UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-05150
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Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Jodi B. Levine
383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179
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(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 272-3550
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Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2004
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Date of reporting period: December 31, 2004
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Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file
reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to
stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders
under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1).
The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory,
disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form
N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not
required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR
unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget
("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the
information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the
burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information
under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. (section) 3507.
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC
VALUE FUND, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
DECEMBER 31, 2004
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CONTENTS
Portfolio Summary 1
Summary Schedule of Investments 2
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 4
Statement of Operations 5
Statement of Changes in Net Assets 6
Financial Highlights 7
Notes to Financial Statements 8
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 12
Tax Information 13
Additional Information Regarding the Fund's Directors and Corporate Officers 14
Description of Dividend Reinvestment Plan 16
Proxy Voting and Portfolio Holdings Information 18
Privacy Policy Notice 18
Summary of General Information 19
Shareholder Information 19
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
PORTFOLIO SUMMARY - AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004 (UNAUDITED)
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SECTOR ALLOCATION
Percent of
Sector Net Assets
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Financials 19.6
Information Technology 15.4
Consumer Discretionary 14.7
Healthcare 11.8
Industrials 10.0
Materials 9.5
Energy 6.9
Consumer Staples 6.0
Closed-End Domestic Funds 2.1
Telecommunication Services 1.9
Utilities 1.7
Other 0.4
TOP TEN HOLDINGS, BY ISSUER
Percent of
Holding Sector Net Assets
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1. Peabody Energy Corp. Materials 3.5
2. Cooper Companies, Inc. (The) Healthcare 2.7
3. Joy Global Inc. Materials 2.7
4. First Marblehead Corp. (The) Financials 2.7
5. United Natural Foods, Inc. Consumer Discretionary 2.6
6. EMC Corp. Information Technology 2.6
7. Microsoft Corp. Information Technology 2.5
8. Exxon Mobil Corp. Energy 2.4
9. Citigroup Inc. Financials 2.3
10. FMC Technologies, Inc. Energy 2.2
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1
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
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No. of Value
Description Shares (Note A)
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EQUITY SECURITIES - 99.70%
CLOSED-END DOMESTIC FUNDS - 2.12%
Tri-Continental Corp. 77,000 $ 1,407,560
Zweig Fund, Inc. 176,600 980,130
Other Closed-End Domestic Funds (a) 898,040
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3,285,730
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CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 14.65%
Comcast Corp., Class A + 31,537 1,049,551
Furniture Brands International, Inc. 52,200 1,307,610
Gildan Activewear Inc., Class A + 44,300 1,505,757
Home Depot, Inc. (The) 30,600 1,307,844
United Natural Foods, Inc. + 130,600 4,061,660
Viacom Inc., non-voting Class B 23,900 869,721
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 59,800 3,158,636
Other Consumer Discretionary (a) 9,399,571
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22,660,350
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CONSUMER STAPLES - 5.97%
Altria Group, Inc. 29,300 1,790,230
PepsiCo, Inc. 24,800 1,294,560
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) 37,600 2,071,008
Other Consumer Staples (a) 4,085,765
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9,241,563
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ENERGY - 6.94%
ChevronTexaco Corp. 19,330 1,015,018
Exxon Mobil Corp. 71,000 3,639,460
FMC Technologies, Inc. + 105,800 3,406,760
Western Gas Resources, Inc. 50,800 1,485,900
Other Energy (a) 1,181,608
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10,728,746
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FINANCIALS - 19.58%
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. + 30,300 $ 2,052,522
American Express Co. 15,600 879,372
American International Group, Inc. 37,531 2,464,661
Bank of America Corp. 55,616 2,613,396
Citigroup Inc. 74,300 3,579,774
Fannie Mae 13,000 925,730
First Marblehead Corp. (The) + 73,300 4,123,125
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 30,332 1,183,251
Wachovia Corp. 17,600 925,760
Wells Fargo & Co. 24,200 1,504,030
Other Financials (a) 10,033,187
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30,284,808
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HEALTHCARE - 11.81%
Abbott Laboratories 21,000 979,650
Amgen Inc. + 18,900 1,212,435
Cooper Companies, Inc. (The) 60,000 4,235,400
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. + 39,200 1,617,392
Johnson & Johnson 40,900 2,593,878
Pfizer Inc. 99,660 2,679,857
Other Healthcare (a) 4,957,293
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18,275,905
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INDUSTRIALS - 10.03%
General Electric Co. 77,700 2,836,050
Heartland Express, Inc. 40,435 908,574
Shuffle Master, Inc. + 32,200 1,516,620
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B 16,300 1,392,998
USF Corp. 65,100 2,470,545
Other Industrials (a) 6,386,797
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15,511,584
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
2
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004 (CONCLUDED)
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No. of Value
Description Shares (Note A)
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 15.40%
Cisco Systems, Inc. + 96,400 $ 1,860,520
Dell Inc. + 29,700 1,251,558
eBay Inc. + 9,500 1,104,660
EMC Corp. + 271,848 4,042,380
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. + 201,600 3,278,016
Intel Corp. 65,500 1,532,045
International Business Machines Corp. 21,000 2,070,180
Microsoft Corp. 142,100 3,795,491
Other Information Technology (a) 4,887,268
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23,822,118
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MATERIALS - 9.53%
Joy Global Inc. 95,500 4,147,565
Packaging Corp. of America 70,700 1,664,985
Peabody Energy Corp. 67,000 5,420,970
Steel Dynamics, Inc. 61,900 2,344,772
Other Materials (a) 1,158,352
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14,736,644
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS - 0.17%
Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (a) 258,680
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TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES - 1.85%
Verizon Communications Inc. 24,100 976,291
Other Telecommunication Services (a) 1,888,738
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2,865,029
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UTILITIES - 1.65%
Total Utilities (a) 2,547,416
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TOTAL EQUITY SECURITIES
(cost - $119,347,377) 154,218,573
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Principal
Amount
Description (000's) Value
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SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 3.17%
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS - 3.17%
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to
be repurchased at $533,319),
1.50%, 01/03/05 (Note F) $ 533 $ 533,252
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to
be repurchased at $4,024,399),
2.31%*, 01/03/05** (Note E) 4,024 4,023,624
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to
be repurchased at $349,757),
1.16%*, 01/03/05** (Note E) 350 349,723
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TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost - $4,906,599) 4,906,599
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TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 102.87%
(cost - $124,253,976) (Notes A, E, F, G) 159,125,172
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LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS - (2.87)% (4,435,186)
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NET ASSETS - 100.00% $154,689,986
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+ Non-income producing security.
* Stated interest rate, before rebate earned by borrower of securities on
loan.
** Represents investment purchased with cash collateral received for
securities on loan.
ADR American Depositary Receipts.
(a) Represents issues not identified as a top 50 holding in terms of market
value and issues or issuers not exceeding 1% of net assets individually or
in the aggregate, respectively, as of December 31, 2004.
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - DECEMBER 31, 2004
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ASSETS
Investments, at value (Cost $124,253,976) (Notes A, E, F, G) $159,125,172
Receivables:
Dividends 153,137
Interest 3,502
Prepaid expenses 967
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Total Assets 159,282,778
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LIABILITIES
Payables:
Upon return of securities loaned (Note E) 4,373,347
Investment management fees (Note B) 108,891
Directors' fees 26,164
Other accrued expenses 84,390
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Total Liabilities 4,592,792
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NET ASSETS (applicable to 23,877,703 shares of common
stock outstanding) $154,689,986
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NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ($154,689,986 / 23,877,703) $ 6.48
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NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF
Capital stock, $0.001 par value; 23,877,703 shares
outstanding (100,000,000 shares authorized) $ 23,878
Paid-in capital 154,760,052
Cost of 2,239,440 shares repurchased (26,999,661)
Accumulated net realized loss on investments (7,965,479)
Net unrealized appreciation in value of investments 34,871,196
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Net assets applicable to shares outstanding $154,689,986
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
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INVESTMENT INCOME
Income (Note A):
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $183) $ 1,743,095
Interest 34,466
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Total Investment Income 1,777,561
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Expenses:
Investment management fees (Note B) 885,527
Administration fees 98,731
Legal and audit fees (Note B) 94,456
Merger fees 83,200
Directors' fees 65,470
Accounting fees 34,288
Custodian fees 23,759
Transfer agent fees 19,447
Printing 13,275
Stock exchange listing fees 5,434
Insurance 4,177
Miscellaneous 352
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Total Expenses 1,328,116
Less: Management fee waivers (Note B) (122,688)
Less: Fees paid indirectly (Note B) (74,109)
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Net Expenses 1,131,319
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Net Investment Income 646,242
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NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS
Net realized loss from investments (127,914)
Net change in unrealized appreciation in value of investments 12,198,020
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Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 12,070,106
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NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS $ 12,716,348
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
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For the Years Ended
December 31,
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2004 2003
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INCREASE IN NET ASSETS
Operations:
Net investment income $ 646,242 $ 168,247
Net realized loss from investments (127,914) (231,146)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
in value of investments 12,198,020 5,737,591
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Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 12,716,348 5,674,692
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Dividends and distributions to shareholders (Notes A, G):
Net investment income (729,442) (168,247)
Return-of-capital (13,677,285) (3,636,161)
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Total dividends and distributions to shareholders (14,406,727) (3,804,408)
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Capital stock transactions:
Net assets received in conjunction with Merger Agreement (Note A) 127,962,525 --
Proceeds from 263,938 and 45,927 shares newly issued
in reinvestment of dividends and distributions, respectively 1,852,533 319,214
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Net increase in net assets resulting from capital stock transactions 129,815,058 319,214
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Total increase in net assets 128,124,679 2,189,498
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NET ASSETS
Beginning of year 26,565,307 24,375,809
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End of year $154,689,986 $ 26,565,307
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share of common
stock outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and
other supplemental data for each year indicated. This information has been
derived from information provided in the financial statements and market price
data for the Fund's shares.
For the Years Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
PER SHARE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE
Net asset value, beginning of year $ 6.90 $ 6.41 $ 9.20 $ 11.31 $ 14.95
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net investment income/(loss) # 0.05 0.04 (0.01) (0.06) (0.94)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments and foreign currency
related translations 0.55 1.44 (2.29) (2.13) (1.81)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations 0.60 1.48 (2.30) (2.19) (2.75)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Net investment income (0.05) (0.04) -- -- --
Net realized gain on investments and
foreign currency related transactions -- -- -- -- (1.01)
Return-of-capital (0.99) (0.95) (0.50) -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders (1.04) (0.99) (0.50) -- (1.01)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Capital stock transactions:
Anti-dilutive effect due to capital
stock repurchased -- -- 0.02 0.08 0.12
Anti-dilutive/(dilutive) effect due to shares issued
in reinvestment of dividends and distributions 0.02 -- (0.01) -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total capital stock transactions 0.02 -- 0.01 0.08 0.12
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value, end of year $ 6.48 $ 6.90 $ 6.41 $ 9.20 $ 11.31
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Market value, end of year $ 8.51 $ 9.00 $ 5.85 $ 8.05 $ 10.590
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Total investment return (a)(b) 8.38% 77.69% (20.85)% (23.98)% (19.28)%
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of year (000 omitted) $ 154,690 $ 26,565 $ 24,376 $ 35,256 $ 45,980
Ratio of expenses to average net assets,
net of fee waivers, if any (c) 1.28% 1.20% 1.80% 1.77% 1.72%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets,
excluding fee waivers, if any (d) 1.50% 1.59% 2.17% 2.11% 1.83%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets,
net of fee waivers, if any (d) 1.36% 1.25% 1.86% 1.95% 1.72%
Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to
average net assets 0.73% 0.68% (0.13)% (0.64)% (1.12)%
Portfolio turnover rate 39.05% 11.88% 29.63% 59.83% 28.26%
# Based on average shares outstanding.
(a) Total investment return at market value is based on the changes in market
price of a share during the year and assumes reinvestment of dividends and
distributions, if any, at actual prices pursuant to the Fund's dividend
reinvestment plan. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage
commissions.
(b) For the year ended December 31, 2000, the Fund paid federal taxes on
realized long-term capital gains. Total investment return, assuming
reinvestment of distributions and federal taxes paid on long-term capital
gains, is (13.88)%.
(c) Expenses are net of fees paid indirectly.
(d) Expenses exclude the reduction for fees paid indirectly.
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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NOTE A. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") was incorporated in Maryland
on May 1, 1987 and commenced investment operations on June 30, 1987. Its
investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation through
investment in equity securities of companies listed in the United States. The
Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a
closed-end, diversified management investment company. On June 25, 2004, the
Fund consummated tax-free mergers with Progressive Return Fund, Inc. ("PGF") and
Investors First Fund, Inc. ("MGC") (collectively, the "Predecessor Funds").
Pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing the mergers, each share of
common stock of the Predecessor Funds was converted into an equivalent dollar
amount of full shares of common stock of the Fund, based on the net asset values
of the Fund, MGC and PGF as of June 25, 2004 ($6.47, $10.42 and $20.96,
respectively), resulting in a conversion ratio of 1.6094 and 3.2378 shares of
the Fund for each share of MGC and PGF, respectively. This resulted in the
issuance of 15,955,350 and 3,808,891 Fund shares for MGC and PGF, respectively.
Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares. Net assets of the Fund, MGC and PGF
as of the merger date were $25,105,399, $103,302,250 and $24,660,275, including
unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of $2,516,413, $23,078,675 and
$(2,519,953), respectively. In addition, PGF's net assets included undistributed
capital losses of $13,754,555. Total net assets after the merger were
$153,067,924.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the Fund:
MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
("GAAP") requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that may
affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
PORTFOLIO VALUATION: Investments are stated at value in the accompanying
financial statements. All equity securities shall be valued at the closing price
on the exchange or market on which the security is primarily traded ("Primary
Market"). If the security did not trade on the Primary Market, it shall be
valued at the closing price on another exchange where it trades. If there are no
such sale prices, the value shall be the most recent bid, and if there is no
bid, the security shall be valued at the most recent asked. If no pricing
service is available and there are more than two dealers, the value shall be the
mean of the highest bid and lowest ask. If there is only one dealer, then the
value shall be the mean if bid and ask are available, otherwise the value shall
be the bid. All other securities and assets are valued as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60
days or less are valued on the basis of amortized cost. The Board of Directors
has established general guidelines for calculating fair value of not readily
marketable securities. At December 31, 2004, the Fund held no securities valued
in good faith by the Board of Directors. The net asset value per share of the
Fund is calculated weekly and on the last business day of the month with the
exception of those days on which the American Stock Exchange, LLC is closed.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS: The Fund has agreed to purchase securities from financial
institutions subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase them at an
agreed-upon time and price ("repurchase agreements"). The financial institutions
with whom the Fund enters into repurchase agreements are banks and
broker/dealers, which Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. (the Fund's "Investment
Manager" or "Cornerstone") considers creditworthy. The seller under a repurchase
agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities as
collateral, subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price plus
accrued interest. Cornerstone monitors daily, the mark-to-market of the value of
the collateral, and, if necessary, requires the seller to maintain additional
securities, so that the value of the collateral is not less than the repurchase
price.
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8
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
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Default by or bankruptcy of the seller could, however, expose the Fund to
possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the
disposition of the underlying securities.
INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME: Investment transactions are
accounted for on the trade date. The cost of investments sold is determined by
use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and
income tax purposes. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis; dividend
income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
TAXES: No provision is made for U.S. federal income or excise taxes as it is the
Fund's intention to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and to
make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to
relieve it from all or substantially all U.S. federal income and excise taxes.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME AND GAINS: Effective June 25, 2002, the Fund initiated a
fixed, monthly distribution to shareholders. To the extent that these
distributions exceed the current earnings of the Fund, the balance will be
generated from sales of portfolio securities held by the Fund, which will either
be short-term or long-term capital gains or a tax-free return-of-capital. To the
extent these distributions are not represented by net investment income and
capital gains, they will not represent yield or investment return on the Fund's
investment portfolio. The Fund plans to maintain this distribution policy even
if regulatory requirements would make part of a return-of-capital, necessary to
maintain the distribution, taxable to shareholders and to disclose that portion
of the distribution that is classified as ordinary income. Although it has no
current intention to do so, the Board may terminate this distribution policy at
any time and such termination may have an adverse effect on the market price for
the Fund's common shares. The Fund determines annually whether to distribute any
net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term
capital losses, including capital loss carryovers, if any. To the extent that
the Fund's taxable income in any calendar year exceeds the aggregate amount
distributed pursuant to this distribution policy, an additional distribution may
be made to avoid the payment of a 4% U.S. federal excise tax, and to the extent
that the aggregate amount distributed in any calendar year exceeds the Fund's
taxable income, the amount of that excess may constitute a return-of-capital for
tax purposes. A return-of-capital distribution reduces the cost basis of an
investor's shares in the Fund. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are
recorded by the Fund on the ex-dividend date.
The character of dividends and distributions made during the year ended December
31, 2004 from net investment income or net realized gains, if any, may differ
from their ultimate characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes due to
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles/tax differences in the character
of income and expense recognition.
NOTE B. AGREEMENTS
Cornerstone serves as the Fund's Investment Manager with respect to all
investments. As compensation for its investment management services, Cornerstone
receives from the Fund, an annual fee, calculated weekly and paid monthly, equal
to 1.00% of the Fund's average weekly net assets. Through the date of the recent
mergers, Cornerstone voluntarily agreed to waive its management fees from the
Fund to the extent that monthly operating expenses exceeded a rate of 0.125% of
average net assets calculated monthly. As a result of the merger costs incurred
by the Fund, Cornerstone voluntarily undertook to include such amounts together
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9
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
with operating expenses in the calculation of the waiver of its management fee,
resulting in no management fees being paid to Cornerstone during several months
in the year. Following the consummation of the recent mergers, Cornerstone has
voluntarily agreed to continue to waive its management fees from the Fund to the
extent that monthly operating expenses exceed a rate of 0.10% of average net
assets calculated monthly. For the year ended December 31, 2004, Cornerstone
earned $885,527 for investment management services, of which it waived $122,688.
The Investment Manager may discontinue such undertaking at any time during the
fiscal year without notice to Fund shareholders.
Included in the Statement of Operations, under the caption FEES PAID indirectly,
are expense offsets of $74,109 arising from credits earned on portfolio
transactions executed with a broker, pursuant to a directed brokerage
arrangement.
The Fund paid approximately $129,900 for the year ended December 31, 2004 for
legal services to Blank Rome LLP ("Blank"), counsel to the Fund. Thomas R.
Westle, partner of Blank, serves as Secretary of the Fund.
At December 31, 2004, pursuant to a regulatory filing, an affiliate owned
approximately 22% of the outstanding shares of the Fund based on a Schedule
13G/A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2005.
NOTE C. INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES
For the year ended December 31, 2004, purchases and sales of securities, other
than short-term investments, were $53,645,442 and $35,523,933, respectively.
NOTE D. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
As has been done in the past to enhance shareholder value, pursuant to Section
23 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Fund may again in the
future purchase shares of its common stock on the open market from time to time,
at such times, and in such amounts as may be deemed advantageous to the Fund.
Nothing herein shall be considered a commitment to purchase such shares. The
Fund had no repurchases during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. No
limit has been placed on the number of shares to be repurchased by the Fund
other than those imposed by federal securities laws.
All purchases are made in accordance with federal securities laws, with shares
repurchased held in treasury effective January 1, 2002.
NOTE E. SECURITIES LENDING
To generate additional income, the Fund may lend up to 10% of its total assets.
The Fund receives payments from borrowers equivalent to the dividends and
interest that would have been earned on securities lent while simultaneously
seeking to earn interest on the investment of cash collateral. Loans are subject
to termination by the Fund or the borrower at any time, and are, therefore, not
considered to be illiquid investments. Loans of securities are required at all
times to be secured by collateral equal to at least 100% of the market value of
securities on loan. However, in the event of default or bankruptcy of the other
party to the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral may be
subject to legal proceedings. In the event that the borrower fails to return
securities, and collateral maintained by the lender is insufficient to cover the
value of loaned securities, the borrower is obligated to pay the amount of the
shortfall (and interest thereon) to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance
the Fund can recover this amount. The value of securities on loan to brokers at
December 31, 2004, was $4,254,252.
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10
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CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONCLUDED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collateral for repurchase agreements in connection with securities lending at
December 31, 2004 are listed below:
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT MARKET
ISSUER (000'S) MATURITY VALUE
------ ------- -------- -----
United States Treasury Bond, (interest only) $ 985 11/15/24 $ 360,776
==========
United States Treasury Bond, (interest only) $11,305 11/15/24 $4,140,682
==========
During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund earned $10,360 in securities
lending income which is included under the caption INTEREST in the Statement of
Operations.
NOTE F. COLLATERAL FOR REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
Listed below is the collateral associated with the repurchase agreement with
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. outstanding at December 31, 2004.
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT MARKET
ISSUER (000'S) MATURITY VALUE
------ ------- -------- -----
United States Treasury Bond, (interest only) $ 1,500 11/15/24 $549,405
========
NOTE G. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
Income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal
income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are
primarily due to differing treatments of losses deferred due to wash sales and
Post-October losses (as later defined), and excise tax regulations.
The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the years ended
December 31, for the Fund were as follows:
ORDINARY INCOME RETURN-OF-CAPITAL
--------------- -----------------
2004 2003 2004 2003
---- ---- ---- ----
$729,442 $168,247 $13,677,285 $3,636,161
At December 31, 2004, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis,
for the Fund were as follows:
Accumulated net realized loss $(7,965,479)
Unrealized appreciation 34,871,196
-----------
Total distributable earnings $26,905,717
===========
Under current tax law, certain capital losses realized after October 31 within a
taxable year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the
following tax year ("Post-October losses"). For the tax period ended December
31, 2004, the Fund incurred and elected to defer net realized losses from
investments of $73,676.
At December 31, 2004, the Fund had a capital loss carryfoward for U.S. federal
income tax purposes of $7,891,803 of which $1,587,987 expires in 2007,
$3,559,173 expires in 2008, $1,281,365 expires in 2009, $693,207 expires in
2010, $635,700 expires in 2011 and $134,371 expires in 2012.
At December 31, 2004, the identified cost for federal income tax purposes, as
well as the gross unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities
having an excess of value over cost, gross unrealized depreciation from
investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value and the net
unrealized appreciation from investments were $124,253,976, $38,827,668,
$(3,956,472) and $34,871,196, respectively.
At December 31, 2004, the Fund reclassified $13,677,285 from distributions in
excess of net investment income, $83,200 in merger costs and $6,733,193 from
accumulated net realized loss on investments, to paid-in capital, to adjust for
current period permanent book/tax differences. Net assets were not affected by
the reclassification.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc., including the summary schedule of
investments, as of December 31, 2004, and the related statement of operations
for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the
two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the
three years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial
highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights
based on our audits. The financial highlights for each of the two years in the
period ended December 31, 2001 have been audited by other auditors, whose report
dated February 18, 2002 expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial
highlights.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of
securities owned as of December 31, 2004 by correspondence with the custodian.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, the results of
its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each
of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each
of the three years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
TAIT, WELLER & BAKER
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 15, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12
TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is required by Subchapter M
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to advise its shareholders
within 60 days of the Fund's year end (December 31, 2004) as to the U.S. federal
tax status of dividends and distributions received by the Fund's shareholders in
respect of such fiscal year. During the year ended December 31, 2004 the
following dividends and distributions per share were paid by the Fund:
PAYMENT DATE: 1/30/04 2/27/04 3/31/04 4/30/04 5/21/04 6/16/04
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Ordinary Income: $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004
Return-of-Capital: $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total: $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
PAYMENT DATE: 7/30/04 8/31/04 9/30/04 10/29/04 11/30/04 12/31/04
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- --------
Ordinary Income: $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004 $ 0.004
Return-of-Capital: $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083 $ 0.083
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total: $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087 $ 0.087
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Ordinary income dividends should be reported as dividend income on Form 1040. To
the extent that the distributions represent a return of your investment, they
are not taxed as ordinary income dividends and are sometimes referred to as
nontaxable distributions. A return-of-capital distribution reduces the cost
basis of your shares in the Fund.
The Fund has met the requirements to pass through all ordinary income as
qualified dividends. Please note that to utilize the lower tax rate for
qualifying dividend income, shareholders must have held their shares in the Fund
for at least 61 days during the 121 day period beginning 60 days before the
ex-dividend date.
Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the
amount of their distribution(s).
In general, distributions received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRA's and
Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7)
plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.
