More shareholder proposals are likely to appear on proxies this year, not so much because more will have been filed but because more will have been allowed, according to research from The Corporate Library.
The firm expects the 2009 proxy season to include an all-time high in withold votes for directors, increased focus on regulatory matters, much greater attention to how boards manage risk—particularly true at banks and other financial service firms.
Shareholder proposals to achieve more shareholder input on executive compensation will also see a significant rise in support, as will proposals that seek to limit CEO power by splitting the CEO and chairman roles.