CSA Multilateral Staff Notice 54-304 Final Report on Review of the Proxy Voting Infrastructure and Request for Comments on Proposed Meeting Vote Reconciliation Protocols |
March 31, 2016
Table of Contents
1. |
Purpose and Overview
|
2. |
Background
|
3. |
Our Work Since the Progress Report
|
4. |
Overview of the Protocols
|
5.
|
Next Steps |
6. |
Request for Comments
|
7. |
Questions
|
Annex A |
Proposed Meeting Vote Reconciliation Protocols
|
Purpose and Overview
Staff of the Canadian Securities Administrators[1] (the CSA or we) are publishing this Notice to
•
report on our work
since we published CSA Staff Notice 54-303 Progress Report on Review of the
Proxy Voting Infrastructure (the Progress Report) in January 2015,
•
seek comment on proposed
protocols (the Protocols) that contain CSA staff guidance on operational
processes to tabulate proxy votes for shares held through intermediaries, and
• outline our next steps.
Please provide your comments on the Protocols by July 15, 2016. For more information, please refer to the section Request for Comments.
Background
Shareholder voting is one of the most important methods by which shareholders can affect governance, communicate preferences and signal confidence or lack of confidence in an issuer’s management and oversight. Issuers also rely on shareholder voting to approve corporate governance matters and certain fundamental changes and transactions. Shareholder voting is fundamental to, and enhances the quality and integrity of, our public capital markets.
Shareholder voting in Canada generally occurs through proxy voting, whereby management or another individual is given the authority to attend and vote at the meeting on behalf of a shareholder through an instrument known as a proxy.
Furthermore, proxy votes typically are submitted by intermediaries and not the actual shareholders. This is because most shareholders are not registered shareholders and hold their shares through intermediaries, which in turn hold their shares with the central depository, the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited (CDS). This system of holding shares is known as the intermediated holding system.
In order to facilitate proxy voting in the intermediated holding system, a complex, opaque and fragmented proxy voting infrastructure has developed. The key entities that operate this infrastructure are CDS, intermediaries, Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions Canada (Broadridge) (the main proxy voting agent for intermediaries) and the transfer agents who act as meeting tabulators. These entities implement the processes used to tabulate proxy votes for shares held through intermediaries. We refer to these processes as meeting vote reconciliation.
For some time, issuers and investors have expressed concerns that the proxy voting infrastructure and meeting vote reconciliation are inaccurate, unreliable and non-transparent. They pointed to two specific problems as evidence:
- Over-voting: Over-voting occurs when an intermediary submits proxy votes and the meeting tabulator cannot establish that the intermediary has any vote entitlements, or the number of proxy votes submitted exceeds the number of vote entitlements for that intermediary as calculated by the tabulator.
- Missing votes: Beneficial owners generally have no way of knowing whether a tabulator or meeting chair accepted their intermediary’s proxy votes. Investors have identified instances where the voting results suggested their proxy votes were not included in the tabulation and therefore went “missing”.
We decided to take a leadership role in addressing these concerns because we were best positioned to investigate, analyze and develop solutions to these issues in a sustained and systematic way. We therefore initiated a review of the proxy voting infrastructure by publishing CSA Consultation Paper 54-401 Review of the Proxy Voting Infrastructure in August 2013.
A central objective of our review was to understand how meeting vote reconciliation occurred in practice. We therefore conducted a detailed review of six shareholder meetings (the Shareholder Meeting Reviews) with the assistance of a proxy solicitor. Based on our review, we identified a number of problems that could undermine the accuracy, reliability and accountability of meeting vote reconciliation. We reported our findings in the Progress Report published in January 2015.
Through the Shareholder Meeting Reviews, we determined that there were two significant underlying gaps in meeting vote reconciliation.
• Information gaps
Meeting
tabulators do not always have the accurate and complete vote entitlement
information they require to properly establish which intermediaries have vote
entitlements for a meeting and how many vote entitlements these intermediaries
have. Missing, incomplete or inaccurate vote entitlement information can cause an
intermediary that submits proxy votes to be in an over-vote position from the
meeting tabulator’s perspective. Meeting tabulators use different methods to
address over-vote situations. Depending on the tabulator, the same proxy votes
could be accepted, rejected or pro-rated. Rejected or pro-rated votes could
result in the appearance of missing votes.
• Communication gaps
There are no standard communication channels between intermediaries and tabulators. The lack of such communication channels means there is no way to efficiently and accurately
o confirm that all necessary information has been sent and received, or
o detect and resolve information problems that could lead to proxy votes being rejected or pro-rated at a meeting.
