Edgar Filing: GILEAD SCIENCES INC

PRE 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

Schedule 14A Information

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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¨		Definitive Proxy Statement
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¨		Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

To our stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders of Gilead Sciences, Inc., to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California.

Details regarding admission to the meeting and the business to be conducted are more fully described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you attend the annual meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. There are three ways that you can cast your ballot – by telephone, by Internet or by mailing the proxy card (if you request one). Please review the instructions included in the Proxy Statement.

Thank you for your ongoing support of and continued interest in Gilead Sciences, Inc. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

Sincerely,

LOGO

John C. Martin

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

March , 2013

GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.

333 Lakeside Drive

Foster City, California 94404

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 8, 2013

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gilead”), will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California 94030 for the following purposes:

1. To elect ten directors to serve for the next year and until their successors are elected and qualified.

2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as the independent registered public accounting firm of Gilead for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

3. To approve an amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.

4. To approve an amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Gilead’s common stock from 2,800,000,000 to 5,600,000,000 shares.

5. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as presented in the Proxy Statement.

6. If properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board adopt a policy that the Chairman of the Board of Directors be an independent director.

7. If properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take steps to permit stockholder action by written consent.

8. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 13, 2013 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at this Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Gregg H. Alton

Secretary

Foster City, California

March , 2013

All stockholders are invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please grant a proxy to vote by telephone or the Internet or complete, date, sign and return the proxy card mailed to you (if you request one) as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the meeting. Even if you have given your proxy, you may still vote in person if you attend the meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must bring to the meeting a letter from the broker, bank or other nominee confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and a proxy issued in your name from the record holder.

Table of Contents


	Page No.
INTRODUCTION		1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS		5
PROPOSAL 1 Election of Directors		11
Nominees		12
Directors Not Standing for Re-election		15
Board Composition, Leadership, Committees and Meetings		15
Committees of our Board of Directors		18
Executive Officers		21
PROPOSAL 2 Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		23
Principal Accountant Fees and Services		23
Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures		24
PROPOSAL 3 Approval of an Amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan		25
PROPOSAL 4 Approval of an Amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation		43
PROPOSAL 5 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation		45
PROPOSAL 6 Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board Adopt a Policy that the Chairman of the Board of Directors be an Independent Director		47
PROPOSAL 7 Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board Take Steps to Permit Stockholder Action By Written consent		50
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION		52
Compensation Discussion and Analysis		52
Compensation Committee Report		72
Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs		73
Summary Compensation Table		75
2012 Grants of Plan-Based Awards		76
2012 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End		78
2012 Option Exercises and Stock Vested		81
2012 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation		81
Employment Agreements, Severance and Change in Control Arrangements with Named Executive Officers		83
2012 Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control		86
COMPENSATION OF NON-EMPLOYEE BOARD MEMBERS		88
General		88
2012 Non-Employee Board Member Compensation		88
2012 Director Compensation		90
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS		92
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT		93
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE		95
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION		95
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT		96
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS		97
Indemnity Agreements		97
Policies and Procedures		97
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS		98
APPENDIX A: GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. 2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN		A-1

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INTRODUCTION

The Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement provide an important opportunity for us to communicate with you about the achievements of the past year and our stewardship of Gilead. Your vote is important to us. At the Annual Meeting, in addition to the election of directors, you will have the opportunity to vote on four management and two stockholder proposals. As you consider your votes, we ask that you carefully review the information in this Proxy Statement. We summarize below key aspects of our performance, executive compensation and corporate governance to assist you as you review the more detailed information herein.

Performance Highlights

•

Strong financial performance. We are pleased to report that Gilead had outstanding financial performance, exceeding our objectives for 2012, with total revenues growing 16% to $9.7 billion and product sales also increasing 16% to $9.4 billion. In addition to the sales generated by our antiviral business, sales of products from our other therapeutic areas surpassed $1.2 billion in annual revenue, which represents an increase of 19.1%, compared to 2011.

•

Strong operational performance. Our 2012 operational performance met or exceeded our objectives. We continued to capitalize on opportunities to enhance our business and position us for further future growth. Achievements include:

•

completing the acquisition of Pharmasset, Inc. and accelerating our timeline to develop the first all-oral regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C infection, including the initiation of our first Phase 3 study of a single tablet regimen of sofosbuvir (formerly known as GS-7977) and ledipasvir (formerly known as GS-5885);

•

successfully launching our second single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV, Complera^®, in the United States and Canada and Eviplera^® in 19 European countries;

•

expanding our research and development pipeline with over 50 active Phase 3 clinical studies at the end of 2012;

•

obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for and launching Stribild^®, our third single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV in the United States;

•

submitting U.S. and E.U. marketing applications for elvitegravir, an oral integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced adults, and cobicistat, a pharmacoenhancing or “boosting” agent that increases blood levels to allow once-daily dosing of certain HIV medicines; and

•

expanding our growing oncology and inflammation pipeline, with the announced acquisition of YM BioSciences Inc., which closed in February 2013.

•

Strong stockholder returns. Our strong financial and operational performance has benefitted our stockholders. We are particularly pleased to report that we have achieved total shareholder return of 79.5% this year, significantly outperforming our peers. In addition, our three-year TSR increased 19.3% on a compound annual growth basis, which also places us at the forefront of our peers.

Compensation Highlights

•

Pay and performance alignment. Our executive compensation programs are designed to directly link pay with performance, creating appropriate incentives for our Named Executive Officers to take actions that ultimately increase the value of Gilead and shareholder returns. Performance-based compensation, particularly long-term equity incentive awards, has historically been the largest component of our total direct compensation opportunities for our executive officers. The efforts of our executive officers to deliver against long-term business strategy contributed significantly to our operational and financial achievements in 2011 and more dramatically in 2012, which drove the significant stock price and TSR appreciation described above.

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•

Equity compensation comprises 71% of target compensation. Over the past three years, the actual compensation mix for the Named Executive Officers has been awarded in the form of approximately 14% base salary, 15% annual bonus opportunity and 71% equity awards (based on grant-date fair value). We believe this mix is appropriate because the Named Executive Officers should focus their efforts on long-term corporate results. By aligning the majority of their compensation with Gilead’s performance, the Named Executive Officers realize less value from this pay component when we do not perform well and more value from this pay component when we do perform well.

•

Equity compensation is performance-based: Because our equity compensation is delivered entirely in the form of performance-based shares and stock options, 100% of the value realized by an executive officer from his or her equity awards is performance-based. Both of these vehicles are performance-oriented, as our executive officers realize no pay delivery from their awards unless Gilead performs. Stock options are granted at the market price of our common stock on the date of grant and, therefore, require our common stock to appreciate in value before our executive officers realize any benefit from their awards. Performance share awards require not only stock price performance, as measured in terms of our TSR relative to an industry comparator group, but also revenue growth measured either in absolute terms (for 2012 awards) or relative to an industry comparator group (for pre-2012 awards).

•

Responsiveness to stockholders: Based on stockholder feedback on our compensation policies and practices, we have taken the following actions:

•

enhanced the disclosures about our executive compensation program in this proxy statement to better explain our Compensation Committee’s objectives and operation;

•

revised our compensation peer group for 2013 to remove the two largest companies based on market capitalization and revenue; and

•

introduced an additional cap on the maximum payout under our performance share awards.

Governance Highlights

•

Lead independent director. We believe that the interests of our stockholders are best served by maintaining our Board of Directors’ flexibility in determining the board leadership structure that is best suited to the needs of Gilead at any particular time. Our Board Guidelines provide that where the Chairman is also the Chief Executive Officer, the independent directors will appoint a lead independent director to coordinate their efforts and activities. The defined role of lead independent director at Gilead is closely aligned with the role of an independent Chairman, ensuring a strong independent and active Board of Directors. As set forth in the Lead Independent Charter adopted by our Board, the lead independent director has clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. These duties include:

•

presiding at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

•

serving as principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and between the independent directors and senior management;

•

approving information sent to the Board;

•

approving agendas for the Board;

•

approving meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

•

calling meetings of the independent directors when necessary and appropriate;

•

responding directly to stockholder and other stakeholder questions and comments that are directed to the lead independent director or to the independent directors as a group;

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•

recommending to the Board and the Board Committees the retention of advisers and consultants to report directly to the Board; and

•

communicating to management, as appropriate, the results of private discussions among independent directors.

•

Executive sessions. As required by our Board Guidelines, Gilead’s independent directors meet without the presence of executive management on a routine basis, to review and discuss, among other things, Gilead’s strategy, performance, management effectiveness and succession planning at every regularly scheduled Board meeting and as determined by the independent directors.

•

Substantial majority of independent directors. Currently, all of our director nominees other than our CEO (nine out of ten) are independent. In addition, all members of the key board committees—the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee—are “independent” in accordance with or as defined in the rules adopted by the SEC and NASDAQ and Gilead’s own Board Guidelines. This ensures that oversight of critical matters such as the integrity of our financial statements, the compensation of our executive officers, the selection and evaluation of directors and the development of corporate governance principles is entrusted to independent directors.

•

Corporate governance policies and practices. We maintain strong corporate governance policies and practices. Information regarding our corporate governance initiatives can be found on our website, at http://www.gilead.com in the “Investors” section under “Corporate Governance,” including in Gilead’s Board Guidelines and the charter for each Board committee. We believe our strong corporate governance policies and practices, including the substantial percentage of independent directors on our Board of Directors, as well as the robust duties of our lead independent director, empower our independent directors to effectively oversee Gilead’s management – including the performance of the Chief Executive Officer – and provide an effective and appropriately balanced board governance structure.

•

Responsiveness to stockholder viewpoints. Our Board has exhibited its responsiveness to the viewpoints of stockholders, taking into account the say on pay vote and votes on stockholder proposals as the Board applies its fiduciary judgment to executive compensation and corporate governance matters.

•

Poison pill eliminated. At the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, a majority of the stockholders voting supported a stockholder proposal that requested our Board take steps to redeem Gilead’s rights plan or “poison pill” unless the plan is subject to a stockholder vote. In September 2012, after taking into consideration the vote of the stockholders, the Board adopted an amendment that terminated Gilead’s rights plan, effective immediately.

•

Stockholders’ ability to call special meeting. We permit stockholders holding a minimum of 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock to call a special meeting of stockholders.

•

No supermajority voting provisions. We have eliminated all supermajority voting provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws in response to the viewpoints of our stockholders expressed in response to a stockholder proposal voted on at our 2010 annual meeting. At our 2011 annual meeting, our Board proposed, and our stockholders approved, amendments to our certificate of incorporation adopting simple majority voting standards.

•

Majority voting in uncontested election of directors. Our director nominees are elected annually by majority voting in uncontested elections.

•

Equal voting rights. We only have one class of stock with equal voting provisions.

•

Annual elections. All of our directors are elected annually.

•

Annual say on pay vote. We provide an annual opportunity for stockholders to advise the Board on executive compensation through an advisory say on pay vote, consistent with the viewpoint expressed by our stockholders in 2011 that they preferred an annual vote to a vote with lesser frequency.

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Summary of Proposals for Vote

VOTING MATTER

BOARD VOTE
RECOMMENDATION

SEE PAGE #

(for more
detail)

Proposal 1 – Election of Directors

FOR each nominee

Independent

Audit
Committee

Compensation
Committee

Nominating
and Corporate
Governance
Committee

Scientific
Committee

John F. Cogan

Member

Etienne F. Davignon

Member

Carla A. Hills

Member

Kevin E. Lofton

Member

John W. Madigan

Member

Chair

John C. Martin

Nicholas G. Moore

Chair

Member

Richard J. Whitley

Member

Chair

Gayle E. Wilson

Chair

Member

Per Wold-Olsen

Member

Proposal 2 – Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

FOR

Proposal 3 – Approval of an Amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan

FOR

Proposal 4 – Approval of an Amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation

FOR

Proposal 5 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

FOR

Proposal 6 – Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board Adopt a Policy that the Chairman of the Board of Directors be an Independent Director

AGAINST

Proposal 7 – Stockholder Proposal Requesting that the Board Take Steps to Permit Stockholder Action By Written Consent

AGAINST

Thank you for your ongoing support of Gilead Sciences, Inc. We appreciate your time and consideration and ask that with respect to your vote you support the Board’s recommendations.

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GILEAD SCIENCES, INC.

333 Lakeside Drive

Foster City, California 94404

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MAY 8, 2013

We are providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gilead,” “we,” “our” or “us”), of proxies to be voted at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. local time (the “Annual Meeting”), or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California 94030.

This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed, or made available electronically, to stockholders on or about March , 2013 to all stockholders entitled to vote at our Annual Meeting.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.	Why did I receive a notice regarding the availability of proxy materials on the Internet?

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our stockholders of record. This approach conserves natural resources and reduces our costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials, while providing stockholders with a convenient way to access our proxy materials. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or to request a printed set of the proxy materials, including a proxy card. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice.

2.	How may I obtain a copy of Gilead’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other financial information?

A copy of our 2012 Annual Report, which includes our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, is available at http://www.gilead.com/proxy or may be requested from our Investor Relations department as described elsewhere in this proxy statement. Our 2012 Annual Report is not incorporated into this proxy statement and shall not be considered proxy solicitation material.

3.	Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only holders of our common stock at the close of business on March 13, 2013 are entitled to receive the Notice of Annual Meeting and to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, there were [ ] shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

4.	What items of business will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

The items of business scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting are:

•

to elect ten directors to serve for the next year and until their successors are elected and qualified;

•

to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013;

•

to approve an amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan;

•

to approve an amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Gilead’s common stock from 2,800,000,000 to 5,600,000,000 shares;

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•

to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as presented in this proxy statement.

•

if properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board adopt a policy that the Chairman of the Board be an independent director; and

•

if properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take steps to permit stockholder action by written consent.

We will also consider any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting. See question 11, “Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?” below.

5.	How does the Board recommend that I vote?

Our Board recommends that you vote your shares:

•

“FOR” each of the nominees to the Board;

•

“FOR” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013;

•

“FOR” the approval of an amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan;

•

“FOR” the approval of an amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Gilead’s common stock from 2,800,000,000 to 5,600,000,000 shares;

•

“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as presented in this proxy statement; and

•

“AGAINST” the stockholder proposal requesting that the Board adopt a policy that the Chairman of the Board be an independent director; and

•

“AGAINST” the stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take steps to permit stockholder action by written consent.

6.	What are the voting requirements to elect the directors and to approve each of the proposals discussed in this proxy statement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if a majority of the outstanding shares is represented by votes present at the meeting in person or by proxy. Shares represented by proxies marked “abstain” and “broker non-votes” are counted in determining whether a quorum is present. A “broker non-vote” is a proxy submitted by a broker that does not indicate a vote for some of the proposals because the broker does not have discretionary voting authority on certain types of proposals and has not received instructions from its client as to how to vote on a particular proposal.


Proposal		Vote Required
Proposal 1 – Election of ten directors to serve for the next year and until their successors are elected and qualified		Majority of votes cast (number of shares voted “For” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “Against” that director)

Proposal 2 – Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013		Majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy

Proposal 3 – Approval of an amendment to Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan		Majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy

Proposal 4 – Approval of an amendment to Gilead’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation		Majority of the outstanding shares of common stock

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Proposal		Vote Required
Proposal 5 – Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as presented in this proxy statement		Majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy

Proposal 6 – If properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board adopt a policy that the Chairman of the Board be an independent director		Majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy

Proposal 7 – If properly presented at the meeting, to vote on a stockholder proposal requesting that the Board take action to permit stockholder action by written consent		Majority of the shares entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy

If your shares are held by a broker and you do not indicate how you wish to vote, your broker is permitted to exercise its discretion to vote your shares only on certain “routine” matters. Proposal 2 is a “routine” matter. As a result, your broker is permitted to exercise discretionary voting authority to vote your shares for this proposal. Your broker may not exercise discretionary voting authority and may not vote your shares with respect to the other proposals unless you provide your broker with voting instructions.

With respect to Proposal 1, abstentions will not have an effect on the outcome of the vote. With respect to Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, abstentions will have the same effect as an “against” vote. “Broker non-votes” will have no effect on Proposals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 7. Broker non-votes will have the same effect as an “against” vote with respect to Proposal 4.

7.	How do I vote?

You may vote in person by attending the meeting or by completing and returning a proxy by mail, by telephone or electronically, using the Internet. If your shares are registered directly in your name with Gilead’s transfer agent, Computershare, you are considered a “stockholder of record.” If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name.” Most beneficial owners whose stock is held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee receive instructions for granting proxies from their banks, brokers or other nominees, rather than our proxy card. You can vote your shares held through a bank, broker or other nominee by following the voting instructions sent to you by that institution.

By mail

To vote your proxy by mail, be sure to complete, sign and date the proxy card (if you request one)or voting instruction card that may be delivered to you and return it in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card but do not indicate your voting preferences, the persons named on the proxy card will vote the shares represented by that proxy as recommended by our Board.

By Internet or the telephone

Stockholders may also vote their shares using the Internet or telephone. The law of the State of Delaware, under which we are incorporated, specifically permits electronically transmitted proxies so long as each such proxy contains or is submitted with information from which the inspector of election can determine that such proxy was authorized by the stockholder. The Internet and telephone voting procedures below are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to vote their shares and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been recorded properly. Stockholders voting shares via the Internet should understand that there may be costs associated with electronic access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies, which must be borne by the stockholder.

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Stockholders of record may go to http://www.proxyvote.com to vote their shares. You will be required to provide the control number printed on your Notice. The votes represented by such proxy will be generated on the computer screen and the voter will be prompted to submit or revise them as desired. Stockholders of record using a touch-tone telephone may vote their shares by calling (800) 690-6903 and following the recorded instructions.

A number of brokers and banks are participating in a program that offers the ability to grant proxies to vote shares over the telephone and Internet. Street name holders may vote on the Internet by accessing http://www.proxyvote.com. You will be required to provide the control number printed on your Notice. Street name holders using a touch-tone telephone may vote their shares by calling (800) 454-8683 and following the recorded instructions.

Internet and telephone voting for stockholders of record and street name holders will be available 24 hours a day, and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time on May 7, 2013. Submitting your proxy via the Internet or by telephone will not affect your right to vote in person should you decide to attend the Annual Meeting.

In person at the Annual Meeting

Stockholders of record may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy using a proxy card that they may request. Whether or not a stockholder plans to attend the meeting, the stockholder should vote by proxy to ensure his or her vote is counted. A stockholder may still attend the meeting and vote in person if he or she has already voted by proxy. To vote in person, a stockholder may come to the Annual Meeting and we will provide the stockholder with a ballot when he or she arrives. To vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided to you. If a stockholder returns a signed proxy card to us before the Annual Meeting, we will vote the stockholder’s shares as he or she directs.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee and present it to the inspector of election with your ballot to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important. You can save us the expense of a second mailing by voting promptly.

8.	What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?

Any stockholder giving a proxy pursuant to this solicitation has the power to revoke it at any time before the shares are voted.

If you are a stockholder of record, you can revoke your proxy before it is exercised by:

•

filing a written notice to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive office, 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404;

•

timely delivery of a valid, later-dated proxy or a later-dated vote by telephone or on the Internet; or

•

voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may revoke your proxy or submit new voting instructions by contacting your bank, broker or other holder of record. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting as described in the answer to the preceding question.

Attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

9.	What is the deadline for voting my shares by proxy, via the Internet or by telephone?

Votes by proxy must be received before the polls close at the Annual Meeting. Votes submitted via the Internet or by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time on May 7, 2013.

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10.

Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?

On the date this proxy statement went to press, we did not know of any matters to be raised at the Annual Meeting other than those referred to in this proxy statement. If other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration and you execute and deliver a proxy, then John C. Martin and John F. Milligan, the persons named on your proxy card, will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you.

11.

Is my vote confidential?

Yes. Proxy cards, ballots and voting tabulations that identify stockholders by name are kept confidential. There are exceptions for contested proxy solicitations or when necessary to meet legal requirements. Veaco Group, the independent proxy tabulator that we have engaged, will count the votes and act as the inspector of election for the meeting.

12.

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

We will announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting.

13.

Who will pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation?

We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies, including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the Notice and this proxy statement and any additional information furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in their names, shares of our common stock beneficially owned by others, to forward to such beneficial owners. We may reimburse persons representing beneficial owners of common stock for their out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. We have hired Innisfree M&A Incorporated to act as our proxy solicitor in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. We will pay Innisfree M&A Incorporated a fee of $15,000, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, for these services. Our solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or personal solicitation by directors, officers or other of our employees. No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or other employees for such solicitation services performed by them.

14.

When are the stockholder proposals for Gilead’s 2014 Annual Meeting due?

You may submit proposals for consideration at future stockholder meetings. For a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the annual meeting next year, the Corporate Secretary must receive the written proposal at our principal executive offices no later than November 20, 2013. Such proposals also must comply with SEC regulations under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company proxy materials. Proposals should be addressed to:

Corporate Secretary

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

333 Lakeside Drive

Foster City, California 94404

Fax: (650) 578-9264

Stockholders wishing to submit proposals or director nominations that are not to be included in such proxy statement must give timely written notice to the Corporate Secretary in accordance with our Bylaws, which require that written notice be received by the Corporate Secretary:

•

not earlier than the close of business on January 8, 2014; and

•

not later than the close of business on February 7, 2014.

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The chairperson of our annual meeting has the sole authority to determine whether any nomination or other business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with our Bylaws and to declare that any such nomination or other business not properly brought before our annual meeting shall not be transacted.

15.

Where can I get information related to future stockholder meetings of Gilead?

To request a copy of the proxy statement, annual report and form of proxy related to all of our future stockholder meetings where you are a stockholder on the relevant record date, you may log on to http://www.proxyvote.com or contact Investor Relations at:

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Attention: Investor Relations

333 Lakeside Drive

Foster City, CA 94404

(800) 445-3235

Email: investor_relations@gilead.com

16.

I want to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. From whom can I obtain directions to the Annual Meeting?

You may contact Investor Relations at (800) 445-3235 or investor_relations@gilead.com to obtain directions to the Annual Meeting.

17.

If I have additional questions, whom can I contact?

If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or how to vote or revoke your proxy, you should contact our proxy solicitor:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor

New York, New York 10022

Stockholders may call toll free: (877) 750-9501

Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 750-5833

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

There are ten nominees for the ten Board positions presently authorized. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees standing for election. Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast (number of shares voted “For” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “Against” that director) with respect to the election of each director at the Annual Meeting. Each director who is elected will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Each nominee listed below is currently a director of Gilead. Each nominee was previously elected by the stockholders at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders.

Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted for or against the election of the ten nominees named below. In the event that any nominee should be unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, such shares will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee as our Board may propose. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected and our Board and management have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended each of the nominees listed below to our Board for nomination. Each member of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets the definition of “independent director” as defined in Rule 5605 of The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) Marketplace Rules, as determined affirmatively by our Board.

Majority Vote Standard for Election of Directors

Our Bylaws require directors to be elected by the majority of the votes cast with respect to such director in uncontested elections (number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of shares voted “against” that director). In a contested election (a situation in which the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected), the standard for election of directors will be a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at any such meeting, in which a quorum is present, and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Under our Board Guidelines, any director who fails to receive at least a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election must tender his or her resignation to our Board. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would then evaluate the tendered resignation and make a recommendation to our Board whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken. Our Board will act on our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale for such decision within 90 days from the date the election results are certified. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in our Board’s decision. If a nominee who was not already serving as a director does not receive at least a majority of the votes cast for such director at the annual meeting that nominee will not become a director.

Our Board has adopted certain corporate governance principles, which we refer to as our Board Guidelines, to promote the functioning of the Board and its committees, to promote the interests of stockholders and to set forth a common set of expectations as to how the Board, its various committees and individual directors should perform their functions. On January 30, 2013, our Board amended the Lead Independent Director Charter, which is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH NAMED NOMINEE.

Nominees

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has evaluated and recommended, and the full Board has considered and nominated for election at the Annual Meeting, each of the ten directors described below. The names of the nominees, in alphabetical order and certain information about them as of March 20, 2013, as well as the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of the director nominees that led our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to conclude that the nominee should serve as a director of Gilead, are set forth below:

John F. Cogan, age 65, joined our Board in July 2005. Dr. Cogan is currently the Leonard and Shirley Ely Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a Professor in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University, where he has had a continuing appointment since 1980. Dr. Cogan’s current research is focused on U.S. budget and fiscal policy, social security and healthcare. Dr. Cogan has held a number of positions in the U.S. government, including Assistant Secretary for Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor and Associate Director and Deputy Director in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Dr. Cogan is a trustee of the Charles Schwab Family of Funds and a director of Venture Lending and Leasing Funds II, IV and VI, Inc.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant experience in economic healthcare policy, including serving as the Leonard and Shirley Ely Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, where his research is focused on U.S. budget and fiscal policy, social security and healthcare. Significant policy-making and government experience, including previously serving as Assistant Secretary for Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor and Associate Director and Deputy Director in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Etienne F. Davignon, age 80, joined our Board in September 1990. He is currently Minister of State and serves as Chairman of Recticel, CMB, SN Air Holding and Genfina and as a director of Sofina. Previously, he served as Chairman of Société Générale de Belgique, a diversified financial and industrial company. Mr. Davignon has served as the European Community’s Commissioner for Industry and International Markets and as the European Community’s Vice President for Research, Industry and Energy Policies.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership and business experience, including serving as Chairman of Recticel, CMB, SN Air Holding and Genfina and previously serving as Chairman of Société Générale de Belgique. International background and significant policy-making and government experience, including serving as the Minister of State and previously serving as the European Community’s Commissioner for Industry and International Markets and as the European Community’s Vice President for Research, Industry and Energy Policies. Breadth of knowledge about Gilead’s business as a result of service on Gilead’s Board since 1990.

Carla A. Hills, age 79, joined our Board in January 2007. Since 1993, she has served as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Hills & Company, a firm providing advice to U.S. businesses on investment, trade and risk assessment issues outside the United States. Mrs. Hills served as U.S. Trade Representative from 1989 to 1993, and was principal advisor on international trade to President George H. W. Bush. Under President Gerald R. Ford, she served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Mrs. Hills is a director of TCW Group, Inc. and serves on the international advisory boards of J.P. Morgan Chase and Rolls Royce. She is Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations and of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Mrs. Hills is Co-Chair of the Inter-American Dialogue and of the International Advisory Board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and of the Trilateral Commission, and a member of the board of the International Crisis Group.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant international trade policy and business experience, including serving as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Hills & Company, International Consultants, a firm providing counsel to U.S. businesses on investment, trade and risk assessment issues abroad.

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Significant policy-making experience and government service, including previously serving as U.S. Trade Representative and the principal advisor on international trade to President George H. W. Bush.

