With the calendar turning to autumn, the proxy and annual reporting season may seem a long way off. However, in light of the amount of work and planning that goes into the proxy statement, annual report, and annual meeting of shareholders, this is the ideal time to begin preparations.
This Legal Update provides an overview…
On August 25, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally adopted a “pay versus performance” rule in accordance with a Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) mandate that requires SEC-reporting companies to disclose in a clear manner the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and the financial performance of…
On July 13, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed amendments to revise three of the substantive bases for exclusion of shareholder proposals under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Proposed Rules”). Specifically, the Proposed Rules would amend the following bases for exclusion: substantial implementation (Rule…
In this practice note, we discuss market trends in capital markets and securities-related considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes how the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) addressed the effects of the pandemic through exemptive orders and guidance and discusses key disclosure matters, including risk factors, management’s discussion and analysis of financial position and…
On June 8, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a release (“New Reopening Release“), reopening the comment period on the clawback listing standard rules that it proposed in 2015 (“2015 Proposal“). At the same time, the SEC made available a memorandum prepared by the staff of the SEC’s…
On June 3, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) updated electronic filing requirements, making it mandatory to submit certain documents to the SEC electronically via EDGAR. Among other documents, this new requirement will apply to Form 144 and to “glossy” annual reports to security holders. The amendments will also require the use of…
On March 22, 2022, the staff (Staff) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued six compliance and disclosure interpretations (C&DIs) impacting mergers and acquisitions. Two of the new C&DIs relate to Item 1.01 of Form 8-K. Three of the C&DIs interpret proxy solicitation requirements. One addresses a tender offer issue relating to special…
On March 21, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 3:1, with only Commissioner Hester Peirce dissenting, to propose long-awaited rules that, if adopted, would require extensive reporting by public companies of climate change-related disclosure and related attestation (the “Proposal”). Comments on the Proposal are due 30 days after publication in the Federal…
On March 9, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) released proposed amendments (the “Proposed Amendments”) aimed at enhancing and standardizing disclosure relating to cybersecurity risks and incidents. Under the existing regulatory framework, neither Regulation S-K nor Regulation S-X expressly requires that cybersecurity risk management procedures, cybersecurity risks or incidents be disclosed. However,…
On March 9, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) voted 3-1 to propose new rules and amendments under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that would constitute the SEC’s first attempt to adopt specific rules to comprehensively regulate cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance and incident reporting for public companies (“registrants”). The stated goals…
