In The Cato Corp., 2017 BL 63285 (Feb. 28, 2017), The Cato Corporation (“Cato”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit the omission of a proposal submitted by Walden Asset Management (“Shareholder”) requesting the board amend its written equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression and report on its programs to substantially implement this policy. The SEC issued the no action letter allowing for exclusion of the proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(10).
Read MoreIn Apple Inc., 2017 BL 452782 (Dec. 15, 2017), Apple Inc. (“Apple”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit the omission of a proposal submitted by Zevin Asset Management, LLC, on behalf of Eli Plenk (“Shareholders”) that would integrate sustainability and diversity metrics with the performance measures of Apple’s executive compensation plans. The SEC issued the requested no action letter allowing for the exclusion of the proposal from Apple’s proxy statement under Rule 14a-8(i)(12)(ii).
Read MoreIn Apple Inc., 2017 BL 446883 (Dec. 12, 2017), Apple Inc. (“Apple”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit the omission of a proposal submitted by Sustainvest Asset Management, LLC (“Shareholder”) requesting Apple produce a report assessing the climate benefits and feasibility of adopting a store-wide policy to keep entrance doors closed when climate control is in use. The SEC issued the requested no action letter allowing for the exclusion of the proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(10).
Read MoreIn ITT Inc., 2017 BL 84441 (March 16, 2017), ITT Inc., (“ITT”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit ITT to omit a shareholder proposal submitted by John Chevedden (“Shareholder”) requesting that ITT place a proposal on ITT’s proxy statement permitting a group of up to 50 shareholders to aggregate their shares to equal 3% of ITT stock owned continuously for 3-years in order to make use of shareholder proxy access. The SEC issued the requested no-action letter permitting ITT to exclude the proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(10).
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