Kevin E. Lofton, age 58, joined our Board in July 2009. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health Initiatives. Headquartered in Denver, the healthcare system operates the full continuum of services from hospitals to home health agencies throughout the nation. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of two university hospitals, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 2007, Mr. Lofton served as Chairman of the Board of the American Hospital Association, the nation’s largest hospital trade association. Mr. Lofton also serves on the Board of Directors of the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, and Conifer Health Solutions LLC, a privately held revenue cycle management company in Dallas.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership experience, including serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health Initiatives, a healthcare system operating the full continuum of services from hospitals to home health agencies across the United States. Expertise and knowledge in hospital administration and patient care. Demonstrated commitment to ensuring that patients have access to medical services.

John W. Madigan, age 75, joined our Board in December 2005. He is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company, a media company, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the Internet. He is also a director and former Chairman of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and a director of Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Mr. Madigan is a former member of the Defense Business Board of the Department of Defense, an advisor to Madison Dearborn Partners and a director and former Chairman of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He also serves as a trustee of Northwestern University, Rush University Medical Center and the Paley Center for Media in New York. Mr. Madigan is a member and former Chairman of The Commercial Club of Chicago and a director of New Schools for Chicago.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership experience and broad knowledge of business, including previously serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company, a media industry leader with operations in major markets throughout the United States. Significant financial expertise including experience as an investment banker with Salomon Brothers and Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis.

John C. Martin, age 61, was appointed as Chairman of Gilead’s Board in May 2008 and has served as Gilead’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of Gilead’s Board of Directors since April 1996. Prior to joining Gilead, Dr. Martin held several leadership positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Syntex Corporation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the California Healthcare Institute. He also serves on the University of Southern California Board of Trustees. Dr. Martin previously served as President of the International Society for Antiviral Research, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BayBio and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the California Healthcare Institute. He served on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council, the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago, the Board of Trustees of Golden Gate University and the External Scientific Advisory Board of the University of California School of Global Health. Additionally, Dr. Martin served on the Centers for Disease Control/Health Resources and Services Administrations Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment and was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Dr. Martin previously served as a director of Gen-Prob Incorporated. Dr. Martin holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Chicago and an MBA in marketing from Golden Gate University. He has received the Isbell Award from the American Chemical Society and the Gertrude B. Elion Award for Scientific Excellence from the International Society for Antiviral Research. In 2008, Dr. Martin was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership and business experience, including serving as Gilead’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since May 2008 and previously serving as President

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and Chief Executive Officer from 1996 through May 2008. Significant scientific experience, as he holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and previously served as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS from 2006 to 2009. Breadth of knowledge about Gilead’s business as a result of employment at Gilead since 1990 in numerous leadership positions.

Nicholas G. Moore, age 71, joined our Board in March 2004. Mr. Moore is the retired global Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a professional services firm formed in July 1998 by the merger of Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse. Prior to the merger, Mr. Moore was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coopers & Lybrand (U.S.) in 1994 and Coopers & Lybrand International in 1997. Mr. Moore is the lead independent director of NetApp, Inc. and a director of Bechtel Group, Inc., Wells Fargo, Inc. and E2 Open. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s College of California. Mr. Moore is an inactive member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“CPAs”), the California Bar Association and the California and New York Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership and business experience across a range of industries, including previously serving as Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers and serving as the lead independent director of NetApp, Inc. and a director of Bechtel Group, Inc., Wells Fargo & Company and E2 Open. Significant financial expertise as he is an inactive member of the American Institute of CPAs and the California and New York Society of CPAs.

Richard J. Whitley, age 67, joined our Board in July 2008. He also serves as the Distinguished Professor, Loeb Scholar Chair in Pediatrics; Director, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Vice-Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Senior Scientist, Department of Gene Therapy; Senior Scientist, Cancer Research and Training Center; Associate Director for Clinical Studies, Center for AIDS Research; and Co-Director, Center for Emerging Infections and Emergency Preparedness (CEIEP) for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Whitley has held responsibility for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group, is a former President of the International Society of Antiviral Research, chairs the Board of Scientific Councilors for the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is President of the Board of the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant medical expertise, including serving as the Distinguished Professor, Loeb Scholar Chair in Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Significant health policy experience, including chairing the Board of Scientific Councilors for the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serving as the President of the Board of the Infectious Disease Society of America, previously holding responsibility for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group and serving as a former President of the International Society of Antiviral Research. Extensive experience in the field of antiviral medicine. Breadth of knowledge about Gilead’s business as a result of service on Gilead’s Scientific Advisory Board from 2003 to 2008.

Gayle E. Wilson, age 70, joined our Board in October 2001. Mrs. Wilson served as California’s First Lady from 1991 to 1999. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the board of directors of the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides grants for higher education, social impact, civic, cultural issues and health issues. She is also the Chair Emeritus of the Advisory Board of the California State Summer School for Math and Science, a member of the board of trustees of the California Institute of Technology and the Sanford Burnham Institute for Medical Research.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant experience in education, public policy and science and technology, including previously serving as California’s First Lady from 1991 to 1999, currently serving as a member of the board of trustees of the California Institute of Technology, Chair Emeritus of the Advisory Board of the California State Summer School for Math and Science and as a member of the board of the Sanford Burnham Institute for Medical Research. Breadth of knowledge about Gilead’s business as a result of service on Gilead’s Board since 2001.

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Per Wold-Olsen, age 65, joined our Board in January 2010, after serving as the Chair of our Health Policy Advisory Board since 2007. From 2005 to 2006, he served as President of the Human Health Intercontinental Division of Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company. From 1997 until 2005, he served as President of Human Health Europe, Middle East/Africa and Worldwide Human Health Marketing for Merck. Mr. Wold-Olsen is currently Chairman of the Board of GN Store Nord A/S. He also serves as a director of Exiqon A/S and Novo A/S. Mr. Wold-Olsen is a member of the Board of Governors of BioMalta and of the Board of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a non-profit initiative dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of new medicines for the treatment of malaria. Mr. Wold-Olsen previously served as a director of PharmaNet Development Group, Inc. and H. Lundbeck A/S.

Relevant Experience, Qualifications and Skills: Significant leadership and international business experience at Merck & Co., Inc., including previously serving as President of the Human Health Intercontinental Division. Breadth of knowledge about Gilead’s business as a result of service as Chair of Gilead’s Health Policy Advisory Board from 2007 to 2009.

Directors Not Standing for Re-election

In January 2013, we announced that Mr. James Denny and Dr. Gordon Moore will not stand for re-election as directors of Gilead.

