SEC Reverses on Health Proposals
May 27, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
The Securities and Exchange Commission is requiring companies to put shareholder proposals related to universal health care on the proxy for a vote. In the past, it had allowed companies to omit them.
May 27, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
The Securities and Exchange Commission is requiring companies to put shareholder proposals related to universal health care on the proxy for a vote. In the past, it had allowed companies to omit them.
Rockefellers Renew Call for Independence
May 22, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Does ExxonMobil need an independent chair? That’s the crux of a proxy item number five on its shareholder ballot to be voted at its annual meeting and the thrust of some of the current criticism lodged against the oil company’s board by descendents of John D. Rockefeller Jr., the founder of both Exxon and Mobil.
May 22, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Does ExxonMobil need an independent chair? That’s the crux of a proxy item number five on its shareholder ballot to be voted at its annual meeting and the thrust of some of the current criticism lodged against the oil company’s board by descendents of John D. Rockefeller Jr., the founder of both Exxon and Mobil.
Dialing for Proxy Votes
May 7, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Is this anyone to curry favor with shareholders? Forbes reports an increase in telemarketing-style calls reminding investors to vote their proxy, compliments of changes made last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
May 7, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Is this anyone to curry favor with shareholders? Forbes reports an increase in telemarketing-style calls reminding investors to vote their proxy, compliments of changes made last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
New Gripes Aired this Proxy Season
April 18, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Shareholders introduced new proposals for the 2008 proxy season. The mortgage meltdown, succession planning, and the safety of imported products were brought up for proposals.
April 18, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Shareholders introduced new proposals for the 2008 proxy season. The mortgage meltdown, succession planning, and the safety of imported products were brought up for proposals.
Companies Take Notice of Green Proposals
April 16, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Shareholders are voting on more environmental proxy proposals these days, but it is the number of them being withdrawn that indicates that fewer companies are ignoring green issues as a fringe concern.
April 16, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Shareholders are voting on more environmental proxy proposals these days, but it is the number of them being withdrawn that indicates that fewer companies are ignoring green issues as a fringe concern.
CD&A Not Affecting Pay
April 11, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Increasingly detailed executive pay disclosures have not rendered pay-cuts. Instead, boards are using these disclosure rules to assemble plans that will satisfy investors. Investors are concerned that compensation for their corporate leaders coincides with real shareholder value.
April 11, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
Increasingly detailed executive pay disclosures have not rendered pay-cuts. Instead, boards are using these disclosure rules to assemble plans that will satisfy investors. Investors are concerned that compensation for their corporate leaders coincides with real shareholder value.
Companies Split on Providing Proxy Materials Electronically, Study Finds
January 25, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
About half of U.S. companies who responded to a recent survey by the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) are choosing to provide proxy materials electronically to shareholders this year, while the remaining number is awaiting to see the result before making a decision on whether to use the method.
January 25, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
About half of U.S. companies who responded to a recent survey by the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) are choosing to provide proxy materials electronically to shareholders this year, while the remaining number is awaiting to see the result before making a decision on whether to use the method.
Survey: Support Grows to Curb Comp at Canadian Companies
January 17, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
The Shareholders Association for Research and Education (SHARE) yesterday released its 2007 Key Proxy Vote Survey, which shows growing support among investment management firms for selected shareholder proposals that address excessive executive compensation.
January 17, 2008 by Joseph McCafferty
The Shareholders Association for Research and Education (SHARE) yesterday released its 2007 Key Proxy Vote Survey, which shows growing support among investment management firms for selected shareholder proposals that address excessive executive compensation.
New Comp Report Finds CEOs Have ‘More Skin in the Game’
December 31, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
While CEOs have frequently come under fire for not acting in the interest of shareholders, this year’s study of top executive compensation by The Conference Board finds that CEOs of the largest companies actually have a substantial amount of “skin in the game.”
December 31, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
While CEOs have frequently come under fire for not acting in the interest of shareholders, this year’s study of top executive compensation by The Conference Board finds that CEOs of the largest companies actually have a substantial amount of “skin in the game.”
AFSCME Plans to Seek Reimbursements for Proxy-Related Expenses
December 28, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is currently planning to submit binding proposals for the 2008 proxy season that call for reimbursement of proxy-fight solicitation expenses.
December 28, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is currently planning to submit binding proposals for the 2008 proxy season that call for reimbursement of proxy-fight solicitation expenses.
CSX Defends Board Against Acitivist Criticism
December 20, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
In reaction to recent criticism from activist investors, CSX Corporation yesterday defended its board, stating that it comprises a broad range of experience and has driven the company's success.
