CII asking for e-mail campaign on SEC proxy proposal

The Council of Institutional Investors urged an e-mail campaign to the SEC concerning the agency's proposal for shareholders access to corporate proxy material to nominate board candidates under certain conditions. Austin Brentley, CII manager of corporate governance affairs, said the group isn't asking for correspondents to support the proposal. "Some might be on the other side of the issue" from the CII, which favors the rule, he said. "This is one of the most important steps the SEC has ever considered, but the commission will only act if there is enough public support to warrant a full investigation," CII stated in the e-mail. "It is extremely important that we generate enough responses to urge the SEC to act on this matter." The e-mail campaign is its first CII has organized for an SEC proposal, said Mr. Brentley.