James M. Denny, age 80, joined our Board in 1996 and has served as the lead independent director of our Board since May 2008. He served as Chairman of our Board from 2001 to May 2008. Previously, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and subsequently Vice Chairman of Sears, Roebuck & Co., then a retailing and financial services conglomerate, with oversight responsibility for many of the company’s operations and staff functions. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Planning Officer of G.D. Searle & Co., Chairman of Pearle Health Services, Inc., Senior Advisor at William Blair Capital Partners, Treasurer at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and associate counsel at Dewey Ballantine Bushby, Palmer & Wood in New York and Paris. Mr. Denny is currently Chairman of a privately-held healthcare technology company. He is a past Chairman of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Northwestern Memorial Foundation and has held directorships at Astra AB, ChoicePoint, Inc., GATX Corporation, The Principal Financial Group, The Allstate Corporation and General Instruments, Inc.

Gordon E. Moore, age 84, joined our Board in January 1996, and served as a member of our Business Advisory Board from July 1991 until January 1996. Dr. Moore retired from Intel Corporation, the world’s largest semiconductor chip maker, where he was a co-founder and previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Moore is a former Chairman and now Life Trustee of the California Institute of Technology, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Engineering (UK). Among his awards, he received the National Medal of Technology and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Board Composition, Leadership, Committees and Meetings

Independence of the Board of Directors

The NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent” as affirmatively determined by our Board. In addition, our Board Guidelines requires that a substantial majority of our Board shall consistent of “independent” directors as defined by the Board Guidelines. Our Board Guidelines are available on our website at http:/www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

After review of all relevant transactions and relationships between each director, and his or her family members, and us, our senior management and independent registered public accounting firm, our Board has determined that nine of our ten nominees for director are “independent” directors as defined in Rule 5605 of the

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NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. Dr. Martin, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is not an independent director within the meaning of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. In addition, our Board affirmatively determined that Mr. Denny and Dr. Moore qualified as “independent” directors.

Board Leadership Structure and Oversight of Risk

Dr. Martin, our Chief Executive Officer, has served as Chairman of the Board since May 2008. Our Board Guidelines provide that the independent directors will designate a lead independent director when the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by the same person. Mr. Denny has served as the lead independent director since May 2008 and will serve until as lead independent director until retirement from the Board in May 2013. We expect to appoint a successor lead independent director at Gilead’s Board meeting in May 2013.

We believe that our current Board leadership structure provides effective oversight of management and strong leadership of the independent directors. The defined role of lead independent director at Gilead is closely aligned with the role of an independent Chairman. As set forth in the Lead Independent Director Charter adopted by our Board, the lead independent director has clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. These duties include:

•

presiding at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

•

serving as principal liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and between the independent directors and senior management;

•

approving information sent to the Board;

•

approving agendas for the Board;

•

approving meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

•

calling meetings of the independent directors when necessary and appropriate;

•

responding directly to stockholder and other stakeholder questions and comments that are directed to the lead independent director or to the independent directors as a group;

•

recommending to the Board and the Board Committees the retention of advisers and consultants to report directly to the Board; and

•

communicating to management, as appropriate, the results of private discussions among independent directors.

In addition, as required by our Board Guidelines, Gilead’s independent directors meet without the presence of executive management on a routine basis, to review, among other things, Gilead’s strategy, performance, management effectiveness and succession planning. As lead independent director, Mr. Denny regularly attends meetings of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee in a non-voting capacity. In addition, Mr. Denny conducts an annual self-assessment of the Board and committees of the Board to evaluate their effectiveness.

We believe there is a benefit to having Dr. Martin serve as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Martin’s long tenure and knowledge of Gilead and our industry provide him unique insight into our business. In addition, in light of Dr. Martin’s experience navigating Gilead through periods of growth, including resulting from large acquisitions, our Board concluded that Gilead can more effectively execute its strategy and business plans to maximize stockholder value if Dr. Martin holds the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Further, as the individual with primary responsibility and accountability for managing our day-to-day operations, he can provide unified leadership of Gilead and ensure that key business and strategic issues, risks and opportunities are brought to our Board’s attention in a way that prioritizes and makes best use of the Board’s time.

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Our Audit Committee reviews risks associated with our financial and accounting systems, accounting policies and investment strategies, in addition to regulatory compliance and other matters that have significant elements of risk associated with them. In addition, our Audit Committee regularly meets in executive session and in private sessions with Gilead’s independent registered public accounting firm, internal audit and the Chief Financial Officer to discuss, among other things, risks to Gilead’s business. As discussed in more detail under “Executive Compensation – Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs” beginning on page 73, our Compensation Committee evaluates Gilead’s compensation policies and practices for its employees to help ensure that these policies and practices do not incentivize employees to take risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Gilead. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews our management of risks in areas such as regulatory, clinical trials, manufacturing, product promotion and human resources and meets periodically with senior employees of Gilead responsible for managing risk in these areas. Each of the committees periodically reports to the Board of Directors on its risk oversight activities. We do not believe our Board’s leadership structure adversely affects the Board’s ability to evaluate and manage risk.

On January 30, 2013, our Board amended the Lead Independent Director Charter, which is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

Executive Sessions

As required under applicable NASDAQ listing standards, our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only they are present. Mr. Denny, our lead independent director, presides over these executive sessions. Additionally, executive sessions may be convened by the lead independent director at his discretion and will be convened if requested by any other independent director.

Meetings of our Board of Directors and Board Committees; Attendance at Annual Meetings

Our Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Scientific Committee. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of our Board and of the committees on which they served during the year ended December 31, 2012. Current committee membership and the number of meetings of our full Board and committees held in 2012 are shown in the table below:


	Board	Audit Committee	Compensation Committee	Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee	Scientific Committee
John F. Cogan	Member	Member			Member
Etienne F. Davignon	Member			Member
James M. Denny	Lead Independent Director	*	*	*	*
Carla A. Hills	Member			Member
Kevin E. Lofton	Member	Member	Member
John W. Madigan	Member	Member	Chair
John C. Martin	Chair
Gordon E. Moore	Member		Member
Nicholas G. Moore	Member	Chair	Member
Richard J. Whitley	Member			Member	Chair
Gayle E. Wilson	Member			Chair	Member
Per Wold-Olsen	Member		Member		Member
Number of 2012 Meetings	6	9	8	4	2

*	Ex-officio, non-voting participant

Our Board expects our directors to attend our annual meetings of our stockholders. Eleven of the then-current twelve Board members attended our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders.

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Committees of our Board of Directors

Our Board Guidelines require that all members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and at least one member of the Scientific Committee must be “independent” directors as defined by the Board Guidelines.

