Correspondence 0000930413-24-002370 from PFIZER INC (PFE) (CIK 0000078003) (PFE)
PFIZER INC (PFE) (CIK 0000078003)
Date: Aug. 22, 2024 · CIK: 0000078003 · Accession: 0000930413-24-002370
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Letter
Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Mergers & Acquisitions Re: PFIZER INC. Schedule TO-I filed August 12, 2024 File No. 005-60005
Dear Ms. McKenzie and Ms. Chalk:
On behalf of our client, Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), we are submitting this letter in response to the written comments of the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), dated August 15, 2024 (the “Comment Letter”) with respect to Pfizer’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO-I filed with the Commission on August 12, 2024 (the “Schedule TO”). Concurrently with the submission of this letter, Pfizer is filing Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule TO, which includes revisions in response to the Staff’s comments.
Set forth below is the heading and text of each comment followed by Pfizer’s response.
Schedule TO-I filed August 12, 2024
Summary Term Sheet - Frequently Asked Questions, page 5
1. We note your statement on page 7 that “the Company reserves the right to exclude from participation in the Modification Offer, any colleague residing, working and/or subject to the laws of any jurisdiction in which participation in the Modification Offer is not permitted or practicable under the laws of such jurisdiction.” While you need not disseminate offer materials in jurisdictions where you may not legally do so, you must accept elections to participate from all eligible holders who elect to participate in the Modification Offer. See Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i) and guidance in Section II.G.1 of Exchange Act Release No. 34-58597 (September 19, 2008). Please revise accordingly.
Response
Pfizer respectfully acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the disclosure on page 7 of the Summary Term Sheet accordingly.
Eligible Participants; Eligible PSAs or Eligible TSRUs; the Proposed Modification; Expiration and Extension of the Offer., page 17
2. We note that Eligible Participants include only individuals who “have been actively employed since no later than July 24, 2024,” which appears to be inconsistent with the requirement of Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i). Note that if the Modification Offer is made in reliance on the Commission’s March 21, 2001 Global Exemptive Order, the relief from the all-holders requirement provided in the Global Exemptive Order is intended to permit exclusion only for a compensatory purpose. In your response, please describe the compensatory purpose of excluding employees who were not actively employed on or before July 24, 2024, from the Modification Offer or provide your legal analysis explaining why the Modification Offer is consistent with the requirement of Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i). Alternatively, revise the Modification Offer to comply with Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i).
Response
Pfizer respectfully acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised the relevant disclosure regarding the eligible participants on pages 1, 7, 8, and 17 accordingly.
* * *
Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (202) 371-7233 or Marc.Gerber@Skadden.com if the Staff has any questions or requires additional information.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Marc S. Gerber
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Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp
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www.skadden.com
August 22, 2024
By EDGAR Submission
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F. Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Laura McKenzie, Special Counsel
Tina Chalk, Assistant Chief
Division of Corporation Finance, Office of Mergers & Acquisitions
Re:
PFIZER INC.
Schedule TO-I filed August 12, 2024
File No. 005-60005
Dear Ms. McKenzie and Ms. Chalk:
On behalf of our client, Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), we are submitting
this letter in response to the written comments of the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”), dated August 15, 2024 (the “Comment Letter”) with respect to Pfizer’s Tender Offer Statement
on Schedule TO-I filed with the Commission on August 12, 2024 (the “Schedule TO”). Concurrently with the submission of this
letter, Pfizer is filing Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule TO, which includes revisions in response to the Staff’s comments.
Set forth below is the heading and text of each comment followed by Pfizer’s
response.
Schedule TO-I filed August 12, 2024
Summary Term Sheet - Frequently Asked Questions, page 5
1. We note your statement on page 7 that “the Company reserves the right to exclude from
participation in the Modification Offer, any colleague residing, working and/or subject to the laws of any jurisdiction in which participation in the Modification Offer is not permitted or
practicable under the laws of such jurisdiction.” While you need not disseminate offer materials in jurisdictions where you may
not legally do so, you must accept elections to participate from all eligible holders who elect to participate in the Modification Offer.
See Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i) and guidance in Section II.G.1 of Exchange
Act Release No. 34-58597 (September 19, 2008). Please revise accordingly.
Response
Pfizer respectfully acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised
the disclosure on page 7 of the Summary Term Sheet accordingly.
Eligible Participants; Eligible PSAs or Eligible TSRUs; the Proposed
Modification; Expiration and Extension of the Offer., page 17
2. We note that Eligible Participants include only individuals who “have been actively employed
since no later than July 24, 2024,” which appears to be inconsistent with the requirement of Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i). Note
that if the Modification Offer is made in reliance on the Commission’s March 21, 2001 Global Exemptive Order, the relief from the
all-holders requirement provided in the Global Exemptive Order is intended to permit exclusion only for a compensatory purpose. In your
response, please describe the compensatory purpose of excluding employees who were not actively employed on or before July 24, 2024, from
the Modification Offer or provide your legal analysis explaining why the Modification Offer is consistent with the requirement of Exchange
Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i). Alternatively, revise the Modification Offer to comply with Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(f)(8)(i).
Response
Pfizer respectfully acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has revised
the relevant disclosure regarding the eligible participants on pages 1, 7, 8, and 17 accordingly.
* * *
Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (202) 371-7233 or
Marc.Gerber@Skadden.com if the Staff has any questions or requires additional information.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Marc S. Gerber
Marc S. Gerber
cc:
David M. Denton
Pfizer Inc.
Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President
Margaret M. Madden
Pfizer Inc.
Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Chief Governance Counsel
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