
fiscal quarters immediately preceding the time such Related Person became a Related Person to (b) the aggregate net income of the Corporation for the four successive full fiscal quarters immediately preceding the last quarter in which such dividends
were paid); and (3) such Related Person shall have taken all required actions to ensure that the Corporations Board of Directors includes representation by
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Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined) at least proportionate to the stockholdings of the Corporations remaining public shareholders (as hereinafter defined), with a Continuing Director to occupy
any Board position resulting from a fraction and, in any event, with at least one Continuing Director to serve on the Board so long as there are any remaining public shareholders.
E.Proxy Statement Required.
A proxy statement responsive to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether or not the Corporation is then subject to such requirements, shall be
mailed to the shareholders of the Corporation for the purpose of soliciting shareholder approval of such action or transaction and shall contain at the front thereof, in a prominent place, any recommendations as to the advisability or inadvisability
of the action or transaction which the Continuing Directors may choose to state.
F. Certain Definitions. For the purpose of this Article EIGHTH, (1) the term Related Person shall mean any other corporation, person or entity (including any Affiliate
thereof), other than this Corporation, any of its subsidiaries or any officer or employee thereof who holds only voting power pursuant to proxies which beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding shares of
Voting Stock, (2) a Related Person shall be deemed to own or control, directly or indirectly, any outstanding shares of Voting Stock owned by it of record or beneficially, including without limitation shares (a) which it has the right to acquire
pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise or (b) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including shares deemed owned through application of clause (a) above), by any other
corporation, person or other entity (x) with which it or its Affiliate or Associate (as hereinafter defined) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Voting Stock or (y) which is
its Affiliate (other than the Corporation) or Associate (other than the Corporation) as those terms are defined in the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (3) the term Voting Stock shall mean such shares of capital stock of the Corporation as are entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors; (4) the term Continuing Director shall mean a director who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the time that any Related Person involved in the proposed action or transaction became a
Related Person or a director nominated by a majority of the remaining Continuing Directors; and (5) the term remaining public shareholders shall mean the holders of the Corporations
capital stock other than the Related Person.
G. Determinations by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article EIGHTH, on the basis of information then known to the Board of
Directors, whether (1) any Related Person exists or is an Affiliate or an Associate of another and (2) any proposed sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of part of the assets of the Corporation or any majorityowned subsidiary involves a
substantial part of the assets of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. Any such determination by the Board of Directors shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
H. Alteration, Amendment or Repeal.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class of
Voting Stock required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of all of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or
repeal this Article EIGHTH.
NINTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
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Directions to The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel
333 South 13th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
From Omaha Airport:
Take I-480 South to I-80
Take Exit 452 onto I-80 (West)
Take I-80 for 50-60 miles
Take Exit 401, Downtown Lincoln, onto I-180 South
Past Stadium I-180 turns into 9th Street
Turn left on M. St.
Turn right onto 13th St.
The Cornhusker is on the corner of 13th and M.
From Lincoln Airport:
Turn right on Cornhusker Hwy (South)
Turn Right onto I-180 Downtown (South)
Past Stadium I-180 turns into 9th St.
Turn left on M. St.
Turn Right on 13th St.
The Cornhusker is at the corner of 13th and M.
From Interstate 80:
Take Exit 401, Downtown Lincoln, onto I-180 South
Past Stadium I-180 turns into 9th Street
Turn left on M. St.
Turn right onto 13th St.
The Cornhusker is on the corner of 13th and M.
Pfizer Inc.
235 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017-5755
212 573 2323
www.pfizer.com
This Proxy Statement is printed entirely on recycled and recyclable paper. Soy ink, rather than petroleum-
based ink, is used throughout.
© Pfizer 2006. All rights reserved
Annual Meeting Admission Ticket |
8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel 333 South 13th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 |
PLEASE REFER TO THE REVERSE SIDE FOR TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.
If you have a change of address, mark this box with an X and indicate new address on reverse. |
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If you have any comments, mark this box with an X and indicate comments on reverse. |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees and Proposals 2 and 3. |
1. Election of Directors
Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed. | ||
NOTE: IF ACTING AS ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, TRUSTEE, OR IN OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY, PLEASE SIGN NAME AND TITLE. |
Admission Ticket
Shareholders will be admitted to the Annual Meeting beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time. If you wish to attend, please plan to arrive early since seating will be limited. Please see the inside back cover of the Proxy Statement for directions.
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please bring this admission ticket with you.
VOTE YOUR PFIZER SHARES
Dear Pfizer Shareholder:Your vote is important! We encourage you to vote promptly, and to take advantage of Internet or telephone voting, both of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(If you vote on the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your proxy card.)
Receive Future Proxy Materials Electronically
Help us make a difference by eliminating paper proxy mailings to your home or business. With your consent, we will send all future proxy voting materials to you by e-mail, along with a link to the Pfizer proxy voting site. To register for electronic delivery of future proxy materials, go to www.econsent.com/pfe and follow the prompts.
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Solicited by the Board of Directors
The undersigned appoints Henry A. McKinnell, Margaret M. Foran and Jeffrey B. Kindler, and each of them, as proxies, each with full power of substitution, and authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this form, all the shares of common stock of Pfizer Inc. held of record by the undersigned on March 1, 2006, and all of the shares as to which the undersigned then had the right to give voting instructions to the record holder under the Pfizer Inc. Shareholder Investment Program, the Pfizer Savings Plan, the Pharmacia Savings Plan, any other Employer Benefit Plan in which shares are held, and the Pfizer Inc. Employee Benefit Trust, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 27, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, 333 South 13th Street,Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, or any adjournment or postponement. | + |
Election of Directors, Nominees: | ||||||||
(01) Michael S. Brown, |
(02) M. Anthony Burns,
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(03) Robert N. Burt,
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(04) W. Don Cornwell,
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(05) William H. Gray III,
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(06) Constance J. Horner, |
(07) William R. Howell,
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(08) Stanley O. Ikenberry,
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(09) George A. Lorch,
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(10) Henry A. McKinnell,
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(11) Dana G. Mead, |
(12) Ruth J. Simmons,
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(13) William C. Steere, Jr.
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IF NO OTHER INDICATION IS MADE ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM, THE PROXIES WILL VOTE (AND ANY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS TO RECORD HOLDERS WILL BE GIVEN) FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3 AND AGAINST PROPOSALS 4 THROUGH 10 AND, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
Change of Address | Comments | |
If you have a change of address, please be sure to mark the appropriate box on the reverse side. | If you have any comments, please be sure to mark the appropriate box on the reverse side. | |
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Telephone and Internet Voting Instructions |
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You can vote by telephone OR Internet! Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week! |
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Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. |
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If you vote by telephone or the Internet, please DO NOT mail back this proxy card.
Proxies submitted by telephone or the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 26, 2006.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING