Symantec 2009 Annual Report Download - page 27

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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
Proposal 3 is a stockholder proposal. If the stockholder proponent, or representative who is qualified 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 stockholder 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 securities 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, 20330 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, California 95014,
telephone: (408) 517-8000.
PROPOSAL NO. 3
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING SPECIAL STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS
3 — Special Shareowner Meetings
RESOLVED, Shareowners ask our board to take the steps necessary to amend our bylaws and each appropriate
governing document to give holders of 10% of our outstanding common stock (or the lowest percentage allowed by
law above 10%) the power to call special shareowner meetings. This includes that such bylaw and/or charter text
will not have any exception or exclusion conditions (to the fullest extent permitted by state law) that apply only to
shareowners but not to management and/or the board.
Statement of Kenneth Steiner
Special meetings allow shareowners to vote on important matters, such as electing new directors, that can arise
between annual meetings. If shareowners cannot call special meetings investor returns may suffer. Shareowners
should have the ability to call a special meeting when a matter merits prompt consideration. This proposal is in favor
of our board maintaining its current power to call a special meeting.
This proposal topic won impressive 2008 support at:
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) 66% Emil Rossi (Sponsor)
FirstEnergy (FE) 67% Chris Rossi
Marathon Oil (MRO) 69% Nick Rossi
The merits of this Special Shareowner Meetings proposal should also be considered in the context of the need
for further improvements in our company’s corporate governance and in individual director performance. In 2008
the following governance and performance issues were identified:
• We had no shareholder right to:
Elect directors through a majority-vote.
Cumulative voting.
Call a special shareholder meeting.
• John Thompson was both our Chairman and CEO and held two outside board seats — Over-extension
concern.
• Our directors also served on 3 boards rated “D” by the Corporate Library:
Michael Brown Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR)
Geraldine Laybourne Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS)
Robert Steve Miller Delphi Corporation (DPHIQ.PK)
18