On November 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to propose two sets of amendments that would (1) modernize the thresholds and process by which shareholder proposals are included in a registrant’s proxy statements; and (2) increase the accuracy and transparency of information investors receive from proxy advisory firms.
Modernization of Shareholder Proposals
The first proposal would amend Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which regulates the inclusion of shareholder proposals in registrants’ proxy statements. Specifically, the proposed amendments would:
- Expand the eligibility requirements a shareholder must satisfy to have a proposal included in a registrant’s proxy statement.
- Change the one proposal rule from “each shareholder” to “each person” who submits a proposal.
- Increase the threshold of support a shareholder proposal must receive to be eligible for resubmission at the registrant’s future shareholder meetings.
Background
In 2018, the SEC received and reviewed nearly 5,700 proxy materials and 250 no-action requests regarding shareholder proposals. SEC rules on proxy procedural and substantive requirements have not been updated in over 20 years. After a 2018 roundtable discussion and public feedback, the SEC agreed to review and modernize the shareholder-proposal process.
Eligibility requirements
The proposed amendments would amend Rule 14a-8(b) of the Exchange Act to heighten the ownership threshold required for a shareholder to submit a proposal for inclusion in the registrant’s proxy materials. Currently, any shareholder that holds at least $2,000 worth of shares or 1% of the registrant’s outstanding equity for at least one year can submit a proposal. Under the proposed amendments, the SEC is proposing a tiered ownership structure. Under the proposed rules, shareholders would need to continuously own:
- At least $2,000 of the registrant’s shares for at least three years;
- At least $15,000 of the registrant’s shares for at least two years; or
- At least $25,000 of the registrant’s shares for at least one year.
Additionally, the proposed amendments would require a shareholder that utilizes a representative to submit a proposal to provide documentation authorizing the representative to act on its behalf and provide assurances of the shareholder’s identity and interest in submitting the proposal.
Shareholders that submit a proposal would also be required under the proposed rules to meet with the registrant, in person or via teleconference, to discuss the proposal within no less than 10 calendar days and no more than 30 calendar days after the proposal is submitted.
One proposal per person rule
The proposed amendments would also amend Rule 14a-8(c) so that the one-proposal rule would apply to “each person” instead of the current “each shareholder” standard. The SEC believes this change will prevent shareholders from submitting one proposal under their name and submitting another proposal as a representative of another shareholder at the same meeting. It would also prevent one person from acting as the representative of two or more shareholders of record to submit multiple proposals at the same meeting.
Resubmission thresholds
The proposed amendments would also amend the requirements for resubmitting a proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(12). If a shareholder proposal does not reach a certain percentage of votes, a registrant can exclude the proposal the following year. Below is a chart that outlines the current and proposed thresholds a shareholder proposal would need to meet in order to be resubmitted.
Finally, the proposed amendments would allow registrants to exclude proposals that have been voted on three or more times in the previous five years if the proposal received more than 25% but less than 50% of the vote and voter support declined by more than 10% since the previous vote.
Proxy Voting Advice Amendments
The second proposal would amend Rule 14a of the Exchange Act, which currently exempts proxy advisory firms from certain filing and information requirements. The proposed amendments would:
- Increase material conflicts of interest disclosure requirements for proxy advisory firms.
- Standardize the opportunities investors and other soliciting persons have to review recommendations from proxy advisory firms.
- Codify the definition of “solicitation” under Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l) to include proxy advisory firms.
- Include a nonexhaustive list of examples of when the failure to disclose certain information by proxy advisory firms may be considered misleading.
Background
In September 2019, the SEC released guidance clarifying the applicability of the federal proxy rules on proxy advisory firms such as ISS and Glass Lewis. In particular, this guidance concluded that advice provided by proxy advisory firms generally constitutes a “solicitation” under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act. As a part of this review, the staff of the Divisions of Investment Management and Corporation Finance recommended that the SEC propose rule amendments on proxy voting advice.
Definitional changes
Under the proposed amendments, Rule 14a-1(l) would be amended to include specific instances of when providing proxy voting advice would be considered a “solicitation” under the statutory definition of “solicitation.” The proposal also includes an exception when voting advice provided in response to an unprompted request would not constitute a solicitation.
Information and filing requirements
Previously, proxy advisory firms were exempt from certain information and filing requirements. The proposal would amend Rule 14a-2(b) to require disclosure of material conflicts of interest in their proxy voting advice.
Additionally, the proposed rules would require additional procedural requirements, including the opportunity for review and feedback.
Under the proposed rules, registrants and other parties that solicit advice from firms must be given an opportunity to review and provide feedback on proxy advisory reports before they are issued. However, the review and feedback period would only be available to companies that file definitive proxy materials 25 days or more before the relevant shareholder meeting:
- The length of time the party has to review will depend on the time between the date of filing the proxy statement and the date of the shareholder meeting.
- Proxy advisory firms would be permitted to use confidentiality agreements while parties are conducting the review and feedback period.
Additionally, if requested, proxy advisory firms must include hyperlinks or similar media that allow investors to review written statements by the registrant about its opinion on the proxy voting advice.
Finally, under these proposed amendments, Rule 14a-9, the proxy rules general anti-fraud rule that prohibits proxy solicitations from including misleading or false information, would be amended to include specific examples of violations related to proxy advisory firms. For instance, failure to disclose the methodology used to furnish proxy voting advice would be deemed misleading under the proposal.
Going Forward
Each proposal will be subject to a 60-day public comment period. To submit comments, use the SEC’s Internet submission form or send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov.