Wal-Mart has appealed the United States District of Delaware’s decision which denied Wal-Mart the right to exclude a shareholder proposal submitted by Trinity Wall Street. The District Court held that the SEC was incorrect when it rendered a no-action letter permitting exclusion of a shareholder proposal submitted under Rule 18a-8 in Trinity Wall Street v Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart had argued to the SEC that the proposal was excludable under Rule 14a-8(i)(7) as a matter related to ordinary business operations.
The Third Circuit has granted Wal-Mart’s unopposed motion for an expedited appeal with briefing to be completed by February 13, 2015. Last year Wall-Mart filed its proxy statement on April 23.
Stay tuned.