(BUSINESS WIRE)--The board of directors of Pfizer Inc. today declared a 22-cent second-quarter 2012 dividend on the company’s common stock, payable June 5, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 11, 2012. The second-quarter 2012 cash dividend will be the 294^th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Pfizer.

“Through dividends and share repurchases, we returned approximately $15.2 billion to our shareholders in 2011,” said Ian Read, chairman and chief executive officer. “In 2012, we are continuing to take actions to increase shareholder value, including through our dividend increase announced in December 2011, and continued share repurchase activity. In addition, we recently announced an agreement to sell our Nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85 billion, and we remain on track to announce a strategic decision for our Animal Health business in 2012.”

Preliminary results from the meeting indicate that the company’s 14 continuing directors were re-elected to one-year terms and that shareholders ratified the selection of KPMG LLP as Pfizer’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2012 fiscal year. In addition, shareholders voted in support of a board-sponsored proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers.

In other voting, four shareholder proposals were not approved by the shareholders.

The final results are subject to verification by the independent election inspectors. The final results will be reported in a Form 8-K to be filed by Pfizer with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the next few days.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world®

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world’s best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as the world’s leading biopharmaceutical company, we also collaborate with healthcare professionals, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more about our commitments, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of April 26, 2012. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about the Company’s plans with respect to dividends and share repurchases, about an agreement to sell the Nutrition business to Nestle and about the Company’s plan to announce a strategic decision regarding its Animal Health business that involves substantial risks and uncertainties. A description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and in its reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.