Furthermore, intermediaries are not routinely notified if a meeting tabulator rejects or pro-rates their proxy votes due to missing or incomplete vote entitlement information.
We therefore determined that there was a need to develop protocols for meeting vote reconciliation that would enhance accuracy, reliability and accountability of meeting vote reconciliation by
• delineating clear roles and responsibilities for CDS, intermediaries, Broadridge and the meeting tabulator at each stage of meeting vote reconciliation, and
• outlining the operational processes that each of these key entities should implement to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.
Our Work Since the Progress Report
The main focus of our work since publication of the Progress Report has been to develop the Protocols.[2]
We formed a Protocol Working Group (PWG) in Summer 2015 to develop the Protocols. The PWG had representatives from CDS, Broadridge, intermediaries, transfer agents, issuers, investors and proxy solicitors. We also retained the same proxy solicitor that assisted us with the Shareholder Meeting Reviews to act as our technical advisor.
The full PWG met twice during Fall 2015. In addition, a sub-group of the PWG (the PWG Sub-Group) comprising representatives from CDS, Broadridge, intermediaries and transfer agents met 9 times. CSA staff chaired the PWG meetings and served as project manager for the protocol development process.
The initial aim was for the Protocols to be drafted by the industry members of the PWG. As work progressed, it became apparent that while all members of the PWG agreed that there were significant problems with meeting vote reconciliation, there was not always consensus on how to address these problems and who should be responsible for fixing them. CSA staff therefore took responsibility for drafting the Protocols with the assistance of our technical advisor.
We found the PWG and the PWG Sub-Group meetings to be extremely valuable for obtaining information and feedback. The PWG was also valuable because it provided a forum for the key entities, which often operate in silos, to share information and identify areas where they needed to work together. We would like to thank all members of the PWG for their past and ongoing commitment and contributions to improving proxy voting in Canada.
Overview of the Protocols
The Protocols contain CSA staff expectations on the roles and responsibilities of the key entities and guidance on the kinds of operational processes that they should implement to support accurate, reliable and accountable meeting vote reconciliation. The Protocols have been developed taking into account existing operational processes, and in our view should not require a major technological overhaul of existing systems.
The chart below provides illustrative examples of the type of expectations and guidance contained in the Protocols that are relevant to the information and communication gaps we identified in our review.
Type of gap
|
Expectation/Guidance in Protocols |
Information |
• Guidance on the vote entitlement information intermediaries should provide to the tabulator and how to generate this information • Guidance on how the tabulator should use this information to establish which intermediaries are entitled to vote, and how many proxy votes they can submit • Guidance on how the tabulator can match proxy votes to vote entitlement positions • Guidance on what the tabulator should do if it appears that depositories or intermediaries have not provided necessary vote entitlement information
|
Communication |
• Expectation that tabulators, intermediaries and Broadridge should develop appropriate mechanisms to confirm that all votes submitted by Broadridge on behalf of intermediary clients have been received by the tabulator and guidance on appropriate mechanisms • Guidance on steps the tabulator should take to obtain any missing vote entitlement information if the intermediary appears to the tabulator to be in an over-vote position • Guidance on how parties should communicate with each other where proxy votes from an intermediary were rejected, uncounted or pro-rated to enable beneficial owners to know if proxy votes submitted in respect of their shares were not accepted at a meeting and the reason why
|
The Protocols are attached as Annex A to the Notice.
Next Steps
Establish a technical committee to support the implementation of improvements to meeting vote reconciliation
Some intermediaries, Broadridge and transfer agents have indicated to us that they are planning to make some improvements for the current proxy season. In order to support the implementation of these and other future improvements to meeting vote reconciliation, we plan to establish a technical committee (the Technical Committee) that has the same representation as the PWG Sub-Group. The Technical Committee will also be a forum for the key entities to continue sharing information and discussing solutions.
Furthermore, in our view, the Protocols lay the foundation for the key entities to work collectively to
• eliminate paper and move to electronic transmission of vote entitlement and proxy vote information, and
• develop end-to-end vote confirmation capability that would allow beneficial owners, if they wish, to receive confirmation that their voting instructions have been received by their intermediary and submitted as proxy votes, and that those proxy votes have been received and accepted by the tabulator.
We strongly encourage and intend to monitor industry initiatives in these areas through the Technical Committee.
