ROCKVILLE, Md. (September 22, 2025) — ISS Governance, a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and vote recommendations and a unit of ISS STOXX, today released the results of its annual global benchmark policy survey. ISS received a total of 248 responses, of which 165 were from institutional investors and investor-affiliated organizations, and 83 from companies, corporate-affiliated organizations, and other non-investor respondents.
The 2025 survey covered a range of topics, including shareholder rights, executive compensation, board governance, shareholder proposals, and risk management. Download a copy of this year’s global benchmark policy survey results report here.
ISS will over the coming weeks release key draft policy updates and open a public comment period for all interested market participants on certain proposed changes to its voting policies for next year. The open comment period is designed to elicit objective and specific feedback from investors, companies, and other market participants on implementing the proposed policy updates. Final policy updates are expected to be announced around late November and will take effect for shareholder meetings occurring on or after Feb. 1, 2026.
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About ISS Governance
Founded in 1985 as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Inc., ISS Governance is a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and recommendations, providing multiple voting policy choices as well as end-to-end workflow solutions for institutional investors. More than 1,600 clients worldwide utilize ISS Governance’s actionable expertise to help them make informed investment stewardship decisions, and to help them manage their voting responsibilities. Covering over 50,000 meetings annually, ISS Governance leverages its extensive global footprint, deep experience, high quality data and analysis, unified client support, and technology infrastructure to continuously evolve and extend its innovative suite of solutions to meet clients’ evolving portfolio, fiduciary, and stewardship requirements. Learn more at: https://www.issgovernance.com/solutions/proxy-voting-services/
About ISS STOXX
ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,800 professionals operating across 30 global locations in 20 countries. Its approximately 5,500 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.
Media Contact:
Izabella Nagy
Communications Analyst
press@iss-stoxx.com
Institutional Shareholder Services Announces Results of Global Benchmark Policy Survey
ROCKVILLE, Md. (September 22, 2025) — ISS Governance, a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and vote recommendations and a unit of ISS STOXX, today released the results of its annual global benchmark policy survey. ISS received a total of 248 responses, of which 165 were from institutional investors and investor-affiliated organizations, and 83 from companies, corporate-affiliated organizations, and other non-investor respondents.
The 2025 survey covered a range of topics, including shareholder rights, executive compensation, board governance, shareholder proposals, and risk management. Download a copy of this year’s global benchmark policy survey results report here.
ISS will over the coming weeks release key draft policy updates and open a public comment period for all interested market participants on certain proposed changes to its voting policies for next year. The open comment period is designed to elicit objective and specific feedback from investors, companies, and other market participants on implementing the proposed policy updates. Final policy updates are expected to be announced around late November and will take effect for shareholder meetings occurring on or after Feb. 1, 2026.
###
About ISS Governance
Founded in 1985 as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Inc., ISS Governance is a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and recommendations, providing multiple voting policy choices as well as end-to-end workflow solutions for institutional investors. More than 1,600 clients worldwide utilize ISS Governance’s actionable expertise to help them make informed investment stewardship decisions, and to help them manage their voting responsibilities. Covering over 50,000 meetings annually, ISS Governance leverages its extensive global footprint, deep experience, high quality data and analysis, unified client support, and technology infrastructure to continuously evolve and extend its innovative suite of solutions to meet clients’ evolving portfolio, fiduciary, and stewardship requirements. Learn more at: https://www.issgovernance.com/solutions/proxy-voting-services/
About ISS STOXX
ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,800 professionals operating across 30 global locations in 20 countries. Its approximately 5,500 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.
Media Contact:
Izabella Nagy
Communications Analyst
press@iss-stoxx.com
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