Audit Committee

Our Board has determined that all members of our Audit Committee are “independent directors” as defined in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and satisfy heightened independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our Board has determined that Mr. Nicholas Moore and Mr. Madigan are “audit committee financial experts,” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

Our Audit Committee oversees, on behalf of our Board, our corporate accounting, financial reporting process and systems of internal accounting and financial controls. For this purpose, our Audit Committee performs several functions. Among other things, our Audit Committee:

•

evaluates the performance, independence and qualifications of the independent registered public accounting firm;

•

determines the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm;

•

determines whether to retain or terminate the existing independent registered public accounting firm or to appoint and engage a new independent registered public accounting firm;

•

reviews and approves the retention and compensation of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any proposed audit and proposed permissible non-audit services;

•

reviews and approves, in advance, all related person transactions;

•

monitors the rotation of partners of the independent registered public accounting firm on our engagement team as required by SEC rules;

•

reviews with the independent registered public accounting firm the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of, and compliance with, our accounting and financial controls and systems of internal controls;

•

reviews the financial statements to be included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; and

•

discusses with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit and the results of their review of our quarterly financial statements.

Our Audit Committee is also responsible for establishing and maintaining procedures for receiving, reviewing and responding to complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters under the Complaint Procedure and Non-Retaliation Policy, which procedures are summarized on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

The Audit Committee Charter is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

Compensation Committee

Our Board has determined that all members of our Compensation Committee are independent directors as defined in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. The members of our Compensation Committee are “outside directors” as determined under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and “non-employee directors’ as determined under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

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Our Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating our executive officer compensation plans, policies and programs. These duties include:

•

setting the compensation philosophy for executive officers, including the compensation objectives, target pay levels and the peer group for executive compensation and performance benchmarking;

•

evaluating the performance of Dr. Martin, our Chief Executive Officer, and reviewing and approving his compensation, subject to ratification by the independent directors of the Board, each year;

•

reviewing and approving the compensation arrangements for our other executive officers;

•

overseeing the administration of our compensation plans, including our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, corporate bonus plan, deferred compensation program and our Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) Executive Bonus Plan;

•

establishing the stock ownership guidelines applicable to executive officers; and

•

reviewing and discussing the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 52.

Our Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a charter that outlines its specific authority, duties and responsibilities. On November 5, 2012, our Board amended the charter, which is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

Our Compensation Committee has the authority to engage the services of its own outside advisors to assist it in determining the compensation of our executive officers. Our Compensation Committee has retained Frederic W. Cook & Co. (“FWC”) as its independent compensation consultant. FWC’s role in the compensation process for the 2012 fiscal year included advice and recommendations on the following matters:

•

the executive compensation philosophy, program structure and selection of peer companies;

•

the compensation arrangement for Dr. Martin;

•

the compensation analyses and recommendations developed by management for the other executive officers; and

•

the compensation arrangements for our non-employee Board members.

FWC provides consulting services solely to our Compensation Committee and does not receive professional fees from us for any other services.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Board has determined that all members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors as defined in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee performs several functions. Among other things, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

•

identifies, evaluates and recommends directors for consideration by our full Board;

•

establishes criteria for Board and committee membership;

•

reviews and recommends changes to our corporate governance policies and procedures;

•

oversees Gilead’s management of non-financial or non-compensation policies-related risks; and

•

reviews Gilead’s political expenditure policies and expenditures, including payments to trade associations.

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In identifying potential director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers Board candidates through a variety of methods and sources. These include suggestions from current Board members, senior management, stockholders, professional search firms and other sources. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews all candidates in the same manner regardless of the source of the recommendation.

In evaluating candidates for membership on the Board, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the candidate’s relevant experience, the number and nature of other board memberships held and possible conflicts of interest. In addition, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider whether the candidate assists in achieving a mix of members that represents a diversity of backgrounds and experience, including with respect to age, gender, international background, race and specialized experience. Each year, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews its Board membership criteria and assesses the composition of the Board against the criteria.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider all factors it considers appropriate to meeting the needs of the Board at that particular time. According to the Board membership criteria established by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, candidates nominated for election or reelection to the Board should possess the following qualifications:

•

highest standards of personal and professional integrity;

•

ability and judgment to serve the long-term interest of our stockholders;

•

experience and expertise relevant to our business and which will contribute to the overall effectiveness and diversity of the Board;

•

broad business and social perspective;

•

ability to communicate openly with other directors, to meaningfully and civilly participate in the Board’s decision making process;

•

commitment to serve on the Board for an extended period of time to ensure continuity and to develop knowledge about Gilead’s business, and willingness to devote appropriate time and effort to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a Board member;

•

independence from any particular constituency; and

•

ability and willingness to objectively appraise the performance of management.

It is the policy of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider properly submitted stockholder recommendations of new director candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s evaluation process for director nominees does not vary based on whether a candidate is recommended by a stockholder. Any stockholder recommendation must include the candidate’s name and qualifications for Board membership, the candidate’s age, business address, residence address, principal occupation or employment, the number of shares beneficially owned by the candidate and all other information that would be required to solicit a proxy under federal securities law. In addition, the recommendation must include the stockholder’s name, address and the number of shares beneficially owned. The recommendation should be sent to the Corporate Secretary, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404. The recommendation must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary prior to the applicable deadline described under “Stockholder Proposals” above.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.” On November 5, 2012, our Board amended the charter.

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Scientific Committee

Our Scientific Committee was formed in January 2004 to advise our Board regarding our research strategies, the scientific merit of technology or products involved in licensing and acquisition opportunities and emerging science and technology issues. The charter of our Scientific Committee is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.”

Stockholder Communications with our Board of Directors

Stockholders may communicate with our Board by sending a letter to the Corporate Secretary, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404. Our Corporate Secretary reviews all communications from stockholders, but may, in his sole discretion, disregard any communication that he believes is not:

•

related to our business;

•

within the scope of our responsibility;

•

credible; or

•

material or potentially material.

If deemed an appropriate communication, the Corporate Secretary will submit a stockholder communication to our lead independent director.

Code of Ethics

Our written Code of Ethics applies to all of our directors and employees, including our executive officers. The Code of Ethics is available on our website at http://www.gilead.com in the Investors section under “Corporate Governance.” Changes to or waivers of the Code of Ethics will be disclosed on the same website. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment to, or waiver of, any provision of the Code of Ethics by disclosing such information on the same website.

Executive Officers

The names of our executive officers who are not also directors of Gilead and certain information about each of them as of March 20, 2013 are set forth below.

Gregg H. Alton, age 47, is our Executive Vice President, Corporate and Medical Affairs. Mr. Alton joined us in 1999, and served as General Counsel from 2000 to 2009, when he was appointed to his current position. In his current role, Mr. Alton is responsible for legal affairs, corporate compliance and quality, government affairs, medical affairs, public affairs and emerging market activities. Prior to joining Gilead, Mr. Alton was an attorney at the law firm of Cooley Godward, LLP, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions, corporate partnerships and corporate finance transactions for healthcare and information technology companies. Mr. Alton is a member of the boards of BayBio, a San Francisco Bay Area life sciences industry organization, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland. He is also a member of the advisory board of UCSF Global Health Sciences and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Stanford Law School. Mr. Alton received a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of California at Berkeley, and holds a JD from Stanford University.