Hold one or more roundtables in Fall 2016
We plan to hold one or more roundtables with market participants in Fall 2016 to discuss significant issues or concerns that are raised in the comment letters. We expect that one of the issues for discussion will be the cost impact on affected stakeholders of implementing the information and communication improvements.
Publish the final Protocols as a CSA staff notice at the end of 2016 in time for the 2017 proxy season
We intend to finalize the Protocols with the benefit of feedback from the comment letters, the roundtable(s) and the Technical Committee and publish them as a CSA staff notice at the end of 2016. This would enable the final Protocols to be published in time for the 2017 proxy season.
Monitor voluntary implementation of the Protocols for the 2017 proxy season and consider proposed new rules and guidance
We intend to discuss with the Technical Committee the timing for implementing the improvements contemplated by the final Protocols. We also intend to monitor the voluntary implementation of the improvements contemplated by the Protocols in the 2017 proxy season and measure their impact on improving the accuracy, reliability and accountability of meeting vote reconciliation.
We have also begun considering what kinds of additional rules and policy guidance may be required.
Request for Comments
We are requesting comment on the Protocols. We note that it is not our usual practice to seek comment on CSA staff guidance. However, the Protocols are different from typical CSA staff guidance because of the extensive and detailed discussion of operational processes. We therefore think it is appropriate to seek comment before they are issued in final form.
In addition to any general comments you have, we would particularly appreciate comments on the following issues:
1. The Protocols contain detailed guidance on operational process to support accurate, reliable and accountable proxy voting. Does the guidance achieve this objective? If not, what specific areas can be improved, or what alternative guidance could be provided?
2.
What are the cost and
resource impacts on key stakeholders of implementing the information and
communication improvements contemplated in the Protocols? In particular, what
issues do intermediaries such as investment dealers anticipate in implementing
the Protocols, and to what extent would any additional costs associated with
implementing the Protocols be passed on to issuers or investors?
3.
What is a reasonable
timeframe for implementing the information and communication improvements
contemplated in the Protocols?
4.
Which aspects of the
Protocols (if any) should be codified as securities legislation, and which as CSA
policy or CSA staff guidance?
5. Not all the entities that engage in meeting vote reconciliation are “market participants” or subject to compliance review provisions (where the “market participant” concept does not exist) under securities legislation. Do you think that all entities that play a key role in meeting vote reconciliation should be “market participants” or subject to compliance review provisions, including proxy voting agents and meeting tabulators?
Please provide your comments in writing by July 15, 2016. If you are not sending your comments by e-mail, please send a CD or USB drive containing the submissions (in Microsoft Word format). We cannot keep submissions confidential because securities legislation in certain provinces requires publication of a summary of the written comments received during the comment period. In addition, all comments received will be posted on the websites of each of the Alberta Securities Commission at www.albertasecurities.com, the Autorité des marchés financiers at www.lautorite.qc.ca and the Ontario Securities Commission at www.osc.gov.on.ca. Therefore, you should not include personal information directly in comments to be published. It is important that you state on whose behalf you are making the submission.
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Please address your comments to each of the following:
Alberta Securities Commission
Autorité des marchés financiers
British Columbia Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick)
Manitoba Securities Commission
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
Nunavut Securities Office
Ontario Securities Commission
Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador
Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Northwest Territories
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities
Superintendent of Securities, Department of Justice and Public Safety, Prince Edward Island
Please send your comments only to the following addresses. Your comments will be forwarded to the remaining jurisdictions:
Me Anne-Marie Beaudoin |
Josée Turcotte |
Corporate Secretary |
Secretary |
Autorité des marchés financiers |
Ontario Securities Commission |
800, rue du Square-Victoria, 22e étage |
20 Queen Street West |
C.P. 246, tour de la Bourse |
22nd Floor |
Montréal (Québec) H4Z 1G3 |
Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S8 |
Fax: 514-864-6381 |
Fax: 416-593-2318 |
consultation-en-cours@lautorite.qc.ca |
comments@osc.gov.on.ca |
Questions
Please refer your questions to any of the following:
Naizam Kanji Director, Office of Mergers & Acquisitions Ontario Securities Commission 416-593-8060
|
Winnie Sanjoto Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Ontario Securities Commission 416-593-8119 wsanjoto@osc.gov.on.ca
