What are ISS and Glass Lewis and Why Should My Bank Care?
In February, a federal district judge in the District of Columbia awarded proxy advisers a victory by vacating an SEC rule provision that they opposed....more
The Nutter Securities Enforcement Update is a periodic update of noteworthy recent securities enforcement activity, settlements, decisions, and charges. We provide brief summaries that highlight recent enforcement action...more
As companies begin preparing for the 2023 proxy season, we note that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and Glass Lewis, the leading providers of corporate governance solutions and proxy advisory services, issued...more
Earlier this month, Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") released its annual global benchmark policy survey (the "ISS Survey"). The ISS Survey includes questions on "hot topics" in corporate governance, and its results...more
In recent years, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought to address controversy regarding the proxy voting system and the influence of proxy advisory firms such as Glass, Lewis & Co. and Institutional...more
On July 22, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to its proxy rules addressing proxy voting advice provided by proxy advisory firms, such as ISS and Glass Lewis. The amendments were originally...more
On July 22, 2020, the SEC adopted final rules on the application of its proxy solicitation rules to proxy voting advisors. Among other things, the new rules will, for practical purposes, require these proxy advisory firms –...more
On July 22, 2020, the SEC took action to address two aspects of the proxy voting process: (1) amending the proxy solicitation rules with respect to “proxy voting advice businesses” (PVABs or proxy advisory firms), such as ISS...more
The nation’s largest shareholder advisory firm, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), recently filed suit against the SEC over new guidelines meant to give investors more transparency into how proxy advisory firms...more
REGULATORY UPDATES - FINRA Issues Regulation Best Interest Checklist for Brokers - On October 8, 2019, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) announced it will provide new resources to assist member firms...more
In this Lexis Practice Advisor Practice Note, we discuss two releases published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 21, 2019. One release contains interpretation and guidance regarding the applicability...more
Board Oversight Disclosure. Over the past several years, companies have increasingly used their proxy statements to communicate how their boards have exercised oversight over key matters. We expect this trend to accelerate in...more
This newsletter discusses noteworthy updates, key regulatory decisions and upcoming compliance reminders. In this edition, we review: ...SEC Changes Approach to Shareholder Proposal No-Action Requests ...SEC Issues...more
In two related releases issued on August 21, the SEC updated its guidance and interpretations to heighten the scrutiny given to the voting recommendations made by proxy advisory firms such as Institutional Shareholder...more
On August 21, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), by a 3-2 vote, issued two separate releases providing interpretive guidance relating to the proxy voting process. One release addresses the proxy voting...more
In connection with the public roundtable on the proxy voting process (Roundtable) held by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2018, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (IM...more
Here in is a summary of recent investment management developments that affect registered investment companies, private equity funds, hedge funds, investment advisers, and others in the investment management industry....more
As discussed in prior posts, the role of proxy advisory firms has once again risen to the forefront as a sizzling corporate governance topic, just in time for the SEC Proxy Roundtable on November 15. In advance of the event,...more
In a closely watched battle over the DOL’s new fiduciary rule for retirement account investment advisers, the Labor Department has scored an early first victory. A DC federal judge ruled late last week that the rule at issue...more
ISS released its 2016 Benchmark Policy Recommendations last Friday. I had previously criticized ISS for its proposal to change its recommendation on withholding votes with respect to directors who sit on too many boards...more
On August 14, Institutional Shareholders Services Inc. (ISS), a leading proxy advisory firm, announced the launch of a new equity plan data verification portal for all US companies receiving proxy recommendations. ...more
Because it is “committed to industry-leading levels of transparency and engagement,” ISS recently announced its new equity plan data verification portal. The portal is intended to provide companies with an opportunity to...more
On May 23, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), a Maryland-based proxy adviser, with failure to safeguard its advisory clients’ confidential proxy voting information. ...more