Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that it has appointed Robert J. Bertolini, Matthew W. Emmens and Theodore R. Samuels to its board of directors, effective immediately. In connection with these appointments, the board will temporarily expand to 14 directors until the 2017 Annual Meeting, to be held on May 2, 2017. Only 11 directors will stand for election at the meeting.

The company also announced that it has entered into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program to repurchase, in aggregate, $2 billion of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s common stock.

“Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to take decisive action to best position the company for growth driven by our leading portfolio of immuno-oncology medicines, including Opdivo, and by an exciting diversified portfolio of medicines such as Eliquis and Orencia,” Giovanni Caforio, M.D., chief executive officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb, said. “We are committed to advancing the promising opportunities represented by our portfolio and pipeline in oncology as well as continuing our efforts to diversify through promising pipeline agents in heart failure, immunoscience and fibrosis.

“Our new directors add important experience and skills managing large businesses and operations, broaden our overall expertise in the pharmaceutical sector and more broadly in capital markets, and complement extremely well the existing skills on our Board. We look forward to working with them to advance our business strategy. In addition, the decision to implement an accelerated share repurchase program demonstrates our focus on enhancing shareholder returns as we continue to capitalize on our long-term opportunities,” Caforio continued.

“I am pleased to welcome Bob, Matt and Ted to the board, and know that their unique skill sets and experience will be invaluable to the company going forward,” said Lamberto Andreotti, chairman of the board. “As I announced in December, I will be retiring as chairman, effective May 2, 2017. I am happy to be leaving with such a strong Board in place and am confident Bristol-Myers Squibb has a bright future.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb noted that, since JANA Partners LLC became a Bristol-Myers Squibb shareholder in the fourth quarter of 2016, members of the board and management have engaged in discussions with representatives of JANA to better understand their views. Today’s board appointments follow discussions between the two parties regarding the board.

“These three new independent directors will add valuable industry knowledge and fresh perspectives to the board, and shareholders stand to reap a substantial benefit from the company’s sizable investment in its undervalued shares,” said Barry Rosenstein, founder and managing partner of JANA. “These are two very positive developments for all Bristol-Myers Squibb shareholders.”

Togo D. West, Jr., the board’s lead independent director, said, “Bristol Myers-Squibb benefits from a strong board that comprises leaders who have diverse expertise relevant to the company’s strategy and mission.”

Accelerated Share Repurchase

Bristol-Myers Squibb has entered into an ASR program with each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase, in aggregate, $2 billion of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s common stock. The company expects to fund the repurchase with a combination of debt and cash. Approximately 80 percent of the shares to be repurchased under the transaction will be received by Bristol-Myers Squibb on February 28, 2017.

The total number of shares ultimately repurchased under the program will be determined upon final settlement and will be based on a discount to the volume-weighted average price of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s common stock during the ASR period. The program is part of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s existing share repurchase authorization. Bristol-Myers Squibb anticipates that all repurchases under the ASR will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2017. Bristol-Myers Squibb notes that it is commencing a 10b5-1 plan to facilitate continuous stock repurchase activity by the company.

Robert J. Bertolini

Bob Bertolini, who currently serves on the boards of Charles River Laboratories and Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., is the former president and CFO of Bausch & Lomb. Previously, Bertolini served as executive vice president and CFO at Schering-Plough Corporation and as a Partner and Pharmaceutical Industry Practice Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC. He brings extensive financial and accounting expertise and significant strategic and operational leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to the Board of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Matthew W. Emmens

Matt Emmens is the former chairman, president and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Vertex, Emmens served as chairman and CEO of Shire Pharmaceuticals and as president and CEO of Astra Merck, the joint venture between Merck and Astra AB. He brings to the Board of Bristol-Myers Squibb more than 40 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with significant management, business development and operations expertise.

Theodore R. Samuels

Ted Samuels, who currently serves on the boards of Perrigo Company plc and Stamps.com, has more than 35 years of financial industry experience. As the former president of Capital Guardian Trust Company and a former global equity portfolio manager at Capital Group, Samuels has extensive business and operational experience, particularly with respect to economics, capital markets and investment decision making.

(Source: Business Wire)