1. OPERATIONAL ITEMS..........................................................6
Adjourn Meeting...........................................................6
Amend Quorum Requirements.................................................6
Amend Minor Bylaws........................................................6
Change Company Name.......................................................6
Change Date, Time, or Location of Annual Meeting..........................6
Ratifying Auditors........................................................6
Transact Other Business...................................................6
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:........................................................7
Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections......................7
2006 Classification of Directors..........................................9
Age Limits...............................................................10
Board Size...............................................................10
Classification/Declassification of the Board.............................10
Cumulative Voting........................................................10
Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection............11
Establish/Amend Nominee Qualifications...................................11
Filling Vacancies/Removal of Directors...................................11
Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)...................................11
Majority of Independent Directors/Establishment of Committees............12
Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals......................................12
Office of the Board......................................................13
Open Access..............................................................13
Stock Ownership Requirements.............................................13
Term Limits..............................................................13
3. PROXY CONTESTS............................................................14
Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections......................14
Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses..................................14
Confidential Voting......................................................14
4. ANTITAKEOVER DEFENSES AND VOTING RELATED ISSUES...........................15
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations........15
Amend Bylaws without Shareholder Consent.................................15
Poison Pills.............................................................15
Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent............................15
Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings.............................15
Supermajority Vote Requirements..........................................15
5. MERGERS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURINGS......................................16
Overall Approach.........................................................16
Appraisal Rights.........................................................16
Asset Purchases..........................................................16
Asset Sales..............................................................17
Bundled Proposals........................................................17
Conversion of Securities.................................................17
Corporate Reorganization/Debt Restructuring/Prepackaged Bankruptcy
Plans/Reverse Leveraged Buyouts/Wrap Plans...............................17
Formation of Holding Company.............................................17
Going Private Transactions (LBOs, Minority Squeezeouts, and
Going Dark)..............................................................18
Joint Ventures...........................................................18
Liquidations.............................................................18
Mergers and Acquisitions/ Issuance of Shares to Facilitate Merger or
Acquisition..............................................................18
Private Placements/Warrants/Convertible Debentures.......................18
Spinoffs.................................................................19
Value Maximization Proposals.............................................19
(C) 2005 Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. All Rights Reserved.
1
6. STATE OF INCORPORATION....................................................20
Control Share Acquisition Provisions.....................................20
Control Share Cash-out Provisions........................................20
Disgorgement Provisions..................................................20
Fair Price Provisions....................................................20
Freeze-out Provisions....................................................20
Greenmail................................................................20
Reincorporation Proposals................................................21
Stakeholder Provisions...................................................21
State Antitakeover Statutes..............................................21
7. CAPITAL STRUCTURE.........................................................22
Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock.................................22
Common Stock Authorization...............................................22
Dual-Class Stock.........................................................22
Issue Stock for Use with Rights Plan.....................................22
Preemptive Rights........................................................22
Preferred Stock..........................................................22
Recapitalization.........................................................23
Reverse Stock Splits.....................................................23
Share Repurchase Programs................................................23
Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends................................23
Tracking Stock...........................................................23
8. EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION.......................................24
Equity Compensation Plans.................................................24
Cost of Equity Plans.....................................................24
Repricing Provisions.....................................................24
Pay-for Performance Disconnect...........................................24
Three-Year Burn Rate/Burn Rate Commitment................................26
Poor Pay Practices.......................................................27
Specific Treatment of Certain Award Types in Equity Plan Evaluations:.....28
Dividend Equivalent Rights...............................................28
Liberal Share Recycling Provisions......................................28
Transferable Stock Option Awards.........................................28
Other Compensation Proposals and Policies.................................28
401(k) Employee Benefit Plans............................................28
Director Compensation....................................................28
Director Retirement Plans................................................29
Disclosure of CEO Compensation-Tally Sheet...............................29
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)...................................30
Employee Stock Purchase Plans-- Qualified Plans..........................30
Employee Stock Purchase Plans-- Non-Qualified Plans......................31
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax Deductibility Proposals (OBRA-Related......31
Compensation Proposals)..................................................31
Option Exchange Programs/Repricing Options...............................31
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash..............................................32
Transfer Programs of Stock Options.......................................32
2
Shareholder Proposals on Compensation.....................................32
Disclosure/Setting Levels or Types of Compensation for Executives and
Directors................................................................32
Option Expensing.........................................................33
Option Repricing.........................................................33
Pension Plan Income Accounting...........................................33
Performance-Based Awards.................................................33
Severance Agreements for Executives/Golden Parachutes....................33
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs)..........................33
9. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY..................................................34
Consumer Issues and Public Safety.........................................34
Animal Rights............................................................34
Drug Pricing.............................................................34
Drug Reimportation.......................................................34
Genetically Modified Foods...............................................34
Handguns.................................................................35
HIV/AIDS.................................................................35
Predatory Lending........................................................35
Tobacco..................................................................36
Toxic Chemicals..........................................................36
Environment and Energy....................................................37
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge..........................................37
CERES Principles.........................................................37
Concentrated Area Feeding Operations (CAFOs).............................37
Environmental-Economic Risk Report.......................................37
Environmental Reports....................................................37
Global Warming...........................................................37
Kyoto Protocol Compliance................................................38
Land Use.................................................................38
Nuclear Safety...........................................................38
Operations in Protected Areas............................................38
Recycling................................................................38
Renewable Energy.........................................................38
Sustainability Report....................................................39
General Corporate Issues..................................................39
Charitable/Political Contributions.......................................39
Link Executive Compensation to Social Performance........................39
Outsourcing/Offshoring...................................................40
Labor Standards and Human Rights..........................................40
China Principles.........................................................40
Country-specific Human Rights Reports....................................40
International Codes of Conduct/Vendor Standards..........................40
MacBride Principles......................................................41
Military Business.........................................................41
Foreign Military Sales/Offsets...........................................41
Landmines and Cluster Bombs..............................................41
Nuclear Weapons..........................................................41
Operations in Nations Sponsoring Terrorism (e.g., Iran)..................42
Spaced-Based Weaponization...............................................42
Workplace Diversity.......................................................42
Board Diversity..........................................................42
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).......................................42
Glass Ceiling............................................................42
Sexual Orientation.......................................................43
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10. MUTUAL FUND PROXIES.......................................................44
Election of Directors....................................................44
Converting Closed-end Fund to Open-end Fund..............................44
Proxy Contests...........................................................44
Investment Advisory Agreements...........................................44
Approving New Classes or Series of Shares................................44
Preferred Stock Proposals................................................44
1940 Act Policies........................................................44
Changing a Fundamental Restriction to a Nonfundamental Restriction.......45
Change Fundamental Investment Objective to Nonfundamental................45
Name Change Proposals....................................................45
Change in Fund's Subclassification.......................................45
Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation............................45
Changes to the Charter Document..........................................45
Changing the Domicile of a Fund..........................................46
Authorizing the Board to Hire and Terminate Subadvisors Without
Shareholder Approval.....................................................46
Distribution Agreements..................................................46
Master-Feeder Structure..................................................46
Mergers..................................................................46
Shareholder Proposals for Mutual Funds....................................46
Establish Director Ownership Requirement.................................46
Reimburse Shareholder for Expenses Incurred..............................46
Terminate the Investment Advisor.........................................46
4
1. OPERATIONAL ITEMS
ADJOURN MEETING
Generally vote AGAINST proposals to provide management with the authority to
adjourn an annual or special meeting absent compelling reasons to support the
proposal. Vote FOR proposals that relate specifically to soliciting votes for a
merger or transaction if supporting that merger or transaction. Vote AGAINST
proposals if the wording is too vague or if the proposal includes "other
business."
AMEND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
Vote AGAINST proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings
below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons
to support the proposal.
AMEND MINOR BYLAWS
Vote FOR bylaw or charter changes that are of a housekeeping nature (updates or
corrections).
CHANGE COMPANY NAME
Vote FOR proposals to change the corporate name.
CHANGE DATE, TIME, OR LOCATION OF ANNUAL MEETING
Vote FOR management proposals to change the date/time/location of the annual
meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable. Vote AGAINST shareholder
proposals to change the date/time/location of the annual meeting unless the
current scheduling or location is unreasonable.
RATIFYING AUDITORS
Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:
o An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the
company, and is therefore not independent,
o There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered
an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's
financial position, or
o Fees for non-audit services ("Other" fees) are excessive.
Non-audit fees are excessive if:
Non-audit ("other") fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax
compliance/preparation fees
Tax compliance and preparation include the preparation of original and amended
tax returns, refund claims and tax payment planning. All other services in the
tax category, such as tax advice, planning or consulting should be added to
"Other" fees. If the breakout of tax fees cannot be determined, add all tax fees
to "Other" fees.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit
their auditors from engaging in non-audit services. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on
shareholder proposals asking for audit firm rotation, taking into account the
tenure of the audit firm, the length of rotation specified in the proposal, any
significant audit-related issues at the company, the number of Audit Committee
meetings held each year, the number of financial experts serving on the
committee, and whether the company has a periodic renewal process where the
auditor is evaluated for both audit quality and competitive price.
TRANSACT OTHER BUSINESS
Vote AGAINST proposals to approve other business when it appears as voting item.
5
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
VOTING ON DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on director nominees, examining, but not limited to, the
following factors:
o Composition of the board and key board committees;
o Attendance at board and committee meetings;
o Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;
o Disclosures under Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
o Long-term company performance relative to a market and peer index;
o Extent of the director's investment in the company;
o Existence of related party transactions;
o Whether the chairman is also serving as CEO;
o Whether a retired CEO sits on the board;
o Number of outside boards at which a director serves.
WITHHOLD from individual directors who:
o Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings
without a valid excuse (such as illness, service to the nation, work
on behalf of the company);
o Sit on more than six public company boards;
o Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two
public companies besides their own-- withhold only at their outside
boards.
WITHHOLD from the entire board of directors, (excepting new nominees, who should
be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis) if:
o The company's poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand
feature. Withhold every year until this feature is removed;
o The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval
since the beginning of 2005, does not commit to putting it to
shareholder vote within 12 months of adoption or reneges on a
commitment to put the pill to a vote and has not yet been withheld
from for this issue;
o The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received
approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year;
o The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received
approval of the majority of shares cast for the previous two
consecutive years;
o The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the
shareholders tendered their shares;
o At the previous board election, any director received more than 50
percent withhold votes of the shares cast and the company has failed
to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold rate;
o A Russell 3000 company underperformed its industry group (GICS group).
The test will consist of the bottom performers within each industry
group (GICS) based on a weighted average TSR. The weightings are as
follows: 20 percent weight on 1-year TSR; 30 percent weight on 3-year
TSR; and 50 percent weight on 5-year TSR. Company's response to
performance issues will be considered before withholding.
WITHHOLD from Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the
Classification of Directors below) when:
o The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three
key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;
o The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so
that the full board functions as that committee;
o The full board is less than majority independent.
6
WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:
o The non -audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion
under Ratifying Auditors);
o A material weakness identified in the Section 404 Sarbanes-Oxley Act
disclosures rises to a level of serious concern; there are chronic
internal control issues and an absence of established effective
control mechanisms.
WITHHOLD from the members of the Compensation Committee if:
o There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and
company performance (see discussion under Equity Compensation Plans);
o The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a
shareholder vote;
o The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment they
made to shareholders;
o The company has poor compensation practices, which include, but are
not limited to:
- Egregious employment contracts including excessive severance
provisions;
- Excessive perks that dominate compensation;
- Huge bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage;
- Performance metrics that are changed during the performance
period;
- Egregious SERP (Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans) payouts;
- New CEO with overly generous new hire package;
- Internal pay disparity;
- Other excessive compensation payouts or poor pay practices at the
company.
WITHHOLD from directors, individually or the entire board, for egregious actions
or failure to replace management as appropriate.
7
2006 CLASSIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
INSIDE DIRECTOR (I)
o Employee of the company or one of its affiliates; (1)
o Non-employee officer of the company if among the five most highly paid
individuals (excluding interim CEO);
o Listed as a Section 16 officer; (2)
o Current interim CEO;
o Beneficial owner of more than 50 percent of the company's voting power
(this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than
one member of a defined group).
AFFILIATED OUTSIDE DIRECTOR (AO)
o Board attestation that an outside director is not independent;
o Former CEO of the company;
o Former CEO of an acquired company within the past five years;
o Former interim CEO if the service was longer than 18 months. If the
service was between twelve and eighteen months an assessment of the
interim CEO's employment agreement will be made;(3)
o Former executive of the company, an affiliate or an acquired firm
within the past five years;
o Executive of a former parent or predecessor firm at the time the
company was sold or split off from the parent/predecessor within the
past five years;
o Executive, former executive, general or limited partner of a joint
venture or partnership with the company;
o Relative (4) of a current employee of company or its affiliates;
o Relative (4) of former executive, including CEO, of company or its
affiliate within the last five years;
o Currently provides (or a relative provides) professional services
directly to the company, to an affiliate of the company or an
individual officer of the company or one of its affiliates;
o Employed by (or a relative is employed by) a significant customer or
supplier; (5)
o Has (or a relative has) any transactional relationship with the
company or its affiliates excluding investments in the company through
a private placement; (5)
o Any material financial tie or other related party transactional
relationship to the company;
o Party to a voting agreement to vote in line with management on
proposals being brought to shareholder vote;
o Has (or a relative has) an interlocking relationship as defined by the
SEC involving members of the board of directors or its Compensation
and Stock Option Committee; (6)
o Founder (7) of the company but not currently an employee;
o Is (or a relative is) a trustee, director or employee of a charitable
or non-profit organization that receives grants or endowments(5) from
the company or its affiliates. (1)
INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE DIRECTOR (IO)
o No material (8) connection to the company other than a board seat.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) "Affiliate" includes a subsidiary, sibling company, or parent company. ISS
uses 50 percent control ownership by the parent company as the standard for
applying its affiliate designation.
(2) "Executives" (officers subject to Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934) include the chief executive, operating, financial, legal,
technology, and accounting officers of a company (including the president,
treasurer, secretary, controller, or any vice president in charge of a
principal business unit, division or policy function).
(3) ISS will look at the terms of the interim CEO's employment contract to
determine if it contains severance pay, long-term health and pension
benefits or other such standard provisions typically contained in contracts
of permanent, non-temporary CEOs. ISS will also consider if a formal search
process was underway for a full-time CEO at the time.
8
(4) "Relative" follows the NYSE definition of "immediate family members" which
covers: spouses, parents, children, siblings, in-laws, and anyone sharing
the director's home.
(5) If the company makes or receives annual payments exceeding the greater of
$200,000 or five percent of the recipient's gross revenues. (The recipient
is the party receiving the financial proceeds from the transaction).
(6) Interlocks include: (a) executive officers serving as directors on each
other's compensation or similar committees (or, in the absence of such a
committee, on the board) or (b) executive officers sitting on each other's
boards and at least one serves on the other's compensation or similar
committees (or, in the absence of such a committee, on the board).
(7) The operating involvement of the Founder with the company will be
considered. Little to no operating involvement may cause ISS to deem the
Founder as an independent outsider.
(8) For purposes of ISS' director independence classification, "material" will
be defined as a standard of relationship (financial, personal or otherwise)
that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one's
objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful
impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards
on behalf of shareholders.
AGE LIMITS
Vote AGAINST shareholder or management proposals to limit the tenure of outside
directors through mandatory retirement ages.
BOARD SIZE
Vote FOR proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the
board size.
Vote AGAINST proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the
board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.
CLASSIFICATION/DECLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD
Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board.
Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors
annually.
CUMULATIVE VOTING
Generally vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate cumulative voting. Vote
CASE-BY-CASE if the company has in place one of the three corporate governance
structures that are listed below.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting. If one of
these three structures is present, vote AGAINST the proposal:
o the presence of a majority threshold voting standard;
o a proxy access provision in the company's bylaws or governance
documents; or
o a counterbalancing governance structure coupled with acceptable
relative performance.
The counterbalancing governance structure coupled with acceptable relative
performance should include all of the following:
o Annually elected board;
o Two-thirds of the board composed of independent directors;
o Nominating committee composed solely of independent directors;
o Confidential voting; however, there may be a provision for suspending
confidential voting during proxy contests;
o Ability of shareholders to call special meetings or act by written
consent with 90 days' notice;
o Absence of superior voting rights for one or more classes of stock;
o Board does not have the right to change the size of the board beyond a
stated range that has been approved by shareholders;
o The company has not under-performed its peers and index on a one-year
and three-year basis, unless there has been a change in the CEO
position within the last three years;
9
o No director received WITHHOLD votes of 35% or more of the votes cast
in the previous election.
DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY PROTECTION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals on director and officer indemnification and
liability protection using Delaware law as the standard.
Vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate entirely directors' and officers' liability
for monetary damages for violating the duty of care.
Vote AGAINST indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just
legal expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of
fiduciary obligation than mere carelessness.
Vote FOR only those proposals providing such expanded coverage in cases when a
director's or officer's legal defense was unsuccessful if both of the following
apply:
o The director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner
that he reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company;
and
o If only the director's legal expenses would be covered.
ESTABLISH/AMEND NOMINEE QUALIFICATIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals that establish or amend director qualifications.
Votes should be based on how reasonable the criteria are and to what degree they
may preclude dissident nominees from joining the board.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.
FILLING VACANCIES/REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Vote AGAINST proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for
cause.
Vote FOR proposals to restore shareholders' ability to remove directors with or
without cause.
Vote AGAINST proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect
replacements to fill board vacancies.
Vote FOR proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board
vacancies.
INDEPENDENT CHAIR (SEPARATE CHAIR/CEO)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring the position of chair be
filled by an independent director unless there are compelling reasons to
recommend against the proposal, such as a counterbalancing governance structure.
This should include all of the following:
o Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board
members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role
may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or
rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of
one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) At a minimum these
should include:
- Presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is
not present, including executive sessions of the independent
directors,
- Serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent
directors,
- Approves information sent to the board,
- Approves meeting agendas for the board,
- Approves meetings schedules to assure that there is sufficient
time for discussion of all agenda items,
10
- Has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors,
- If requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available
for consultation and direct communication;
o Two-thirds independent board;
o All-independent key committees;
o Established governance guidelines;
o The company does not under-perform its peers.
MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be
independent unless the board composition already meets the proposed threshold by
ISS's definition of independence.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that board audit, compensation, and/or
nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors if they
currently do not meet that standard.
MAJORITY VOTE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Generally vote FOR reasonably crafted shareholders proposals calling for
directors to be elected with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the
elimination of the plurality standard for electing directors (including binding
resolutions requesting that the board amend the company's bylaws), provided the
proposal includes a carve-out for a plurality voting standard when there are
more director nominees than board seats (e.g. contested elections).
Consider voting AGAINST the shareholder proposal if the company has adopted
formal corporate governance principles that present a meaningful alternative to
the majority voting standard and provide an adequate response to both new
nominees as well as incumbent nominees who fail to receive a majority of votes
cast.
Policies should address the specific circumstances at each company. At a
minimum, a company's policy should articulate the following elements to
adequately address each director nominee who fails to receive an affirmative of
majority of votes cast in an election:
o Established guidelines disclosed annually in the proxy statement
concerning the process to follow for nominees who receive majority
withhold votes;
o The policy needs to outline a clear and reasonable timetable for all
decision-making regarding the nominee's status;
o The policy needs to specify that the process of determining the
nominee's status will be managed by independent directors and must
exclude the nominee in question;
o An outline of a range of remedies that can be considered concerning
the nominee needs to be in the policy (for example, acceptance of the
resignation, maintaining the director but curing the underlying causes
of the withheld votes, etc.);
o The final decision on the nominee's status should be promptly
disclosed via an SEC filing. The policy needs to include the timeframe
in which the decision will be disclosed and a full explanation of how
the decision was reached.
