<<
Back to Proxy Book
|
Corporate Governance
|
|
| Filed with: Fidelity National Financial |
|
Proxy Voting Disclosure
WHEREAS, in its preamble to its recently disclosed proxy voting policies,
Fidelity writes, "We know that shareholders rightfully look to Fidelity
to be responsive to matters relating to corporate governance."
Fidelity released in August 2002 a summary of its proxy voting policies
covering equities in the Fund. These policies, however, outline the Fund1s
policies on only a fraction of the issues the Funds annually addresses.
The Fund1s guidelines fail to address such important matters as when the
Fund would vote against a director nominee, when the Fund would oppose
the retention of the independent auditor, or the Fund's position on resolutions
for increased disclosure in areas like environmental performance.
Many major institutional investors, such as the pension funds of New
York City and the states of California, Connecticut; TIAA-CREF, the world1s
largest pension fund; and more than two dozen mutual funds, presently
have published comprehensive proxy voting policies.
However, Fidelity continues to oppose the disclosure of its proxy voting
record. Fidelity was the largest holder of record of Enron and WorldCom
and yet shareholders have no way of knowing whether Fidelity voted for
the election of these companies1 directors and the appointments of their
auditors.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in September,
2002, in a unanimous 5-0 vote, proposed a rule requiring mutual funds
to disclose their proxy voting policies and proxy voting records to fund
shareholders. The Investment Company Institute, the trade association
of the mutual fund industry and one in which Fidelity is the largest member,
consistently opposes proxy voting disclosure.
SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt supported mutual fund disclosure of proxy voting
in a speech before the Council of Institutional Investors, saying, "Today,
over half of all Americans participate in our securities markets; most,
through mutual funds. Currently, over 50 million Americans own mutual
funds, representing more than 53% of American households. Mutual funds
hold nearly one-fifth of all publicly traded U.S. equity securities.
"These securities are held for the benefit of the investors who
are the fund shareholders. They belong to fund investors, who are entitled
to know how their property is being voted. The voting power these securities
represent carries the ability to influence the governance of U.S. companies.
Moreover, voting decisions by funds and advisers have an enormous impact
on the
financial well being of millions of ordinary citizen-investors. Despite
the influence of this voting power, many mutual funds and investment advisers
don't disclose their policies on how they vote portfolio securities; fewer
enable shareholders to learn if voting policies were in fact followed.
Some wield voting power in the face of conflicts; they may cast votes
furthering their own interests rather than those for whom they vote."
RESOLVED, we request the Fund's Trustees adopt a policy of transparency
with regard to the Fund's proxy voting practices; that the Fund shall
make available to any shareholder a comprehensive proxy voting policy;
and within 90 days of any proxy vote, the Fund1s voting record will be
available to shareholders.
<<
Back to Proxy Book
|