Symantec 2015 Annual Report Download - page 35

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
Proposal 4 is a stockholder proposal. If the respective stockholder proponent, or representative who is quali-
fied under state law, is present at the Annual Meeting and submits the proposal for a vote, then the proposal will
be voted upon. The stockholder proposal is included in this proxy statement exactly as submitted by the stock-
holder proponent. The Board’s recommendation on the proposal is presented immediately following the proposal.
We will promptly provide you with the name, address and, to Symantec’s knowledge, the number of voting secu-
rities held by the proponent of the stockholder proposal, upon receiving a written or oral request directed to:
Symantec Corporation, Attn: Scott C. Taylor, Corporate Secretary, 350 Ellis Street, Mountain View, California
94043, telephone: [phone].
PROPOSAL NO. 4
Shareholder Proposal on International Policy Committee
Resolved: shareholders recommend that Symantec Corporation (the Company) establish an International
Policy Committee with outside independent experts to oversee the Company’s policies and practice regarding
environment, human rights, social responsibility, regulations, and other international issues that may affect the
Company’s operations, performance, reputation, and shareholders’ value.
Supporting Statement
According to the Company Annual Report 2014, “Symantec operates one of the largest global threat-
intelligence network, and provides leading security, backup and availability solutions.” (p.4) “[W]e employed
more than 20,800 people worldwide, approximately 44% of whom reside in the U.S.” (p. 10) The Company
operates “in more than 50 countries” (p.4) and the international net revenue has been 52% for three years 2012-
14 (p.41). However, none of the three primary committees (Audit, Compensation, and Nomination & Gover-
nance) or other committees (if the Company has) has the capability and function to deal with the increasing
complicated international issues regarding environment, human rights, social responsibility, and regulations,
which are also related the legitimacy of the Company’s operation worldwide.
Especially in the dynamic Asia Pacific region, where the Company leased 1,986 square foot out of total
3,871 square foot worldwide (ibid. p. 26), the Company’s core business has great opportunities as well as chal-
lenges. The Chinese government has increased regulatory pressures to foreign ICT companies. The Japanese
government has utilized the 1989 Tiananmen Tragedy to abandon its peace constitution, towards rearmament and
militarization to mislead the U.S. under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaties to crash with the rising power of a
nationalistic China.
Partly to respond to my proposals (which I withdraw), Microsoft established a similar policy committee in
2012. It is time for the Company to establish an international policy committee to deal with today’s complicated
international affairs affecting our business.
Our Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to Proposal 4
The Board unanimously recommends a vote against the proposal. Our Board believes that Symantec’s poli-
cies and practices, which include appropriate Board oversight, already actively and effectively identify and
address issues regarding the environment, human rights, social responsibility and international policy that are
relevant to Symantec’s business. As such, the Board does not believe that forming a separate international policy
committee of the Board is necessary.
Symantec considers the security of information central to corporate responsibility. As access to data pro-
tection, security, and privacy continues to dominate as a key societal issue in the connected world, our attention
to corporate responsibility priorities enhances our ability to create business value.
Our Board and management have demonstrated a commitment to prioritizing corporate responsibility —
including ethical operation, the environment, human rights, social responsibility, and other international issues —
and appropriately positioning it within the organization. We believe that integration of corporate responsibility
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