Institute Files Comment Letter on SEC's Proposed Householding Rules for Proxies

Washington, DC, January 18, 2000 - The Securities and Exchange Commission recently requested comment on proposed amendments to rules under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that would allow the householding of proxy materials.

The Institute has filed a comment letter supporting the proposal, but recommending changes to the proposal to apply consistent rules to the householding of prospectuses, shareholder reports, and proxy materials. Specifically, the letter urges the Commission to conform the proposed 90-day notice period for implied consent to proxy material householding to the 60-day period applicable to prospectuses and shareholder reports, and to permit companies to mail the implied consent notice along with other materials. In addition, the letter requests changes to the final rules governing the householding of prospectuses and shareholder reports (and the proposed rules governing proxy materials) to permit householding by implied consent to shareholders who do not share the same last name, and to allow flexibility in the addressing of householded material.

The letter also responds to certain questions posed in the Commission's proposing release. The letter asserts that (1) funds and other issuers should decide whether intermediaries should household to beneficial owners; (2) householding to investment advisers and ERISA investment managers with proxy voting authority for multiple accounts should be permitted without reliance on the householding rules; and (3) the prospectus householding rule should be expanded to cover all prospectuses, including those relating to business combination transactions, exchange offers, and reclassifications of securities.