SEC won’t seek rehearing on shareholder nominee rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed yesterday that it will not seek a rehearing of a federal appeals court decision that vacated a commission rule that would have required companies to include shareholders’ director nominees in company proxy materials in certain circumstances. Nor will the SEC seek Supreme Court review. Last year the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 14a-8, the shareholder proposal rule, under which eligible shareholders are permitted to require companies to include shareholder proposals regarding proxy access procedures in company proxy materials on a company-by-company basis. Chairman Mary Schapiro said she “remains committed to finding a way to make it easier for shareholders to nominate candidates to corporate boards.”