2016 Proxy Season Review: Shareholder Proposals

With most of the 2016 proxy season in the rear-view mirror, it’s clear that shareholder proposals continue to be a preferred vehicle for certain kinds of shareholder activism, though with limited effectiveness unless the company and the shareholder reach a negotiated outcome. Proxy access proved to be the notable exception. Overall, the total number of shareholder proposals submitted (916) was down from the all-time high in 2015 (943) but higher than in 2014 and 2013. Proxy access proposals continued to dominate the landscape of shareholder proposals for the second consecutive year, with 201 proposals submitted, nearly twice the 108 proposals submitted last year. Following proxy access, the most common shareholder proposal topics in 2016 related to political and lobbying activities (103), executive compensation (73), diversity reporting (59), climate change (58) and independent board chairs (57). Read our full summary here: https://www.dorsey.com/newsresources/publications/client-alerts/2016/07/2016-proxy-season-review-shareholder-proposals

Cam C. Hoang

Cam helps clients with corporate matters including governance and SEC compliance, equity plans and executive compensation, securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to her return to Dorsey, Cam was Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary at General Mills, Inc., where she helped the company achieve its corporate governance and SEC compliance objectives, worked on securities offerings and M&A transactions, risk management, foundation governance, and general corporate and commercial matters. Before joining General Mills in 2005, Cam was an associate for five years in the Dorsey Corporate Group in Minneapolis.

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