Proxy Voting Analytics (2008-2012) reviews proxy voting data of business corporations registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that held their annual general shareholder meetings (AGMs) between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012, and, at the time of their AGM, were in the Russell 3000 index. The Russell 3000 index was chosen because it assesses the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, representing approximately 98 percent of the investable U.S. equity market.

The study inaugurates an annual collaboration between The Conference Board and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FactSet); unless specifically noted, the report examines data compiled by FactSet and drawn from public disclosure. To access the underlying database—which is updated daily—and retrieve management and shareholder proposals, no-action letter requests, and voting results regarding individual companies, visit www.conference-board.org/proxyvoting

Data analyzed in the report includes:

• Volume, sponsors, and subjects of shareholder proposals
• Voted, omitted, and withdrawn shareholder proposals
• Voting results of shareholder proposals
• Shareholder proposals on executive compensation
• Shareholder proposals on corporate governance
• Shareholder proposals on social and environmental policy

• Volume and subjects of management proposals
• Failed say-on-pay proposals among Russell 3000 companies
• Say-on-pay proposals that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast

• Volume, dissident type, reasons for dissent, and outcomes of proxy contests
• List of most frequent dissidents

Additional insights (including volume by index, industry, and sponsor, most frequent sponsors, and support levels) are offered with respect to key issues from the last few proxy seasons, including:

• Majority voting
• Board declassification
• Supermajority vote requirements
• Independent board chair
• Proxy access
• Sustainability reporting
• Political issues
• Election of dissident’s director nominee