Shareholders are strongly advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect
to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND'S DIRECTORS
AND CORPORATE OFFICERS (UNAUDITED)
NAME AND POSITION(S) PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION POSITION WITH
ADDRESS (AGE)* HELD WITH FUND OVER LAST 5 YEARS FUND SINCE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph W. Bradshaw** (54) Chairman of the President, Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.; 1998; current
Board of Directors Financial Consultant; Vice President, Deep term ends at
and President Discount Advisors, Inc. (1993-1999); previous the 2005
Director of The Austria Fund, Inc.; Director of Annual
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. Meeting
William A. Clark ** (59) Director and Director and Stockholder of Cornerstone 1999; current
Vice President Advisors, Inc.; former Financial Consultant of term ends at
Deep Discount Advisors, Inc.; previous the 2006
Director of The Austria Fund, Inc.; Director of Annual
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. Meeting
Thomas H. Lenagh (82) Director; Audit, Chairman of the Board of Photonics Products 1987; current
Nominating and Group; Independent Financial Adviser; Director term ends at
Corporate of Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc., The the 2006
Governance Adams Express Company and Petroleum and Annual
Committee Resources Corporation. Meeting
Member
Edwin Meese III (73) Director; Audit, Distinguished Fellow, The Heritage 2001; current
Nominating and Foundation, Washington D.C.; Distinguished term ends at
Corporate Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, the 2005
Governance Stanford University; Senior Adviser, Revelation Annual
Committee L.P.; formerly U.S. Attorney General under Meeting
Member President Ronald Reagan; Director of
Carrington Laboratories Inc.; Director of
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
Scott B. Rogers (49) Director; Audit, Chief Executive Officer, Asheville Buncombe 2000; current
Nominating and Community Christian Ministry; President of term ends at
Corporate ABCCM Doctor's Medical Clinic; Director of the 2006
Governance Faith Partnerships Inc.; Director of A-B Vision Annual
Committee Board; Appointee, NC Governor's Commission Meeting
Member on Welfare to Work; Chairman and Director of
Recycling Unlimited; Director of
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance;
Director of Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND'S DIRECTORS
AND CORPORATE OFFICERS (UNAUDITED) (CONCLUDED)
NAME AND POSITION(S) PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION POSITION WITH
ADDRESS (AGE)* HELD WITH FUND OVER LAST 5 YEARS FUND SINCE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew A. Strauss (51) Director; Audit, Attorney and senior member of Strauss & 2000; current
Nominating and Associates, P.A., Attorneys, Asheville and term ends at
Corporate Hendersonville, NC; previous President of the 2007
Governance White Knight Healthcare, Inc. and LMV Annual
Committee Leasing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Meeting
Member Xerox Credit Corporation; Director of
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.,
Memorial Mission Hospital Foundation,
Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community
and Asheville Symphony.
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr. (73) Director; Audit, Chairman of the Board of Wilcox Travel 2000; current
Nominating and Agency, Inc.; Director of Champion Industries, term ends at
Corporate Inc.; Chairman of Tower Associates, Inc. (a real the 2007
Governance estate venture); Director of Wachovia Corp.; Annual
Committee Board Trustee of Appalachian State University; Meeting
Member Director and Chairman of Audit Committee of
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
Gary A. Bentz (48) Chief Compliance Chief Financial Officer, Chairman and 2004
Officer Shareholder of Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.;
previous Director of The Austria Fund, Inc.;
previous Director, Vice President and
Treasurer of the Fund and Cornerstone Total
Return Fund, Inc.; Financial Consultant,
Certified Public Accountant; Chief Financial
Officer of Deep Discount Advisors, Inc.
(1993-2000); Chief Compliance Officer of
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.
Thomas R. Westle (51) Secretary Partner, Blank Rome LLP (October 31, 2003 - 2000
405 Lexington Avenue Present); prior thereto Partner, Spitzer &
New York, NY 10174 Feldman P.C. (May, 1998-October 30, 2003).
Jodi B. Levine (35) Treasurer Associate Director, Bear Stearns Funds 2004
Management Inc.
* The mailing address of each Director and/or Officer with respect to the
Fund's operations is 383 Madison Ave., 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10179.
** Designates a Director who is an "interested person" of the Fund as defined
by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Messrs. Bradshaw and
Clark are interested persons of the Fund by virtue of their current
positions with the Investment Manager of the Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15
DESCRIPTION OF DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (UNAUDITED)
Shareholders who have Shares registered directly in their own names
automatically participate in the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan"),
unless and until an election is made to withdraw from the Plan on behalf of such
participating shareholders. Shareholders who do not wish to have distributions
automatically reinvested should so notify American Stock Transfer & Trust Co.
(the "Agent") at P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560 or
call (877) 248-6416. Under the Plan, all of the Fund's dividends and other
distributions to shareholders are reinvested in full and fractional Shares as
described below.
When the Fund declares an income dividend or a capital gain or other
distribution (each, a "Distribution" and collectively, "Distributions"), the
Agent, on the shareholders' behalf, will: (i) receive additional authorized
shares from the Fund either newly issued or repurchased from shareholders by the
Fund and held as treasury stock ("Newly Issued Shares") or, (ii) at the sole
discretion of the Board of Directors, be authorized to purchase outstanding
shares on the open market, on the American Stock Exchange, LLC or elsewhere,
with cash allocated to it by the Fund ("Open Market Purchases").
Shares acquired by the Agent in Open Market Purchases will be allocated to the
reinvesting shareholders based on the average cost of such Open Market
Purchases. Alternatively, the Agent will allocate Newly Issued Shares to the
reinvesting shareholders at the lower of (i) a price equal to the average
closing price of the Fund over the five trading days preceding the payment of
such distribution, or (ii) the net asset value of the Fund as last determined
prior to such payment date.
Registered shareholders who acquire their shares through Open Market Purchases
and who do not wish to have their Distributions automatically reinvested should
so notify the Fund in writing. If a Shareholder has not elected to receive cash
Distributions and the Agent does not receive notice of an election to receive
cash Distributions prior to the record date of any distribution, the shareholder
will automatically receive such Distributions in additional Shares.
Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan by providing written notice
to the Agent at least 30 days prior to the applicable Distribution payment date.
When a participant withdraws from the Plan, or upon termination of the Plan as
provided below, certificates for whole shares credited to his/her account under
the Plan will, upon request, be issued. Whether or not a participant requests
that certificates for whole shares be issued, a cash payment will be made for
any fraction of a Share credited to such account.
The Agent will maintain all shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnish written
confirmations of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed
by shareholders for personal and tax records. The Agent will hold shares in the
account of each Plan participant in non-certificated form in the name of the
participant, and each shareholder's proxy will include those shares purchased
pursuant to the Plan. Each participant, nevertheless, has the right to receive
certificates for whole shares owned. The Agent will distribute all proxy
solicitation materials to participating shareholders.
In the case of shareholders, such as banks, brokers or nominees, that hold
shares for others who are beneficial owners participating in the Plan, the Agent
will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from
time to time by the record shareholder as representing the total amount of
shares registered in the Shareholder's name and held for the account of
beneficial owners participating in the Plan.
There will be no charge to participants for reinvesting Distributions other than
their share of brokerage commissions as discussed below. The Agent's fees for
administering the Plan and handling the reinvestment of Distributions will be
paid by the Fund. Each participant's account will be charged a pro-rata share of
brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Agent's Open Market Purchases
in connection with the reinvestment of Distributions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16
DESCRIPTION OF DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (UNAUDITED) (CONCLUDED)
Brokerage charges for purchasing small amounts of shares for individual accounts
through the Plan are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charges for
such transactions because the Agent will be purchasing shares for all the
participants in blocks and pro-rating the lower commission that may be
attainable.
The automatic reinvestment of Distributions will not relieve participants of any
income tax that may be payable on such Distributions. Participants who receive
shares pursuant to the Plan as described above will recognize taxable income in
the amount of the fair market value of those shares. In the case of non-U.S.
participants whose Distributions are subject to U.S. income tax withholding and
in the case of participants subject to 28% federal backup withholding, the Agent
will reinvest Distributions after deduction of the amount required to be
withheld.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan by written notice to
participants. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the
Agent at the address referred to in the first paragraph of this section.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17
PROXY VOTING AND PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Information regarding how the Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund") voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month
period ended June 30, 2004 as well as the policies and procedures that the Fund
uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities are
available:
o by calling (212) 272-3550;
o on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
http://www.sec.gov.
The report incorporates a Summary Schedule of Investments for the Fund. A
complete Schedule of Investments for the Fund may be obtained free of charge by
contacting the Fund at (212) 272-3550.
The Fund files a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings for the first and
third quarters of its fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Fund's Forms N-Q
are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and
copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the
operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling
1-800-SEC-0330.
PRIVACY POLICY NOTICE (UNAUDITED)
The following is a description of Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.'s (the
"Fund") policies regarding disclosure of nonpublic personal information that you
provide to the Fund or that the Fund collects from other sources. In the event
that you hold shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary, the privacy policy of the financial intermediary would govern how
your nonpublic personal information would be shared with unaffiliated third
parties.
CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION THE FUND COLLECTS. The Fund collects the following
nonpublic personal information about you:
1. Information from the Consumer: this category includes information
the Fund receives from you on or in applications or other forms,
correspondence, or conversations (such as your name, address, phone
number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth);
and
2. Information about the Consumer's transactions: this category
includes information about your transactions with the Fund, its
affiliates, or others (such as your account number and balance,
payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information,
and other financial information).
CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION THE FUND DISCLOSES. The Fund does not disclose any
nonpublic personal information about their current or former shareholders to
unaffiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law. The Fund is
permitted by law to disclose all of the information it collects, as described
above, to its service providers (such as the Fund's custodian, administrator and
transfer agent) to process your transactions and otherwise provide services to
you.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY. The Fund restricts access to your nonpublic
personal information to those persons who require such information to provide
products or services to you. The Fund maintains physical, electronic and
procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic
personal information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16
SUMMARY OF GENERAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
The Fund - Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. is a closed-end, diversified
investment company whose shares trade on the American Stock Exchange, LLC. Its
investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation through
investment in equity securities of companies listed in the United States. The
Fund is managed by Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
The Fund is listed on the American Stock Exchange, LLC (symbol "CLM"). The share
price is published in: THE NEW YORK TIMES (daily) under the designation
"CornerStrt" and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (daily) and BARRON'S (each Monday)
under the designation "CornstnStrat." The net asset value per share is available
weekly and may be obtained by contacting the Fund at the general inquiry phone
number.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 23(C) OF THE INVESTMENT
COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED, THAT CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC. MAY
FROM TIME TO TIME PURCHASE SHARES OF ITS CAPITAL STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET.
This report, including the financial statements herein, is sent to the
shareholders of the Fund for their information. It is not a prospectus, circular
or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund
or of any securities mentioned in this report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE OFFICERS
Ralph W. Bradshaw Chairman of the Board of Directors and President
William A. Clark Director and Vice President
Thomas H. Lenagh Director
Edwin Meese III Director
Scott B. Rogers Director
Andrew A. Strauss Director
Glenn W. Wilcox, Sr. Director
Gary A. Bentz Chief Compliance Officer
Thomas R. Westle Secretary
Jodi B. Levine Treasurer
INVESTMENT MANAGER STOCK TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. American Stock Transfer & Trust Co.
One West Pack Square 59 Maiden Lane
Suite 1650 New York, NY 10038
Asheville, NC 28801
ADMINISTRATOR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Bear Stearns Funds Tait, Weller & Baker
Management Inc. 1818 Market Street
383 Madison Avenue Suite 2400
New York, NY 10179 Philadelphia, PA 19103
CUSTODIAN LEGAL COUNSEL
Custodial Trust Company Blank Rome LLP
101 Carnegie Center 405 Lexington Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08540 New York, NY 10174
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179
For shareholder inquiries, registered shareholders should call (800) 937-5449.
For general inquiries, please call (212) 272-3550.
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Registrant has
adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive
officer, principal financial officer, and persons performing similar functions.
A copy of the code is filed as an EX.99.CODEETH to this Form. There were no
amendments to the code during the calendar year ended December 31, 2004. There
were no waivers or implicit waivers from the code granted by the registrant
during the year ended December 31, 2004.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
(a)(1) The registrant's board of directors has determined that it does not
have an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. At this
time, the registrant believes that the experience provided by each member of the
audit committee together offer the registrant adequate oversight for the
registrant's level of financial complexity.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) through (d). The information in the table below is provided for
services rendered to the registrant by its independent registered public
accounting firm, Tait, Weller & Baker, for its years ended December 31, 2003 and
December 31, 2004.
2004 2003
----------------------
Audit Fees $15,000 $11,000
Audit-related Fees 0
Tax $ 3,000 2,000
Other $ 4,250* 0
----------------------
Total $22,250 $13,000
----------------------
* These fees are related to the mergers of Progressive Return Fund, Inc. and
Investors First Fund, Inc. with and into Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund,
Inc.
(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.
Before the auditor is (i) engaged by the Registrant to render audit, audit
related or permissible non-audit services to the Registrant or (ii) with respect
to non-audit services to be provided by the auditor to the Registrant's
investment adviser or any entity in the investment Registrant complex, if the
nature of the services provided relate directly to the operations or financial
reporting of the Registrant, either: (a) the Audit Committee shall pre-approve
such engagement; or (b) such engagement shall be entered into pursuant to
pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee. Any
such policies and procedures must be detailed as to the particular service and
not involve any delegation of the Audit Committee's responsibilities to the
Registrant's investment adviser. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more
of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals. The pre-approval policies
and procedures shall include the requirement that the decisions of any member to
whom authority is delegated under this provision shall be presented to the full
Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Under certain limited
circumstances, pre-approvals are not required if certain de minimis thresholds
are not exceeded, as such thresholds are set forth by the Audit Committee and in
accordance with applicable SEC rules and regulations.
