As stated in the Mercy Investment Services Social Responsibility Philosophy and Policy Statement, “Mercy Investment Services, Inc. will actively promote changes in corporate practices to achieve social and economic justice, a sustainable Earth and the common good.” As part of the comprehensive Shareholder Advocacy program described in the Social Responsibility Philosophy and Policy Statement, the Social Responsibility Committee is empowered to approve proxy voting guidelines for use in voting company proxies that address “appropriate governance, social and environmental criteria, with a focus on issues of importance to the Sisters of Mercy.”

These proxy voting guidelines are intended to be used by Mercy Investment Services in its voting of company proxies, whether done directly, through a proxy voting service or by its investment managers. These guidelines are not intended to be an exhaustive list nor do they anticipate all voting issues that may be presented over time. These guidelines are intended to present principles of importance concerning areas of particular concern to the Sisters of Mercy, which will be applied as proxies are voted.