This document summarizes the benefits of GovernanceMetrics International (GMI), an independent corporate governance ratings agency. GMI rates over 4,100 public companies worldwide across six governance categories. Recent academic studies have found that companies with higher GMI ratings outperformed those with lower ratings, and that corporate governance is positively related to firm value internationally. GMI ratings can be used to identify governance risks and opportunities, engage with company management, and help institutional investors make proxy voting and investment decisions.