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2008 Shareholder Resolutions
302 Religious/Social Investor Proxy Resolutions
Slated for 2008
The Environment, Corporate Governance and Health Care Are Key
Issues
NEW YORK, N.Y.///January 15, 2008///Religious and other concerned investors
have filed 313 shareholder resolutions with 208 companies throughout the United
States and Canada, according to the 2008 edition of the "Proxy Resolutions
Book" published by the 275-member organization Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility (ICCR). The annual guide from ICCR is the most comprehensive
guide to socially responsible shareholder resolutions sponsored by religious
and other concerned investors published in the U.S.
As of press time, 20 of these resolutions have been withdrawn, the majority
in response to agreements reached between companies and shareholders. Among
the issues of greatest concern to socially responsible investors this year are
the environment, CEO pay, and access to health care. The statistics break down
as follows: 76 resolutions were filed on the topic of the environment, 53 on
corporate governance, 46 on health care, 32 on human rights and worker rights,
32 on workplace inclusiveness and sexual orientation non-discrimination, 24
on political contributions, 18 on corporate sustainability, 10 on militarization
and violence in society, and lastly, 5 on capital and finance. Religious institutions
filed 160 of these resolutions at 111 companies.
Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Laura Berry
said: "ICCR members are at the forefront of the social and environmental
shareholder movement. The resolutions collected in the latest edition of ICCR's
'Proxy Resolutions Book' show the depth and breadth of the hard work that goes
into our communication with companies. Our members are also leading dialogues
with companies in order to assist them in implementing socially and environmentally
responsible policies and initiatives."
ICCR's "Proxy Resolutions Book" for 2008 is available for purchase
for $45 on the ICCR web site at http://www.iccr.org/publications.
The ICCR volume contains the full text of resolutions filed this year, along
with an index of companies and filers. The guide is typically used by individual
investors or institutions that are responsible for proxy voting. Organizations
using the ICCR volume include religious orders, asset management companies,
and other groups focused on socially and environmentally responsible agendas.
Berry added: "The 2008 'Proxy ResolutionsBook' is an indispensable resource
for individuals with proxy voting responsibility who recognize the importance
of paying attention to the rising voice of religious and other concerned shareholders.
We find that more and more, investors look to religious shareholder activists
for indications of the emerging problem areas that corporations will need to
address in the coming years."
The full list of religious and ethical shareholder resolutions is available
in the 2008 Proxy Book.
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