[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9283-9284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03509]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-74277; File No. 4-681]


Proxy Voting Roundtable

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

[[Page 9284]]


ACTION: Notice of roundtable discussion; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Securities and Exchange Commission will host a roundtable 
to explore ways to improve the proxy voting process. The roundtable 
will focus on universal proxy ballots and retail participation in the 
proxy process. Roundtable panelists will discuss the state of contested 
director elections and whether changes should be made to the federal 
proxy rules to facilitate the use of universal proxy ballots by 
management and proxy contestants. In addition, panelists will discuss 
the state law, logistical and disclosure issues presented by a possible 
universal proxy ballot process. Roundtable panelists also will discuss 
strategies for increasing retail shareholder participation in the proxy 
process, including how technology might affect retail participation and 
whether the format of disclosure could be improved to increase the 
engagement of shareholders and how the mechanics of voting could be 
improved to affect retail shareholder participation.
    The roundtable discussion will be held in the multi-purpose room of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters at 100 F Street 
NE., Washington, DC, on February 19, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 
approximately 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to observe the roundtable 
discussion. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve 
basis. The roundtable discussion will also be available via webcast on 
the Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov.

DATES: The roundtable discussion will take place on February 19, 2015. 
The Commission will accept comments regarding issues addressed at the 
roundtable until March 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://sec.gov/rules/other.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number 4-681 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number 4-681. This file number 
should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help us 
process and review your comments more efficiently, please only use one 
method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's 
Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/other.shtml). Comments are 
also available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's 
Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on 
official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 
All comments received will be posted without change; we do not edit 
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Chalk, Senior Special 
Counsel, Division of Corporation Finance, at 202-551-3440, or Raymond 
Be, Special Counsel, Division of Corporation Finance, at 202-551-3500, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549.

    By the Commission.

    Dated: February 13, 2015.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-03509 Filed 2-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P