In addition, the company should articulate to shareholders why this alternative
to a full majority threshold voting standard is the best structure at this time
for demonstrating accountability to shareholders. Also evaluate the company's
history of accountability to shareholders in its governance structure and in its
actions. In particular, a classified board structure or a history of ignoring
majority supported shareholder proposals will be considered at a company which
receives a shareholder proposal requesting the elimination of plurality voting
in favor of majority threshold for electing directors.
11
OFFICE OF THE BOARD
Generally vote FOR shareholders proposals requesting that the board establish an
Office of the Board of Directors in order to facilitate direct communications
between shareholders and non-management directors, unless the company has all of
the following:
o Established a communication structure that goes beyond the exchange
requirements to facilitate the exchange of information between
shareholders and members of the board;
o Effectively disclosed information with respect to this structure to
its shareholders;
o Company has not ignored majority supported shareholder proposals or a
majority WITHHOLD on a director nominee; and
o The company has an independent chairman or a lead/presiding director,
according to ISS' definition. This individual must be made available
for periodic consultation and direct communication with major
shareholders.
OPEN ACCESS
Generally vote FOR reasonably crafted shareholder proposals providing
shareholders with the ability to nominate director candidates to be included on
management's proxy card, provided the proposal substantially mirrors the SEC's
proposed two-trigger formulation (see the proposed "Security Holder Director
Nominations" rule (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV/RULES/PROPOSED/34-48626.HTM) or ISS'
comment letter to the SEC dated 6/13/2003, available on ISS website under
Governance Center- ISS Position Papers).
STOCK OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of
stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on
the board. While stock ownership on the part of directors is desired, the
company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking that the company adopt a
holding or retention period for its executives (for holding stock after the
vesting or exercise of equity awards), taking into account any stock ownership
requirements or holding period/retention ratio already in place and the actual
ownership level of executives.
TERM LIMITS
Vote AGAINST shareholder or management proposals to limit the tenure of outside
directors through term limits. However, scrutinize boards where the average
tenure of all directors exceeds 15 years for independence from management and
for sufficient turnover to ensure that new perspectives are being added to the
board.
12
3. PROXY CONTESTS
VOTING FOR DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN CONTESTED ELECTIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections,
considering the following factors:
o Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its
industry;
o Management's track record;
o Background to the proxy contest;
o Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
o Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against
management;
o Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved
(both slates);
o Stock ownership positions.
REIMBURSING PROXY SOLICITATION EXPENSES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When
voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate, vote FOR the
reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the
election.
CONFIDENTIAL VOTING
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that corporations adopt confidential
voting, use independent vote tabulators, and use independent inspectors of
election, as long as the proposal includes a provision for proxy contests as
follows: In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to
request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the
dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents will not agree,
the confidential voting policy is waived.
Vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.
13
4. ANTITAKEOVER DEFENSES AND VOTING RELATED ISSUES
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS/NOMINATIONS
Votes on advance notice proposals are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving
support to those proposals which allow shareholders to submit proposals as close
to the meeting date as reasonably possible and within the broadest window
possible.
AMEND BYLAWS WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER CONSENT
Vote AGAINST proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws.
Vote FOR proposals giving the board the ability to amend the bylaws in addition
to shareholders.
POISON PILLS
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that the company submit its poison
pill to a shareholder vote or redeem it UNLESS the company has: (1) A
shareholder approved poison pill in place; or (2) The company has adopted a
policy concerning the adoption of a pill in the future specifying that the board
will only adopt a shareholder rights plan if either:
o Shareholders have approved the adoption of the plan; or
o The board, in its exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities,
determines that it is in the best interest of shareholders under the
circumstances to adopt a pill without the delay in adoption that would
result from seeking stockholder approval (i.e. the "fiduciary out"
provision). A poison pill adopted under this fiduciary out will be put
to a shareholder ratification vote within twelve months of adoption or
expire. If the pill is not approved by a majority of the votes cast on
this issue, the plan will immediately terminate.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for poison pills to be put to a vote
within a time period of less than one year after adoption. If the company has no
non-shareholder approved poison pill in place and has adopted a policy with the
provisions outlined above, vote AGAINST the proposal. If these conditions are
not met, vote FOR the proposal, but with the caveat that a vote within twelve
months would be considered sufficient.
Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing
on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the
following attributes:
o No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;
o A term of no more than three years;
o No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the
ability of a future board to redeem the pill;
o Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board
refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is
announced, ten percent of the shares may call a special meeting or
seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take
action by written consent. Vote FOR proposals to allow or make easier
shareholder action by written consent.
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call
special meetings. Vote FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of
shareholders to act independently of management.
SUPERMAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENTS
Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote. Vote FOR
proposals to lower supermajority vote requirements.
14
5. MERGERS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURINGS
OVERALL APPROACH
For mergers and acquisitions, review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of
the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors
including:
o VALUATION - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or
paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may
provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation
reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market
reaction and strategic rationale.
o MARKET REACTION - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A
negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.
o STRATEGIC RATIONALE - Does the deal make sense strategically? From
where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be
overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management
should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of
historical acquisitions.
o NEGOTIATIONS AND PROCESS - Were the terms of the transaction
negotiated at arm's-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair
process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant
negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers' competency. The
comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial
auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.
o CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction
disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider
shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and
officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger
than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these
interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support
or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the "ISS
Transaction Summary" section of this report is an aggregate figure
that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value
transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to
be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether
a potential conflict exists.
o GOVERNANCE - Will the combined company have a better or worse
governance profile than the current governance profiles of the
respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to
change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other
issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Vote FOR proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of
appraisal.
ASSET PURCHASES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on asset purchase proposals, considering the following
factors:
o Purchase price;
o Fairness opinion;
o Financial and strategic benefits;
o How the deal was negotiated;
o Conflicts of interest;
o Other alternatives for the business;
o Non-completion risk.
15
ASSET SALES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on asset sales, considering the following factors:
o Impact on the balance sheet/working capital;
o Potential elimination of diseconomies;
o Anticipated financial and operating benefits;
o Anticipated use of funds;
o Value received for the asset;
o Fairness opinion;
o How the deal was negotiated;
o Conflicts of interest.
BUNDLED PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on bundled or "conditional" proxy proposals. In the case of
items that are conditioned upon each other, examine the benefits and costs of
the packaged items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items
is not in shareholders' best interests, vote AGAINST the proposals. If the
combined effect is positive, support such proposals.
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals regarding conversion of securities. When
evaluating these proposals the investor should review the dilution to existing
shareholders, the conversion price relative to market value, financial issues,
control issues, termination penalties, and conflicts of interest.
Vote FOR the conversion if it is expected that the company will be subject to
onerous penalties or will be forced to file for bankruptcy if the transaction is
not approved.
CORPORATE REORGANIZATION/DEBT RESTRUCTURING/PREPACKAGED BANKRUPTCY PLANS/REVERSE
LEVERAGED BUYOUTS/WRAP PLANS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to
issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan, taking into consideration the
following:
o Dilution to existing shareholders' position;
o Terms of the offer;
o Financial issues;
o Management's efforts to pursue other alternatives;
o Control issues;
o Conflicts of interest.
Vote FOR the debt restructuring if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
FORMATION OF HOLDING COMPANY
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals regarding the formation of a holding company,
taking into consideration the following:
o The reasons for the change;
o Any financial or tax benefits;
o Regulatory benefits;
o Increases in capital structure;
o Changes to the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the company.
Absent compelling financial reasons to recommend the transaction, vote
AGAINST the formation of a holding company if the transaction would include
either of the following:
16
o Increases in common or preferred stock in excess of the allowable
maximum (see discussion under "Capital Structure");
o Adverse changes in shareholder rights.
GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS (LBOS, MINORITY SQUEEZEOUTS, AND GOING DARK)
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on going private transactions, taking into account the
following: offer price/premium, fairness opinion, how the deal was negotiated,
conflicts of interest, other alternatives/offers considered, and non-completion
risk.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on "going dark" transactions, determining whether the
transaction enhances shareholder value by taking into consideration:
o Whether the company has attained benefits from being publicly-traded
(examination of trading volume, liquidity, and market research of the
stock);
o Cash-out value;
o Whether the interests of continuing and cashed-out shareholders are
balanced; and
o The market reaction to public announcement of transaction.
JOINT VENTURES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to form joint ventures, taking into account the
following:
o Percentage of assets/business contributed;
o Percentage ownership;
o Financial and strategic benefits;
o Governance structure;
o Conflicts of interest;
o Other alternatives;
o Noncompletion risk.
LIQUIDATIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on liquidations, taking into account the following:
o Management's efforts to pursue other alternatives;
o Appraisal value of assets; and
o The compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.
Vote FOR the liquidation if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal
is not approved.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS/ ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO FACILITATE MERGER OR ACQUISITION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions, determining whether the
transaction enhances shareholder value by giving consideration to items listed
under "Mergers and Corporate Restructurings: Overall Approach."
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS/WARRANTS/CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals regarding private placements, taking into
consideration:
o Dilution to existing shareholders' position;
o Terms of the offer;
o Financial issues;
o Management's efforts to pursue other alternatives;
o Control issues;
o Conflicts of interest.
17
Vote FOR the private placement if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
SPINOFFS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on spin-offs, considering:
o Tax and regulatory advantages;
o Planned use of the sale proceeds;
o Valuation of spinoff;
o Fairness opinion;
o Benefits to the parent company;
o Conflicts of interest;
o Managerial incentives;
o Corporate governance changes;
o Changes in the capital structure.
