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The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the proposed rule change by Nasdaq which will require listed companies to disclose information about the diversity of a company’s board of directors.  For a limited time, Nasdaq will offer certain listed companies access to a board recruitment service.  The rule will require, to the extent permissible under applicable…

Today, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler spoke at the “Climate and Global Financial Markets” webinar, hosted by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the UN-supported network of investors—focusing his remarks on: “So, what does the SEC have to do with climate?”  Giving a timely analogy related to the Olympics, the Chair explained that…

On June 11, 2021, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it would focus on cybersecurity disclosures made by public companies as part of its regulatory agenda. Given the SEC’s continued interest in cybersecurity issues, high-profile ransomware attacks and executive orders issued by President Biden, it is no surprise that the SEC is…

At a recent conference, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler gave wide-ranging remarks addressing market structure issues, LIBOR and other rates, and the Commission’s regulatory agenda.

Addressing regulatory initiatives relating to public company disclosures, Chair Gensler noted he has asked the Staff to put together recommendations on mandatory company disclosures on climate risk and…

During the National Investor Relations Institute’s (NIRI) 2021 Virtual Conference, SEC Commissioner Elad Roisman spoke about the hot topic of ESG-related disclosure requirements.

The Commissioner noted that public companies are overwhelmed with the amount and the specificity of ESG data investors ask them to provide.  Commissioner Roisman appreciated the call for standardized disclosures related to…

On June 21, 2021, US financial regulators met with US President Joe Biden to discuss the US economy and update him on their efforts to address climate-related risks.  According to the White House readout of the meeting, the regulators said “they were making steady progress” on implementing President Biden’s executive order on climate-related risk. The…

In a comment letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, seven well-known tech companies responded to SEC Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee’s March 2021 request for public input on climate change disclosures (see our related blog post). The letter expressed support for consistent reporting by public companies regarding climate-related matters.…

During its meeting on June 10, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee held a panel discussion regarding 10b5-1 plans, welcoming three market participants and academics.  As we previously blogged, SEC Chair Gary Gensler asked for recommendations for the Commission’s consideration on how to “freshen up Rule 10b5-1.”

Dr. Dan Taylor, Associate…

A new executive order (“EO”) signed by President Biden on June 3, 2021, amends existing prohibitions on US investments in companies that the US government has determined support the military of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). The EO, Executive Order 14032, builds on the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959, signed by President…

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced it will hold its 40th Annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation virtually from May 24 – 27, 2021.  The Forum, hosted by the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, will take place over four days and will feature a number of topics. …