Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) released updates to its 2021 benchmark proxy voting policy, with the biggest changes this year addressing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity on boards. The updated policy will generally be applied for shareholder meetings on or after Feb. 1, 2021.
“Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, institutional investors, companies and other interested market constituents globally have provided thoughtful feedback on a wide range of issues through the ISS annual benchmark policy survey, multiple virtual policy roundtables and discussions, and through our public open comment period on proposed changes,” said Georgina Marshall, global head of research and ISS global policy board chairperson, in a press release.
