ISS Releases Benchmark Policy Changes for 2025

Victor Li, Executive Vice President, Governance Advisory at Kingsdale Advisors, spoke with Diligent Market Intelligence about how shareholder activism in Canada is changing course. After a cautious first half of 2025 dominated by settlements, the second half saw activists return to the ballot box, securing board seats through special meeting votes as confidence rebounded.

The 2025 proxy season was anything but predictable. From the quiet rise of one-day activist campaigns to AI entering the governance conversation, boards are facing a new era of complexity. Agility, foresight, and courage will define 2026.

Wes Hall, Founder and CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, joined BNN Bloomberg to break down the surge in M&A reshaping Canada’s corporate landscape and highlighted how boards can navigate this shifting environment with confidence, preserving long-term value amid growing activist and cross-border pressures.