Using proxy advisors, and proxy voting itself, is on the docket for Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 5, when it will have an open meeting to propose new regulations for proxy advisors, which are firms that aid pensions and shareholders on preparing and submitting proxy votes. Typically these can focus on electing board members, but more recently they've included resolutions that focus on environmental, social and governance issues.
In the meeting, the commission states it will "consider whether to propose amendments to the proxy solicitation rules that would provide for disclosure of material conflicts of interest and set forth procedures to facilitate issuer and shareholder engagement, to provide clarity to market participants, and to improve the information provided to investors."
Proxy advisors believe the meeting and vote will curb their business as well as small shareholders' ability to let their issues be heard. Jon Hale, Morningstar's global head of sustainable research, rebuked the SEC in his blog, The ESG Advisor:
"As if limiting the ability of proxy advisors to issue independent advice on proxy votes isn't bad enough, the SEC's next move is to limit shareholders' ability to submit and resubmit resolutions at company's annual general meetings under rule 14a-8.
"For years, any shareholder holding $2,000 worth of a company's stock continuously for at least one year has been able to propose shareholder resolutions. Such questions are subject to a materiality test, which keeps questions irrelevant to a company's business off the ballot. This process allows small "Main Street" investors to raise questions to corporate management, and serves as a sort of early-warning system for companies about developing issues. Inherent in the process is also the belief that small investors may have good ideas that could prove beneficial to a company and its shareholders.
"Once a shareholder resolution is filed, it must receive at least 3% of shares voted to be eligible for resubmission the next year. In year two, it must receive at least 6% and in year three and thereafter, at least 10%."
The SEC has plans to increase this threshold despite not producing "evidence that the current process is broken," Hale writes. Indeed, he maintains a reason for the SEC move is that the number of resolutions pertaining to ESG has grown significantly over the past decade. According to Morningstar, the number of resolutions submitted in 2017 was close to 225 with an average support of roughly 20%. In 2019, as of late July about 175 resolutions had been submitted with about an average of 30% supporting vote.
Et tu, DOL?
In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce requested that the Labor Department also put similar restrictions on proxy voting and advisors.
