Bristol-Myers Announces $2 Bln Accelerated Share Buyback; Adds Former Bausch & Lomb CFO, Others To Board

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. announced early Tuesday a $2 billion accelerated share buyback program. The company also said three new members are joining its board, including Robert Bertolini, the former chief financial officer of Bausch & Lomb, Matthew Emmens, who has served as chief executive officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Merck and Astra AB's joint venture, Astra Merck, and Theodore Samuels, a current member of the Perrigo Company and Stamps.com boards. Bristol-Myers shares lifted 1.2% in pre-market trade after the announcement. Shares have retreated 3.8% over the last three months, compared with a 7.0% rise in the S&P 500 .