Author: Cam C. Hoang

Cam helps clients with corporate matters including governance and SEC compliance, equity plans and executive compensation, securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to her return to Dorsey, Cam was Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary at General Mills, Inc., where she helped the company achieve its corporate governance and SEC compliance objectives, worked on securities offerings and M&A transactions, risk management, foundation governance, and general corporate and commercial matters. Before joining General Mills in 2005, Cam was an associate for five years in the Dorsey Corporate Group in Minneapolis.

It’s Time to Talk Diversity in D and O Questionnaires (with Sample Question)

It’s Time to Talk Diversity in D and O Questionnaires (with Sample Question)

Corporate secretaries of public companies will soon be updating their D&O questionnaires for the 2021 proxy season, and they should consider whether to include a question that allows directors to self-identify as diverse.  While companies may be hesitant to raise the issue, increasingly, they are being asked for diversity data on their boards and employees.   In recent news: The California governor has signed into law...

What Counts as a “Perk” During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

What Counts as a “Perk” During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Companies have offered benefits to employees, including executive officers, to enable them to continue their work and otherwise to make their lives easier during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Now the SEC has released additional guidance as to when these benefits constitute perquisites or personal benefits that should be included in executive compensation for proxy disclosure purposes.  See Question 219.05 of the SEC’s Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations. ...

SEC Updates Requirements for Business, Legal Proceedings and Risk Factor Disclosures

SEC Updates Requirements for Business, Legal Proceedings and Risk Factor Disclosures

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has adopted amendments to Regulation S-K to update the description of business (Item 101), legal proceedings (Item 103), and risk factors (Item 105) that public companies are required to provide in certain registration statements and reports. These disclosure requirements have not undergone significant revisions in over 30 years. In related remarks, SEC Chair Jay Clayton emphasized the modernizing...

SEC Supplements COVID-19 Disclosure Guidance Ahead of Second Quarter Reports

SEC Supplements COVID-19 Disclosure Guidance Ahead of Second Quarter Reports

The Securities and Exchange Commission continues to encourage public companies to provide disclosures that allow investors to evaluate the current and expected impact of COVID-19 through the eyes of management and to proactively revise and update disclosures as facts and circumstances change. Ahead of public company reports of their second quarter results, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance has released a supplement to CF Disclosure...

SEC Expects that Upcoming Earnings Reports and Related Investor and Analyst Calls Will Not be Routine, Should Be Forward-Looking

SEC Expects that Upcoming Earnings Reports and Related Investor and Analyst Calls Will Not be Routine, Should Be Forward-Looking

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEC Chair Clayton and Director William Hinman have issued a joint statement urging public companies to provide as much information as is practicable regarding their current financial and operating status, as well as their future operational and financial planning, in upcoming earnings releases and analyst and investor calls. Specifically: Company disclosures should reflect this state of affairs and outlook...

Some Thoughts on Preparing Forward-Looking Statements During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Some Thoughts on Preparing Forward-Looking Statements During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEC Chair Clayton and Director William Hinman have issued a joint statement urging public companies to provide as much information as is practicable regarding their current financial and operating status, as well as their future operational and financial planning, in upcoming earnings releases and analyst and investor calls. The joint statement is summarized here.  In the joint statement, companies...

SEC Extends Filing Relief for Companies Affected by COVID-19

SEC Extends Filing Relief for Companies Affected by COVID-19

The Securities and Exchange Commission has extended an earlier order, so that subject to certain conditions that we reported on here, public companies may have an additional 45 days from the original due date to file their Exchange Act reports that are otherwise due between March 1 and July 1, 2020. Companies relying on this relief, in compliance with the conditions imposed by the order,...

SEC Provides Filing Relief for Companies Affected by Coronavirus

SEC Provides Filing Relief for Companies Affected by Coronavirus

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order today providing filing relief for companies that are affected by the coronavirus.  In the order, the Commission notes that disruptions to transportation, and limited access to facilities, support staff, and professional advisors as a result of COVID-19, could hamper the efforts of public companies and other persons with filing obligations to meet their filing deadlines. Companies may...

Did You Remember These Developments for the 2020 SEC Reporting Season?

Did You Remember These Developments for the 2020 SEC Reporting Season?

Preparations for annual reporting on Form 10-K and the 2020 proxy season have begun in earnest for many companies. We have summarized certain governance and disclosure developments that should be considered in the course of preparing these filings and you can find them here. For additional background, please contact us for materials from our presentation, “Preparing for the 2020 SEC Reporting Season.”

SEC Will Adjust 8-K Receipt Dates Based on EDGAR Technical Difficulties

SEC Will Adjust 8-K Receipt Dates Based on EDGAR Technical Difficulties

  The SEC posted a notice yesterday addressing EDGAR technical difficulties which may impact filers’ ability to make timely submissions.  For those issuers who, due to technical difficulties, are unable to furnish or file earnings information on Form 8-K within 48 hours before the earnings conference call, the staff will adjust the receipt date of such Form 8-K so that it will be deemed furnished...