Name of Registrant: Duke Energy Corp.
Name of persons relying on exemption: California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
Address of persons relying on exemption: 400 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
April 21, 2020
Dear Duke Energy Shareowner:
Support Proposal #4 and #7 Requesting an Independent Board Chair and Improved Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
CalPERS is the largest state public pension fund in the United States with nearly $400 billion1 in total assets under management, and a long-term owner of over five million shares in Duke
Energy. We encourage shareowners to vote FOR proposal #4 and #7 at the company’s May 7th, 2020 annual meeting of shareowners.
Vote FOR Shareowner Proposal #4 Requesting an Independent Board Chair
CalPERS believes that investors will benefit if the board is chaired by an independent director who can provide a balance of power between the CEO and the board, and support effective board oversight
of management. In our view, appointing a board chair who is independent of management is nearly always preferable to having one individual lead both the board and the management team.
Leading corporate governance investor organizations like the Counsel of Institutional Investors and the International Corporate Governance Network also agree. While we recognize that Duke Energy has
appointed a lead independent director, in our view, an independent board chair is better positioned to oversee the executives of the company and represent shareholders without the inherent conflicts that a CEO or other executive insiders will
encounter.
Vote FOR Shareowner Proposal #7 Requesting Improved Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
We believe that shareholders would benefit from improved disclosure of the company's political spending activities and lobbying expenditures. In our view, improved disclosure would allow shareholders
to better assess the risks and benefits associated with such spending.
Specifically, proposal #7 is asking for annual reporting that includes the following:
| 1. |
Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications.
|
1CalPERS total assets under management at year end December 31, 2019.
PLEASE NOTE: The cost of this solicitation is being borne entirely by CalPERS and is being done through the use of mail and telephone communication. CalPERS is not asking for your
proxy card. Please do not send us your proxy card.
Name of Registrant: Duke Energy Corp.
Name of persons relying on exemption: California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
Address of persons relying on exemption: 400 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
| 2. |
Payments by Duke used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient.
|
| 3. |
Duke’s membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation.
|
| 4. |
Description of management's and the Board's decision-making process and oversight for making payments described in sections 2 and 3 above.
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Vote FOR Shareowner Proposal #4 and #7
As a significant investor in Duke Energy, we encourage shareowners to support proposal #4 and #7. We believe that an independent chair structure will lead to a more proactive, responsive, and effective
board of directors. We also believe that improved disclosure of the company's political spending activities and lobbying expenditures would allow shareholders to better assess the risks and benefits associated with such spending.
For questions please contact Craig Rhines, CalPERS Associate Investment Manager at engagements@calpers.ca.gov.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
SIMISO NZIMA
Investment Director, Global Equity
CalPERS Investment Office
PLEASE NOTE: The cost of this solicitation is being borne entirely by CalPERS and is being done through the use of mail and telephone communication. CalPERS is not asking for your
proxy card. Please do not send us your proxy card.