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This excerpt taken from the CVS DEF 14A filed Mar 24, 2009. ITEM 5: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
On or about November 20, 2008, the Company received the following proposal from The Brethren Benefit Trust, Inc., 1505 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120, beneficial owners of 170 shares of the Companys stock. We subsequently received the same proposal from Pax World Mutual Funds, 30 Penhallow Street, Ste. 400, Portsmouth, NH 03801, beneficial owner of 1,141,307 shares of the Companys stock, identifying itself as a co-filer of this proposal. In accordance with SEC rules, we are reprinting the proposal and supporting statement (the Brethren Proposal) in this proxy statement as they were submitted to us: Resolved, that the shareholders of CVS Caremark Corporation (Company) hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated semi-annually, disclosing the Companys:
The report shall be presented to the board of directors audit committee or other relevant oversight committee and posted on the companys website to reduce costs to shareholders. Stockholder Supporting Statement As long-term shareholders of CVS Caremark, we support transparency and accountability in corporate spending on political activities. These activities include direct and indirect political contributions to candidates, political parties or political organizations; independent expenditures; or electioneering communications on behalf of a federal, state or local candidate. CVS Caremark contributed nearly $1 million in corporate funds since the 2002 election cycle. (CQs PoliticalMoneyLine: http://moneyline.cq.com/pm1/home.do and National Institute on Money in State Politics: http://www.followthemoney.org/index.phtml.) Trade Associations engage in political activity that may support or conflict with the companys positions on important issues like universal access to healthcare, biomedical research and womens health choices. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires greater disclosure of trade association political and lobbying activity including the reporting of all contributions bundled by a trade associations political action committee and the listing of all companies who contribute more than $5,000 in any quarterly period in support of a trade associations lobbying activity. Company disclosure will help assure that trade associations are meeting their legal obligation in reporting
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Table of Contentspolitical and lobbying activity and that those activities are consistent with the interests of CVS Caremark as a member of a trade association. Relying on publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of political expenditures. CVS Caremarks Board and shareholders need complete disclosure to be able to fully evaluate the political use of corporate assets. Statement of The Board Recommending a Vote AGAINST the Brethren Proposal The Board of Directors has considered the Brethren Proposal and while it supports the transparency and accountability objectives, believes that its adoption is unnecessary and would not be in the best interests of the Company or our stockholders. CVS Caremark seeks to be an effective participant in the political process by making prudent political contributions consistent with federal, state and local laws. This proposal is unnecessary because CVS Caremarks business is subject to extensive regulation at the federal, state and local levels and we comply with all disclosure requirements of applicable law. CVS Caremark believes it has a responsibility to its clients, stockholders, and employees to be engaged in the political process to both protect and promote our shared interests. Corporate contributions by the Company are prohibited at the federal level and CVS Caremark does not make any at that level. Political contributions to federal candidates, political party committees, and political action committees are made by the Companys federal political action committee (CVS-FPAC), funded by voluntary contributions. The activities of CVS-FPAC are subject to comprehensive regulation by the federal government, including detailed disclosure requirements. CVS-FPAC files monthly reports of receipts and disbursements with the Federal Election Commission (the FEC), as well as pre-election and post-election FEC reports. All political contributions over $200 are shown in the public information made available to the FEC. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, CVS Caremark submits to Congress semi-annual reports, which are publicly available. At the state level, the Companys political contributions are also subject to regulation. Although some states have not banned corporate contributions to candidates or political parties, all states require that such contributions be disclosed either by the recipient or by the donor. Any information regarding the corporate contributions made by CVS Caremark to state candidates or political parties is also publicly available. CVS Caremark provides an opportunity for its employees to participate in the political process by joining the Companys voluntary employee political action committee (CVS-EPAC). CVS-EPAC allows employees to pool their financial resources to support federal, state and local candidates, political party committees and political action committees. The political contributions made by CVS-EPAC are funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of our employees. No corporate funds are used. CVS-EPAC complies in the same manner as CVS-FPAC with all of the reporting requirements under applicable law. It is CVS Caremark policy that the CEO and the Board are exclusively responsible for determining the Companys political interests and, subject to compliance with applicable laws and with the advice of counsel, deciding how to further those interests. As described in the CVS Caremark Code of Conduct, which is available on its website on the Corporate Governance page at www.cvscaremark.com/investors, only corporate officers are authorized to make corporate contributions to a political candidate, and such contributions must be made consistent with Company policy. All corporate political contributions by the Company require prior written approval, utilizing specific processes and forms, from the Chief Legal Officer or Chief Compliance Officer. The proposal also requests that CVS Caremark report the extent to which any portion of any dues or similar payments made to organizations by CVS Caremark is used for political contributions. The Company is unable to provide this information as it lacks a reliable method for tracking the amount that any trade associations, professional organizations or industry groups may be contributing politically, that can be proportionately attributable to dues paid by CVS Caremark.
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Table of ContentsAs a result of the disclosure mandated by law, the Board has concluded that ample disclosure exists regarding our political contributions to alleviate the concerns cited in this proposal. The Company believes this proposal is duplicative and unnecessary, as a comprehensive system of reporting and accountability for political contributions already exists. Furthermore, the Company is involved in a number of legislative initiatives that could significantly affect its business and operations. Parties with adverse interests also participate in the political process for their own business reasons and therefore any unilateral expanded disclosure by CVS Caremark could benefit these parties to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board recommends a vote AGAINST the Brethren Proposal.
