RiskMetrics Group (NYSE: RMG), a leading provider of risk management and corporate governance services to the global financial community, today announced the opening of its annual comment period for its 2010 proxy voting policies. The comment period, part of RiskMetrics’ policy development process, offers institutional investors, corporate issuers, and industry constituents the opportunity to provide feedback on RiskMetrics’ draft policies.

The comment period runs through November 11 and covers updates to RiskMetrics’ proxy voting policy in markets worldwide. Topics covered include takeover defenses, board and director independence, executive compensation, and share purchase authorities.

“Engaging with market participants on our draft policies is crucial to how RiskMetrics’ develops transparent policy guidelines,” said Steve Harvey, Head of RiskMetrics Group’s Governance Business. “Offering this level of transparency around our voting policies is unique to RiskMetrics and critical to representing balanced global policies for investors.”

RiskMetrics gathers extensive input each year from clients and market constituents through a policy survey, issue-oriented roundtables and a unique open comment period to ensure its voting policies comprise a broad range of views. This year’s policy survey had over 700 respondents, weighing in on issues ranging from management say-on-pay to sustainability and corporate responsibility. The full results from the survey are posted to RiskMetrics’ Policy Gateway.

“Investors continue to place a very strong emphasis on corporate governance best practices given the market’s appetite for accountability,” said Dr. Martha Carter, Head of Global Research at RiskMetrics Group. “Our policy formulation process is designed to be collaborative so investors and issuers can engage on these important topics.”

RiskMetrics Group plans to release its final 2010 U.S. and International policy updates on November 20 and its Global Policy Summary and Concise Guidelines in late-December. To participate in RiskMetrics Group’s comment period and learn more about its policy formulation process, please visit: www.riskmetrics.com/policy.

About RiskMetrics Group

RiskMetrics Group is a leading provider of risk management and corporate governance products and services to participants in the global financial markets. By bringing transparency, expertise and access to the financial markets, RiskMetrics Group helps investors better understand and manage the risks associated with their financial holdings. Our solutions address a broad spectrum of risk across our clients' financial assets. Headquartered in New York with 20 global offices, RiskMetrics Group services some of the most prestigious institutions and corporations worldwide.