December 20, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
In reaction to recent criticism from activist investors, CSX Corporation yesterday defended its board, stating that it comprises a broad range of experience and has driven the company's success.
Glass Lewis Weighs In on Datascope Board Election
December 13, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Datascope today said that Glass Lewis & Co., one of the nation's leading independent proxy advisory firms, recommended that shareholders re-elect the board's nominees, James J. Loughlin and William L. Asmundson, at its annual meeting next week and disregard the white proxy card issued by the hedge fund Ramius.
December 13, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Datascope today said that Glass Lewis & Co., one of the nation's leading independent proxy advisory firms, recommended that shareholders re-elect the board's nominees, James J. Loughlin and William L. Asmundson, at its annual meeting next week and disregard the white proxy card issued by the hedge fund Ramius.
Inside the SEC’s Rule-Making Apparatus
December 1, 2007 by Matt Perkins
This past summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed two rules on shareholder proxy access with opposing aims: One provides for greater access to ballots, while the other upholds the status quo of restricting access. Together, the initiatives received more than 34,000 comment letters.
December 1, 2007 by Matt Perkins
This past summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed two rules on shareholder proxy access with opposing aims: One provides for greater access to ballots, while the other upholds the status quo of restricting access. Together, the initiatives received more than 34,000 comment letters.
White Knight Swoops in for Glass Lewis
December 1, 2007 by Edward F. Smith
Closing a lightning-fast deal, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s (OTPP) private-equity unit acquired proxy adviser Glass Lewis for $46 million from troubled Xinhua Finance in October.
December 1, 2007 by Edward F. Smith
Closing a lightning-fast deal, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s (OTPP) private-equity unit acquired proxy adviser Glass Lewis for $46 million from troubled Xinhua Finance in October.
SEC Adopts Tougher Proxy Access Proposal
November 29, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
A ruling by the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow public companies to block investors from putting director candidates on corporate ballots was criticized as a major setback for shareholders seeking a greater say in the boardroom.
November 29, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
A ruling by the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow public companies to block investors from putting director candidates on corporate ballots was criticized as a major setback for shareholders seeking a greater say in the boardroom.
ISS Releases Proxy Voting Policy Updates
November 26, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Compensation issues continue to be the major focus for investors heading into the 2008 U.S. Proxy season, and as a result, proxy voting policy updates have been released by RiskMetrics Group’s ISS Governance Services unit.
November 26, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Compensation issues continue to be the major focus for investors heading into the 2008 U.S. Proxy season, and as a result, proxy voting policy updates have been released by RiskMetrics Group’s ISS Governance Services unit.
CalPERS Asks U.S. Senate Committee to Protect Proxy Access
November 15, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has asked the U.S. Senate Banking Committee to urge federal regulators to leave intact a court decision giving the company’s owners the right to access its ballots to seek approval of director election procedures.
November 15, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has asked the U.S. Senate Banking Committee to urge federal regulators to leave intact a court decision giving the company’s owners the right to access its ballots to seek approval of director election procedures.
Senate Banking Committee Opposes SEC Push for Vote on Shareholder Rights
November 6, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The crowd advising the Securities Exchange Commission not to move forward with voting on two proposals regarding shareholder rights grew even larger last week, when members of the Senate Banking Committee joined in on the resistance.
November 6, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
The crowd advising the Securities Exchange Commission not to move forward with voting on two proposals regarding shareholder rights grew even larger last week, when members of the Senate Banking Committee joined in on the resistance.
Shareholders: A Green Proxy Season Awaits
November 1, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
With an already green year for proxy proposals coming to a close, shareholder groups are getting ready for even more green proposals in 2008.
November 1, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
With an already green year for proxy proposals coming to a close, shareholder groups are getting ready for even more green proposals in 2008.
Nazareth Cautions Against Moving Forward With SEC Vote on Proxy Access Proposals
October 30, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Securities and Exchange Commissioner Annette Nazareth (D) has joined a herd of voices that have said it would be unwise for the SEC to continue forward with a decision on whether or not to allow shareholders a greater say in the compositions of boards of directors, Jeremy Grant of Financial Times reported today.
October 30, 2007 by Joseph McCafferty
Securities and Exchange Commissioner Annette Nazareth (D) has joined a herd of voices that have said it would be unwise for the SEC to continue forward with a decision on whether or not to allow shareholders a greater say in the compositions of boards of directors, Jeremy Grant of Financial Times reported today.