(e)(2) None of the services provided to the Registrant described in
paragraphs (b)-(d) of Item 4 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant
to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of regulation S-X.
(f) No disclosures are required by this Item 4(f).
(g) None
(h) No disclosures are required by this Item 4(h)
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee
established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Glenn Wilcox (Chair), Andrew A. Strauss, Scott
Rogers, Thomas Lenagh and Edwin Meese III are the members of the Registrant's
audit committee.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. OF
DESCRIPTION SHARES VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY SECURITIES - 99.70%
CLOSED-END DOMESTIC FUNDS - 2.12%
Adams Express Co. 49,500 $ 649,440
General American Investors Co., Inc. 3,000 93,900
Salomon Brothers Fund, Inc. (The) 11,900 154,700
Tri-Continental Corp. 77,000 1,407,560
Zweig Fund, Inc. 176,600 980,130
-----------
3,285,730
-----------
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 14.65%
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. + 4,200 167,286
Best Buy Co., Inc. 4,750 282,245
Carnival Corp. 11,800 680,034
Circuit City Stores, Inc. 1,000 15,640
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. 8,800 294,712
Comcast Corp., Class A + 31,537 1,049,551
Costco Wholesale Corp. 6,500 314,665
CVS Corp. 2,500 112,675
Delphi Corp. 7,600 68,552
Eastman Kodak Co. 1,400 45,150
Federated Department Stores, Inc. 1,000 57,790
Ford Motor Co. 26,300 385,032
Fortune Brands, Inc. 1,000 77,180
Furniture Brands International, Inc. 52,200 1,307,610
Gannett Co., Inc. 2,000 163,400
Gap, Inc. (The) 12,200 257,664
General Motors Corp. 6,500 260,390
Gildan Activewear Inc., Class A + 44,300 1,505,757
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) + 4,500 65,970
Harley-Davidson, Inc. 4,400 267,300
Hilton Hotels Corp. 3,200 72,768
Home Depot, Inc. (The) 30,600 1,307,844
J.C. Penney Co., Inc. 4,500 186,300
Kohl's Corp. + 5,000 245,850
Lowe's Companies, Inc. 11,200 645,008
Marriott International, Inc., Class A 2,100 132,258
Mattel, Inc. 5,500 107,195
May Department Stores Co. 4,900 144,060
McDonald's Corp. 17,600 564,256
Monsanto Co. 580 32,219
NIKE, Inc., Class B 2,300 208,587
Omnicom Group Inc. 1,600 134,912
Reebok International Ltd. 1,500 66,000
Rockwell Automation, Inc. 2,500 123,875
Sears, Roebuck & Co. 1,600 81,648
Staples, Inc. 7,200 242,712
Starbucks Corp. + 5,400 336,744
Target Corp. 11,800 612,774
Time Warner Inc. + 41,000 797,040
TJX Companies, Inc. (The) 7,000 175,910
Toys "R" Us, Inc. + 1,000 20,470
United Natural Foods, Inc. + 130,600 4,061,660
Viacom Inc., non-voting Class B 23,900 869,721
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 59,800 3,158,636
Walt Disney Co. (The) 29,200 811,760
Yum! Brands, Inc. 3,000 141,540
-----------
22,660,350
-----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. OF
DESCRIPTION SHARES VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER STAPLES - 5.97%
Altria Group, Inc. 29,300 1,790,230
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. 8,700 441,351
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. 5,460 121,813
Campbell Soup Co. 2,000 59,780
Coca-Cola Co. (The) 15,500 645,265
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. 6,500 135,525
Colgate-Palmolive Co. 2,100 107,436
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 4,400 129,580
General Mills, Inc. 2,500 124,275
Gillette Co. (The) 12,600 564,228
H.J. Heinz Co. 1,600 62,384
Kimberly-Clark Corp. 6,900 454,089
Kroger Co. (The) + 4,800 84,192
Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (The) 4,000 108,160
PepsiCo, Inc. 24,800 1,294,560
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) 37,600 2,071,008
Sara Lee Corp. 11,500 277,610
Sysco Corp. 5,800 221,386
Walgreen Co. 14,300 548,691
-----------
9,241,563
-----------
ENERGY - 6.94%
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 900 58,329
Baker Hughes Inc. 1,100 46,937
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 3,900 44,070
ChevronTexaco Corp. 19,330 1,015,018
ConocoPhillips 6,237 541,559
Exxon Mobil Corp. 71,000 3,639,460
FMC Technologies, Inc. + 105,800 3,406,760
Marathon Oil Corp. 1,500 56,415
Occidental Petroleum Corp. 4,000 233,440
Reliant Energy Inc. + 1,104 15,070
Schlumberger Ltd. 2,000 133,900
Unocal Corp. 1,200 51,888
Western Gas Resources, Inc. 50,800 1,485,900
-----------
10,728,746
-----------
FINANCIALS - 19.58%
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. + 30,300 2,052,522
AFLAC Inc. 7,000 278,880
Allstate Corp. (The) 9,300 480,996
American Express Co. 15,600 879,372
American International Group, Inc. 37,531 2,464,661
Aon Corp. 4,900 116,914
Bank of America Corp. 55,616 2,613,396
Bank of New York Co., Inc. (The) 8,400 280,728
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) 12,000 143,520
Citigroup Inc. 74,300 3,579,774
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. OF
DESCRIPTION SHARES VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fannie Mae 13,000 925,730
Fifth Third Bancorp 9,000 425,520
First Marblehead Corp. (The) + 73,300 4,123,125
Franklin Resources, Inc. 3,700 257,705
Freddie Mac 9,500 700,150
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) 7,300 759,492
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) 6,000 415,860
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 30,332 1,183,251
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. 3,600 314,928
Manulife Financial Corp. 2,963 136,891
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. 4,100 134,890
MBNA Corp. 12,600 355,194
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 10,700 639,539
MetLife, Inc. 10,200 413,202
Morgan Stanley 15,500 860,560
National City Corp. 9,700 364,235
Northern Trust Corp. 3,500 170,030
Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc. + 104 4,987
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. 4,100 235,504
Prudential Financial, Inc. 8,200 450,672
St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (The) 9,476 351,275
State Street Corp. 3,500 171,920
SunTrust Banks, Inc. 3,600 265,968
UnumProvident Corp. 1,100 19,734
U.S. Bancorp 25,401 795,559
Wachovia Corp. 17,600 925,760
Washington Mutual, Inc. 11,550 488,334
Wells Fargo & Co. 24,200 1,504,030
-----------
30,284,808
-----------
HEALTHCARE - 11.81%
Abbott Laboratories 21,000 979,650
Amgen Inc. + 18,900 1,212,435
Becton, Dickinson & Co. 3,900 221,520
Biogen Idec Inc. + 3,000 199,830
Boston Scientific Corp. + 12,300 437,265
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 10,500 269,010
Cardinal Health, Inc. 2,950 171,543
Cooper Companies, Inc. (The) 60,000 4,235,400
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. + 39,200 1,617,392
Eli Lilly & Co. 14,500 822,875
Guidant Corp. 1,400 100,940
HCA, Inc. 3,500 139,860
Hospira, Inc. + 700 23,450
Johnson & Johnson 40,900 2,593,878
McKesson Corp. 2,300 72,358
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. + 1,687 70,179
Medtronic, Inc. 1,500 74,505
Merck & Co. Inc. 20,500 658,870
Pfizer Inc. 99,660 2,679,857
Schering-Plough Corp. 5,000 104,400
Tenet Healthcare Corp. + 2,250 24,705
UnitedHealth Group Inc. 8,500 748,255
Wyeth 19,200 817,728
-----------
18,275,905
-----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. OF
DESCRIPTION SHARES VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDUSTRIALS - 10.03%
3M Co. 4,400 361,108
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 4,900 217,315
Boeing Co. (The) 11,700 605,709
Caterpillar Inc. 2,900 282,779
Cendant Corp. 14,000 327,320
CSX Corp. 1,000 40,080
Emerson Electric Co. 3,500 245,350
FedEx Corp. 4,500 443,205
General Dynamics Corp. 3,100 324,260
General Electric Co. 77,700 2,836,050
Heartland Express, Inc. 40,435 908,574
Honeywell International Inc. 12,500 442,625
Illinois Tool Works Inc. 2,400 222,432
IMS Health Inc. 1,400 32,494
Lockheed Martin Corp. 4,000 222,200
Masco Corp. 4,200 153,426
Northrop Grumman Corp. 5,000 271,800
Paychex, Inc. 4,200 143,136
Shuffle Master, Inc. + 32,200 1,516,620
Southwest Airlines Co. 6,450 105,006
Transocean Inc. + 2,500 105,975
Tyco International Ltd. 23,397 836,209
Union Pacific Corp. 2,000 134,500
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B 16,300 1,392,998
United Technologies Corp. 7,200 744,120
USF Corp. 65,100 2,470,545
Waste Management, Inc. 4,200 125,748
-----------
15,511,584
-----------
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 15.40%
Adobe Systems Inc. 1,100 69,014
Agere Systems Inc., Class A + 240 329
Altera Corp. + 3,400 70,380
Analog Devices, Inc. 2,700 99,684
Apple Computer, Inc. + 1,500 96,600
Applied Materials, Inc. + 7,800 133,380
CACI International Inc., Class A + 9,800 667,674
Cisco Systems, Inc. + 96,400 1,860,520
Corning Inc. + 8,000 94,160
Dell Inc. + 29,700 1,251,558
eBay Inc. + 9,500 1,104,660
Electronic Arts Inc. + 2,000 123,360
Electronic Data Systems Corp. 1,000 23,100
EMC Corp. + 271,848 4,042,380
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. + 201,600 3,278,016
First Data Corp. 7,324 311,563
Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Class B + 1,512 27,760
Hewlett-Packard Co. 27,900 585,063
Intel Corp. 65,500 1,532,045
International Business Machines Corp. 21,000 2,070,180
Linear Technology Corp. 2,500 96,900
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. 2,300 97,497
Micron Technology, Inc. + 2,500 30,875
Microsoft Corp. 142,100 3,795,491
Motorola, Inc. 25,700 442,040
Oracle Corp. + 26,100 358,092
QUALCOMM Inc. 17,000 720,800
Sanmina-SCI Corp. + 5,500 46,585
Siebel Systems, Inc. + 2,500 26,250
Solectron Corp. + 3,000 15,990
Sun Microsystems, Inc. + 7,500 40,350
Symantec Corp. + 10,000 257,600
Texas Instruments Inc. 4,900 120,638
Yahoo! Inc. + 8,800 331,584
-----------
23,822,118
-----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - DECEMBER 31, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. OF
DESCRIPTION SHARES VALUE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATERIALS - 9.53%
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. 1,000 57,970
Alcoa Inc. 4,200 131,964
Dow Chemical Co. (The) 5,400 267,354
E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. 3,800 186,390
Georgia-Pacific Corp. 2,000 74,960
International Paper Co. 4,500 189,000
Joy Global Inc. 95,500 4,147,565
Neenah Paper, Inc. + 209 6,813
Packaging Corp. of America 70,700 1,664,985
Peabody Energy Corp. 67,000 5,420,970
Praxair, Inc. 3,000 132,450
Rohm & Haas Co. 1,000 44,230
Steel Dynamics, Inc. 61,900 2,344,772
Weyerhaeuser Co. 1,000 67,220
-----------
14,736,643
-----------
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS - 0.17%
Simon Property Group, Inc. 4,000 258,680
-----------
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES - 1.85%
ALLTEL Corp. 1,500 88,140
AT&T Corp. 9,320 177,639
BellSouth Corp. 14,000 389,060
Lucent Technologies Inc. + 10,700 40,232
Nextel Communications, Inc., Class A + 11,000 330,000
SBC Communications Inc. 23,100 595,287
Sprint Corp. 10,800 268,380
Verizon Communications Inc. 24,100 976,291
-----------
2,865,029
-----------
UTILITIES - 1.65%
American Electric Power Co., Inc. 2,700 92,718
Dominion Resources, Inc. 4,600 311,604
Duke Energy Corp. 5,300 134,249
Edison International 4,000 128,120
Exelon Corp. 8,000 352,560
FirstEnergy Corp. 5,000 197,550
FPL Group, Inc. 3,500 261,625
Progress Energy, Inc. 3,500 158,340
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. 1,000 51,770
Scottish Power plc, ADR 4,000 124,640
Southern Co. (The) 8,400 281,568
TXU Corp. 4,700 303,432
Xcel Energy, Inc. 8,200 149,240
-----------
2,547,416
-----------
TOTAL EQUITY SECURITIES
(cost - $119,347,377) 154,218,573
-----------
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
(000'S) VALUE
--------- ------------
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 3.17%
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS - 3.17%
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to be
repurchased at $533,319),
1.50%, 01/03/05 $ 533 533,252
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to be
repurchased at $4,024,399),
2.31%*, 01/03/05** 4,024 4,023,624
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
(Agreement dated 12/31/04 to be
repurchased at $349,757),
1.16%*, 01/03/05** 350 349,723
------------
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(cost - $4,906,599) 4,906,599
------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 102.87%
(cost - $124,253,976) 159,125,172
------------
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS - (2.87)% (4,435,186)
------------
NET ASSETS - 100.00% $154,689,986
============
----------
+ Non-income producing security.
* Stated interest rate, before rebate earned by borrower of securities
on loan.
** Represents investment purchased with cash collateral received for
securities on loan.
ADR American Depositary Receipts.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND, INC.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc., including the schedule of investments,
as of December 31, 2004, and the related statement of operations for the year
then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in
the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the three years
in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights
are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based
on our audits. The financial highlights for each of the two years in the period
ended December 31, 2001 have been audited by other auditors, whose report dated
February 18, 2002 expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of
securities owned as of December 31, 2004, by correspondence with the custodian.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, the results of
its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for the
each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for
each of the three years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
TAIT, WELLER & BAKER
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
ISS 2005 PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
The following is a condensed version of all proxy voting recommendations
contained in the ISS Proxy Voting Manual.
1. OPERATIONAL ITEMS
ADJOURN MEETING
Generally vote AGAINST proposals to provide management with the authority to
adjourn an annual or special meeting absent compelling reasons to support the
proposal.
Vote FOR proposals that relate specifically to soliciting votes for a merger or
transaction for which ISS has recommended a FOR vote. Vote AGAINST proposals if
the wording is too vague or if the proposal includes "other business."
AMEND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
Vote AGAINST proposals to reduce quorum requirements for shareholder meetings
below a majority of the shares outstanding unless there are compelling reasons
to support the proposal.
AMEND MINOR BYLAWS
Vote FOR bylaw or charter changes that are of a housekeeping nature (updates or
corrections).
CHANGE COMPANY NAME
Vote FOR proposals to change the corporate name.
CHANGE DATE, TIME, OR LOCATION OF ANNUAL MEETING
Vote FOR management proposals to change the date/time/location of the annual
meeting unless the proposed change is unreasonable.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to change the date/time/location of the
annual meeting unless the current scheduling or location is unreasonable.
RATIFYING AUDITORS
Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:
o An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company,
and is therefore not independent
o Fees for non-audit services are excessive, or
o There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an
opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's
financial position.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit
their auditors from engaging in non-audit services.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking for audit firm rotation,
taking into account the tenure of the audit firm, the length of rotation
specified in the proposal, any significant audit-related issues at the company,
the number of Audit Committee meetings held each year, the number of financial
experts serving on the committee, and whether the company has a periodic renewal
process where the auditor is evaluated for both audit quality and competitive
price.
TRANSACT OTHER BUSINESS
Vote AGAINST proposals to approve other business when it appears as voting item.
VOTING ON DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS
Votes on director nominees should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, examining the
following factors: composition of the board and key board committees, attendance
at board meetings, corporate governance provisions and takeover activity,
long-term company performance relative to a market index, directors' investment
in the company, whether the chairman is also serving as CEO, and whether a
retired CEO sits on the board. However, there are some actions by directors that
should result in votes being withheld. These instances include directors who:
o Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a
valid excuse
o Implement or renew a dead-hand or modified dead-hand poison pill
o Adopt a poison pill without shareholder approval since the company's last
annual meeting and there is no requirement to put the pill to shareholder
vote within 12 months of its adoption
o Ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved by a majority of the shares
outstanding
o Ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved by a majority of the votes
cast for two consecutive years
o Failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders
tendered their shares
o Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders and sit on the audit,
compensation, or nominating committees
o Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders and the full board serves as
the audit, compensation, or nominating committee or the company does not
have one of these committees
o Are audit committee members and the non -audit fees paid to the auditor
are excessive.
In addition, directors who enacted egregious corporate governance policies or
failed to replace management as appropriate would be subject to recommendations
to withhold votes.
o Are inside directors or affiliated outside directors and the full board is
less than majority independent
o Sit on more than six public company boards, or on more than two public
boards in addition to their own if they are CEOs of public companies.
o Are on the compensation committee when there is a negative correlation
between chief executive pay and company performance
o Have failed to address the issue(s) that resulted in any of the directors
receiving more than 50% withhold votes out of those cast at the previous
board election
AGE LIMITS
Vote AGAINST shareholder or management proposals to limit the tenure of outside
directors either through term limits or mandatory retirement ages.
BOARD SIZE
Vote FOR proposals seeking to fix the board size or designate a range for the
board size.
Vote AGAINST proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the
board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.
CLASSIFICATION/DECLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD
Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board.
Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors
annually.
CUMULATIVE VOTING
Vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
Vote proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting on a CASE-BY-CASE basis
based on the extent that shareholders have access to the board through their own
nominations.
DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY PROTECTION
Proposals on director and officer indemnification and liability protection
should be evaluated on a CASE-BYCASE basis, using Delaware law as the standard.
Vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate entirely directors' and officers' liability
for monetary damages for violating the duty of care.
Vote AGAINST indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just
legal expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of
fiduciary obligation than mere carelessness.
Vote FOR only those proposals providing such expanded coverage in cases when a
director's or officer's legal defense was unsuccessful if both of the following
apply:
o The director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he
reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and
o Only if the director's legal expenses would be covered.
ESTABLISH/AMEND NOMINEE QUALIFICATIONS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals that establish or amend director qualifications.
Votes should be based on how reasonable the criteria are and to what degree they
may preclude dissident nominees from joining the board.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring two candidates per board seat.
FILLING VACANCIES/REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Vote AGAINST proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for
cause.
Vote FOR proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or
without cause.
Vote AGAINST proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect
replacements to fill board vacancies.
Vote FOR proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board
vacancies.
INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN (SEPARATE CHAIRMAN/CEO)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring the position of chairman be
filled by an independent director unless there are compelling reasons to
recommend against the proposal, such as a counterbalancing governance structure.
This should include all of the following:
o Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board
members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may
alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating
lead director).
o Two-thirds independent board
o All-independent key committees
o Established governance guidelines
Additionally, the company should not have under-performed its peers.
MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be
independent unless the board composition already meets the proposed threshold by
ISS's definition of independence.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that board audit, compensation, and/or
nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors if they
currently do not meet that standard.
OPEN ACCESS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking for open access taking into
account the ownership threshold specified in the proposal and the proponent's
rationale for targeting the company in terms of board and director conduct.
STOCK OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of
stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on
the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the
company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE shareholder proposals asking that the company adopt a holding
or retention period for its executives (for holding stock after the vesting or
exercise of equity awards), taking into account any stock ownership requirements
or holding period/retention ratio already in place and the actual ownership
level of executives.
TERM LIMITS
Vote AGAINST shareholder or management proposals to limit the tenure of outside
directors either through term limits or mandatory retirement ages.
3. PROXY CONTESTS
VOTING FOR DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN CONTESTED ELECTIONS
Votes in a contested election of directors must be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, considering the following factors:
o Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its
industry; management's track record
o Background to the proxy contest
o Qualifications of director nominees (both slates)
o Evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the
likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met; and stock
ownership positions.
REIMBURSING PROXY SOLICITATION EXPENSES
Voting to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis. In cases where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, we
also recommend voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
CONFIDENTIAL VOTING
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that corporations adopt confidential
voting, use independent vote tabulators and use independent inspectors of
election, as long as the proposal includes a provision for proxy contests as
follows: In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to
request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the
dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents will not agree,
the confidential voting policy is waived.
Vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.
4. ANTITAKEOVER DEFENSES AND VOTING RELATED ISSUES
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations
Votes on advance notice proposals are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving
support to those proposals which allow shareholders to submit proposals as close
to the meeting date as reasonably possible and within the broadest window
possible.
AMEND BYLAWS WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER CONSENT
Vote AGAINST proposals giving the board exclusive authority to amend the bylaws.
Vote FOR proposals giving the board the ability to amend the bylaws in addition
to shareholders.
POISON PILLS
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that the company submit its poison
pill to a shareholder vote or redeem it.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that any future pill be put to a
shareholder vote.
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take
action by written consent.
Vote FOR proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written
consent.
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call
special meetings.
Vote FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act
independently of management.
SUPERMAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENTS
Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote.
Vote FOR proposals to lower supermajority vote requirements.
5. MERGERS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURINGS
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Vote FOR proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of
appraisal.
ASSET PURCHASES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on asset purchase proposals, considering the following
factors:
o Purchase price
o Fairness opinion
o Financial and strategic benefits
o How the deal was negotiated
o Conflicts of interest
o Other alternatives for the business
o Noncompletion risk.
ASSET SALES
Votes on asset sales should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering
the following factors:
o Impact on the balance sheet/working capital
o Potential elimination of diseconomies
o Anticipated financial and operating benefits
o Anticipated use of funds
o Value received for the asset
o Fairness opinion
o How the deal was negotiated
o Conflicts of interest.
BUNDLED PROPOSALS
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis bundled or "conditioned" proxy proposals.
In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, examine the benefits
and costs of the packaged items.
In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in
shareholders' best interests, vote against the proposals. If the combined effect
is positive, support such proposals.
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Votes on proposals regarding conversion of securities are determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis. When evaluating these proposals the investor should review
the dilution to existing shareholders, the conversion price relative to market
value, financial issues, control issues, termination penalties, and conflicts of
interest.
Vote FOR the conversion if it is expected that the company will be subject to
onerous penalties or will be forced to file for bankruptcy if the transaction is
not approved.
CORPORATE REORGANIZATION/DEBT RESTRUCTURING/PREPACKAGED BANKRUPTCY PLANS/REVERSE
LEVERAGED BUYOUTS/WRAP PLANS
Votes on proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue
shares as part of a debt restructuring plan are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, taking into consideration the following:
o Dilution to existing shareholders' position
o Terms of the offer
o Financial issues
o Management's efforts to pursue other alternatives
o Control issues
o Conflicts of interest.
Vote FOR the debt restructuring if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
FORMATION OF HOLDING COMPANY
Votes on proposals regarding the formation of a holding company should be
determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into consideration the following:
o The reasons for the change
o Any financial or tax benefits
o Regulatory benefits
o Increases in capital structure
o Changes to the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the company.
o Absent compelling financial reasons to recommend the transaction, vote
AGAINST the formation of a holding company if the transaction would
include either of the following:
o Increases in common or preferred stock in excess of the allowable maximum
as calculated by the ISS Capital Structure model
o Adverse changes in shareholder rights
GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS (LBOS AND MINORITY SQUEEZEOUTS)
Vote going private transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into account the
following: offer price/premium, fairness opinion, how the deal was negotiated,
conflicts of interest, other alternatives/offers considered, and noncompletion
risk.
JOINT VENTURES
Votes CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to form joint ventures, taking into account the
following: percentage of assets/business contributed, percentage ownership,
financial and strategic benefits, governance structure, conflicts of interest,
other alternatives, and noncompletion risk.
LIQUIDATIONS
Votes on liquidations should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis after reviewing
management's efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets,
and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.
Vote FOR the liquidation if the company will file for bankruptcy if the proposal
is not approved.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS/ ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO FACILITATE MERGER OR ACQUISITION
Votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
determining whether the transaction enhances shareholder value by giving
consideration to the following:
o Prospects of the combined company, anticipated financial and operating
benefits
o Offer price
o Fairness opinion
o How the deal was negotiated
o Changes in corporate governance
o Change in the capital structure
o Conflicts of interest.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS/WARRANTS/CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Votes on proposals regarding private placements should be determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis. When evaluating these proposals the investor should review:
dilution to existing shareholders' position, terms of the offer, financial
issues, management's efforts to pursue other alternatives, control issues, and
conflicts of interest.
Vote FOR the private placement if it is expected that the company will file for
bankruptcy if the transaction is not approved.
SPINOFFS
Votes on spinoffs should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis depending on:
o Tax and regulatory advantages
o Planned use of the sale proceeds
o Valuation of spinoff
o Fairness opinion
o Benefits to the parent company
o Conflicts of interest
o Managerial incentives
o Corporate governance changes
o Changes in the capital structure.
VALUE MAXIMIZATION PROPOSALS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals seeking to maximize shareholder value
by hiring a financial advisor to explore strategic alternatives, selling the
company or liquidating the company and distributing the proceeds to
shareholders. These proposals should be evaluated based on the following
factors: prolonged poor performance with no turnaround in sight, signs of
entrenched board and management, strategic plan in place for improving value,
likelihood of receiving reasonable value in a sale or dissolution, and whether
company is actively exploring its strategic options, including retaining a
financial advisor.
6. STATE OF INCORPORATION
CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION PROVISIONS
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share acquisition statutes unless doing
so would enable the completion of a takeover that would be detrimental to
shareholders.
Vote AGAINST proposals to amend the charter to include control share acquisition
provisions.
