The Best Practice Principles Group (BPPG) is an international industry body responsible for maintaining the Best Practice Principles for Providers of Shareholder Voting Research & Analysis (the BPP). These principles form a voluntary code of conduct designed to strengthen transparency, service quality, and effective stewardship within the proxy voting ecosystem.
The BPP are widely recognised by regulators, investors, and corporate governance professionals as the primary global framework guiding proxy advisers and voting research providers.
In 2013, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a landmark review of the proxy advisory industry. ESMA encouraged the development of an industry‑led code of conduct to promote clearer standards, improve disclosure practices, and address concerns such as potential conflicts of interest.
In response, leading voting research providers established the Best Practice Principles Group later that year. The first edition of the Principles was released in 2014 following broad public consultation.