<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214659-22-005007.txt : 20220411
<SEC-HEADER>0001214659-22-005007.hdr.sgml : 20220411
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220411060154
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214659-22-005007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	PX14A6G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220411
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220411
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20220411

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882095
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				943047598
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		PX14A6G
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19731
		FILM NUMBER:		22818399

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 LAKESIDE DR
		CITY:			FOSTER CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6505743000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 LAKESIDE DR
		CITY:			FOSTER CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GILEAD SCIENCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			United Church Funds, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001739344
		IRS NUMBER:				237092477
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		PX14A6G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1020
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(212) 729-2600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1020
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10115
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>PX14A6G
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b48223px14a6g.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; color: green">Non-Confidential</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right">1</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>NOTICE OF EXEMPT SOLICITATION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>NAME OF REGISTRANT: </B>Gilead Sciences, Inc.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>NAME OF PERSON RELYING ON EXEMPTION: </B>United Church Funds</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>ADDRESS OF PERSON RELYING ON EXEMPTION: &nbsp;</B>475 Riverside
Dr #1020, New York, NY 10115</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Written materials are submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-6(g)(1) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Submission is not required of these filers under the terms of the Rule but is made voluntarily.
</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Gilead Sciences, Inc.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Stockholder Proposal on Independent Chair</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>April 8, 2022</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">We urge you to vote FOR Stockholder Proposal #5 requesting that the
board adopt a policy that whenever possible and prospectively, that the chairperson of the board of directors be an independent director
at the May 12, 2021 annual meeting of the Gilead Sciences, Inc (&ldquo;Gilead&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) stockholders. The proponents
of this resolution are Gilead shareholders and members of the Investors for Opioid and Pharmaceutical Accountability (IOPA).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Rationale for a YES Vote</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Gilead shareholders continue to suffer under the current combined CEO and Chair structure. Gilead&rsquo;s stock significantly underperformed
since Daniel O&rsquo;Day&rsquo;s tenure began in 2019 and over the last five years.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 70%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="text-align: center; white-space: nowrap"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Annualized Trailing Returns % (Mar 31, 2021)</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; width: 49%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 17%; text-align: right; text-indent: 11pt">1 Yr</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 17%; text-align: right; text-indent: 11pt">3 Yr</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; white-space: nowrap; width: 17%; text-align: right; text-indent: 11pt">5 Yr</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap">Gilead Sciences (GILD)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>i</SUP></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">-3.59</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">1.33</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">1.20</TD></TR>
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap">Sector: Drug Manufacturers<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>ii</SUP></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">22.40</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">13.88</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right">11.98</TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>59% of companies in the S&amp;P 500 have separate CEO and chairman positions, an increase from 55% in 2020 and 37% in 2011.<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><SUP>iii</SUP></FONT>
When separating these roles, companies have made public commitments to strengthening their corporate governance, while also benefiting
from the leadership skills and business experience of two different individuals.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>


<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="3" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border: Black 1pt solid"><B>This is not a proxy solicitation to vote your proxy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please DO NOT send us your proxy card, as it will not be accepted.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vote your proxy according to the instructions set forth in Gilead Sciences&rsquo; proxy statement.</B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Symbol; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 2px solid"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 10pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left"><TD STYLE="width: 33%">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 34%; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 33%; text-align: right">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 8pt"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%"><TR><TD STYLE="text-align: left; width: 100%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right; color: green">Non-Confidential</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right">2</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>A board led by an independent chair would better oversee these risks and would best serve the interests of the Company&rsquo;s shareholders.
Looking beyond already disclosed legal settlements which includes a recent $1.25B settlement<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><SUP>iv</SUP></FONT>
over patent infringement, Gilead is facing tremendous financial and reputational risk that requires the guidance of an Independent Board
Chair. For example, Gilead is facing the <I>United States v. Gilead</I> lawsuit is being watched closely<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><SUP>v</SUP></FONT>
and scheduled begin trial in June 2022 and was brought over Gilead&rsquo;s HIV prevention product (Truvada and Descovy for use as <I>Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis)</I>. Other outstanding lawsuits focus on product liability and anti-trust practices in which Gilead states &ldquo;we can
not predict the ultimate outcome&rdquo; and could lead to &ldquo;significant monetary damages.&rdquo;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>The Company asserts that the Board should have flexibility to choose an appropriate governance structure. We believe that this resolution
offers sufficient flexibility to the Board to phase in this policy at the next CEO transition and offers opportunities to waive the policy
when necessary.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>The Company asserts that a Lead Independent Director ensures independent leadership and accountability. However, the Company&rsquo;s
list of responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director makes it clear that it is the Chairman that sets the agenda and the Lead Independent
Director merely consults. We also question Mr. Lofton&rsquo;s independence after serving on the board for over 12 years.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Vote FOR Proposal #5 requesting the board to adopt a policy that
whenever possible and prospectively, that the chair be an independent director.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">An independent chair is vital to ensure that challenging questions
of strategy, governance, culture, compliance, and risk are being adequately addressed, discussed and independently overseen at the board
level.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">For further information, please contact Matthew Illian at matthew.illian@ucfunds.org
or +1 (332) 219.8769</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">________________________</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>i</SUP></FONT>
https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/xnas/gild/trailing-returns, accessed on April 6, 2022</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>ii</SUP></FONT>
Sector return data available when viewing GILD returns: https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/xnas/gild/trailing-returns</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>iii</SUP></FONT>
https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsofts-combination-of-ceo-and-chairman-roles-goes-against-trend-11623970653</P>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>iv</SUP></FONT>
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/gsk-announces-125-bln-settlement-between-viiv-healthcare-gilead-2022-02-01/</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><SUP>v</SUP></FONT>
https://www.prep4all.org/news/us-v-gilead-anniversary#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20brought%20by%20DOJ%20and%20HHS%E2%80%94%20United,of%20patients%20living%20with%20and%20vulnerable%20to%20HIV.</P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>


<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="3" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; border: Black 1pt solid"><B>This is not a proxy solicitation to vote your proxy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please DO NOT send us your proxy card, as it will not be accepted.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vote your proxy according to the instructions set forth in Gilead Sciences&rsquo; proxy statement.</B></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Symbol; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="margin-top: 3pt; margin-bottom: 3pt"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 2px solid; width: 100%">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