VALUE MAXIMIZATION PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals seeking to maximize shareholder value
by hiring a financial advisor to explore strategic alternatives, selling the
company or liquidating the company and distributing the proceeds to
shareholders. These proposals should be evaluated based on the following
factors:
o Prolonged poor performance with no turnaround in sight;
o Signs of entrenched board and management;
o Strategic plan in place for improving value;
o Likelihood of receiving reasonable value in a sale or dissolution; and
o Whether company is actively exploring its strategic options, including
retaining a financial advisor.
18
6. STATE OF INCORPORATION
CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION PROVISIONS
Control share acquisition statutes function by denying shares their voting
rights when they contribute to ownership in excess of certain thresholds. Voting
rights for those shares exceeding ownership limits may only be restored by
approval of either a majority or supermajority of disinterested shares. Thus,
control share acquisition statutes effectively require a hostile bidder to put
its offer to a shareholder vote or risk voting disenfranchisement if the bidder
continues buying up a large block of shares.
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes unless doing
so would enable the completion of a takeover that would be detrimental to
shareholders.
Vote AGAINST proposals to amend the charter to include control share acquisition
provisions.
Vote FOR proposals to restore voting rights to the control shares.
CONTROL SHARE CASH-OUT PROVISIONS
Control share cash-out statutes give dissident shareholders the right to
"cash-out" of their position in a company at the expense of the shareholder who
has taken a control position. In other words, when an investor crosses a preset
threshold level, remaining shareholders are given the right to sell their shares
to the acquirer, who must buy them at the highest acquiring price.
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share cash-out statutes.
DISGORGEMENT PROVISIONS
Disgorgement provisions require an acquirer or potential acquirer of more than a
certain percentage of a company's stock to disgorge, or pay back, to the company
any profits realized from the sale of that company's stock purchased 24 months
before achieving control status. All sales of company stock by the acquirer
occurring within a certain period of time (between 18 months and 24 months)
prior to the investor's gaining control status are subject to these
recapture-of-profits provisions.
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of state disgorgement provisions.
FAIR PRICE PROVISIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt fair price provisions (provisions that
stipulate that an acquirer must pay the same price to acquire all shares as it
paid to acquire the control shares), evaluating factors such as the vote
required to approve the proposed acquisition, the vote required to repeal the
fair price provision, and the mechanism for determining the fair price.
Generally, vote AGAINST fair price provisions with shareholder vote requirements
greater than a majority of disinterested shares.
FREEZE-OUT PROVISIONS
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of state freeze-out provisions. Freeze-out
provisions force an investor who surpasses a certain ownership threshold in a
company to wait a specified period of time before gaining control of the
company.
GREENMAIL
Greenmail payments are targeted share repurchases by management of company stock
from individuals or groups seeking control of the company. Since only the
hostile party receives payment, usually at a substantial premium over the market
value of its shares, the practice discriminates against all other shareholders.
19
Vote FOR proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or
otherwise restrict a company's ability to make greenmail payments.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on anti-greenmail proposals when they are bundled with other
charter or bylaw amendments.
REINCORPORATION PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to change a company's state of incorporation,
taking into consideration both financial and corporate governance concerns,
including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of the governance
provisions, comparative economic benefits, and a comparison of the
jurisdictional laws.
Vote FOR re-incorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or
negative governance changes.
STAKEHOLDER PROVISIONS
Vote AGAINST proposals that ask the board to consider non-shareholder
constituencies or other non-financial effects when evaluating a merger or
business combination.
STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes
(including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes,
freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill
endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail
provisions, and disgorgement provisions).
20
7. CAPITAL STRUCTURE
ADJUSTMENTS TO PAR VALUE OF COMMON STOCK
Vote FOR management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.
COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZATION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock
authorized for issuance using a model developed by ISS.
Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a
company's shares are in danger of being delisted or if a company's ability to
continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.
In addition, for capital requests less than or equal to 300 percent of the
current authorized shares that marginally fail the calculated allowable cap
(i.e., exceed the allowable cap by no more than 5 percent), on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, vote FOR the increase based on the company's performance and whether the
company's ongoing use of shares has shown prudence. Factors should include, at a
minimum, the following:
o Rationale;
o Good performance with respect to peers and index on a five-year total
shareholder return basis;
o Absence of non-shareholder approved poison pill;
o Reasonable equity compensation burn rate;
o No non-shareholder approved pay plans; and
o Absence of egregious equity compensation practices.
DUAL-CLASS STOCK
Vote AGAINST proposals to create a new class of common stock with superior
voting rights.
Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to
increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior
voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to create a new class of nonvoting or sub-voting common stock
if:
o It is intended for financing purposes with minimal or no dilution to
current shareholders;
o It is not designed to preserve the voting power of an insider or
significant shareholder.
ISSUE STOCK FOR USE WITH RIGHTS PLAN
Vote AGAINST proposals that increase authorized common stock for the explicit
purpose of implementing a non-shareholder approved shareholder rights plan
(poison pill).
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals that seek preemptive rights, taking
into consideration: the size of a company, the characteristics of its
shareholder base, and the liquidity of the stock.
PREFERRED STOCK
Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred
stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other
rights ("blank check" preferred stock).
21
Vote FOR proposals to create "declawed" blank check preferred stock (stock that
cannot be used as a takeover defense).
Vote FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company
specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and
the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.
Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock
authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a
specific purpose.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred
shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given
a company's industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.
RECAPITALIZATION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on recapitalizations (reclassifications of securities), taking
into account the following:
o More simplified capital structure;
o Enhanced liquidity;
o Fairness of conversion terms;
o Impact on voting power and dividends;
o Reasons for the reclassification;
o Conflicts of interest; and
o Other alternatives considered.
REVERSE STOCK SPLITS
Vote FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number
of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced.
Vote FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid
delisting.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement a reverse stock split that do not
proportionately reduce the number of shares authorized for issue based on the
allowable increased calculated using the Capital Structure model.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMS
Vote FOR management proposals to institute open-market share repurchase plans in
which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.
STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS: SPLITS AND DIVIDENDS
Vote FOR management proposals to increase the common share authorization for a
stock split or share dividend, provided that the increase in authorized shares
would not result in an excessive number of shares available for issuance as
determined using a model developed by ISS.
TRACKING STOCK
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the creation of tracking stock, weighing the strategic
value of the transaction against such factors as:
o Adverse governance changes;
o Excessive increases in authorized capital stock;
o Unfair method of distribution;
o Diminution of voting rights;
o Adverse conversion features;
o Negative impact on stock option plans; and
o Alternatives such as spin-off.
22
8. EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity
plan if any of the following factors apply:
o The total cost of the company's equity plans is unreasonable;
o The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options without
prior shareholder approval;
o There is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company's performance;
o The company's three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% and the
mean plus 1 standard deviation of its industry group; or
o The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices.
Each of these factors is further described below:
COST OF EQUITY PLANS
Generally, vote AGAINST equity plans if the cost is unreasonable. For
non-employee director plans, vote FOR the plan if certain factors are met (see
Director Compensation section).
The cost of the equity plans is expressed as Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT),
which is measured using a binomial option pricing model that assesses the amount
of shareholders' equity flowing out of the company to employees and directors.
SVT is expressed as both a dollar amount and as a percentage of market value,
and includes the new shares proposed, shares available under existing plans, and
shares granted but unexercised. All award types are valued. For omnibus plans,
unless limitations are placed on the most expensive types of awards (for
example, full value awards), the assumption is made that all awards to be
granted will be the most expensive types. See discussion of specific types of
awards.
The Shareholder Value Transfer is reasonable if it falls below the
company-specific allowable cap. The allowable cap is determined as follows: The
top quartile performers in each industry group (using the Global Industry
Classification Standard GICS) are identified. Benchmark SVT levels for each
industry are established based on these top performers' historic SVT. Regression
analyses are run on each industry group to identify the variables most strongly
correlated to SVT. The benchmark industry SVT level is then adjusted upwards or
downwards for the specific company by plugging the company-specific performance
measures, size and cash compensation into the industry cap equations to arrive
at the company's allowable cap.
REPRICING PROVISIONS
Vote AGAINST plans that expressly permit the repricing of stock options without
prior shareholder approval, even if the cost of the plan is reasonable.
Vote AGAINST plans if the company has a history of repricing options without
shareholder approval, and the applicable listing standards would not preclude
them from doing so.
PAY-FOR PERFORMANCE DISCONNECT Generally vote AGAINST plans in which:
o there is a disconnect between the CEO's pay and company performance
(an increase in pay and a decrease
in performance);
o the main source of the pay increase (over half) is equity-based, and
o the CEO is a participant of the equity proposal.
23
Performance decreases are based on negative one- and three-year total
shareholder returns. CEO pay increases are based on the CEO's total direct
compensation (salary, cash bonus, present value of stock options, face value of
restricted stock, face value of long-term incentive plan payouts, and all other
compensation) increasing over the previous year.
WITHHOLD votes from the Compensation Committee members when the company has a
pay for performance disconnect.
On a CASE-BY-CASE basis, vote for equity plans and FOR compensation committee
members with a pay-for-performance disconnect if compensation committee members
can present strong and compelling evidence of improved committee performance.
This evidence must go beyond the usual compensation committee report disclosure.
This additional evidence necessary includes all of the following:
o The compensation committee has reviewed all components of the CEO's
compensation, including the following:
- Base salary, bonus, long-term incentives;
- Accumulative realized and unrealized stock option and restricted
stock gains;
- Dollar value of perquisites and other personal benefits to the
CEO and the total cost to the company;
- Earnings and accumulated payment obligations under the company's
nonqualified deferred compensation program;
- Actual projected payment obligations under the company's
supplemental executive retirement plan (SERPs).