Vote FOR proposals to restore voting rights to the control shares.
CONTROL SHARE CASHOUT PROVISIONS
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of control share cashout statutes.
DISGORGEMENT PROVISIONS
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of state disgorgement provisions.
FAIR PRICE PROVISIONS
Vote proposals to adopt fair price provisions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
evaluating factors such as the vote required to approve the proposed
acquisition, the vote required to repeal the fair price provision, and the
mechanism for determining the fair price.
Generally, vote AGAINST fair price provisions with shareholder vote requirements
greater than a majority of disinterested shares.
FREEZEOUT PROVISIONS
Vote FOR proposals to opt out of state freezeout provisions.
GREENMAIL
Vote FOR proposals to adopt antigreenmail charter of bylaw amendments or
otherwise restrict a company's ability to make greenmail payments.
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis antigreenmail proposals when they are bundled
with other charter or bylaw amendments.
REINCORPORATION PROPOSALS
Proposals to change a company's state of incorporation should be evaluated on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to both financial and corporate
governance concerns, including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of
the governance provisions, and a comparison of the jurisdictional laws.
Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or
negative governance changes.
STAKEHOLDER PROVISIONS
Vote AGAINST proposals that ask the board to consider nonshareholder
constituencies or other nonfinancial effects when evaluating a merger or
business combination.
STATE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTES
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover
statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out
statutes, freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison
pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, antigreenmail
provisions, and disgorgement provisions).
7. CAPITAL STRUCTURE
ADJUSTMENTS TO PAR VALUE OF COMMON STOCK
Vote FOR management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.
COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZATION
Votes on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized
for issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a model developed by
ISS.
Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to
increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior
voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a
company's shares are in danger of being delisted or if a company's ability to
continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.
DUAL-CLASS STOCK
Vote AGAINST proposals to create a new class of common stock with superior
voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to create a new class of nonvoting or subvoting common stock
if:
o It is intended for financing purposes with minimal or no dilution to
current shareholders
o It is not designed to preserve the voting power of an insider or
significant shareholder
ISSUE STOCK FOR USE WITH RIGHTS PLAN
Vote AGAINST proposals that increase authorized common stock for the explicit
purpose of implementing a shareholder rights plan (poison pill).
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals that seek preemptive
rights. In evaluating proposals on preemptive rights, consider the size of a
company, the characteristics of its shareholder base, and the liquidity of the
stock.
PREFERRED STOCK
Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred
stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other
rights ("blank check" preferred stock).
Vote FOR proposals to create "declawed" blank check preferred stock (stock that
cannot be used as a takeover defense).
Vote FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company
specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and
the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.
Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock
authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a
specific purpose.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred
shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given
a company's industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.
RECAPITALIZATION
Votes CASE-BY-CASE on recapitalizations (reclassifications of securities),
taking into account the following: more simplified capital structure, enhanced
liquidity, fairness of conversion terms, impact on voting power and dividends,
reasons for the reclassification, conflicts of interest, and other alternatives
considered.
REVERSE STOCK SPLITS
Vote FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number
of authorized shares will be proportionately reduced.
Vote FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split to avoid
delisting.
Votes on proposals to implement a reverse stock split that do not
proportionately reduce the number of shares authorized for issue should be
determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a model developed by ISS.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMS
Vote FOR management proposals to institute open-market share repurchase plans in
which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.
STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS: SPLITS AND DIVIDENDS
Vote FOR management proposals to increase the common share authorization for a
stock split or share dividend, provided that the increase in authorized shares
would not result in an excessive number of shares available for issuance as
determined using a model developed by ISS.
TRACKING STOCK
Votes on the creation of tracking stock are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
weighing the strategic value of the transaction against such factors as: adverse
governance changes, excessive increases in authorized capital stock, unfair
method of distribution, diminution of voting rights, adverse conversion
features, negative impact on stock option plans, and other alternatives such as
spinoff.
8. EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Votes with respect to equity-based compensation plans should be determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis. Our methodology for reviewing compensation plans primarily
focuses on the transfer of shareholder wealth (the dollar cost of pay plans to
shareholders instead of simply focusing on voting power dilution). Using the
expanded compensation data disclosed under the SEC's rules, ISS will value every
award type. ISS will include in its analyses an estimated dollar cost for the
proposed plan and all continuing plans. This cost, dilution to shareholders'
equity, will also be expressed as a percentage figure for the transfer of
shareholder wealth, and will be considered along with dilution to voting power.
Once ISS determines the estimated cost of the plan, we compare it to a
company-specific dilution cap.
Our model determines a company-specific allowable pool of shareholder wealth
that may be transferred from the company to plan participants, adjusted for:
o Long-term corporate performance (on an absolute basis and relative to a
standard industry peer group and an appropriate market index),
o Cash compensation, and
o Categorization of the company as emerging, growth, or mature.
These adjustments are pegged to market capitalization.
Vote AGAINST plans that expressly permit the repricing of underwater stock
options without shareholder approval.
Generally vote AGAINST plans in which (1) there is a disconnect between the
CEO's pay and company performance (an increase in pay and a decrease in
performance) and the main source of the pay increase (over half) is equity-based
and (2) the CEO is the participant of the equity proposal. A decrease in
performance is based on negative one- and three-year total shareholder returns.
An increase in pay is based on the CEO's total direct compensation (salary, cash
bonus, present value of stock options, face value of restricted stock, face
value of long-term incentive plan payouts, and all other compensation)
increasing over the previous year. Also may WITHHOLD votes from the Compensation
Committee members.
Generally vote AGAINST plans if the company's most recent three-year burn rate
exceeds one standard deviation in excess of the industry mean and is over two
percent of common shares outstanding. See Table 1 for details.
A company with high three-year average burn rates may avoid triggering the burn
rate policy by committing to the industry average over the next years.
However, the above general voting guidelines for pay for performance may change
if the compensation committee members can demonstrate that they have improved
committee performance based on additional public filing such as an DEFA 14A or
8K. The additional filing needs to present strong and compelling evidence of
improved performance with new information that has not been disclosed in the
original proxy statement. The reiteration of the compensation committee report
will not be sufficient evidence of improved committee performance.
Evidence of improved compensation committee performance includes all of the
following:
o The compensation committee has reviewed all components of the CEO's
compensation, including the following:
- Base salary, bonus, long-term incentives
- Accumulative realized and unrealized stock option and restricted
stock gains
- Dollar value of perquisites and other personal benefits to the CEO
and the cost to the company
- Earnings and accumulated payment obligations under the company's
nonqualified deferred compensation program
- Actual projected payment obligations under the company's
supplemental executive retirement plan (SERPs) A tally sheet setting
forth all the above components was prepared and reviewed affixing
dollar amounts under the various payout scenarios.
o A tally sheet with all the above components should be disclosed for the
following termination scenarios:
- Payment if termination occurs within 12 months: $_____
- Payment if "not for cause" termination occurs within 12 months:
$_____
- Payment if "change of control" termination occurs within 12 months:
$_____
o The compensation committee is committed to provide additional information
on the named executives' annual cash bonus program and/or long-term
incentive cash plan for the current fiscal year. The compensation
committee will provide full disclosure of the qualitative and quantitative
performance criteria and hurdle rates used to determine the payouts of the
cash program. From this disclosure, shareholders will know the minimum
level of performance required for any cash bonus to be delivered as well
as the maximum cash bonus payable for superior performance.
TABLE 1 : PROXY SEASON 2005 BURN RATE THRESHOLDS
RUSSELL 3000 NON-RUSSELL 3000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Mean + Std Standard Mean + Std
GICS GICS Dsec Mean Deviation Dev Mean Deviation Dev
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1010 Energy 1.60% 1.02% 2.61% 2.59% 2.19% 4.78%
1510 Materials 1.55% 0.81% 2.36% 2.54% 1.92% 4.46%
2010 Capital Goods 1.86% 1.19% 3.05% 3.23% 2.93% 6.17%
2020 Commercial Services & Supplies 2.87% 1.53% 4.40% 4.39% 3.68% 8.07%
2030 Transportation 2.10% 1.50% 3.60% 2.44% 2.22% 4.66%
2510 Automobiles & Components 2.10% 1.37% 3.48% 2.90% 2.28% 5.18%
2520 Consumer Durables & Apparel 2.40% 1.51% 3.90% 3.42% 2.79% 6.21%
2530 Hotels Restaurants & Leisure 2.39% 1.08% 3.48% 3.30% 2.87% 6.17%
2540 Media 2.34% 1.50% 3.84% 4.12% 2.89% 7.01%
2550 Retailing 2.89% 1.95% 4.84% 4.26% 3.50% 7.75%
3010 to 3030 Food & Staples Retailing 1.98% 1.50% 3.48% 3.37% 3.32% 6.68%
3510 Health Care Equipment & Services 3.24% 1.96% 5.20% 4.55% 3.24% 7.79%
3520 Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 3.60% 1.72% 5.32% 5.77% 4.15% 9.92%
4010 Banks 1.44% 1.17% 2.61% 1.65% 1.60% 3.25%
4020 Diversified Financials 3.12% 2.54% 5.66% 5.03% 3.53% 8.55%
4030 Insurance 1.45% 0.88% 2.32% 2.47% 1.77% 4.24%
4040 Real Estate 1.01% 0.89% 1.90% 1.51% 1.50% 3.01%
4510 Software & Services 5.44% 3.05% 8.49% 8.08% 6.01% 14.10%
4520 Technology Hardware & Equipment 4.00% 2.69% 6.68% 5.87% 4.25% 10.12%
4530 Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.12% 2.86% 7.97% 6.79% 3.95% 10.74%
5010 Telecommunication Services 2.56% 2.39% 4.95% 4.66% 3.90% 8.56%
5510 Utilities 0.90% 0.65% 1.55% 3.74% 4.63% 8.38%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The repetition of the compensation committee report does not meet ISS'
requirement of compelling and strong evidence of improved disclosure. The level
of transparency and disclosure is at the highest level where shareholders can
understand the mechanics of the annual cash bonus and/or long-term incentive
cash plan based on the additional disclosure.
o The compensation committee is committed to grant a substantial portion of
performance-based equity awards to the named executive officers. A
substantial portion of performance-based awards would be at least 50
percent of the shares awarded to each of the named executive officers.
Performance-based equity awards are earned or paid out based on the
achievement of company performance targets. The company will disclose the
details of the performance criteria (e.g., return on equity) and the
hurdle rates (e.g., 15 percent) associated with the performance targets.
From this disclosure, shareholders will know the minimum level of
performance required for any equity grants to be made. The
performance-based equity awards do not refer to non-qualified stock
options(1) or performance-accelerated grants(2). Instead,
performance-based equity awards are performance contingent grants where
the individual will not receive the equity grant by not meeting the target
performance and vice versa.
The level of transparency and disclosure is at the highest level where
shareholders can understand the mechanics of the performance-based equity awards
based on the additional disclosure.
o The compensation committee has the sole authority to hire and fire outside
compensation consultants. The role of the outside compensation consultant
is to assist the compensation committee to analyze executive pay packages
or contracts and understand the company's financial measures.
BASED ON THE ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE OF IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE, ISS WILL GENERALLY VOTE FOR THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS UP FOR
ANNUAL ELECTION AND VOTE FOR THE EMPLOYEE-BASED STOCK PLAN IF THERE IS ONE ON
THE BALLOT. HOWEVER, ISS IS NOT LIKELY TO VOTE FOR THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND/OR THE EMPLOYEE-BASED STOCK PLAN IF ISS BELIEVES THE COMPANY HAS NOT
PROVIDED COMPELLING AND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF TRANSPARENT ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE
OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION BASED ON THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Votes on compensation plans for directors are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, using a proprietary, quantitative model developed by ISS.
On occasion, director stock plans that set aside a relatively small of shares
when combined with employee or executive stock compensation plans exceed the
allowable cap. In such cases, starting proxy season 2005, ISS will supplement
the analytical approach with a qualitative review of board compensation for
companies, taking into consideration:
o Director stock ownership guidelines
- A minimum of three times the annual cash retainer.
o Vesting schedule or mandatory holding/deferral period
- A minimum vesting of three years for stock options or restricted
stock, or
- Deferred stock payable at the end of a three-year deferral period.
o Mix between cash and equity
- A balanced mix of cash and equity, for example 40% cash/60% equity
or 50% cash/50% equity.
- If the mix is heavier on the equity component, the vesting schedule
or deferral period should be more stringent, with the lesser of five
years or the term of directorship.
(1) Non-qualified stock options are not performance-based awards unless the
grant or the vesting of the stock options is tied to the achievement of a
pre-determined and disclosed performance measure. A rising stock market
will generally increase share prices of all companies, despite of the
company's underlying performance.
