Explore exclusive reports, Kingsdale news, and case studies

The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business has released its highly anticipated 2025 Board Games rankings, and Kingsdale is proud to celebrate the exceptional performance of our clients. For more than two decades, Board Games has set the gold standard for evaluating corporate boards on the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has released proposed updates to its 2026 U.S. Benchmark Voting Policies, along with revisions to global policies that will impact Canadian issuers, particularly around director independence classifications.

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.

Aaron Boles, President of Kingsdale Advisors, appeared on the Financial Post show 'Fuelled' as an independent voice to discuss the $8.6B MEG-Cenovus deal, highlighting its implications for shareholder dynamics and regulatory scrutiny in Canada’s capital markets.

The 2025 proxy season was turbulent, with activist M&A pressure rising, DEI and climate rules rolled back, and AI governance appearing on ballots. Kingsdale's review examines how these shifts are reshaping boardrooms and driving new investor expectations.

Kingsdale hosted a record number of senior executives as part of an in-person panel discussion with Nichol Garzon-Mitchell, CLO & SVP of Glass Lewis; Jason Koskela, VP, M&A of OSC; and Catherine McCall, CEO of CCGA in Toronto.

Kingsdale achieved a perfect track record for clients navigating shareholder activism and other special situations. The firm also advised on more than C$22 billion in shareholder approved or completed M&A transactions year-to-date.

What started as a straightforward acquisition of Payfare by Fiserv quickly turned complicated when a major shareholder decided to block the deal. With the transaction hanging in the balance, here's what it took to get 80% approval.

ISS has announced updates to its 2026 Benchmark Policies, spotlighting long-term pay-for-performance alignment, enhanced scrutiny on director compensation, and a global push toward harmonization. These changes signal a clear trend: investors expect durability, transparency, and strategic disclosure.

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.

Kingsdale Advisors has been named the #4 global proxy solicitor in the LSEG Global Shareholder Activism Review – 1H 2025.

Kingsdale Advisors has been recognized as the #1 proxy solicitor in Canada for company-side engagements in Bloomberg’s H1 2025 Global Activism League Tables.

Proxy advisors are undergoing a structural transformation, Glass Lewis and ISS are shifting from standardized recommendations to customizable, data-driven platforms. Kingsdale has long anticipated this pivot, with an advisory model built on investor segmentation and tailored engagement.

A new Senate Bill in Texas could reshape proxy voting practices. Kingsdale breaks down what SB 2337 means for issuers, investors, and advisory firms ahead of its September 1, 2025 implementation.

From boosting voter turnout to navigating diversity requirements and fine-tuning your ESG strategy, our comprehensive guide and practical checklist are thoughtfully designed to help you prepare for your meeting and address potential challenges head-on.

From rising shareholder activism to evolving diversity expectations and cross-border regulatory shifts, our latest report delivers early insights and practical guidance to help boards stay ahead of this year’s most pressing proxy season developments.

Kingsdale Advisors is proud to extend our congratulations to the exceptional companies we have the privilege of advising, who collectively earned four awards and 29 nominations at the 2025 IR Impact Awards – Canada.

In December 2024, two of Kingsdale Advisors’ executive vice presidents sat down with Director Journal to discuss what boards should be watching as they prepared for the year ahead.

Kingsdale has advised on three successful mergers & acquisitions (M&A) that closed in Q1 2025.

In a recent interview with Global Business Reports, Kingsdale Advisors’ Chairman & CEO, Wes Hall, shared his insights on how industry leaders are balancing growth with risk management.

Kingsdale Advisors served as the strategic shareholder advisor for the merger of Aeterna Zentaris and Ceapro, which was named "Canada M&A Deal of the Year" at the 16th Americas M&A Atlas Awards gala.

In an interview with BNN Bloomberg, Wes Hall, Chairman & CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, warns that Trump’s proposed tariffs could make Canadian companies prime targets for U.S. acquisitions. With a weaker loonie increasing their appeal, Wes emphasizes the need for proactive defense against hostile takeovers and shareholder activism.

Our Chairman and CEO appeared on CBC News to discuss how he's drawing from his extensive experience as the country’s most renowned strategic advisor to companies facing shareholder activism.