First Hawaiian, Inc. (FHB) operates as a bank holding company for First Hawaiian Bank that provides a range of banking services to consumer and commercial customers in the United States. Although First Hawaiian is controlled by BNP Paribas (“BNPP”), it is still worth it for non-controlling shareholders to vote and express our wishes because of the influence that can have. Most shareholders do not vote because reading through 70 pages of the proxy is not worth the time for the small difference your vote will make. Below, I tell you how I am voting and why. If you have read these posts related to my portfolio for the last 22 years and trust my judgment (or you don’t want to take the time to read it), go immediately to see how I voted my ballot. Voting will take you only a minute or two and every vote counts.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, and personal computers to consumers, and small and mid-sized businesses; and education, enterprise, and government customers worldwide. The company also sells related software, services, accessories, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications.
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. provides bio-based pest management and plant health products primarily for agricultural and water markets in the United States and internationally. Without changes, Marrone Bio is likely to continue to lag the Nasdaq, as it has done for the last one, two and five year time periods. While the Nasdaq has gone up over 100% in the last five years, Marrone Bio has gone down over 90%. Proxy access could make our board more directly accountable to shareholders.
Whole Foods Proxy Access, we have another chance to vote to make proxy access real before the annual meeting on February 17.
Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASD:WFM) is a retailer of natural and organic foods and is one of the stocks in my portfolio. ProxyDemocracy.org had collected the votes of four funds when I checked and voted.
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) operates as a pharmacy-led health and wellbeing company. It operates through three segments: Retail Pharmacy USA, Retail Pharmacy International, and Pharmaceutical Wholesale.
United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) is a distributor and retailer of natural, organic and specialty products. The Wholesale segment is engaged in the national distribution of natural, organic and specialty foods, produce and related products in the United States and Canada. The Other segment includes a retail division, which engages in the sale of natural foods and related products to the general public through retail storefronts on the east coast of the United States; a manufacturing division, which engages in importing, roasting and packaging of nuts, seeds, dried fruit and snack items, and its branded product lines. Its operations consist of three operating divisions: Wholesale Division, Retail Division, and Manufacturing and Branded Products divisions. The Company offers 100,000 natural, organic and specialty foods, and non-food products, consisting of national, regional and private-label brands.
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc (NYSE:DVA), one of the companies in my portfolio, provides kidney dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure or end stage renal disease. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 20, 2016. I have a proposal on the proxy to allow shareholders to act by written consent.
ProxyDemocracy.org had collected the votes of three fund families when I checked. Vote AGAINST pay, committee, and proxy access ‘lite’; FOR the right to act by written consent. I voted with the Board’s recommendations 53% of the time. View Proxy Statement via iiWisdom.
Facebook Inc (NASD:FB), one of the companies in my portfolio, builds products that enable people to connect and share through mobile devices and personal computers. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 20, 2016.
Genomic Health Inc GHDX $GHDX, a healthcare company, provides actionable genomic information to personalize cancer treatment decisions in the United States and internationally. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 9, 2016.
Alphabet (GOOGL), one of the companies in my portfolio, is a holding company. The Company holds interests in Google Inc. (Google). The Company’s segments include Google and Other Bets. Google segment includes Internet products, such as Search, Ads, Commerce, Maps, YouTube, Apps, Cloud, Android, Chrome, Google Play, and hardware products, including Chromecast, Chromebooks and Nexus, which are sold by the Company. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 8, 2016.
Netflix Inc $NFLX., one of the stocks in my portfolio, an Internet television network, which engages in the Internet delivery of television (TV) shows and movies on various Internet-connected screens. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 9, 2016.
Caterpillar Inc $CAT is a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Their annual meeting is coming up on June 8, 2016.