UPDATE 1-U.S. SEC steps back after challenge on Whole Foods proxy access
January 16, 2015 at 21:08 PM EST
BOSTON/BENGALURU, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday backed off a ruling it made on when companies may ditch shareholder proposals, drawing praise from activists aiming to add their own directors at grocer Whole Foods Market Inc and other companies.