A tally sheet setting forth all the above components was prepared and reviewed
affixing dollar amounts under the various payout scenarios. (A complete
breakdown of pay components also can be found in Disclosure of CEO Compensation
- - Tally Sheet.)
o A tally sheet with all the above components should be disclosed for
the following termination scenarios:
- Payment if termination occurs within 12 months: $_____;
- Payment if "not for cause" termination occurs within 12 months:
$_____;
- Payment if "change of control" termination occurs within 12
months: $_____.
o The compensation committee is committed to providing additional
information on the named executives' annual cash bonus program and/or
long-term incentive cash plan for the current fiscal year. The
compensation committee will provide full disclosure of the qualitative
and quantitative performance criteria and hurdle rates used to
determine the payouts of the cash program. From this disclosure,
shareholders will know the minimum level of performance required for
any cash bonus to be delivered, as well as the maximum cash bonus
payable for superior performance.
The repetition of the compensation committee report does not meet ISS'
requirement of compelling and strong evidence of improved disclosure. The level
of transparency and disclosure is at the highest level where shareholders can
understand the mechanics of the annual cash bonus and/or long-term incentive
cash plan based on the additional disclosure.
o The compensation committee is committed to granting a substantial
portion of performance-based equity awards to the named executive
officers. A substantial portion of performance-based awards would be
at least 50 percent of the shares awarded to each of the named
executive officers. Performance-based equity awards are earned or paid
out based on the achievement of company performance targets. The
company will disclose the details of the performance criteria (e.g.,
return on equity) and the hurdle rates (e.g., 15 percent) associated
24
with the performance targets. From this disclosure, shareholders will
know the minimum level of performance required for any equity grants
to be made. The performance-based equity awards do not refer to
non-qualified stock options(1) or performance-accelerated grants.(2)
Instead, performance-based equity awards are performance-contingent
grants where the individual will not receive the equity grant by not
meeting the target performance and vice versa.
The level of transparency and disclosure is at the highest level where
shareholders can understand the mechanics of the performance-based equity awards
based on the additional disclosure.
o The compensation committee has the sole authority to hire and fire
outside compensation consultants. The role of the outside compensation
consultant is to assist the compensation committee to analyze
executive pay packages or contracts and understand the company's
financial measures.
THREE-YEAR BURN RATE/BURN RATE COMMITMENT
Generally vote AGAINST plans if the company's most recent three-year burn rate
exceeds one standard deviation in excess of the industry mean (per the following
Burn Rate Table) and is over two percent of common shares outstanding. The
three-year burn rate policy does not apply to non-employee director plans unless
outside directors receive a significant portion of shares each year.
However, vote FOR equity plans if the company fails this burn rate test but the
company commits in a public filing to a three-year average burn rate equal to
its GICS group burn rate mean plus one standard deviation, assuming all other
conditions for voting FOR the plan have been met.
If a company fails to fulfill its burn rate commitment, vote to WITHHOLD from
the compensation committee.
- ----------
(1) Non-qualified stock options are not performance-based awards unless the
grant or the vesting of the stock options is tied to the achievement of a
pre-determined and disclosed performance measure. A rising stock market will
generally increase share prices of all companies, despite of the company's
underlying performance.
(2) Performance-accelerated grants are awards that vest
earlier based on the achievement of a specified measure. However, these grants
will ultimately vest over time even without the attainment of the goal(s).
25
2006 PROXY SEASON BURN RATE TABLE
RUSSELL 3000 NON-RUSSELL 3000
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
GIC DESCRIPTION MEAN STANDARD MEAN+STDEV MEAN STANDARD MEAN+STDEV
DEVIATION DEVUATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1010 Energy 1.53% 0.96% 2.50% 2.03% 2.53% 4.56%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
1510 Materials 1.37% 0.74% 2.11% 2.15% 2.01% 4.16%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2010 Capital Goods 1.84% 1.09% 2.93% 2.74% 2.63% 5.37%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2020 Commercial Services & Supplies 2.73% 1.60% 4.33% 3.43% 4.18% 7.61%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2030 Transportation 1.76% 1.71% 3.47% 2.18% 2.12% 4.30%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2510 Automobiles & Components 1.97% 1.27% 3.24% 2.23% 2.29% 4.51%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2520 Consumer Durables & Apparel 2.04% 1.22% 3.26% 2.86% 2.48% 5.35%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2530 Hotels Restaurants & Leisure 2.22% 1.09% 3.31% 2.71% 2.46% 5.17%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2540 Media 2.14% 1.24% 3.38% 3.26% 2.52% 5.77%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2550 Retailing 2.54% 1.59% 4.12% 4.01% 4.03% 8.03%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
3010, Food & Staples Retailing 1.82% 1.31% 3.13% 2.20% 2.79% 4.99%
3020, 3030
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
3510 Health Care Equipment & Services 3.20% 1.71% 4.91% 4.33% 3.20% 7.53%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
3520 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 3.70% 1.87% 5.57% 5.41% 4.74% 10.15%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4010 Banks 1.46% 1.00% 2.46% 1.38% 1.42% 2.79%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4020 Diversified Financials 3.00% 2.28% 5.28% 4.46% 4.01% 8.47%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4030 Insurance 1.52% 1.04% 2.56% 2.25% 2.85% 5.10%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4040 Real Estate 1.30% 1.01% 2.31% 1.12% 1.67% 2.79%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4510 Software & Services 5.02% 2.98% 8.00% 6.92% 6.05% 12.97%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4520 Technology Hardware & Equipment 3.64% 2.48% 6.11% 4.73% 4.02% 8.75%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
4530 Semiconductors & Semiconductor 4.81% 2.86% 7.67% 5.01% 3.06% 8.07%
Equip.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
5010 Telecommunication Services 2.31% 1.61% 3.92% 3.70% 3.41% 7.11%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
5510 Utilities 0.94% 0.62% 1.56% 2.11% 4.13% 6.24%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
For companies that grant both full value awards and stock options to their
employees, apply a premium on full value awards for the past three fiscal years
as follows:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHARACTERISTICS ANNUAL STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY PREMIUM
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High annual volatility 53% and higher 1 full-value award for 1.5 option shares
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moderate annual volatility 25% - 52% 1 full-value award for 2.0 option shares
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low annual volatility Less than 25% 1 full-value award for 4.0 option shares
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POOR PAY PRACTICES
Vote AGAINST equity plans if the plan is a vehicle for poor compensation
practices.
WITHOLD from compensation committee members if the company has poor compensation
practices.
Poor compensation practices include, but are not limited to, the following:
o Egregious employment contracts including excessive severance
provisions;
o Excessive perks that dominate compensation;
o Huge bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage;
o Performance metrics that are changed during the performance period;
o Egregious SERP (Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans) payouts;
o New CEO with overly generous hiring package;
26
o Internal pay disparity;
o Other excessive compensation payouts or poor pay practices at the
company.
SPECIFIC TREATMENT OF CERTAIN AWARD TYPES IN EQUITY PLAN EVALUATIONS:
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS
Equity plans that have Dividend Equivalent Rights (DERs) associated with them
will have a higher calculated award value than those without DERs under the
binomial model, based on the value of these dividend streams. The higher value
will be applied to new shares, shares available under existing plans, and shares
awarded but not exercised per the plan specifications. DERS transfer more
shareholder equity to employees and non-employee directors and this cost should
be captured.
LIBERAL SHARE RECYCLING PROVISIONS
Under net share counting provisions, shares tendered by an option holder to pay
for the exercise of an option, shares withheld for taxes or shares repurchased
by the company on the open market can be recycled back into the equity plan for
awarding again. All awards with such provisions should be valued as full-value
awards. Stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SSARs) will also be considered
as full-value awards if a company counts only the net shares issued to employees
towards their plan reserve.
TRANSFERABLE STOCK OPTION AWARDS
For transferable stock option award types within a new equity plan, calculate
the cost of the awards by setting their forfeiture rate to zero when comparing
to the allowable cap. In addition, in order to vote FOR plans with such awards,
the structure and mechanics of the on-going transferable stock option program
must be disclosed to shareholders; and amendments to existing plans that allow
for introduction of transferability of stock options should make clear that only
options granted post-amendment shall be transferable.
OTHER COMPENSATION PROPOSALS AND POLICIES
401(K) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Vote FOR proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on compensation plans for non-employee directors, based on the
cost of the plans against the company's allowable cap.
On occasion, director stock plans that set aside a relatively small number of
shares when combined with employee or executive stock compensation plans exceed
the allowable cap. Vote for the plan if ALL of the following qualitative factors
in the board's compensation are met and disclosed in the proxy statement:
o Director stock ownership guidelines with a minimum of three times the
annual cash retainer.
o Vesting schedule or mandatory holding/deferral period:
- A minimum vesting of three years for stock options or restricted
stock; or
- Deferred stock payable at the end of a three-year deferral
period.
o Mix between cash and equity:
- A balanced mix of cash and equity, for example 40% cash/60%
equity or 50% cash/50% equity; or
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- If the mix is heavier on the equity component, the vesting
schedule or deferral period should be more stringent, with the
lesser of five years or the term of directorship.
o No retirement/benefits and perquisites provided to non-employee
directors; and
o Detailed disclosure provided on cash and equity compensation delivered
to each non-employee director for the most recent fiscal year in a
table. The column headers for the table may include the following:
name of each non-employee director, annual retainer, board meeting
fees, committee retainer, committee-meeting fees, and equity grants.
DIRECTOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Vote AGAINST retirement plans for non-employee directors.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to eliminate retirement plans for non-employee
directors.
DISCLOSURE OF CEO COMPENSATION-TALLY SHEET
Encourage companies to provide better and more transparent disclosure related to
CEO pay. Consider withhold votes in the future from the compensation committee
and voting against equity plans if compensation disclosure is not improved and a
tally sheet is not provided.