(2) Performance-accelerated grants are awards that vest earlier based on the
achievement of a specified measure. However, these grants will ultimately
vest over time even without the attainment of the goal(s).
o Retirement/Benefit and Perquisites programs
- No retirement/benefits and perquisites provided to non-employee
directors.
o Quality of disclosure
- Provide detailed disclosure on cash and equity compensation
delivered to each non-employee director for the most recent fiscal
year in a table. The column headers for the table may include the
following: name of each non-employee director, annual retainer,
board meeting fees, committee retainer, committee-meeting fees, and
equity grants.
For ISS to recommend a vote FOR director equity plans based on the above
qualitative features, a company needs to demonstrate that it meets all the above
qualitative features in its proxy statement.
STOCK PLANS IN LIEU OF CASH
Votes for plans which provide participants with the option of taking all or a
portion of their cash compensation in the form of stock are determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR plans which provide a dollar-for-dollar cash for stock exchange.
Votes for plans which do not provide a dollar-for-dollar cash for stock exchange
should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a proprietary, quantitative
model developed by ISS. In cases where the exchange is not dollar-for-dollar,
the request for new or additional shares for such equity program will be
considered in the quantitative model. However, the cost would be lower than
full-value awards since part of the deferral compensation is in-lieu-of cash
compensation.
DIRECTOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Vote AGAINST retirement plans for nonemployee directors.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to eliminate retirement plans for nonemployee
directors.
MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS SEEKING APPROVAL TO REPRICE OPTIONS
Votes on management proposals seeking approval to reprice options are evaluated
on a CASE-BY-CASE basis giving consideration to the following:
o Historic trading patterns
o Rationale for the repricing
o Value-for-value exchange
o Treatment of surrendered options
o Option vesting
o Term of the option
o Exercise price
o Participation.
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS
Votes on qualified employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR employee stock purchase plans where all of the following apply:
o Purchase price is at least 85 percent of fair market value
o Offering period is 27 months or less, and
o The number of shares allocated to the plan is ten percent or less of the
outstanding shares
Vote AGAINST qualified employee stock purchase plans where any of the following
apply:
o Purchase price is less than 85 percent of fair market value, or
o Offering period is greater than 27 months, or
o The number of shares allocated to the plan is more than ten percent of the
outstanding shares
NONQUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS
Votes on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR nonqualified employee stock purchase plans with all the following
features:
o Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees of the company with the
exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial ownership of
the company).
o Limits on employee contribution, which may be a fixed dollar amount or
expressed as a percent of base salary.
o Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employee's contribution,
which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from market value.
o No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a
company matching contribution. Vote AGAINST nonqualified employee stock
purchase plans when any of the plan features do not meet the above
criteria.
INCENTIVE BONUS PLANS AND TAX DEDUCTIBILITY PROPOSALS (OBRA-RELATED COMPENSATION
PROPOSALS)
Vote FOR proposals that simply amend shareholder-approved compensation plans to
include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one
participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m).
Vote FOR proposals to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to
comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) unless they are clearly
inappropriate.
Votes to amend existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify for
favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) should be
considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a proprietary, quantitative model
developed by ISS.
Generally vote FOR cash or cash and stock bonus plans that are submitted to
shareholders for the purpose of exempting compensation from taxes under the
provisions of Section 162(m) if no increase in shares is requested.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS (ESOPS)
Vote FOR proposals to implement an ESOP or increase authorized shares for
existing ESOPs, unless the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is excessive
(more than five percent of outstanding shares.)
401(K) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Vote FOR proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS REGARDING EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR PAY
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of
executive and director pay information, provided the information requested is
relevant to shareholders' needs, would not put the company at a competitive
disadvantage relative to its industry, and is not unduly burdensome to the
company.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking to set absolute levels on
compensation or otherwise dictate the amount or form of compensation.
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring director fees be paid in stock
only.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for all other shareholder proposals regarding
executive and director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level
versus peers, pay level versus industry, and long term corporate outlook.
OPTION EXPENSING
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals asking the company to expense stock
options, unless the company has already publicly committed to expensing options
by a specific date.
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals advocating the use of performance-based
awards like indexed, premium-priced, and performance-vested options or
performance-based shares, unless:
o The proposal is overly restrictive (e.g., it mandates that awards to all
employees must be performance-based or all awards to top executives must
be a particular type, such as indexed options)
o The company demonstrates that it is using a substantial portion of
performance-based awards for its top executives
GOLDEN PARACHUTES AND EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to require golden parachutes or executive
severance agreements to be submitted for shareholder ratification, unless the
proposal requires shareholder approval prior to entering into employment
contracts.
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to ratify or cancel golden parachutes.
An acceptable parachute should include the following:
o The triggering mechanism should be beyond the control of management
o The amount should not exceed three times base amount (defined as the
average annual taxable W-2 compensation during the five years prior to the
year in which the change of control occurs
o Change-in-control payments should be double-triggered, i.e., (1) after a
change in control has taken place, and (2) termination of the executive as
a result of the change in control. ISS defines change in control as a
change in the company ownership structure.
PENSION PLAN INCOME ACCOUNTING
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals to exclude pension plan income in the
calculation of earnings used in determining executive bonuses/compensation.
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLANS (SERPS)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting to put extraordinary
benefits contained in SERP agreements to a shareholder vote unless the company's
executive pension plans do not contain excessive benefits beyond what is offered
under employee-wide plans.
9. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to phase out the use of animals in product
testing, taking into account:
o The nature of the product and the degree that animal testing is necessary
or federally mandated (such as medical products),
o The availability and feasibility of alternatives to animal testing to
ensure product safety, and
o The degree that competitors are using animal-free testing.
o Generally vote FOR proposals seeking a report on the company's animal
welfare standards unless:
o The company has already published a set of animal welfare standards and
monitors compliance
o The company's standards are comparable to or better than those of peer
firms, and
o There are no serious controversies surrounding the company's treatment of
animals
DRUG PRICING
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking the company to implement price restraints
on pharmaceutical products, taking into account:
o Whether the proposal focuses on a specific drug and region
o Whether the economic benefits of providing subsidized drugs (e.g., public
goodwill) outweigh the costs in terms of reduced profits, lower R&D
spending, and harm to competitiveness
o The extent that reduced prices can be offset through the company's
marketing budget without affecting R&D spending
o Whether the company already limits price increases of its products
o Whether the company already contributes life -saving pharmaceuticals to
the needy and Third World countries
o The extent that peer companies implement price restraints
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to voluntarily label genetically
engineered (GE) ingredients in their products or alternatively to provide
interim labeling and eventually eliminate GE ingredients due to the costs and
feasibility of labeling and/or phasing out the use of GE ingredients.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking for a report on the feasibility of
labeling products containing GE ingredients taking into account:
o The relevance of the proposal in terms of the company's business and the
proportion of it affected by the resolution
o The quality of the company's disclosure on GE product labeling and related
voluntary initiatives and how this disclosure compares with peer company
disclosure
o Company's current disclosure on the feasibility of GE product labeling,
including information on the related costs
o Any voluntary labeling initiatives undertaken or considered by the
company.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking for the preparation of a report on the
financial, legal, and environmental impact of continued use of GE
ingredients/seeds.
o The relevance of the proposal in terms of the company's business and the
proportion of it affected by the resolution
o The quality of the company's disclosure on risks related to GE product use
and how this disclosure compares with peer company disclosure
o The percentage of revenue derived from international operations,
particularly in Europe, where GE products are more regulated and consumer
backlash is more pronounced.
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking a report on the health and environmental effects
of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Health studies of this sort are better
undertaken by regulators and the scientific community.
Vote AGAINST proposals to completely phase out GE ingredients from the company's
products or proposals asking for reports outlining the steps necessary to
eliminate GE ingredients from the company's products. Such resolutions
presuppose that there are proven health risks to GE ingredients (an issue better
left to federal regulators) that outweigh the economic benefits derived from
biotechnology.
HANDGUNS
Generally vote AGAINST requests for reports on a company's policies aimed at
curtailing gun violence in the United States unless the report is confined to
product safety information. Criminal misuse of firearms is beyond company
control and instead falls within the purview of law enforcement agencies.
HIV/AIDS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports outlining the impact of the health
pandemic (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis) on the company's Sub-Saharan
operations and how the company is responding to it, taking into account:
o The nature and size of the company's operations in Sub-Saharan Africa and
the number of local employees
o The company's existing healthcare policies, including benefits and
healthcare access for local workers
o Company donations to healthcare providers operating in the region
Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to establish, implement, and report on a
standard of response to the HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria health pandemic in Africa
and other developing countries, unless the company has significant operations in
these markets and has failed to adopt policies and/or procedures to address
these issues comparable to those of industry peers.
PREDATORY LENDING
Vote CASE-BY CASE on requests for reports on the company's procedures for
preventing predatory lending, including the establishment of a board committee
for oversight, taking into account:
o Whether the company has adequately disclosed mechanisms in place to
prevent abusive lending practices
o Whether the company has adequately disclosed the financial risks of its
subprime business
o Whether the company has been subject to violations of lending laws or
serious lending controversies
o Peer companies' policies to prevent abusive lending practices.
TOBACCO
Most tobacco-related proposals should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
taking into account the following factors:
Second-hand smoke:
o Whether the company complies with all local ordinances and regulations
o The degree that voluntary restrictions beyond those mandated by law might
hurt the company's competitiveness
o The risk of any health-related liabilities.
Advertising to youth:
o Whether the company complies with federal, state, and local laws on the
marketing of tobacco or if it has been fined for violations
o Whether the company has gone as far as p eers in restricting advertising
o Whether the company entered into the Master Settlement Agreement, which
restricts marketing of tobacco to youth
o Whether restrictions on marketing to youth extend to foreign countries
Cease production of tobacco-related products or avoid selling products to
tobacco companies:
o The percentage of the company's business affected
o The economic loss of eliminating the business versus any potential
tobacco-related liabilities.
o Spinoff tobacco-related businesses:
o The percentage of the company's business affected
o The feasibility of a spinoff
o Potential future liabilities related to the company's tobacco business.
Stronger product warnings:
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking stronger product warnings. Such decisions are
better left to public health authorities.
Investment in tobacco stocks:
Vote AGAINST proposals prohibiting investment in tobacco equities. Such
decisions are better left to portfolio managers.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Generally vote AGAINST request for reports outlining potential environmental
damage from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) unless:
o New legislation is adopted allowing development and drilling in the ANWR
region;
o The company intends to pursue operations in the ANWR; and
o The company does not currently disclose an environmental risk report for
their operations in the ANWR.
CERES PRINCIPLES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt the CERES Principles, taking into
account:
o The company's current environmental disclosure beyond legal requirements,
including environmental health and safety (EHS) audits and reports that
may duplicate CERES
o The company's environmental performance record, including violations of
federal and state regulations, level of toxic emissions, and accidental
spills
o Environmentally conscious practices of peer companies, including
endorsement of CERES
o Costs of membership and implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC RISK REPORT
Vote CASE BY CASE on proposals requesting an economic risk assessment of
environmental performance considering:
o The feasibility of financially quantifying environmental risk factors,
o The company's compliance with applicable legislation and/or regulations
regarding environmental performance,
o The costs associated with implementing improved standards,
o The potential costs associated with remediation resulting from poor
environmental performance, and
o The current level of disclosure on environmental policies and initiatives.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
Generally vote FOR requests for reports disclosing the company's environmental
policies unless it already has well-documented environmental management systems
that are available to the public.
GLOBAL WARMING
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas emissions
from company operations and/or products unless this information is already
publicly disclosed or such factors are not integral to the company's line of
business.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals that call for reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by specified amounts or within a restrictive time frame unless the
company lags industry standards and has been the subject of recent, significant
fines or litigation resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.
RECYCLING
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to adopt a comprehensive recycling strategy,
taking into account:
o The nature of the company's business and the percentage affected
o The extent that peer companies are recycling
o The timetable prescribed by the proposal
o The costs and methods of implementation
o Whether the company has a poor environmental track record, such as
violations of federal and state regulations.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
In general, vote FOR requests for reports on the feasibility of developing
renewable energy sources unless the report is duplicative of existing disclosure
or irrelevant to the company's line of business.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that the company invest in renewable
energy sources. Such decisions are best left to management's evaluation of the
feasibility and financial impact that such programs may have on the company.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company to report on policies and
initiatives related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability,
unless:
o The company already discloses similar information through existing reports
or policies such as an Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) report;
comprehensive Code of Corporate Conduct; and/or Diversity Report; or
o The company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting
program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar
standard within a specified time frame.