|
Laura Lam Legal Counsel, Office of Mergers & Acquisitions Ontario Securities Commission 416-593-8302 llam@osc.gov.on.ca
|
Michel Bourque Senior Policy Advisor Autorité des marchés financiers 514-395-0337, ext 4466 michel.bourque@lautorite.qc.ca
|
Normand Lacasse Analyst, Continuing Disclosure Autorité des marchés financiers 514-395-0337, ext 4418 normand.lacasse@lautorite.qc.ca
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Danielle Mayhew Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Alberta Securities Commission 403-592-3059
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Christopher Peng Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Alberta Securities Commission 403-297-4230 christopher.peng@asc.ca
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Nazma Lee Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Services Corporate Finance British Columbia Securities Commission 604-899-6867 nlee@bcsc.bc.ca
|
ANNEX A
PROPOSED MEETING VOTE RECONCILIATION PROTOCOLS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. |
Purpose and Scope |
2. |
How the Protocols are Organized |
3. |
The Protocols A. Generating and Sending Accurate and Complete Vote Entitlement Information for Each Intermediary that will Solicit Voting Instructions from Beneficial Owners and Submit Proxy Votes B. Setting up Vote Entitlement Accounts (Official Vote Entitlements) in a Consistent Manner C. Sending Accurate and Complete Proxy Vote Information and Tabulating and Recording Proxy Votes in a Consistent Manner D. Informing Beneficial Owners of Rejected/Pro-rated Votes
|
Appendix A |
Meeting Vote Reconciliation Flowchart |
Appendix B |
Glossary |
Purpose and Scope
Meeting vote reconciliation consists of the processes used to tabulate proxy votes for shares held through intermediaries. The key entities that implement meeting vote reconciliation are
- CDS,
- intermediaries (typically bank custodians and investment dealers),
- the primary intermediary voting agent, Broadridge, and
- transfer agents that act as meeting tabulators.
Given the importance of shareholder voting to the quality and integrity of Canadian capital markets, meeting vote reconciliation needs to be accurate, reliable and accountable. Accurate, reliable and accountable meeting vote reconciliation has the following characteristics:
- accurate and complete vote entitlement information for each intermediary that will solicit voting instructions from beneficial owners and submit proxy votes is provided to meeting tabulators;
- meeting tabulators set up vote entitlement accounts for each intermediary in a consistent manner;
- accurate and complete proxy vote information is provided to the meeting tabulator, and meeting tabulators tabulate and record the proxy votes in a consistent manner;
- beneficial owners know if proxy votes submitted to the meeting tabulator in respect of their shares were not accepted at a meeting and the reason why.
The protocols (the Protocols) in this document contain CSA staff expectations on the roles and responsibilities of the key entities that implement meeting vote reconciliation and guidance on the kinds of operational processes that they should implement to support accurate, reliable and accountable meeting vote reconciliation. The Protocols have been developed taking into account existing operational processes, and in our view should not require a major technological overhaul of existing systems. However, if the key entities can identify and implement alternative ways to achieve accurate, reliable and accountable meeting vote reconciliation, these Protocols should not be viewed as preventing them from doing so.
Furthermore, in our view, the Protocols lay the foundation for the key entities to work collectively to
- eliminate paper and move to electronic transmission of vote entitlement and proxy vote information, and
- develop end-to-end vote confirmation capability that would allow beneficial owners, if they wish, to receive confirmation that their voting instructions have been received by their intermediary and submitted as proxy votes, and that those proxy votes have been received and accepted by the tabulator.
We strongly encourage and intend to monitor industry initiatives in these areas.
These Protocols have been drafted with specific reference to meeting vote reconciliation for uncontested meetings. However, some of the expectations and guidance are also relevant to meeting vote reconciliation for proxy contests and should be taken into account where appropriate.
Please refer to Appendix A for a flow chart that outlines at a high-level how meeting vote reconciliation should occur.
How the Protocols are Organized
The Protocols are divided into four sections corresponding to the four characteristics of accurate, reliable and accountable meeting vote reconciliation.
Each Protocol is identified by a letter and two numbers. These correspond to the following:
- the section header letter;
- the document/information number; and
- the protocol number.
For example, Protocol A.1.1 is the first Protocol in the section Generating and Sending Accurate and Complete Vote Entitlement Information for Each Intermediary that will Solicit Voting Instructions from Beneficial Owners and Submit Proxy Votes and applies to/is relevant to vote entitlement information in the CDS Omnibus Proxy.
The Glossary contains explanations for the key terms used in the Protocols.
