Sempra Board Adopts Revised Voting Requirements

The board of directors of Sempra Energy has amended its bylaws to require that directors be elected by a majority vote in uncontested elections. The board also adopted amendments to the company's articles of incorporation to eliminate supermajority requirements for shareholder approvals. Both measures are subject to approval by shareholders at the annual meeting and require an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the outstanding shares.

"Our shareholders have recommended changes in our voting requirements," said Donald E. Felsinger, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy, in a statment. "After careful review of the proposals, our board of directors is pleased to endorse these new governance measures."

Previously, Sempra Energy's method for electing directors was through a plurality vote: The director nominees who received the highest number of votes cast were elected, even if those votes did not represent a majority of all votes. Under the new majority-voting method, to be elected in an uncontested election, a director nominee must receive a majority of all votes cast.

Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 14,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.