Corporate governance in North America is increasingly shaped by institutional investors and the policy frameworks of two proxy advisory firms: ISS and Glass Lewis. With retail voting rates at historic lows, advisory defaults currently dictate thousands of proxy outcomes.
At Kingsdale Advisors, we believe it’s time to restore balance. Greater retail investor engagement can reduce reliance on standardized recommendations, strengthen shareholder democracy, and ensure a broader mix of shareholder perspectives.
ExxonMobil’s retail voting program shows how innovation in voting access can help. Explore our latest insights on why companies and regulators should support new mechanisms to empower retail investors and recalibrate voting power.
Latest Insights
Victor Li in Conversation with The Deal by S&P Global
Victor Li spoke with The Deal by S&P Global about key takeaways from Kingsdale's 2026 Proxy Season Review. Activist campaigns fell this year, but more went to a vote than at any point in five years, and the boards that won were the ones that engaged shareholders early.
Download Kingsdale Advisors 2026 Proxy Season Review
The 2026 proxy season proved that preparation matters more than ever. Canadian contests reaching a vote hit a five-year high, campaign volume declined, but the fights that remained went further and hit harder, and boards with real shareholder relationships came out on top.
Event Recap: Inside Kingsdale's 2026 Proxy Season Review Launch
Kingsdale launched its 2026 Proxy Season Review with a panel on "Shareholder Engagement in a New Era" at our Toronto office. Leaders from the OSC, CCGG, Glass Lewis and Kingsdale discussed fragmenting voting models, evolving proxy advisor policies and AI's growing role in issuer-investor engagement.
When The Stakes Are Highest, Business Leaders Choose Kingsdale
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* Source: Bloomberg Global Shareholder Activism League Tables FY2025 and LSEG Global Shareholder Activism Review FY2025.
#2025 and 2026 indicate proxy seasons: July 2024 to June 2026.