ERISA Plan Fiduciaries’ Proxy Voting: Regulatory Updates
What are ISS and Glass Lewis and Why Should My Bank Care?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments to Form N-PX on November 2, 2022. Previously, Form N-PX applied solely to registered investment companies (i.e., mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and...more
Who may be interested: Closed-End Funds; Boards of Directors; Investment Advisers - Quick Take: The staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (Staff) recently granted no-action relief to three closed-end funds...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
On 2 November 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 3–2, along party lines, to adopt a final rule and form amendments (together, the Final Rule) that would require additional disclosure on Form N-PX...more
On September 19, 2022, amendments to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules governing proxy solicitations became effective. The amendments, proposed on November 17, 2021, seek to address concerns by investors and...more
On July 13, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), by a 3-2 vote, adopted amendments to the rules governing proxy voting advice businesses (proxy advisors), rescinding two components of the proxy rules...more
On November 17, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), by a 3-2 vote, proposed amendments to the rules governing proxy voting advice businesses (proxy advisors). The amendments would rescind two portions of...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed amendments to Form N-PX under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to increase the utility to investors of proxy voting information reported on Form N‑PX by mutual funds,...more
On Friday, June 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed its Agency Rule List for Spring 2021 with the Office of Management and Budget. The Agency Rule List gives clarity to when companies can expect to see...more
Whether and how to regulate proxy advisory firms, such as ISS and Glass Lewis, has long been a contentious issue, with some arguing that their vote recommendations were plagued by conflicts of interest and often erroneous,...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) recently adopted amendments to the proxy rules to address proxy voting advice provided by proxy advisory firms such as Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 2020, adopted final amendments to its proxy solicitation rules to codify the SEC’s longstanding view that proxy voting advice generally constitutes a solicitation within...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 (the “SEC”) adopted amendments to the proxy solicitation rules and issued guidance regarding the proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers. The amendments, a...more
Firms that advise institutional advisers and institutional investors in the proxy voting process (“proxy advisors”) have gained prominence in recent years, but have also faced increased scrutiny regarding the accuracy and...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 US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published supplementary guidance in the form of a policy statement (Policy Statement) regarding the proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers under...more
At an open meeting held on July 22, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted reforms to the proxy solicitation rules (Proxy Advice Amendment) that govern how proxy advisory firms (e.g., Glass, Lewis & Co....more
On July 22, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt amendments (Amendments) to certain of its rules governing proxy solicitations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). The...more
On July 22, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), by a 3-1 vote, adopted amendments to the federal proxy rules relating to proxy voting advice businesses (proxy advisors). The amendments categorize the...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
Amendments Codify Prior Guidance that Proxy Voting Advice Is a “Solicitation,” Add Conditions to Exemptions Relied on by Proxy Advisory Firms - Continuing its focus on the proxy process and possible improvements to the...more
Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to the proxy rules. ...more
Earlier this week, at a virtual open meeting, the SEC, by a vote of three to one, adopted new amendments to the proxy rules, modified from the original proposal issued in November last year, regarding proxy advisory firms....more
The rules and regulations governing private equity and hedge fund advisers continue to develop in response to changes in technology. As a result, advisers are subject to an ever-increasing degree of supervision by the...more