McDonald’s Investors to Vote on Race Audit This Year, SEC Says

McDonald’s Corp. shareholders will vote this spring on whether or not the company should conduct a civil-rights audit.

In a letter dated April 5, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it won’t let McDonald’s exclude a shareholder proposal that urges its board to oversee a third-party audit that would analyze its civil-rights impact and recommend improvements. The restaurant chain had previously asked the SEC to let it omit the proposal from its annual proxy, saying it would interfere with lawsuits brought by Black franchisees and employees.

“We are unable to concur in your view that the company may exclude ...