On September 7, 2023, the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (“Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a sample comment letter (“Letter”), containing sample comments that the Division may issue to companies relating to the disclosure of financial and other information using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) format. The
SEC Adopts Final Rules on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures of Incidents and Processes
On July 26, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued a release, adopting final rules (the “Final Rules”) aimed at standardizing and enhancing disclosure relating to cybersecurity incidents and risk management processes. The SEC had proposed rules (the “Proposed Rules”) on March 9, 2022. The Final Rules reflect the considerable comments received
SEC Adopts Final Rules Removing Credit Ratings References from Regulation M
On June 7, 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) unanimously adopted final rules amending Regulation M (the “Final Rules”) to remove its references to credit ratings, replace them with alternative measures of creditworthiness and impose related record-keeping obligations on broker-dealers. The SEC had previously proposed amendments to Regulation M (the “Proposed Rules”)
SEC Adopts Final Rules to Remove and Replace Credit Ratings References in Regulation M
During this morning’s open meeting of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt amendments to remove references to credit ratings from Regulation M, and replace these with alternative standards of creditworthiness. The existing exceptions in Rules 101 and 102 of Regulation M for certain investment grade rated securities will
SEC Adopts Final Rules to Shorten Standard Securities Settlement Cycle From T+2 to T+1
On February 15, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) issued Release No. 34-96930 (the “Adopting Release”), containing final rules (the “Final Rules”) that will shorten the standard settlement cycle for broker-dealer transactions in securities from the current two business days after the trade date (“T+2”) to one business day
New Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation Regulates Forward Contracts on Restricted Securities
On June 9, 2022, the staff (“Staff”) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) added Question 101.01 to its Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (“C&DI”), addressing forward contracts on restricted securities. The new CD&I clarifies that forward contracts on restricted securities would not be considered “intended to be physically settled” under certain circumstances as discussed
SEC Proposes New Rules on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures
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,
Market Trends 2020/2021: Disclosure on Political Contributions
This practice note discusses market trends on how public companies’ political contributions, or “political spending,” are perceived to be intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and provides illustrative; disclosures regarding political contributions. This piece concludes with recommendations on how to prepare and enhance such disclosures.
Read the full article here.
Trends in Capital Formation: The SEC’s OASB Annual Report
The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (“OASB”) recently issued its 2021 Annual Report (the “Report”), which reviews the capital raising activities of a variety of companies, from startups and emerging businesses to smaller public companies. The OASB, together with the SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, provided updated data
SEC Proposes New Rules on Share Repurchase Disclosure
On December 15, 2021, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued proposed amendments to its existing rules regarding disclosures about purchases of an issuer’s equity securities by or on behalf of the issuer or an affiliated purchaser, commonly referred to as “buybacks.” The Proposed Amendments would apply to issuers that repurchase securities registered