RiskMetrics Group today announced the opening of its annual comment period for its 2009 proxy voting policies. A critical component of RiskMetrics' annual policy formulation process, the comment period allows institutional investors, corporate issuers, and governance constituents to provide feedback on RiskMetrics' policy updates while they are still in draft stage. The comment period runs through October 31 and includes RiskMetrics' U.S. and International policies.

RiskMetrics Group will release its final 2009 U.S. and International policy updates on November 20 and its Global Policy Summary and Concise Guidelines on December 18. To participate in RiskMetrics Group's comment period and learn more about its policy formulation process, please visit here.