Proxy advisors (e.g., Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and Glass, Lewis & Co (“Glass Lewis”)) have played a substantial role in the design of executive compensation for many years. This has been due to the strong reliance of institutional investors (as well as investment advisors) on the proxy voting recommendations of firms such as ISS and Glass Lewis. Some commentators have viewed the proxy advisors as being quasi-regulators without any formal oversight of their potential conflicts…
Just last week we were presenting at the annual NASPP conference on the increasing scrutiny of director compensation from shareholders, investors, plaintiffs, the SEC, and proxy advisors. This week it seems that the trend is set to continue, as Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) launches its 2018 Benchmark Policy Consultation, seeking public comment on proposed new voting policies for 2018, including a new draft U.S. voting policy on director elections and non-employee director pay. The proposed new…