Explore exclusive reports, Kingsdale news, and case studies

LSEG's newly published Global Shareholder Activism Review confirms Bloomberg's findings from earlier this month. Kingsdale Advisors ranks #1 in Canada and Top 8 globally for company-side proxy solicitation in FY 2025.

Our EVP of Governance Advisory, Victor Li, joins ICD’s Rahul K. Bhardwaj on the "Be It Resolved" podcast to discuss J.P. Morgan’s shift from proxy advisors to proprietary AI. Leveraging decades of experience at Kingsdale and ISS, Victor analyzes if AI will displace industry giants and how directors must adapt their oversight.

AGMs are strategic moments that shape investor confidence and test governance credibility. Kingsdale’s 2026 AGM Readiness Checklist cuts through the noise with seven essential questions every board and management team should answer before their upcoming meeting.

Aaron Boles, our President, offers a compelling perspective on JPMorgan’s decision to replace proxy advisory firms with its own AI platform and the implications for governance strategy, proxy contests, and the role of human judgment in capital markets.

We are happy to share that Kingsdale is ranked the #1 Proxy Solicitor in Canada and #8 globally for company-side engagements in the Bloomberg Global Activism League Tables for FY 2025. This ranking is about more than just activist defence. It is built on something foundational: mastery of the routine AGM.

Glass Lewis has released its 2026 policy updates for the U.S. and Canada, marking a transition year before moving to customized voting policies in 2027. These changes emphasize transparency, accountability, and shareholder rights.

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.