GENERAL CORPORATE ISSUES
OUTSOURCING/ OFFSHORING
Vote CASE BY CASE on proposals calling for companies to report on the risks
associated with outsourcing, considering:
o Risks associated with certain international markets
o The utility of such a report to shareholders
o The existence of a publicly available code of corporate conduct that
applies to international operations
LINK EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TO SOCIAL PERFORMANCE
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to review ways of linking executive compensation
to social factors, such as corporate downsizings, customer or employee
satisfaction, community involvement, human rights, environmental performance,
predatory lending, and executive/employee pay disparities. Such resolutions
should be evaluated in the context of:
o The relevance of the issue to be linked to pay
o The degree that social performance is already included in the company's
pay structure and disclosed
o The degree that social performance is used by peer companies in setting
pay
o Violations or complaints filed against the company relating to the
particular social performance measure
o Artificial limits sought by the proposal, such as freezing or capping
executive pay
o Independence of the compensation committee
o Current company pay levels.
CHARITABLE/POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political
nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:
o The company is in compliance with laws governing corporate political
activities, and
o The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions
to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly
voluntary and not coercive.
Vote AGAINST proposals to report or publish in newspapers the company's
political contributions. Federal and state laws restrict the amount of corporate
contributions and include reporting requirements.
Vote AGAINST proposals disallowing the company from making political
contributions. Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state, and
local level and barring contributions can put the company at a competitive
disadvantage.
Vote AGAINST proposals restricting the company from making charitable
contributions. Charitable contributions are generally useful for assisting
worthwhile causes and for creating goodwill in the community. In the absence of
bad faith, self-dealing, or gross negligence, management should determine which
contributions are in the best interests of the company.
Vote AGAINST proposals asking for a list of company executives, directors,
consultants, legal counsels, lobbyists, or investment bankers that have prior
government service and whether such service had a bearing on the business of the
company. Such a list would be burdensome to prepare without providing any
meaningful information to shareholders.
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CHINA PRINCIPLES
Vote AGAINST proposals to implement the China Principles unless:
o There are serious controversies surrounding the company's China
operations, and
o The company does not have a code of conduct with standards similar to
those promulgated by the International Labor Organization (ILO).
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports detailing the company's operations in
a particular country and steps to protect human rights, based on:
o The nature and amount of company business in that country
o The company's workplace code of conduct
o Proprietary and confidential information involved
o Company compliance with U.S. regulations on investing in the country
o Level of peer company involvement in the country.
INTERNATIONAL CODES OF CONDUCT/VENDOR STANDARDS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement certain human rights standards at
company facilities or those of its suppliers and to commit to outside,
independent monitoring. In evaluating these proposals, the following should be
considered:
o The company's current workplace code of conduct or adherence to other
global standards and the degree they meet the standards promulgated by the
proponent
o Agreements with foreign suppliers to meet certain workplace standards
o Whether company and vendor facilities are monitored and how
o Company participation in fair labor organizations
o Type of business
o Proportion of business conducted overseas
o Countries of operation with known human rights abuses
o Whether the company has been recently involved in significant labor and
human rights controversies or violations
o Peer company standards and practices
o Union presence in company's international factories
o Generally vote FOR reports outlining vendor standards compliance unless
any of the following apply:
o The company does not operate in countries with significant human rights
violations
o The company has no recent human rights controversies or violations, or
o The company already publicly discloses information on its vendor standards
compliance.
MACBRIDE PRINCIPLES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to endorse or increase activity on the MacBride
Principles, taking into account:
o Company compliance with or violations of the Fair Employment Act of 1989
o Company antidiscrimination policies that already exceed the legal
requirements
o The cost and feasibility of adopting all nine principles
o The cost of duplicating efforts to follow two sets of standards (Fair
Employment and the MacBride Principles)
o The potential for charges of reverse discrimination
o The potential that any company sales or contracts in the rest of the
United Kingdom could be negatively impacted
o The level of the company's investment in Northern Ireland
o The number of company employees in Northern Ireland
o The degree that industry peers have adopted the MacBride Principles
o Applicable state and municipal laws that limit contracts with companies
that have not adopted the MacBride Principles.
MILITARY BUSINESS
FOREIGN MILITARY SALES/OFFSETS
Vote AGAINST reports on foreign military sales or offsets. Such disclosures may
involve sensitive and confidential information. Moreover, companies must comply
with government controls and reporting on foreign military sales.
LANDMINES AND CLUSTER BOMBS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future involvement
in antipersonnel landmine production, taking into account:
o Whether the company has in the past manufactured landmine components
o Whether the company's peers have renounced future production
o Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking a company to renounce future
involvement in cluster bomb production, taking into account:
o What weapons classifications the proponent views as cluster bombs
o Whether the company currently or in the past has manufactured cluster
bombs or their components
o The percentage of revenue derived from cluster bomb manufacture
o Whether the company's peers have renounced future production
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Vote AGAINST proposals asking a company to cease production of nuclear weapons
components and delivery systems, including disengaging from current and proposed
contracts. Components and delivery systems serve multiple military and
non-military uses, and withdrawal from these contracts could have a negative
impact on the company's business.
OPERATIONS IN NATIONS SPONSORING TERRORISM (IRAN)
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for a board committee review and report outlining
the company's financial and reputational risks from its operations in Iran,
taking into account current disclosure on:
o The nature and purpose of the Iranian operations and the amount of
business involved (direct and indirect revenues and expenses) that could
be affected by political disruption
o Compliance with U.S. sanctions and laws
SPACED-BASED WEAPONIZATION
Generally vote FOR reports on a company's involvement in spaced-based
weaponization unless:
o The information is already publicly available or
o The disclosures sought could compromise proprietary information.
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY
BOARD DIVERSITY
Generally vote FOR reports on the company's efforts to diversify the board,
unless:
o The board composition is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of
similar size and business or
o The board already reports on its nominating procedures and diversity
initiatives.
Generally vote AGAINST proposals that would call for the adoption of specific
committee charter language regarding diversity initiatives unless the company
fails to publicly disclose existing equal opportunity or nondiscrimination
policies.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking the company to increase the representation
of women and minorities on the board, taking into account:
o The degree of board diversity
o Comparison with peer companies
o Established process for improving board diversity
o Existence of independent nominating committee
o Use of outside search firm
o History of EEO violations.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)
Generally vote FOR reports outlining the company's affirmative action
initiatives unless all of the following apply:
o The company has well-documented equal opportunity programs
o The company already publicly reports on its company-wide affirmative
initiatives and provides data on its workforce diversity, and
o The company has no recent EEO-related violations or litigation.
Vote AGAINST proposals seeking information on the diversity efforts of suppliers
and service providers, which can pose a significant cost and administration
burden on the company.
GLASS CEILING
Generally vote FOR reports outlining the company's progress towards the Glass
Ceiling Commission's business recommendations, unless:
o The composition of senior management and the board is fairly inclusive
o The company has well-documented programs addressing diversity initiatives
and leadership development
o The company already issues public reports on its company-wide affirmative
initiatives and provides data on its workforce diversity, and
o The company has had no recent, significant EEO-related violations or
litigation
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company's EEO statement in order to
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, unless the change would
result in excessive costs for the company.
Vote AGAINST proposals to ext end company benefits to or eliminate benefits from
domestic partners. Benefits decisions should be left to the discretion of the
company.
10. MUTUAL FUND PROXIES
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Vote the election of directors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the
following factors: board structure; director independence and qualifications;
and compensation of directors within the fund and the family of funds attendance
at board and committee meetings.
Votes should be withheld from directors who:
o attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings
o without a valid excuse for the absences. Valid reasons include illness or
o absence due to company business. Participation via telephone is
acceptable.
o In addition, if the director missed only one meeting or one day's
o meetings, votes should not be withheld even if such absence dropped the
o director's attendance below 75 percent.
o ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved by a majority of shares
o outstanding;
o ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved by a majority of the
o votes cast for two consecutive years;
o are interested directors and sit on the audit or nominating committee; or
o are interested directors and the full board serves as the audit or
o nominating committee or the company does not have one of these
o committees.
CONVERTING CLOSED-END FUND TO OPEN-END FUND
Vote conversion proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following
factors: past performance as a closed-end fund; market in which the fund
invests; measures taken by the board to address the discount; and past
shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related proposals.
Proxy Contests
Votes on proxy contests should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors:
o Past performance relative to its peers
o Market in which fund invests
o Measures taken by the board to address the issues
o Past shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related proposals
o Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents
o Independence of directors
o Experience and skills of director candidates
o Governance profile of the company
o Evidence of management entrenchment
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
Votes on investment advisory agreements should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, considering the following factors:
o Proposed and current fee schedules
o Fund category/investment objective
o Performance benchmarks
o Share price performance as compared with peers
o Resulting fees relative to peers
o Assignments (where the advisor undergoes a change of control)
APPROVING NEW CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES
Vote FOR the establishment of new classes or series of shares.
PREFERRED STOCK PROPOSALS
Votes on the authorization for or increase in preferred shares should be
determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors: stated
specific financing purpose, possible dilution for common shares, and whether the
shares can be used for antitakeover purposes
1940 ACT POLICIES
Votes on 1940 Act policies should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors: potential competitiveness; regulatory
developments; current and potential returns; and current and potential risk.
Generally vote FOR these amendments as long as the proposed changes do not
fundamentally alter the investment focus of the fund and do comply with t he
current SEC interpretation.
CHANGING A FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTION TO A NONFUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTION
Proposals to change a fundamental restriction to a nonfundamental restriction
should be evaluated on a CASEBY- CASE basis, considering the following factors:
the fund's target investments, the reasons given by the fund for the change, and
the projected impact of the change on the portfolio.
CHANGE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE TO NONFUNDAMENTAL
Vote AGAINST proposals to change a fund's fundamental investment objective to
nonfundamental.
NAME CHANGE PROPOSALS
Votes on name change proposals should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis,
considering the following factors: political/economic changes in the target
market, consolidation in the target market, and current asset composition
CHANGE IN FUND'S SUBCLASSIFICATION
Votes on changes in a fund's subclassification should be determined on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors: potential
competitiveness, current and potential returns, risk of concentration, and
consolidation in target industry
DISPOSITION OF ASSETS/TERMINATION/LIQUIDATION
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
strategies employed to salvage the company; the fund's past performance; and
terms of the liquidation.
CHANGES TO THE CHARTER DOCUMENT
Votes on changes to the charter document should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE
basis, considering the following factors:
o The degree of change implied by the proposal
o The efficiencies that could result
o The state of incorporation
o Regulatory standards and implications
Vote AGAINST any of the following changes:
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to reorganize or terminate the
trust or any of its series
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement for amendments to the new
declaration of trust
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to amend the fund's management
contract, allowing the contract to be modified by the investment manager
and the trust management, as permitted by the 1940 Act
o Allow the trustees to impose other fees in addition to sales charges on
investment in a fund, such as deferred sales charges and redemption fees
that may be imposed upon redemption of a fund's shares
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to engage in and terminate
subadvisory arrangements
o Removal of shareholder approval requirement to change the domicile of the
fund
CHANGING THE DOMICILE OF A FUND
Vote reincorporations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following
factors: regulations of both states; required fundamental policies of both
states; and the increased flexibility available.
AUTHORIZING THE BOARD TO HIRE AND TERMINATE SUBADVISORS WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER
APPROVAL
Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the board to hire/terminate subadvisors
without shareholder approval.
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:
fees charged to comparably sized funds with similar objectives, the proposed
distributor's reputation and past performance, the competitiveness of the fund
in the industry, and terms of the agreement.
MASTER-FEEDER STRUCTURE
Vote FOR the establishment of a master-feeder structure.
MERGERS
Vote merger proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following
factors: resulting fee structure, performance of both funds, continuity of
management personnel, and changes in corporate governance and their impact on
shareholder rights.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO ESTABLISH DIRECTOR OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a specific minimum
amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to
remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors,
the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO REIMBURSE SHAREHOLDER FOR EXPENSES INCURRED
Voting to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis. In cases where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, we
also recommend voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO TERMINATE THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Vote to terminate the investment advisor on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering
the following factors: performance of the fund's NAV, the fund's history of
shareholder relations, and the performance of other funds under the advisor's
management.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND
AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which
shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's Board of Directors since
the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item
7(d)(2)(ii)(g) of Schedule 14A in its definitive proxy statement dated May 7,
2004.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) As a date within 90 days from the filing date of this report, the
principal executive officer and the principal financial officer concluded that
that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule
30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act")) were effective
based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by
Rule 30a-3 (b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over
financial reporting (as define in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred
during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Code of Ethics attached as EX-99.CODEETH.
(a)(2) Separate certifications of Principal Executive and Financial
Officers pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached as
EX-99.CERT.
(b) Certifications of Principal Executive and Financial
Officers pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 furnished as
EX-99.906CERT.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Ralph W. Bradshaw
---------------------
Name: Ralph W. Bradshaw
Title: Principal Executive Officer
Date: March 9, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.
By: /s/ Ralph W. Bradshaw
---------------------
Name: Ralph W. Bradshaw
Title: Principal Executive Officer
Date: March 9, 2005
By: /s/ Jodi B. Levine
------------------
Name: Jodi B. Levine
Title: Principal Financial Officer
Date: March 9, 2005