In addition to the current SEC requirements, the following table sets forth the
current minimum standard on CEO pay disclosure according to ISS's guidelines:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPONENT AMOUNT EARNED/GRANTED DESCRIPTION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Salary Current figure Explanation of any increase in
base salary
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Incentive Target: Explanation of specific
Actual earned: performance measures and actual
deliverables.
State amount tied to actual
performance.
State any discretionary bonus.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Options Number granted: Rationale for determining the
Exercise price: number of stock options issued to
Vesting: CEO.
Grant value:
Accumulated dividend equivalents
(if any).
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restricted Stock Number granted: Performance based or time based.
Vesting:
Grant value: Rationale for determining the
number of restricted stock issued
to CEO.
Accumulated dividends on vested
and unvested portion.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance Shares Minimum: Explanation of specific
Target: performance measures and actual
Maximum: deliverables.
Actual earned:
Grant value: Any dividends on unearned
performance shares.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred compensation Executive portion: Provide structure and terms of
Company match (if any): program.
Accumulated executive portion: Explanation of interest,
Accumulated company match (if formulas, minimum guarantees or
any): multipliers on deferred
compensation.
Any holding periods on the
company match portion.
Funding mechanism
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental retirement benefit Actual projected payment Provide structure and terms of
obligations program.
Explanation of formula, additional
credits for years not worked,
multipliers or interest on SERPs.
Funding mechanism.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive perquisites Breakdown of the market value of The types of perquisites
various perquisites provided. Examples: company
aircraft, company cars, etc.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross-ups (if any) Breakdown of gross-ups for any
pay component
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Severance associated with Estimated payout amounts for Single trigger or double trigger.
change-in-control cash, equity and benefits
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Severance (Termination scenario Estimated payout amounts for
under "for cause" and "not for cash, equity and benefits under
cause") different scenarios
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post retirement package Estimated value of consulting
agreement and continuation of
benefits
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TOTAL PACKAGE $
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See the remedy for Pay for Performance disconnect for a more qualitative
description of certain pay components.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS (ESOPS)
Vote FOR proposals to implement an ESOP or increase authorized shares for
existing ESOPs, unless the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is excessive
(more than five percent of outstanding shares).
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS-- QUALIFIED PLANS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on qualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR employee
stock purchase plans where all of the following apply: o Purchase price is at
least 85 percent of fair market value; o Offering period is 27 months or less;
and o The number of shares allocated to the plan is ten percent or less of the
outstanding shares.
Vote AGAINST qualified employee stock purchase plans where any of the following
apply:
o Purchase price is less than 85 percent of fair market value; or
o Offering period is greater than 27 months; or
o The number of shares allocated to the plan is more than ten percent of
the outstanding shares.
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EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS-- NON-QUALIFIED PLANS
Vote CASE-by-CASE on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR
nonqualified employee stock purchase plans with all the following features:
o Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees of the company with the
exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial
ownership of the company);
o Limits on employee contribution, which may be a fixed dollar amount or
expressed as a percent of base salary;
o Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employee's
contribution, which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from
market value;
o No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is
a company matching contribution.
Vote AGAINST nonqualified employee stock purchase plans when any of the plan
features do not meet the above criteria. If the company matching contribution
exceeds 25 percent of employee's contribution, evaluate the cost of the plan
against its allowable cap.
INCENTIVE BONUS PLANS AND TAX DEDUCTIBILITY PROPOSALS (OBRA-RELATED
COMPENSATION PROPOSALS)
Vote FOR proposals that simply amend shareholder-approved compensation plans to
include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one
participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m).
Vote FOR proposals to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to
comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) unless they are clearly
inappropriate.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on amendments to existing plans to increase shares reserved
and to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section
162(m) as long as the plan does not exceed the allowable cap and the plan does
not violate any of the supplemental policies.
Generally vote FOR cash or cash and stock bonus plans that are submitted to
shareholders for the purpose of exempting compensation from taxes under the
provisions of Section 162(m) if no increase in shares is requested.
OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAMS/REPRICING OPTIONS
Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice
options taking into consideration:
o Historic trading patterns;
o Rationale for the repricing;
o Value-for-value exchange;
o Treatment of surrendered options;
o Option vesting;
o Term of the option;
o Exercise price;
o Participation.
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If the surrendered options are added back to the equity plans for re-issuance,
then also take into consideration the company's three-year average burn rate.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
STOCK PLANS IN LIEU OF CASH
Vote CASE-by-CASE on plans which provide participants with the option of taking
all or a portion of their cash compensation in the form of stock.
Vote FOR non-employee director only equity plans which provide a
dollar-for-dollar cash for stock exchange.
Vote CASE-by-CASE on plans which do not provide a dollar-for-dollar cash for
stock exchange. In cases where the exchange is not dollar-for-dollar, the
request for new or additional shares for such equity program will be considered
using the binomial option pricing model. In an effort to capture the total cost
of total compensation, ISS will not make any adjustments to carve out the
in-lieu-of cash compensation.
TRANSFER PROGRAMS OF STOCK OPTIONS
One-time Transfers: WITHHOLD votes from compensation committee members if they
fail to submit one-time transfers for to shareholders for approval.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on one-time transfers. Vote FOR if:
o Executive officers and non-employee directors are excluded from
participating;
o Stock options are purchased by third-party financial institutions at a
discount to their fair value using option pricing models such as
Black-Scholes or a Binomial Option Valuation or other appropriate
financial models;
o There is a two-year minimum holding period for sale proceeds (cash or
stock) for all participants.
Additionally, management should provide a clear explanation of why options are
being transferred and whether the events leading up to the decline in stock
price were beyond management's control. A review of the company's historic stock
price volatility should indicate if the options are likely to be back
"in-the-money" over the near term.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS ON COMPENSATION
DISCLOSURE/SETTING LEVELS OR TYPES OF COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVES AND DIRECTORS
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of
executive and director pay information, provided the information requested is
relevant to shareholders' needs, would not put the company at a competitive
disadvantage relative to its industry, and is not unduly burdensome to the
company.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking to set absolute levels on
compensation or otherwise dictate the amount or form of compensation.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring director fees be paid in stock
only.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other shareholder proposals regarding executive and
director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level versus peers,
pay level versus industry, and long term corporate outlook.
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OPTION EXPENSING
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals asking the company to expense stock
options, unless the company has already publicly committed to expensing options
by a specific date.
OPTION REPRICING
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
PENSION PLAN INCOME ACCOUNTING
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals to exclude pension plan income in the
calculation of earnings used in determining executive bonuses/compensation.
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals advocating the use of performance-based
awards like indexed, premium-priced, and performance-vested options or
performance-based shares, unless:
o The proposal is overly restrictive (e.g., it mandates that awards to
all employees must be performance-based or all awards to top
executives must be a particular type, such as indexed options);
o The company demonstrates that it is using a substantial portion of
performance-based awards for its top executives, where substantial
portion would constitute 50 percent of the shares awarded to those
executives for that fiscal year.
SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS FOR EXECUTIVES/GOLDEN PARACHUTES
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to require golden parachutes or executive
severance agreements to be submitted for shareholder ratification, unless the
proposal requires shareholder approval prior to entering into employment
contracts.
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to ratify or cancel golden parachutes.
An acceptable parachute should include, but is not limited to, the following:
o The triggering mechanism should be beyond the control of management;
o The amount should not exceed three times base amount (defined as the
average annual taxable W-2 compensation during the five years prior to
the year in which the change of control occurs;
o Change-in-control payments should be double-triggered, i.e., (1) after
a change in control has taken place, and (2) termination of the
executive as a result of the change in control. Change in control is
defined as a change in the company ownership structure.
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLANS (SERPS)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting to put extraordinary
benefits contained in SERP agreements to a shareholder vote unless the company's
executive pension plans do not contain excessive benefits beyond what is offered
under employee-wide plans.
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9. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Generally vote AGAINST proposals to phase out the use of animals in product
testing unless:
o The company is conducting animal testing programs that are unnecessary
or not required by regulation;
o The company is conducting animal testing when suitable alternatives
are accepted and used at peer firms;
o The company has been the subject of recent, significant controversy
related to its testing programs.
Generally vote FOR proposals seeking a report on the company's animal welfare
standards unless:
o The company has already published a set of animal welfare standards
and monitors compliance;
o The company's standards are comparable to or better than those of peer
firms; and
o There are no serious controversies surrounding the company's treatment
of animals.
DRUG PRICING
Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies implement specific
price restraints on pharmaceutical products unless the company fails to adhere
to legislative guidelines or industry norms in its product pricing.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting that the company evaluate their
product pricing considering:
o The existing level of disclosure on pricing policies;
o Deviation from established industry pricing norms;
o The company's existing initiatives to provide its products to needy
consumers;
o Whether the proposal focuses on specific products or geographic
regions.
DRUG REIMPORTATION
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting that companies report on the financial
and legal impact of their policies regarding prescription drug reimportation
unless such information is already publicly disclosed.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies adopt specific
policies to encourage or constrain prescription drug reimportation.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to voluntarily label genetically
engineered (GE) ingredients in their products or alternatively to provide
interim labeling and eventually eliminate GE ingredients due to the costs and
feasibility of labeling and/or phasing out the use of GE ingredients.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking for a report on the feasibility of
labeling products containing GE ingredients taking into account:
o The relevance of the proposal in terms of the company's business and
the proportion of it affected by the resolution;
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o The quality of the company's disclosure on GE product labeling and
related voluntary initiatives and how this disclosure compares with
peer company disclosure;
o Company's current disclosure on the feasibility of GE product
labeling, including information on the related costs;
o Any voluntary labeling initiatives undertaken or considered by the
company.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking for the preparation of a report on the
financial, legal, and environmental impact of continued use of GE
ingredients/seeds. Evaluate the following:
o The relevance of the proposal in terms of the company's business and
the proportion of it affected by the resolution;
o The quality of the company's disclosure on risks related to GE product
use and how this disclosure compares with peer company disclosure;
o The percentage of revenue derived from international operations,
particularly in Europe, where GE products are more regulated and
consumer backlash is more pronounced.