The Protocols
A. Generating and Sending Accurate and Complete Vote Entitlement Information for Each Intermediary that will Solicit Voting Instructions from Beneficial Owners and Submit Proxy Votes
Document and Information
|
Responsible Entity |
Protocols
|
1. CDS OMNIBUS PROXY • Issuer Name • CUSIP • Record Date • Meeting Date • Signature • Alpha CUID • Intermediary Name • Number of Vote Entitlements
|
CDS Tabulator Issuer
|
As required by National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (NI 54-101), CDS will prepare the CDS Omnibus Proxy to provide vote entitlements to intermediaries that are CDS participants and deliver it to the tabulator and intermediaries.
Each intermediary that is a CDS participant is identified by
The tabulator should contact CDS if it does not have the CDS Omnibus Proxy within a reasonable period following the record date (e.g. 1 week) and the tabulator should make reasonable efforts to obtain the CDS Omnibus Proxy (e.g. by following up with CDS and notifying the issuer if it is unable to obtain the CDS Omnibus Proxy despite this follow-up).
|
2. CEDE & CO OMNIBUS PROXY (DTC OMNIBUS PROXY) • Issuer Name • CUSIP • Record Date • Meeting Date • Signature • DTC Participant Number • Intermediary Name • Number of Vote Entitlements
|
Transfer agent Tabulator Issuer
|
|
3. SUPPLE-MENTAL OMNIBUS PROXY • Issuer Name • CUSIP • Record Date • Meeting Date • Signature
Intermediary Providing Vote Entitlements (Providing Intermediary) • Intermediary Name • Alpha CUID if applicable • DTC Participant Number if applicable
Intermediary Receiving Vote Entitlements (Receiving Intermediary) • Broadridge Client Number if applicable • Number of Vote Entitlements
|
Intermediaries Broadridge
|
General
a. the Receiving Intermediary is soliciting voting instructions from beneficial owner clients and submitting proxy votes on their behalf, and b. the tabulator will need a Supplemental Omnibus Proxy to establish that the Receiving Intermediary has vote entitlements and the amount of those vote entitlements.
Examples:
Example: XYZ Dealer’s vote entitlements are derived from the CDS participant position of XYZ Bank as well as the DTC participant position of EFG Trustco. Each of XYZ Bank and EFG Trustco are Providing Intermediaries and should generate Supplemental Omnibus Proxies for XYZ Dealer (Receiving Intermediary) in order for the tabulator to set up a vote entitlement account for XYZ Dealer that contains both sets of vote entitlements.
Example: ABC Bank (Providing Intermediary) has a business line called ABC Wealth (Receiving Intermediary). ABC Wealth’s vote entitlements are entirely derived from and part of ABC Bank’s fungible CDS participant position, which is associated with ABC Bank’s Alpha CUID ABC. ABC Bank would not need to generate a Supplemental Omnibus Proxy for ABC Wealth so long as the Formal Vote Report for ABC Wealth contains the Alpha CUID ABC, enabling the tabulator to link ABC Wealth’s proxy votes to ABC Bank’s fungible CDS participant position.
Where Intermediary Uses Broadridge as Proxy Voting Agent
i. whether the correct entity name, Alpha CUID and DTC Participant Number are associated with each Broadridge Client Number; ii. that the list of omnibus accounts (i.e. accounts of Receiving Intermediaries that have been coded for Broadridge to generate Supplemental Omnibus Proxies on behalf of the Providing Intermediaries) is correct and complete, and
Where Intermediary Does Not Use Broadridge
|
4. NOBO OMNIBUS PROXY • Issuer Name • CUSIP • Record Date • Meeting Date
Intermediary Providing Entitlement
|
Intermediaries Broadridge Issuer |
Where Intermediary Uses Broadridge as Proxy Voting Agent
|
B. Setting up Vote Entitlement Accounts (Official Vote Entitlements) in a Consistent Manner
Entitlement Documents
|
Responsible Entity |
Protocols |
1. CDS OMNIBUS PROXY AND DTC OMNIBUS PROXY |
Tabulator |
|
2. SUPPLE-MENTAL OMNIBUS PROXY |
Tabulator |
|
3. NOBO OMNIBUS PROXY |
Tabulator |
|
C. Sending Accurate and Complete Proxy Vote Information and Tabulating and Recording Proxy Votes in a Consistent Manner
Document and Information
|
Responsible Entity |
Protocols
|
1. BROADRIDGE CLIENT PROXY AND FORMAL VOTE REPORT (FORMAL VOTE REPORT) • Date and Time • Page number • CUSIP Voting Total • CUSIP • Record Date • Meeting Date • Signature • Number of Votes (For, Against, Abstain) broken down by Intermediary Name • Intermediary will also be identified by - Broadridge Client Number - Alpha CUID if applicable - DTC Participant Number if applicable
Supplemental Vote • Total voted to date by intermediary
Appointee • Includes Broadridge Client Number, DTC Participant Number and Alpha CUID as applicable
Director’s Exception Report • Broadridge Client Number if applicable |
Intermediaries Broadridge Tabulator
|
Generation and Sending
Tabulation
a. are expected to implement appropriate processes to ensure that the meeting tabulator has complete and accurate vote entitlement information for each intermediary that solicits voting instructions and submits proxy votes, and b. should understand the downstream impact on tabulation of the vote entitlement information that Broadridge provides to tabulators.
