Cms Energy Corp
11 nominees · 6 ballot items.
Elect 11 directors; advisory approval of executive compensation; ratify independent auditor; approve two amendments to CMS articles (increase authorized common shares and allow shareholders to call special meetings); and vote on a shareholder proposal to permit shareholders to act by written consent.
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On the ballot6
- 1
Elect the Director Nominees, Named in this Proxy Statement, to the Board of Directors
ManagementBoard: FORElection of 11 director nominees to serve until the next annual meeting.
- 2
Approve, on an Advisory Basis, Executive Compensation
ManagementBoard: FORNon-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement.
- 3
Ratify the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
ManagementBoard: FORRatification of the Audit Committee’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.
- 4
Approve an Amendment to the CMS Restated Articles of Incorporation Increasing the Number of Authorized Shares of CMS Common Stock from 350 Million Shares to 700 Million Shares
ManagementBoard: FORAmend CMS Restated Articles to increase authorized common shares from 350 million to 700 million.
More detail
The Board is asking shareholders to approve an amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase authorized Common Stock from 350 million to 700 million shares, expanding total authorized capital stock to 710 million shares. Management frames the increase as a prudential measure to provide flexibility for future corporate needs such as share issuances for employee plans, equity financings, acquisitions, stock splits, stock dividends, and other general corporate purposes. The disclosure notes that as of March 10, 2026 approximately 308 million shares were outstanding and roughly 42 million were reserved for conversions, employee plans, and an equity distribution agreement, leaving only about 2 million shares available. The Board states there is no present plan to issue additional shares and does not propose the amendment as an anti-takeover device, though notes that additional shares could potentially make control transactions more difficult in some circumstances. Approval requires a majority of outstanding CMS common shares and, if approved, the amendment will be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and become effective upon filing. The Board unanimously recommends a FOR vote, emphasizing flexibility and corporate preparedness while disclaiming any immediate intent to use the shares for dilutionary or defensive measures.
- 5
Approve an Amendment to the CMS Restated Articles of Incorporation to Allow Shareholders to Call a Special Meeting
ManagementBoard: FORAmend Articles to permit shareholders holding at least 10% of voting shares to call a special meeting, with procedural details to be set in bylaws.
More detail
The Board proposes to amend Article V of the Articles of Incorporation to permit shareholders holding at least 10% of voting shares to call a special meeting, with the procedural mechanics to be established in the bylaws. Management argues this change enhances shareholder rights and responsiveness by providing a structured pathway for minority shareholders to convene special meetings while maintaining safeguards through a 10% ownership threshold and bylaws-based procedural limits. The Board considered governance trends and a prior non-binding shareholder vote on special meeting rights; it concluded that the benefits of providing an orderly mechanism for shareholder-initiated meetings outweigh potential risks. The amendment requires a majority of outstanding shares to approve and will become effective upon filing with the Michigan Secretary of State. The Board recommends a FOR vote underscoring improved shareholder engagement and that customary procedural requirements will be adopted in the bylaws.
- 6
Vote on a Shareholder Proposal: Shareholder Right to Act by Written Consent, if Properly Presented
Shareholder — John CheveddenBoard: AGAINSTA shareholder proposal requesting that the Board permit shareholders to act by written consent to take corporate actions without a meeting.
More detail
The shareholder proposal, submitted by John Chevedden, requests that the Board permit shareholders to act by written consent — allowing shareholders holding the minimum votes required to authorize action at a hypothetical meeting of all shareholders to take corporate actions without convening a meeting. The proponent argues written consent provides a timely mechanism for shareholder action between meetings, could improve accountability when company performance lags, and cites perceived stock underperformance and operational risks as rationale. Management recommends voting against the proposal, arguing that written consent can be misused, may allow small or transient holders to force actions without broad shareholder deliberation, and duplicates the right to call special meetings (for which Proposal 5 would provide a 10% threshold). The Board emphasizes existing governance safeguards, shareholder engagement channels and that special meetings preserve transparency and participation. The proxy includes the proponent’s verbatim supporting statement and the Board’s verbatim opposition statement. The Board recommends AGAINST the shareholder proposal, while the proponent seeks FOR support.
Nominees on the ballot11
Top institutional holders10
| # | Owner | % of shares | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | 6.4% | 19,877,297 | $1.5B |
| 2 | VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC | 6.1% | 18,793,345 | $1.5B |
| 3 | STATE STREET CORP | 5.9% | 18,099,033 | $1.4B |
| 4 | BlackRock, Inc. | 4.8% | 14,857,489 | $1.2B |
| 5 | GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | 2.4% | 7,531,729 | $582M |
| 6 | BlackRock, Inc. | 2.3% | 6,997,231 | $543M |
| 7 | DEUTSCHE BANK AG\ | 2.1% | 6,598,617 | $512M |
| 8 | VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC | 2.1% | 6,564,462 | $509M |
| 9 | WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP | 1.9% | 5,772,282 | $448M |
| 10 | MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES CO /MA/ | 1.9% | 5,753,651 | $446M |
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Frequently asked questions
- When is the Cms Energy Corp 2026 annual meeting?
- Cms Energy Corp (CMS) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Friday, May 8, 2026.
- What is the record date for the Cms Energy Corp 2026 meeting?
- The record date for the Cms Energy Corp 2026 meeting is Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
- Who are the director nominees for Cms Energy Corp's 2026 meeting?
- The board is presenting 11 director nominees at the Cms Energy Corp 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
- What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Cms Energy Corp 2026 meeting?
- Shareholders will vote on 6 proposals at the Cms Energy Corp 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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