The Shareholders Association for Research and Education (SHARE) released its 2007 Key Proxy Vote Survey today showing growing support among investment management firms for selected shareholder proposals that address excessive executive compensation. However, success was mixed at best. Firms like Manulife FInancial passed a limit to supplemental executive retirement plans while firms like Nortel Networks failed to pass resolutions despite strong shareholder support.

"Executive compensation was the big issue last year," said Executive Director Peter Chapman. "Continuing shareholder efforts to tie executive compensation to performance and concern about 'pay for failure' helped drive a number of resolutions aimed at curbing excessive executive pay packages for executives. Our survey showed strong support for these proposals."