shareholder proposal · 2021
Oxfam America at Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
Ask whether and how government financial support is being, or will be, considered in developing each company's access strategies for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, including pricing. The proponents argued that because taxpayer money and government contracts underwrote much of the research, manufacturing and distribution, and the public carried most of the risk, the companies owe shareholders an account of how that public investment shapes access and affordability.
What happened
Result: Rejected at all three companies. Johnson & Johnson, April 22, 2021: 573,465,487 for, 1,231,071,897 against, 26,688,609 abstaining and 361,631,706 broker non-votes, about 32 percent of the shares voted for and against. Pfizer, April 22, 2021: 1,011,019,874 for, 2,562,817,160 against, 71,371,668 abstaining, about 28 percent. Merck, May 25, 2021: 593,421,332 for, 1,174,542,871 against, 31,951,080 abstaining and 310,721,741 broker non-votes, about 34 percent.
Who is involved
- Oxfam America filer
- Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment co-filer
- Trinity Health co-filer
- Johnson & Johnson company
- Merck & Co. Animal Health company
- Pfizer Inc. company
What this campaign is about
- Early warning and risk management for health Helpful · UN Sustainable Development Goals