In total, ISS received 455 responses to this year’s benchmark policy survey. There were 239 responses from institutional investors and investor-affiliated organizations, and 216 responses from companies, corporate-affiliated organizations, and other non-investor respondents.
October 31, 2023
Institutional Shareholder Services Announces Results of Global Benchmark Policy Survey
ROCKVILLE, Md. (October 31, 2023) – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), a leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions to financial market participants, today released the results of its annual global benchmark policy survey. In total, ISS received 455 responses to this year’s benchmark policy survey. There were 239 responses from institutional investors and investor-affiliated organizations, and 216 responses from companies, corporate-affiliated organizations, and other non-investor respondents.
This year’s survey covered governance and stewardship topics specific to certain markets – U.S. non-GAAP incentive pay program metrics, Return On Equity (ROE) as a factor in Director Elections in Japan, and South Korea Director Accountability for material governance failures – and also sought views on two global governance topics – Director Independence Classification with regard to Professional Services, and Cross-Market/Foreign Private Issuer policy. Finally, the survey invited views on a number of global environmental and social (E&S) topics, in light of evolving market expectations, regulations, guidelines, standards, and frameworks, particularly regarding climate change.
Download a copy of this year’s benchmark policy survey results report here.
The survey is part of ISS’ annual policy development process. During November, ISS will release key draft policy updates and open a public open comment period for all interested market participants on the key proposed changes to its voting policies for next year. The open comment period is designed to elicit objective, specific feedback from investors, companies, and other market constituents on the implementation of the proposed policy updates. The final policy updates will be announced in late November or early December and the process will complete with the publication of the final policies applicable to shareholder meetings occurring on or after Feb. 1 of 2024.
Media Contact: Sarah Ball Executive Director, Communications press@issgovernance.com
Institutional Shareholder Services Announces Results of Global Benchmark Policy Survey
ROCKVILLE, Md. (October 31, 2023) – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), a leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions to financial market participants, today released the results of its annual global benchmark policy survey. In total, ISS received 455 responses to this year’s benchmark policy survey. There were 239 responses from institutional investors and investor-affiliated organizations, and 216 responses from companies, corporate-affiliated organizations, and other non-investor respondents.
This year’s survey covered governance and stewardship topics specific to certain markets – U.S. non-GAAP incentive pay program metrics, Return On Equity (ROE) as a factor in Director Elections in Japan, and South Korea Director Accountability for material governance failures – and also sought views on two global governance topics – Director Independence Classification with regard to Professional Services, and Cross-Market/Foreign Private Issuer policy. Finally, the survey invited views on a number of global environmental and social (E&S) topics, in light of evolving market expectations, regulations, guidelines, standards, and frameworks, particularly regarding climate change.
Download a copy of this year’s benchmark policy survey results report here.
The survey is part of ISS’ annual policy development process. During November, ISS will release key draft policy updates and open a public open comment period for all interested market participants on the key proposed changes to its voting policies for next year. The open comment period is designed to elicit objective, specific feedback from investors, companies, and other market constituents on the implementation of the proposed policy updates. The final policy updates will be announced in late November or early December and the process will complete with the publication of the final policies applicable to shareholder meetings occurring on or after Feb. 1 of 2024.
Media Contact:
Sarah Ball
Executive Director, Communications
press@issgovernance.com
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