Today (Sept. 13) is the last day to respond to Institutional Shareholder Services' annual global policy survey. Each year, ISS, an influential proxy advisory firm, solicits comments as part of a review of its proxy voting policies. In November 2013, it will announce its updated proxy voting policies applicable to 2014 shareholders' meetings. 

Among the topics covered by the online survey:

Whether ISS should differentiate by size or type of company the application of ISS proxy voting policies on a variety of topics.

Board responsiveness with respect to majority votes on non-binding shareholder proposals, high levels of dissent on say-on-pay resolutions and significant against or withhold votes in director elections.

The impact of a director's current or prior service on boards of other public companies in assessing a director's performance.

Director tenure (and its impact on independence) and board leadership rotation.

The role of company performance in ISS's evaluation of directors.

Factors to consider if ISS adopts a “holistic” evaluation of equity-based compensation plans.

Factors relevant to proposals on share authorizations and issuance.

In a statement, ISS said the survey doesn't necessarily address every topic that may be covered by new proxy voting policies applicable to 2014 shareholders' meetings.  In past years, it has revised its proxy voting policies on issues that were not covered by its annual survey.  Nevertheless, it was called “an important indication of possible changes and provides interested parties an opportunity to express their views.”

In addition to the survey, ISS has also held a series of roundtables and conference calls intended o inform it of various  best practices. It will commence a 30-day comment period before releasing the 2014 policy updates in early November.  This year, policy updates are expected one or two weeks earlier than they have in the past.

http://www.complianceweek.com/companies-lavishing-fewer-goodies-on-top-executives/article/310317/