Intermediaries and Broadridge should provide up-to-date contact information to tabulators and respond to inquiries on a timely basis (e.g. within 1 business day).
|
2. RESTRICTED AND OTHER PROXIES • Intermediary Name • Number of shares to which proxy is restricted • Alpha CUID if applicable • DTC Participant Number if applicable • Certification that the intermediary has taken all necessary steps to revoke any previous proxy votes in respect of that position and to block future voting of the restricted position through Broadridge or a NOBO VIF • Signature
|
Beneficial owner Intermediaries Broadridge Issuer Tabulator |
|
3. REPORT OF VOTES RECEIVED FROM BROADRIDGE |
Tabulator Intermediary Broadridge |
One example of an appropriate mechanism is for the tabulator to provide Broadridge with confirmation of the total number of votes received at proxy cut-off or 48 hours before the meeting, whichever is earlier, to enable Broadridge to detect if any votes were sent but not received. Upon receipt of this information, Broadridge should determine if the number of votes received by the tabulator does not match their records and notify the tabulator of proxy votes that were sent by Broadridge and should have been received by proxy cut-off. A tabulator should also make reasonable efforts to notify Broadridge if it identifies discrepancies in the number of votes received prior to proxy cut-off/48 hours before the meeting.
Another
example of an appropriate mechanism is for Broadridge to incorporate features
such as sequencing and trailer records into Formal Vote Reports that would
permit real-time confirmation that transmission is complete.
|
4. FINAL SCRUTINEER’S REPORT
|
Tabulator |
a. the number of votes received and not included in the final tally; b. any missing CDS or DTC Omnibus Proxy; c. for each intermediary that submitted proxy votes, a breakdown of i. the number of votes not included in the final tally by intermediary and the reason why (e.g. no valid vote entitlement, proxy was deficient), ii. the number of any over-votes and any resulting % pro-ration; and d. the number of For/Against/Abstain proxy votes included or excluded as a result of a chair’s ruling, broken down by intermediary and by specific motion.
|
D. Informing Beneficial Owners of Rejected/Pro-rated Votes
Document and Information
|
Responsible Entity |
Protocols |
1. REJECTED/PRO-RATED VOTES RECEIVED FROM BROADRIDGE • Issuer Name • CUSIP • Number of proxy votes rejected/uncounted and pro-rated broken down by intermediary and reason (no/insufficient entitlement, ruling of chair). • Confirmation if late proxies were accepted.
|
Issuer Tabulator Intermediaries Broadridge |
|
APPENDIX A
Vote
entitlement information Proxy
vote information Information
re rejected/ pro-rated
votes
Meeting Vote Reconciliation Flow Chart
APPENDIX B
Glossary[3]
Term |
Meaning
|
Alpha CUID
|
A three-letter company code that is used by CDS to identify a CDS participant in the CDS Omnibus Proxy.
|
Beneficial owner
|
An investor who is not a registered holder of shares, and whose ownership is through a securities entitlement in an intermediary account.
|
Broadridge
|
Refers to Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions Canada, a subsidiary of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. It is a service provider that assists intermediaries in various aspects of proxy voting, including solicitation of voting instructions from beneficial owners and submitting proxy votes on behalf of intermediaries to tabulators.
|
Broadridge Client Number
|
A numeric identifier assigned by Broadridge to its intermediary clients. |
Cede & Co. |
The nominee for DTC that is registered as the holder of shares on an issuer’s register. See DTC.
|
Cede & Co. Omnibus Proxy
|
See DTC Omnibus Proxy. |
CDS
|
Refers to the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited or its subsidiary CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. as the context requires. Canadian Depository for Securities Limited is registered as the holder of most shares on an issuer’s register. CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. is the national securities depository in Canada. See also depository.
