Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) has launched its annual consultation on its benchmark voting policies for the 2020 proxy season.
ISS is seeing feedback from investors, companies, governance experts and others on its proposed proxy voting policies for the year ahead.
The firm is proposing 17 new policies, or potential policy changes, for the 2020 proxy season in various markets around the world.
For U.S. companies, the proposed changes include issues such as sunset provisions for dual-class stock structures, share repurchase programs and shareholder proposals on independent board chairs.
In Europe, ISS is seeking comment on policies for remuneration committees, gender diversity on corporate boards and director term limits.
ISS is not proposing any major changes for Canadian voting policies.
The 2020 benchmark voting policy is out for comment until Oct. 18.
It aims to finalize its policy changes in the first half of November for shareholder meetings that take place after Feb. 1, 2020.