SAN FRANCISCO: An Apple shareholder proposal requiring the company to disclose a succession plan for Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs gained the support of Institutional Shareholder Services, a proxy-advising service.
ISS, which helps institutional investors decide how to vote on shareholder propositions, wants Apples board to disclose a CEO succession plan annually , according to a report released by the firm. The measure is backed by the Laborers International Union of North America.
Jobs announced a leave of absence on January 17, the third time the Apple co-founder has taken time away from the company since 2004 to deal with health problems. While Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook has assumed control of day-to-day operations, Apples board hasnt said who will take over from Jobs if he cant return. The proposal will be considered at Apples annual shareholder meeting on February 23.
A vote for the shareholder proposal to adopt a succession planning policy is warranted in light of the companys limited disclosure regarding this issue and the markets expression of concern over CEO succession at Apple, Rockville, Maryland- based ISS said in a report dated January 28. The labourers union announced the groups support in a statement on Friday.
APPLES OPPOSITION
Apple, the most valuable technology company, asked shareholders to vote against the proposal in its proxy statement released January 7. The company said its governance guidelines require the board and CEO to annually review succession planning for senior management. That process includes identifying candidates for succession.
Those deliberations are kept confidential. The company said the information could provide competitors with an unfair advantage and give them a! n opport unity to poach executives. The proposal also could harm its ability to retain executives because it would identify whos being considered for positions and how they are being evaluated , Apple said.
Steve Dowling , a spokesman for the Cupertino , California- based company , declined to comment beyond the filing.
Apple, maker of the iPhone and iPad , fell 88 cents to $343.44 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Its shares climbed 53% last year.
ISS, which helps institutional investors decide how to vote on shareholder propositions, wants Apples board to disclose a CEO succession plan annually , according to a report released by the firm. The measure is backed by the Laborers International Union of North America.
Jobs announced a leave of absence on January 17, the third time the Apple co-founder has taken time away from the company since 2004 to deal with health problems. While Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook has assumed control of day-to-day operations, Apples board hasnt said who will take over from Jobs if he cant return. The proposal will be considered at Apples annual shareholder meeting on February 23.
A vote for the shareholder proposal to adopt a succession planning policy is warranted in light of the companys limited disclosure regarding this issue and the markets expression of concern over CEO succession at Apple, Rockville, Maryland- based ISS said in a report dated January 28. The labourers union announced the groups support in a statement on Friday.
APPLES OPPOSITION
Apple, the most valuable technology company, asked shareholders to vote against the proposal in its proxy statement released January 7. The company said its governance guidelines require the board and CEO to annually review succession planning for senior management. That process includes identifying candidates for succession.
Those deliberations are kept confidential. The company said the information could provide competitors with an unfair advantage and give them a! n opport unity to poach executives. The proposal also could harm its ability to retain executives because it would identify whos being considered for positions and how they are being evaluated , Apple said.
Steve Dowling , a spokesman for the Cupertino , California- based company , declined to comment beyond the filing.
Apple, maker of the iPhone and iPad , fell 88 cents to $343.44 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Its shares climbed 53% last year.
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