|
CDS Omnibus Proxy
|
The omnibus proxy CDS uses to allocate vote entitlements/give voting authority to client intermediaries that are CDS participants.
|
Clearing dealer
|
An intermediary that is principal for clearing and settling a trade on behalf of another intermediary. See intermediary.
|
CUSIP
|
Stands for Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures. A nine digit identifier assigned to securities of issuers in the U.S. and Canada. The CUSIP system is owned by the American Bankers Association and operated by Standard & Poor’s to facilitate the clearing and settlement process of securities.
|
Custodian
|
A financial institution that holds securities for another person or entity. Custodians in Canada also administer securities lending programs and act as agents for lenders which are typically large institutional investors. See intermediary.
|
Depository
|
An entity that performs a clearing and settlement function for publicly traded securities.
|
Depository (CDS or DTC) participant
|
A person or company for whom a depository maintains an account in which entries may be made to effect a transfer or pledge of a security.
|
Depository (CDS or DTC) participant position
|
The total number of vote entitlements allocated to a CDS or DTC participant in the CDS or DTC Omnibus Proxy.
|
DTC
|
Stands for Depository Trust Company, a subsidiary of Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation. It is the national securities depository in the United States and holds securities through its nominee Cede & Co. See depository.
|
DTC Participant Number
|
A four-digit company code that is used by DTC to identify a DTC participant in the DTC Omnibus Proxy. Also known as DTC number. |
DTC Omnibus Proxy
|
The omnibus proxy DTC uses to allocate vote entitlements/give voting authority to client intermediaries that are DTC participants. Also known as Cede & Co. Omnibus Proxy.
|
Director’s Exception Report |
A report identifying shares that are withheld for a specific director.
|
Double voting
|
Occurs where more than one entity is allowed or not prevented from voting the same share, or where the same entity votes its shares twice.
|
Final Scrutineer’s Report |
A report provided by the meeting tabulator to the issuer regarding the final voting results after the tabulation has been completed. |
Form of proxy
|
A document by
which a security holder or other person with authority to vote appoints a
person or company as the security holder’s nominee to attend and act for on
the security holder’s behalf at a meeting of security holders. |
Formal Vote Report
|
A form of proxy generated by Broadridge that reflects the voting instructions received from beneficial owners, aggregated by intermediary.
|
Fungible CDS participant position
|
When used in relation to an intermediary’s CDS participant position, refers to a position that does not contain any segregated client accounts within it. |
Intermediary
|
A person or company that, in connection with its business, holds security on behalf of another person or company (e.g. a custodian or investment dealer).
|
Investment dealer
|
A person or company registered under securities law to trade securities for its own account or on behalf of its clients. See also intermediary.
|
Issuer |
A person or company who has outstanding securities, issues or proposes to issue, a security.
|
Meeting vote reconciliation
|
Consists of the processes used to tabulate proxy votes for shares held through intermediaries. Meeting vote reconciliation involves systems and processes that link depositories, intermediaries and meeting tabulators with one another in order for the following three things to occur:
1. Depositories and intermediaries provide vote entitlement information to meeting tabulators through omnibus proxies, 2. Meeting tabulators establish vote entitlement accounts for intermediaries, and 3. Meeting tabulators reconcile intermediary proxy votes to the vote entitlement accounts.
See vote reconciliation.
|
NOBO
|
Stands for non-objecting beneficial owner. A beneficial owner of shares in the intermediated holding system who does not object to disclosure of his name, contact information and securities holdings.
|
NOBO list
|
For purposes of a direct NOBO solicitation by an issuer, a document generated by an intermediary or an intermediary service provider (in practice, Broadridge) that contains information regarding NOBOs.
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NOBO Omnibus Proxy |
For purposes of a direct NOBO solicitation by an issuer, an omnibus proxy an intermediary uses to allocate vote entitlements to management of an issuer to give management authority to vote the number of shares that are in the intermediary’s NOBO client accounts. See omnibus proxy.
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Nominee
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A person or company whose name is given as holding securities but is not the actual owner.
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OBO
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Stands for objecting beneficial owner. A beneficial owner of shares in the intermediated holding system who objects to the intermediary disclosing his name, contact information and securities holdings.
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Official Vote Entitlement
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See vote entitlement account. |
Omnibus account |
Accounts of Receiving Intermediaries that have been coded for Broadridge to generate Supplemental Omnibus Proxies on behalf of the Providing Intermediaries.
