Starwood 2009 Annual Report Download - page 13

How do I vote?
If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. We will give you a ballot
when you arrive. If you do not wish to vote in person or if you will not be attending the Annual Meeting, you may
vote by proxy. You can vote your shares by authorizing a proxy over the Internet by following the instructions
provided in the Notice, or, if you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you can also authorize a
proxy to vote your shares by mail or by telephone.
Each Share represented by a properly completed written proxy or properly authorized proxy by telephone or
over the Internet will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions specified in
the proxy, unless such proxy has been revoked. If no instructions are specified, such Shares will be voted FOR the
election of each of the nominees for Director, FOR ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2010, and FOR the reapproval of the Company’s
Annual Incentive Plan for Certain Executives and, in the discretion of the proxy holder, on any other business that
may properly come before the meeting.
If you participate in the Savings Plan and have contributions invested in Shares, the proxy card will serve as a
voting instruction for the trustee of the Savings Plan. You must return your proxy card to the transfer agent on or
prior to May 7, 2010. If your proxy card is not received by the transfer agent by that date or if you sign and return
your proxy card without instructions marked in the boxes, the trustee will vote your Shares in the same proportion as
other Shares held in the Savings Plan for which the trustee received timely instructions unless contrary to ERISA
(Employee Retirement Income Security Act).
How can I revoke a previously submitted proxy?
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. You
may submit a proxy again on a later date on the Internet or by telephone (only your latest Internet or telephone proxy
submitted prior to the meeting will be counted), or by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, or by
attending the meeting and voting in person. However, your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically
revoke your proxy unless you vote at the meeting or specifically request in writing that your prior proxy be revoked.
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
If you receive more than one proxy card from the Company, it means your Shares are not all registered in the
same way (for example, some are held in your name and others are held jointly with a spouse) and are in more than
one account. Please sign and return all proxy cards you receive to ensure that all Shares held by you are voted.
How does the Board recommend that I vote?
The Board recommends that you vote FOR each of its Director nominees, FOR ratification of the appointment
of Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2010, and FOR the
reapproval of the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan for Certain Executives.
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