Wisconsin State Investment Board, Madison, plans to search for a host of proxy-voting services near year's end, said Vicki Hearing, public information officer. The $70.6 billion board will issue an RFP for at least one firm to provide services including corporate governance analysis, proxy voting recommendations and CGQ ratings of companies. Incumbent Institutional Shareholder Services currently handles those services and will be invited to rebid.
"It will be a good opportunity to see what's out there" because more companies provide proxy voting services, she said. "We feel this area has grown."
The board might consider unbundling the services, although "having a packaged program has its benefits," Ms. Hearing said. The RFP will be issued toward the end of the year.