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Table of ContentsThis excerpt taken from the CVS DEF 14A filed Mar 28, 2008. ITEM 5: STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
On or about November 28, 2007, the Company received the following proposal from The Brethren Benefit Trust, Inc. (Brethren), 1505 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120, beneficial owners of 10,125 shares of the Companys stock. The Company subsequently received the same proposal from the following stockholders: Catholic Health East (Newtown Square, PA 44,317 shares); and Catholic Healthcare West (San Francisco, CA over $2,000 worth of Company stock). In accordance with SEC rules, we are reprinting the proposal and supporting statement (the Brethren Proposal) in this proxy statement as they were submitted to us: Resolved, that the shareholders of CVS Caremark Corporation hereby request that the Company provide a report, updated semi-annually, disclosing the companys:
The report shall be presented to the board of directors audit committee or other relevant oversight committee and posted on the companys website to reduce costs. Supporting Statement As long-term shareholders of CVS Caremark Corporation, we support transparency and accountability in corporate spending on political activities. These activities include direct and indirect political contributions to candidates, political parties or political organizations; independent expenditures; or electioneering communications on behalf of a federal, state or local candidate. CVS Caremark Corporation contributed at least $6 million in corporate funds since the 2002 election cycle. (CQs PoliticalMoneyLine: http://moneyline.cq.com/pm1/home.do and National Institute on Money in State Politics: http://www.followthemoney.org/index.phtml.) However, its payments to trade associations used for political activities are un-disclosed. Disclosure is in the best interest of the companys shareholders. Absent a system of accountability, company assets can be used for policy objectives that are not shared by and may be inimical to the interests of company and its shareholders. Trade Associations engage in political activity that may support or conflict with the companys positions on important issues like universal access to healthcare, biomedical research and womens health choices. The recently enacted Honest Leadership and Open Government Act requires greater disclosure of trade association political and lobbying activity including the reporting of all contributions bundled by a
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Table of Contentstrade associations political action committee and the listing of all companies who contribute more than $5,000 in any quarterly period in support of a trade associations lobbying activity. Company disclosure will help assure that trade associations are meeting their legal obligation in reporting political and lobbying activity and that those activities are consistent with the interests of the company as an association member. Relying on publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of political expenditures. CVS Caremark Corporations Board and shareholders need complete disclosure to evaluate the political use of corporate assets. Statement of The Board Recommending a Vote AGAINST the Brethren Proposal The Board of Directors has considered the Brethren Proposal and while it supports the transparency and accountability objectives, believes that its adoption is unnecessary and would not be in the best interests of the Company or our stockholders. CVS Caremark seeks to be an effective participant in the political process by making prudent political contributions consistent with federal, state and local laws. It is CVS Caremark policy that the CEO and the Board are exclusively responsible for determining the Companys political interests and, subject to compliance with applicable laws and with the advice of counsel, deciding how to further those interests. This proposal is unnecessary because CVS Caremarks business is subject to extensive regulation at the federal, state and local levels and we comply with all disclosure requirements of applicable law. CVS Caremark believes it has a responsibility to its clients, shareholders, and employees to be engaged in the political process to both protect and promote our shared interests. Corporate contributions by the Company are prohibited at the federal level and CVS Caremark does not make any at that level. Political contributions to federal candidates, political party committees, and political action committees are made by the Companys federal political action committee (CVS-FPAC), funded by voluntary contributions. The activities of CVS-FPAC are subject to comprehensive regulation by the federal government, including detailed disclosure requirements. CVS-FPAC files monthly reports of receipts and disbursements with the Federal Election Commission (the FEC), as well as pre-election and post-election FEC reports. All political contributions over $200 are shown in the public information made available to the FEC. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, CVS Caremark submits to Congress semi-annual reports, which are publicly available. At the state level, the Companys political contributions are also subject to regulation. Although some states have not banned corporate contributions to candidates or political parties, all states require that such contributions be disclosed either by the recipient or by the donor. Any information regarding the corporate contributions made by CVS Caremark to state candidates or political parties is also publicly available. CVS Caremark provides an opportunity for its employees to participate in the political process by joining the Companys voluntary employee political action committee (CVS-EPAC). CVS-EPAC allows employees to pool their financial resources to support federal, state and local candidates, political party committees and political action committees. The political contributions made by CVS-EPAC are funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of our employees. No corporate funds are used. CVS-EPAC complies in the same manner as CVS-FPAC with all of the reporting requirements under applicable law. As a result of the disclosure mandated by law, the Board has concluded that ample disclosure exists regarding our political contributions to alleviate the concerns cited in this proposal. The Company believes this proposal is duplicative and unnecessary, as a comprehensive system of reporting and accountability for political contributions already exists. Furthermore, the Company is involved in a number of legislative initiatives that could significantly affect its business and operations. Parties with adverse interests also participate in the political process for their own business reasons and therefore any unilateral expanded disclosure by CVS Caremark could benefit these parties to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board recommends a vote AGAINST the Brethren Proposal.
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