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Omnibus proxy |
A proxy used by the depository or intermediary who is the registered holder or who itself holds a proxy to give its clients authority to vote the number of shares in the client’s account as at the record date. Includes the CDS Omnibus Proxies, DTC Omnibus Proxies, Supplemental Omnibus Proxies and NOBO Omnibus Proxies.
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Over-voting |
Occurs where an intermediary submits proxy votes and the meeting tabulator cannot establish that the intermediary has any vote entitlements, or the number of proxy votes submitted by an intermediary exceeds the number of shares in the vote entitlement account that the meeting tabulator has calculated for that intermediary based on omnibus proxies.
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Providing Intermediary |
An intermediary that allocates vote entitlements/gives voting authority to another intermediary (Receiving Intermediary) using a Supplemental Omnibus Proxy. See also intermediary and Supplemental Omnibus Proxy.
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Proxy cut-off
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The cut-off time for the delivery of proxy votes. |
Proxy solicitor |
A service provider that assists with the solicitation of proxies by identifying and contacting investors and encouraging them to vote their shares in favour of the party soliciting the proxies. |
Proxy vote |
An executed form of proxy submitted to the meeting tabulator that contains voting instructions from registered holders or beneficial owners. See formal vote report.
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Receiving Intermediary
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An intermediary that receives vote entitlements/voting authority from another intermediary (Providing Intermediary) through a Supplemental Omnibus Proxy. See also intermediary and Supplemental Omnibus Proxy.
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Record date
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For a meeting, the date, if any, established in accordance with corporate law for the determination of the registered holders of securities that are entitled to vote at the meeting.
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Registered holder
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The person or company shown as the holder of the security on the books and records of the issuer.
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Registered position |
The number of securities held by a registered holder as shown on the books and records of the issuer.
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Report of voting results
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A report that is required to be filed under securities law by non-venture issuers to disclose voting results.
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Restricted proxy
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A form of proxy used by an intermediary to directly submit proxy votes to the meeting tabulator on behalf of a client for whom it holds shares. See form of proxy.
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Scrutineer’s Report
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A report provided by the meeting tabulator to the company regarding the voting results. |
Share register |
The books and records of the issuer showing the number of securities held by security holders.
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Supplemental Omnibus Proxy
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An omnibus proxy intermediaries use to allocate vote entitlements/give voting authority to client intermediaries. Also known as intermediary omnibus proxy or mini omnibus proxy. See also omnibus proxy. |
Tabulator |
The entity designated by an issuer to review the proxy votes it receives and assess whether these are valid votes that should be counted for the meeting. In Canada, the transfer agent of the issuer usually acts as the meeting tabulator.
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Transfer agent
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A trust company appointed by a corporation to transfer ownership of its shares. In the majority of instances, the trust company in its capacity as transfer agent maintains the shareholder register and provides other related services. Transfer agents in Canada generally belong to the Securities Transfer Association of Canada.
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Vote entitlement
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The number of shares in respect of which a security holder or other person with authority to vote has voting authority for a meeting.
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Vote entitlement account
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Also known as the Official Vote Entitlement. The vote entitlements of an intermediary as determined by the meeting tabulator based on the depository omnibus proxies (CDS Omnibus Proxy and DTC omnibus proxy) and Supplemental Omnibus Proxies received. Where an issuer chooses to do a NOBO solicitation, intermediaries (in practice, through their service provider Broadridge) will also send the meeting tabulator a NOBO Omnibus Proxy that the tabulator will use to establish the vote entitlement accounts for NOBOs. See also vote entitlement.
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Vote reconciliation |
The process by which proxy votes from registered holders and voting instructions from beneficial owners are reconciled against the securities entitlements in the intermediated holding system. CSA Staff Notice 54-303 Progress Report on Review of the Proxy Voting Infrastructure identified two distinct aspects of vote reconciliation: client account vote reconciliation and meeting vote reconciliation.
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Voting Instruction Form (VIF)
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A document by which beneficial owners provide voting instructions to intermediaries. Where the issuer chooses to conduct a NOBO solicitation, a document by which NOBOs provide voting instruction to management of the issuer. |
[1] This Notice is being published in all provinces and territories except Saskatchewan. The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan will advise of their approach in this matter after the provincial election in Saskatchewan.
[2] We also conducted a review of a proxy contest with the assistance of the same proxy solicitor that had assisted us previously to see if there were any meeting vote reconciliation issues unique to proxy contests. We did not find any new issues that were unique to proxy contests.
[3] This Glossary contains explanations for the key terms used in the Protocols. These explanations are not legal definitions for purposes of securities legislation.