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking a report on the health and environmental effects
of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Health studies of this sort are better
undertaken by regulators and the scientific community.
Vote AGAINST proposals to completely phase out GE ingredients from the company's
products or proposals asking for reports outlining the steps necessary to
eliminate GE ingredients from the company's products. Such resolutions
presuppose that there are proven health risks to GE ingredients (an issue better
left to federal regulators) that outweigh the economic benefits derived from
biotechnology.
HANDGUNS
Generally vote AGAINST requests for reports on a company's policies aimed at
curtailing gun violence in the United States unless the report is confined to
product safety information. Criminal misuse of firearms is beyond company
control and instead falls within the purview of law enforcement agencies.
HIV/AIDS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports outlining the impact of the health
pandemic (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis) on the company's Sub-Saharan
operations and how the company is responding to it, taking into account:
o The nature and size of the company's operations in Sub-Saharan Africa
and the number of local employees;
o The company's existing healthcare policies, including benefits and
healthcare access for local workers;
o Company donations to healthcare providers operating in the region.
Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to establish, implement, and report on a
standard of response to the HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria health pandemic in Africa
and other developing countries, unless the company has significant operations in
these markets and has failed to adopt policies and/or procedures to address
these issues comparable to those of industry peers.
PREDATORY LENDING
Vote CASE-BY CASE on requests for reports on the company's procedures for
preventing predatory lending, including the establishment of a board committee
for oversight, taking into account:
o Whether the company has adequately disclosed mechanisms in place to
prevent abusive lending practices;
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o Whether the company has adequately disclosed the financial risks of
its subprime business;
o Whether the company has been subject to violations of lending laws or
serious lending controversies;
o Peer companies' policies to prevent abusive lending practices.
TOBACCO
Most tobacco-related proposals should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
taking into account the following factors:
Second-hand smoke:
o Whether the company complies with all local ordinances and
regulations;
o The degree that voluntary restrictions beyond those mandated by law
might hurt the company's competitiveness;
o The risk of any health-related liabilities.
Advertising to youth:
o Whether the company complies with federal, state, and local laws on
the marketing of tobacco or if it has been fined for violations;
o Whether the company has gone as far as peers in restricting
advertising;
o Whether the company entered into the Master Settlement Agreement,
which restricts marketing of tobacco to youth;
o Whether restrictions on marketing to youth extend to foreign
countries.
Cease production of tobacco-related products or avoid selling products to
tobacco companies: o The percentage of the company's business affected; o The
economic loss of eliminating the business versus any potential tobacco-related
liabilities.
Spin-off tobacco-related businesses:
o The percentage of the company's business affected;
o The feasibility of a spin-off;
o Potential future liabilities related to the company's tobacco
business.
Stronger product warnings:
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking stronger product warnings. Such decisions are
better left to public health authorities.
Investment in tobacco stocks:
Vote AGAINST proposals prohibiting investment in tobacco equities. Such
decisions are better left to portfolio managers.
TOXIC CHEMICALS
Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that a company discloses its policies
related to toxic chemicals.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on resolutions requesting that companies evaluate and disclose
the potential financial and legal risks associated with utilizing certain
chemicals, considering:
o Current regulations in the markets in which the company operates;
o Recent significant controversy, litigation, or fines stemming from
toxic chemicals or ingredients at the company; and
o The current level of disclosure on this topic.
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Generally vote AGAINST resolutions requiring that a company reformulate its
products within a certain timeframe unless such actions are required by law in
specific markets.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Generally vote AGAINST request for reports outlining potential environmental
damage from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) unless: o New
legislation is adopted allowing development and drilling in the ANWR region; o
The company intends to pursue operations in the ANWR; and o The company does not
currently disclose an environmental risk report for their operations in the
ANWR.
CERES PRINCIPLES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt the CERES Principles, taking into
account:
o The company's current environmental disclosure beyond legal
requirements, including environmental health and safety (EHS) audits
and reports that may duplicate CERES;
o The company's environmental performance record, including violations
of federal and state regulations, level of toxic emissions, and
accidental spills;
o Environmentally conscious practices of peer companies, including
endorsement of CERES;
o Costs of membership and implementation.
CONCENTRATED AREA FEEDING OPERATIONS (CAFOS)
Vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies report to shareholders on the
risks and liabilities associated with CAFOs unless:
o The company has publicly disclosed guidelines for its corporate and
contract farming operations, including compliance monitoring; or
o The company does not directly source from CAFOs.
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC RISK REPORT
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting an economic risk assessment of
environmental performance considering:
o The feasibility of financially quantifying environmental risk factors;
o The company's compliance with applicable legislation and/or
regulations regarding environmental performance;
o The costs associated with implementing improved standards;
o The potential costs associated with remediation resulting from poor
environmental performance; and
o The current level of disclosure on environmental policies and
initiatives.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
Generally vote FOR requests for reports disclosing the company's environmental
policies unless it already has well-documented environmental management systems
that are available to the public.
GLOBAL WARMING
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas emissions
from company operations and/or products unless this information is already
publicly disclosed or such factors are not integral to the company's line of
business.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals that call for reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by specified amounts or within a restrictive time frame unless the
company lags industry standards and has been the subject of recent, significant
fines or litigation resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.
36
KYOTO PROTOCOL COMPLIANCE
Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies outline their
preparations to comply with standards established by Kyoto Protocol signatory
markets unless:
o The company does not maintain operations in Kyoto signatory markets;
o The company already evaluates and substantially discloses such
information; or,
o Greenhouse gas emissions do not significantly impact the company's
core businesses.
LAND USE
Generally vote AGAINST resolutions that request the disclosure of detailed
information on a company's policies related to land use or development unless
the company has been the subject of recent, significant fines or litigation
stemming from its land use.
NUCLEAR SAFETY
Generally vote AGAINST resolutions requesting that companies report on risks
associated with their nuclear reactor designs and/or the production and interim
storage of irradiated fuel rods unless:
o The company does not have publicly disclosed guidelines describing its
policies and procedures for addressing risks associated with its
operations;
o The company is non-compliant with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
requirements; or
o The company stands out amongst its peers or competitors as having
significant problems with safety or
environmental performance related to its nuclear operations.
OPERATIONS IN PROTECTED AREAS
Generally vote FOR requests for reports outlining potential environmental damage
from operations in protected regions, including wildlife refuges unless:
o The company does not currently have operations or plans to develop
operations in these protected regions; or,
o The company provides disclosure on its operations and environmental
policies in these regions comparable to industry peers.
RECYCLING
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt a comprehensive recycling strategy,
taking into account:
o The nature of the company's business and the percentage affected;
o The extent that peer companies are recycling; o The timetable
prescribed by the proposal;
o The costs and methods of implementation;
o Whether the company has a poor environmental track record, such as
violations of federal and state regulations.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
In general, vote FOR requests for reports on the feasibility of developing
renewable energy sources unless the report is duplicative of existing disclosure
or irrelevant to the company's line of business.
37
Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that the company invest in renewable
energy sources. Such decisions are best left to management's evaluation of the
feasibility and financial impact that such programs may have on the company.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company to report on policies and
initiatives related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability,
unless:
o The company already discloses similar information through existing
reports or policies such as an Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS)
report; a comprehensive Code of Corporate Conduct; and/or a Diversity
Report; or
o The company has formally committed to the implementation of a
reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame.
GENERAL CORPORATE ISSUES
CHARITABLE/POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political
nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:
o The company is in compliance with laws governing corporate political
activities; and
o The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee
contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs)
are strictly voluntary and not coercive.
Vote AGAINST proposals to publish in newspapers and public media the company's
political contributions as such publications could present significant cost to
the company without providing commensurate value to shareholders.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to improve the disclosure of a company's
political contributions considering:
o Recent significant controversy or litigation related to the company's
political contributions or governmental affairs; and
o The public availability of a policy on political contributions.
Vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions.
Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state, and local level
and barring contributions can put the company at a competitive disadvantage.
Vote AGAINST proposals restricting the company from making charitable
contributions. Charitable contributions are generally useful for assisting
worthwhile causes and for creating goodwill in the community. In the absence of
bad faith, self-dealing, or gross negligence, management should determine which
contributions are in the best interests of the company.
Vote AGAINST proposals asking for a list of company executives, directors,
consultants, legal counsels, lobbyists, or investment bankers that have prior
government service and whether such service had a bearing on the business of the
company. Such a list would be burdensome to prepare without providing any
meaningful information to shareholders.
LINK EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TO SOCIAL PERFORMANCE
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to review ways of linking executive compensation
to social factors, such as corporate downsizings, customer or employee
satisfaction, community involvement, human rights, environmental performance,
predatory lending, and executive/employee pay disparities. Such resolutions
should be evaluated in the context of:
38
o The relevance of the issue to be linked to pay;
o The degree that social performance is already included in the
company's pay structure and disclosed;
o The degree that social performance is used by peer companies in
setting pay;
o Violations or complaints filed against the company relating to the
particular social performance measure;
o Artificial limits sought by the proposal, such as freezing or capping
executive pay
o Independence of the compensation committee;
o Current company pay levels.
OUTSOURCING/OFFSHORING
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals calling for companies to report on the risks
associated with outsourcing, considering:
o Risks associated with certain international markets;
o The utility of such a report to shareholders;
o The existence of a publicly available code of corporate conduct that
applies to international operations.
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CHINA PRINCIPLES
Vote AGAINST proposals to implement the China Principles unless:
o There are serious controversies surrounding the company's China
operations; and
o The company does not have a code of conduct with standards similar to
those promulgated by the International Labor Organization (ILO).
