Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) announced on August 29, 2023, the initiation of its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey, a routine yet vital enterprise in shaping ISS’s policy development for the forthcoming years. The announcement was reported by JD Supra.
Despite the minimal available information for the time being, it is implicit that the results collated from the survey will play a pivotal role in informing ISS’s policy approach for 2024 and the subsequent years. Notably, ISS states that the survey includes several points of interest, among them the External Party Audit Work Oversight in the U.S., Say on Climate in Canada, Board Gender Diversity in Japan and Say on Pay in France. The comprehensiveness of the survey’s scope underlines its significance in shaping investor voting policies across diverse markets.
Historically, ISS has utilized the survey’s output to identify gaps, discrepancies, or potential improvements in their policies, which, in turn, cultivate a more efficient and robust corporate environment. This year’s survey will presumably hold further relevance given the ongoing global adjustments catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues.
For legal professionals working with corporate entities worldwide, these survey results will hold a great deal of weight in tailoring and modifying their clients’ adherence to corporate governance, regulatory, and compliance standards. Hence, keeping track of this survey’s evolution and results will undoubtedly be crucial in providing insights to formulate effective legal strategies for client advisement.
Detailed survey results and further specifics are anticipated in the following weeks, presenting more clarity on ISS’s prospective policy direction. As such, the legal landscape needs to attentively observe the survey’s progress and resultant trends for adequate preparatory actions.