Shareholders withdraw resolutions

ICCR Members Withdraw Shareholder Sponsored Proxy Resolutions
As Corporations Take Actions to Address Issues

NEW YORK, NY///February 27, 2006/// Citing the cooperation of major corporations, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), the leading faith-based investor coalition, announced today the withdrawal of 16 shareholder-sponsored proxy resolutions filed for 2006. Corporations including Starbucks, Home Depot, Coca Cola, Cummins and Caterpillar have agreed to address key socially responsible investor issues brought to their attention through the filed resolutions. The ICCR investor coalition is a major force in bringing about advances in corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and economic justice through organized shareowner advocacy.

"We commend the boards and senior managers of these corporations for recognizing the need to address these key issues," stated Sister Patricia Wolf, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. "These are positive developments for all shareholders and our members who are deeply concerned about corporate governance and best practices. While these issues have been addressed at companies embracing dialogue with their shareholders, we must point out that there are still more than 20 resolutions filed with more than one hundred companies. ICCR members will be bringing these to public attention as shareholders vote to resolve outstanding issues that impact important social justice, environmental and governance issues."

The following Shareholder-Sponsored Proxy Resolutions have been withdrawn by members of ICCR. (Information compiled from ICCR's EthVest(sm) database.)

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) - Resolution requested the Board to declassify the Board of Directors and establish annual elections of directors - The Company voted unanimously to declassify board of directors.

EnCana Corp. (ECA: U.TO) - Resolution requested the Board to prepare a report assessing the impacts of company operations on ecosystems claimed by First Nations - The Company was willing to dialogue on biodiversity issues; First Nations in the region have signed treaties regarding the use of their lands.

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) -Resolution requested Board of Directors to make all possible lawful efforts to implement and/or increase activity on the nine China Principles in the People's Republic of China. - The Company has agreed to report in the Fall about their implementation of their supplier code.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) - Resolution requested the Board to review and make changes in Director Compensation - The Company has entered in meaningful dialogue on the issue.

Hain Celestial Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) - Resolution requested Board of Directors to review executive compensation policies and report to shareholders - The Company has agreed to report as asked.

Lowes (NYSE: LOW) - Resolution requested Company assess its response to rising regulatory, competitive, and public pressure to increase the energy efficiency of its buildings, including stores, offices and distribution networks. - The Company committed to significantly expanded reporting on energy efficiency.

Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) - Resolution requested a committee of independent directors of the Board assess how the company is responding to rising regulatory, competitive, and public pressure to significantly reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and report to shareholders. - The Company has agreed to disclose & annually update total GHG emissions (abs. and intensity); and to update shareholders by 9/06 on steps toward setting reduction goals.

Chubb (NYSE:CB) - Resolution requested the Board the Board of Directors issue a sustainability report to shareholders. - Chubb's Board of Directors have committed to assessing the costs and benefits of preparing a sustainability report.

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) - Resolution requested the Board to review and amend the Code of Business Conduct to include a comprehensive human rights policy and prepare a report to shareholders. - The Company has made progress on the policy.

Coca Cola Company (NYSE: KO) - Resolution requested the Board provide a report to shareholders on political contributions made with corporate funds including an accounting of those contributions and the policies and procedures for political contributions. - The Company agreed to adopt the policy outlined in the resolution.

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) - Resolution requested the Board provide a report to shareholders on political contributions made with corporate funds including an accounting of those contributions and the policies and procedures for political contributions. - The Company agreed to disclosure and to have Board oversight of their political contributions.

Bristol-Meyers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) - Resolution requested the Board provide a report to shareholders on political contributions made with corporate funds including an accounting of those contributions and the policies and procedures for political contributions. - The Company agreed to adopt the policy outlined in the resolution.

Emerson (NYSE: EMR - Resolution requested the Company to amend its written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. - The Company changed their nondiscrimination policy to be inclusive.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) - Resolution requested the Company to amend its written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. - The Company had inclusive policy, which was disclosed after filing.

Strayer Education (NASDAQ: STRA) - Resolution requested the Company to amend its written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. - Resolution was withdrawn in exchange for an agreement.

Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) -Resolution requested the Board of Directors to prepare a Sustainability Report and provide a summary to shareholders. - The Company agreed to include shareholders in development of sustainability report.

Notes To Editor:
More detailed information, regarding these and dozens of other 2006 shareholder-sponsored resolution, is available from the Interfaith Center's EthVest (sm), the comprehensive, on-line, subscription-based, ethical investor database.

About EthVest: Available online to investors by subscription, EthVest is an ethical investor resource provided by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). EthVest contains details on shareholder initiatives by faith-based and socially responsible investors, including complete texts and voting outcomes for more than 2,000 shareholder-sponsored resolutions. Resolutions are retrievable by targeted company name, stock ticker, calendar year of proxy vote and topic or issue. Resolutions by ICCR member organizations and institutional investors traditionally focus on nine broad areas of social and environmental justice. Subscribers also receive periodic updates containing timely news and information on ICCR shareholder activism, including newly filed resolutions and negotiated corporate actions. For information on EthVest contact: Kenneth Cynar, Governance & Accountability Advisors Inc., Tel: 516/248-2383 Fax: 516/248-4045, Email: kcynar@accountability-central.com

CONTACT:
Sister Patricia Wolf, 212-870-2294