Canadian securities regulators publish guidance for proxy advisory firms

Montreal – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today adopted National Policy 25-201 Guidance for Proxy Advisory Firms (the Policy).

“The Policy recommends best practices that are intended to address the concerns of market participants while recognizing that proxy advisory firms play an important role in the voting process,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “We have taken into consideration the points of view of all stakeholders, including institutional investors and issuers, and we are confident that we have reached a good solution.”

The Policy provides guidance on recommended practices and disclosure for proxy advisory firms to promote transparency in the services they provide to clients and to foster an understanding among market participants about proxy advisory activities.

The guidance addresses the identification, management and mitigation of actual or potential conflicts of interest; the transparency and accuracy of vote recommendations; the development of proxy voting guidelines; and communications matters.

The Policy is available on CSA members’ websites.

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, coordinate and harmonize regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

For more information:

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Alison Trollope
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-2664

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2361

Kevan Hannah
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-1513

Andrew Nicholson
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission, New Brunswick
506-658-3021

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Janice Callbeck
Office of the Superintendent
of Securities, P.E.I.
902-368-6288

Don Boyles
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-4501

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent
of Securities
867-667-5466

Louis Arki
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587

Gary MacDougall
Northwest Territories
Securities Office
867-873-3318

Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160