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Rule 14a-8(l) allows companies to decide whether or not to include information in its proxy statement about a proponent (name, address, and number of shares held), but should they? This Perkins Coie blog suggests a couple of reasons why companies should consider disclosing that information:

There is a growing trend of proposals that appear to try to drive votes through using buzzwords that are of interest to certain types of investors, such as greenwashing or diversity – but in fact may espouse views that are the opposite of what a casual reader might think the proposal says. Knowing the identity of the proponent may help investors to better understand the context of the proposal.

There can be other benefits to providing information about proponents as well. Investors might read a proposal from a proponent with 200 shares differently than one from a proponent with 20,000. They might also be interested to know when a proposal has been made by a representative that is in the business of submitting these proposals, and not by the shareholder themselves.

– John Jenkins