Norbert W. Bischofberger, age 57, is our Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Bischofberger joined us in 1990 and has served as Executive Vice President, Research and Development since 2000 and Chief Scientific Officer since 2007. Prior to joining us, Dr. Bischofberger was a Senior Scientist in Genentech, Inc.’s DNA Synthesis group from 1986 to 1990. He received his B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Innsbruck in Austria and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland and performed postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

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John F. Milligan, age 52, is our President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Milligan joined Gilead in 1990 as a Research Scientist, and in 1996, he became Director of Project Management and Project Team Leader for Gilead’s collaboration with Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd on Tamiflu^®. In 2002, Dr. Milligan was appointed Chief Financial Officer. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2007 and President in 2008. Dr. Milligan is a member of the board of Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the largest biotechnology industry organization, and a trustee of Ohio Wesleyan University. Dr. Milligan received his B.A. in chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois and was an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at San Francisco.

Robin L. Washington, age 50, is our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Washington joined us in May 2008. Prior to joining Gilead, Ms. Washington served as Chief Financial Officer of Hyperion Solutions, an enterprise software company that was acquired by Oracle Corporation in March 2007. Ms. Washington also spent nearly 10 years at PeopleSoft, a provider of enterprise application software, most recently in the role of Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller. She previously was a Director of Finance for Tandem Computers, an Accounting Analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a Senior Auditor for Deloitte & Touche. Ms. Washington holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose and previously served as a member of the board of directors of MIPS Technologies, Inc.

Kevin Young CBE, age 55, is our Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations. Mr. Young joined us in 2004. Mr. Young is a 29-year veteran of the biopharmaceutical industry, with a career that spans a variety of therapeutic categories including cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. He previously held positions at Amgen, Inc. and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (formerly ICI Pharmaceuticals). During his 12 years at Amgen, Mr. Young held a number of positions in Europe and the United States, most recently as Head of the U.S. Inflammation Business Unit leading the re-launch of Enbrel^® following the acquisition of Immunex Corporation. In 2011, Mr. Young was appointed Commander of The British Empire, one of Great Britain’s highest civilian honors, in recognition of his service to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Mr. Young has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Sports Science and Exercise from Liverpool John Moores University and Nottingham University in England and has completed the Executive Program at the University of Michigan.

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PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Our Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 and has further directed that we submit the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Our Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 was compatible with maintaining their independence. Ernst & Young LLP has audited our financial statements since our inception in 1987. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Stockholder ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However, our Board is submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, our Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain Ernst & Young LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, our Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of our stockholders and us.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 for the professional services described below are as follows:


	2012		2011
Audit Fees⁽¹⁾	$	4,902,000	$	5,706,000
Audit-Related Fees⁽²⁾		20,000		162,000
Tax Fees⁽³⁾		1,588,000		1,677,000
All Other Fees⁽⁴⁾		2,000		12,000

Total	$	6,512,000	$	7,557,000

⁽¹⁾

Represents fees incurred for the integrated audit of our consolidated financial statements and of our internal control over financial reporting and review of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as fees incurred for audit services that are normally provided by Ernst & Young LLP in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings or engagements. During 2012, these fees also included accounting consultation services related to our acquisitions of Pharmasset, Inc., an office building located in Foster City, California and YM BioSciences Inc. During 2011, these fees also included accounting consultation services related to our acquisitions of Arresto Biosciences, Inc., Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pharmasset, Inc. and the issuance of various tranches of our senior unsecured notes.

⁽²⁾

Represents fees incurred for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by Ernst & Young LLP, are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” During both 2012 and 2011, audit-related fees consisted of fees incurred in connection with specified procedures performed by Ernst & Young LLP in relation to user-defined reports.

⁽³⁾	Represents fees primarily incurred in connection with domestic and international tax compliance and tax consultation services.

⁽⁴⁾	During both 2012 and 2011, fees for other professional services were related to accessing Ernst & Young LLP’s online research database. For 2011, fees for other professional services were also related to statutory reporting services for our United Kingdom subsidiary.

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All of the services described above were pre-approved by our Audit Committee.

Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures

Our Audit Committee has adopted a policy and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. Under this policy, our Audit Committee must pre-approve all services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, and the policy prohibits the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for certain specified services. The policy permits the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for services that are approved by our Audit Committee in defined categories such as audit services, audit-related services and tax services. The policy also permits engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for other services approved by our Audit Committee if there is a persuasive business reason for using the independent registered public accounting firm over other providers. The policy provides that as a general rule of thumb, the fees for these other services should be below 25% of total audit fees. Pre-approval may be given as part of our Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm or on an individual explicit case-by-case basis before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated by our Audit Committee to a member of the Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee receives quarterly reports on the scope of services provided to date and planned to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in the future.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 2.

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PROPOSAL 3

APPROVAL OF RESTATEMENT OF THE GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. 2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Stockholders are being asked to approve the January 2013 restatement of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) that will:

•

expand and re-confirm the list of:

•

financial and non-financial performance criteria that may be utilized in the formulation of the specific performance goals to which the vesting of performance-based awards under the 2004 Plan may be tied; and

•

permissible adjustments that may be made to those criteria in assessing performance goal attainment.

This would enable so that those awards may continue to qualify as performance-based compensation not subject to the one million dollar ($1,000,000) limitation on income tax deductibility per executive officer imposed under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).

•

impose limitations on the aggregate grant-date value for which awards denominated in shares of common stock, whether in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and phantom shares, may be made under the 2004 Plan per calendar year to each continuing non-employee Board member or each newly elected or appointed no-employee Board member;

•

extend the term of the 2004 Plan until May 7, 2023;

•

impose a limitation on the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2004 Plan pursuant to tax-favored incentive stock options granted after December 31, 2012; and

•

effect other revisions to allow the 2004 Plan to continue to comply with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, including (without limitation) the imposition of additional restrictions on the repricing of stock options and stock appreciation rights.

The new January 2012 restatement of the 2004 Plan (the “January 2013 Restatement”) will not result in any increase in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance over the term of the plan. However, all awards currently outstanding under the 2004 Plan will continue to be governed by the existing terms and provisions of the applicable agreements evidencing those awards, and nothing in the new restatement will affect or modify the existing terms and conditions of those awards.

All share numbers that appear in this proposal reflect the two-for-one forward split of the Gilead’s common stock that was completed on January 25, 2013.

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The table below summarizes, as of February 28, 2013, the remaining share reserve under each of our equity incentive plans, the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under each such plan, the weighted average exercise price of those awards and the weighted average remaining contractual term:

Shares Available for

Future Grant

Outstanding Awards

Plan

Number of
Shares

Weighted Average
Exercise Price⁽¹⁾

Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term⁽²⁾

2004 Plan

77,270,126⁽³⁾

84,387,190

⁽⁴⁾

19.3989

5.00 years

1991 Stock Option Plan