Question: When is notice of a non-Rule 14a-8 matter to be presented to a vote considered to be untimely under Rule 14a-4(c)?

Answer: Notice of a non-Rule 14a-8 matter to be presented to a vote that the registrant receives after the Rule 14a-4(c)(1) "timeliness" deadline (i.e., as measured under the registrant's advance notice provision or, absent such a provision, the 45-day standard of Rule 14a-4(c)(1)) is considered untimely. This means that a registrant can exclude the matter from its proxy statement, while preserving discretionary authority to vote management proxies on such matter, as long as the registrant includes a specific statement in its proxy statement regarding how it intends to exercise its discretionary authority to vote on the matter if presented at the meeting. Additional disclosure may be necessary to satisfy Rule 14a-9. State law governs whether the matter may be properly introduced and voted upon at the meeting. [May 11, 2018]

Question: If the last day of the 45-day deadline in Rule 14a-4(c)(1) for a registrant to receive timely notice from a security holder of a matter to be presented to a vote outside of Rule 14a-8 is not a business day (e.g., such last day is a weekend day or a holiday), when does the notice have to be received in order to be timely for purposes of the rule?

Answer: The notice must be received on the preceding business day. [May 11, 2018]

Question: If a registrant has an advance notice by-law or charter provision that governs when notice of a matter is deemed to be timely, may it exercise discretionary voting authority in accordance with Rule 14a-4(c)(1)?

Answer: Yes. A registrant that has an advance notice by-law or charter provision governing when notice of a matter is deemed timely may exercise discretionary voting authority in accordance with Rule 14a-4(c)(1), even if the advance notice provision does not specifically reference the use of discretionary voting authority. [May 11, 2018]

Question: For purposes of determining whether it has discretionary authority under Rule 14a-4(c)(1), should a registrant rely on the deadline prescribed in its advance notice provision for submission of non-Rule 14a-8 matters, or should it instead rely on the 45-day deadline specified in Rule 14a-4(c)(1)?

Answer: A registrant must rely on the deadline for submission of non-Rule 14a-8 matters prescribed in its advance notice provision in determining when notice of a matter is received in a timely manner for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c)(1). See Exchange Act Release No. 39093 (Sept. 18, 1997) (noting that Rule 14a-4(c)(1) is not intended "to interfere with the operation of state law authorized definitions of advance notice set forth in corporate bylaws and/or articles of incorporation…"). Hence, if a registrant's advance notice provision requires receipt of notice of a matter 60 days before the date on which the registrant mailed its proxy materials for the prior year's annual meeting of security holders, the registrant should use this deadline to determine compliance with the "timely notice" standard defined in Rule 14a-4(c)(1), rather than the 45-day period in Rule 14a-4(c)(1). [May 11, 2018]

Question: When a registrant has changed its annual meeting date to be more than 30 days from the date it was held the prior year, or if the registrant did not hold an annual meeting last year, what is a "reasonable time" for notice of a matter to be submitted by a security holder for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c)(1)?

Answer: The term "reasonable time" should be determined based upon the particular facts and circumstances. In such a situation, the registrant must publicly disclose through means reasonably calculated to inform security holders the date change and the date by which a notice of a matter proposed by security holders must be received. [May 11, 2018]

Question: The Division has permitted registrants to avoid filing proxy materials in preliminary form despite receipt of adequate advance notification of a non-Rule 14a-8 matter as long as the registrant disclosed in its proxy statement the nature of the matter and how the registrant intends to exercise discretionary authority if the matter is actually presented for a vote at the meeting. See Section IV.D of Release No. 34-40018 (May 21, 1998). Can a registrant rely on this position if it cannot properly exercise discretionary authority on the matter in accordance with Rule 14a-4(c)(2)?

Answer: No. [May 11, 2018]

Question: When a registrant receives notice of a matter submitted by a security holder that is timely but deficient for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c)(2)(i.e., it does not comply with the requirements listed in the rule by, for example, failing to indicate that the security holder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least that percentage of the registrant's voting shares necessary to approve the matter), does the registrant have discretionary voting authority on the matter?

Answer: If the notice is timely but deficient, the registrant would not be required to put the matter on its proxy card. The registrant's ability to exercise discretionary authority, however, is conditioned on including in its proxy statement advice on the nature of the matter and how the registrant intends to exercise its discretion to vote on that matter. The registrant's ability to avoid filing a preliminary proxy statement and instead file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-6 will depend upon, among other factors, the extent of its comments on, or discussion in, its proxy material of any solicitation in opposition in connection with the meeting. [May 11, 2018]