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports detailing the company's operations in
a particular country and steps to protect human rights, based on:
o The nature and amount of company business in that country;
o The company's workplace code of conduct;
o Proprietary and confidential information involved;
o Company compliance with U.S. regulations on investing in the country;
o Level of peer company involvement in the country.
INTERNATIONAL CODES OF CONDUCT/VENDOR STANDARDS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement certain human rights standards at
company facilities or those of its suppliers and to commit to outside,
independent monitoring. In evaluating these proposals, the following should be
considered:
o The company's current workplace code of conduct or adherence to other
global standards and the degree they meet the standards promulgated by
the proponent;
o Agreements with foreign suppliers to meet certain workplace standards;
o Whether company and vendor facilities are monitored and how;
o Company participation in fair labor organizations;
o Type of business;
o Proportion of business conducted overseas;
o Countries of operation with known human rights abuses;
o Whether the company has been recently involved in significant labor
and human rights controversies or violations;
o Peer company standards and practices;
o Union presence in company's international factories.
39
Generally vote FOR reports outlining vendor standards compliance unless any of
the following apply:
o The company does not operate in countries with significant human
rights violations;
o The company has no recent human rights controversies or violations; or
o The company already publicly discloses information on its vendor
standards compliance.
MACBRIDE PRINCIPLES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to endorse or increase activity on the MacBride
Principles, taking into account:
o Company compliance with or violations of the Fair Employment Act of
1989;
o Company antidiscrimination policies that already exceed the legal
requirements;
o The cost and feasibility of adopting all nine principles;
o The cost of duplicating efforts to follow two sets of standards (Fair
Employment and the MacBride Principles);
o The potential for charges of reverse discrimination;
o The potential that any company sales or contracts in the rest of the
United Kingdom could be negatively impacted;
o The level of the company's investment in Northern Ireland;
o The number of company employees in Northern Ireland;
o The degree that industry peers have adopted the MacBride Principles;
o Applicable state and municipal laws that limit contracts with
companies that have not adopted the MacBride Principles.
MILITARY BUSINESS
FOREIGN MILITARY SALES/OFFSETS
Vote AGAINST reports on foreign military sales or offsets. Such disclosures may
involve sensitive and confidential information. Moreover, companies must comply
with government controls and reporting on foreign military sales.
LANDMINES AND CLUSTER BOMBS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future involvement
in antipersonnel landmine production, taking into account: o Whether the company
has in the past manufactured landmine components; o Whether the company's peers
have renounced future production.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future involvement
in cluster bomb production, taking into account:
o What weapons classifications the proponent views as cluster bombs;
o Whether the company currently or in the past has manufactured cluster
bombs or their components;
o The percentage of revenue derived from cluster bomb manufacture;
o Whether the company's peers have renounced future production.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Vote AGAINST proposals asking a company to cease production of nuclear weapons
components and delivery systems, including disengaging from current and proposed
contracts. Components and delivery systems serve multiple military and
non-military uses, and withdrawal from these contracts could have a negative
impact on the company's business.
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OPERATIONS IN NATIONS SPONSORING TERRORISM (E.G., IRAN)
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for a board committee review and report outlining
the company's financial and reputational risks from its operations in a
terrorism-sponsoring state, taking into account current disclosure on:
o The nature and purpose of the operations and the amount of business
involved (direct and indirect revenues and expenses) that could be
affected by political disruption;
o Compliance with U.S. sanctions and laws.
SPACED-BASED WEAPONIZATION
Generally vote FOR reports on a company's involvement in spaced-based
weaponization unless:
o The information is already publicly available; or
o The disclosures sought could compromise proprietary information.
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY
BOARD DIVERSITY
Generally vote FOR reports on the company's efforts to diversify the board,
unless:
o The board composition is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies
of similar size and business; or
o The board already reports on its nominating procedures and diversity
initiatives.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals that would call for the adoption of specific
committee charter language regarding diversity initiatives unless the company
fails to publicly disclose existing equal opportunity or non-discrimination
policies.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking the company to increase the representation
of women and minorities on the board, taking into account:
o The degree of board diversity;
o Comparison with peer companies;
o Established process for improving board diversity;
o Existence of independent nominating committee;
o Use of outside search firm;
o History of EEO violations.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)
Generally vote FOR reports outlining the company's affirmative action
initiatives unless all of the following apply:
o The company has well-documented equal opportunity programs;
o The company already publicly reports on its company-wide affirmative
initiatives and provides data on its workforce diversity; and
o The company has no recent EEO-related violations or litigation.
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking information on the diversity efforts of suppliers
and service providers, which can pose a significant cost and administration
burden on the company.
GLASS CEILING
Generally vote FOR reports outlining the company's progress towards the Glass
Ceiling Commission's business recommendations, unless:
o The composition of senior management and the board is fairly
inclusive;
o The company has well-documented programs addressing diversity
initiatives and leadership development;
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o The company already issues public reports on its company-wide
affirmative initiatives and provides data on its workforce diversity;
and
o The company has had no recent, significant EEO-related violations or
litigation.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company's EEO statement in order to
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, unless the change would
result in excessive costs for the company.
Vote AGAINST proposals to ext end company benefits to or eliminate benefits from
domestic partners. Benefits decisions should be left to the discretion of the
company.
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10. MUTUAL FUND PROXIES
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors and trustees, following the same
guidelines for uncontested directors for public company shareholder meetings.
However, mutual fund boards do not usually have compensation committees, so do
not withhold for the lack of this committee.
CONVERTING CLOSED-END FUND TO OPEN-END FUND
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on conversion proposals, considering the following factors:
o Past performance as a closed-end fund;
o Market in which the fund invests;
o Measures taken by the board to address the discount; and
o Past shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related
proposals.
PROXY CONTESTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proxy contests, considering the following factors:
o Past performance relative to its peers;
o Market in which fund invests;
o Measures taken by the board to address the issues;
o Past shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related
proposals;
o Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;
o Independence of directors;
o Experience and skills of director candidates;
o Governance profile of the company;
o Evidence of management entrenchment.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on investment advisory agreements, considering the following
factors:
o Proposed and current fee schedules;
o Fund category/investment objective;
o Performance benchmarks;
o Share price performance as compared with peers;
o Resulting fees relative to peers;
o Assignments (where the advisor undergoes a change of control).
APPROVING NEW CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES
Vote FOR the establishment of new classes or series of shares.
PREFERRED STOCK PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the authorization for or increase in preferred shares,
considering the following factors:
o Stated specific financing purpose;
o Possible dilution for common shares;
o Whether the shares can be used for antitakeover purposes.
1940 ACT POLICIES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on policies under the Investment Advisor Act of 1940,
considering the following factors:
o Potential competitiveness;
o Regulatory developments;
o Current and potential returns; and
o Current and potential risk.
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Generally vote FOR these amendments as long as the proposed changes do not
fundamentally alter the investment focus of the fund and do comply with the
current SEC interpretation.
CHANGING A FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTION TO A NONFUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to change a fundamental restriction to a
non-fundamental restriction, considering the following factors:
o The fund's target investments;
o The reasons given by the fund for the change; and
o The projected impact of the change on the portfolio.
CHANGE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE TO NONFUNDAMENTAL
Vote AGAINST proposals to change a fund's fundamental investment objective to
non-fundamental.
NAME CHANGE PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on name change proposals, considering the following factors:
o Political/economic changes in the target market;
o Consolidation in the target market; and
o Current asset composition.
CHANGE IN FUND'S SUBCLASSIFICATION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on changes in a fund's sub-classification, considering the
following factors:
o Potential competitiveness;
o Current and potential returns;
o Risk of concentration;
o Consolidation in target industry.
DISPOSITION OF ASSETS/TERMINATION/LIQUIDATION
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to dispose of assets, to terminate or liquidate,
considering the following factors:
o Strategies employed to salvage the company;
o The fund's past performance;
o The terms of the liquidation.
CHANGES TO THE CHARTER DOCUMENT
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on changes to the charter document, considering the following
factors:
o The degree of change implied by the proposal;
o The efficiencies that could result;
o The state of incorporation;
o Regulatory standards and implications.
Vote AGAINST any of the following changes:
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to reorganize or terminate
the trust or any of its series;
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement for amendments to the new
declaration of trust;
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to amend the fund's
management contract, allowing the contract to be modified by the
investment manager and the trust management, as permitted by the 1940
Act;
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o Allow the trustees to impose other fees in addition to sales charges
on investment in a fund, such as deferred sales charges and redemption
fees that may be imposed upon redemption of a fund's shares;
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to engage in and terminate
subadvisory arrangements;
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to change the domicile of
the fund.
CHANGING THE DOMICILE OF A FUND
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on re-incorporations, considering the following factors:
o Regulations of both states;
o Required fundamental policies of both states;
o The increased flexibility available.
AUTHORIZING THE BOARD TO HIRE AND TERMINATE SUBADVISORS WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER
APPROVAL Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the board to hire/terminate
subadvisors without shareholder approval.
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on distribution agreement proposals, considering the following
factors:
o Fees charged to comparably sized funds with similar objectives;
o The proposed distributor's reputation and past performance;
o The competitiveness of the fund in the industry;
o The terms of the agreement.
MASTER-FEEDER STRUCTURE
Vote FOR the establishment of a master-feeder structure.
MERGERS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on merger proposals, considering the following factors:
o Resulting fee structure;
o Performance of both funds;
o Continuity of management personnel;
o Changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder
rights.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
ESTABLISH DIRECTOR OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a specific minimum
amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to
remain on the board.
REIMBURSE SHAREHOLDER FOR EXPENSES INCURRED
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation
expenses. When supporting the dissidents, vote FOR the reimbursement of the
proxy solicitation expenses.
TERMINATE THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to terminate the investment advisor, considering
the following factors:
o Performance of the fund's Net Asset Value (NAV);
o The fund's history of shareholder relations;
o The performance of other funds under the advisor's management.
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