Governance & Compliance Insider

Impact of COVID-19: SEC Issues Guidance on Conduct of Annual Meetings

Impact of COVID-19: SEC Issues Guidance on Conduct of Annual Meetings

I live and work in the Seattle area. As a result of COVID-19, school districts are now closed for 6 weeks, Seattle public libraries are closed for a month, a number of restaurants have closed for the time being and my beloved Mariners’ baseball season has been postponed (along with most other sporting events). As we adjust to the current realities of dealing with COVID-19,...

SEC Seeks to Encourage Registered Debt Offerings by Amending Financial Statement Requirements

SEC Seeks to Encourage Registered Debt Offerings by Amending Financial Statement Requirements

On March 2, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to the financial disclosure requirements applicable to registered debt offerings that include credit enhancements, such as subsidiary guarantees. The final amendments amend Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and partially relocate its provisions to new Rule 13-01 and completely relocate Rule 3-16 into new Rule 13-02 (Rule 3-16 will continue to exist during the transition period)....

SEC Reminds Companies of Disclosure Obligations Relating to Coronavirus

SEC Reminds Companies of Disclosure Obligations Relating to Coronavirus

In connection with the order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday providing filing relief for companies that are affected by the coronavirus, the Commission reminded all companies to be vigilant regarding their disclosure obligations related to the evolving coronavirus scenario. A company’s assessment of, and plans for addressing, material risks to its business and operations resulting from the coronavirus can be material to...

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...

SEC Provides Guidance on the Use of Metrics in MD&A; Also Proposes Amendments to Simplify and Modernize MD&A and Related Financial Disclosures

SEC Provides Guidance on the Use of Metrics in MD&A; Also Proposes Amendments to Simplify and Modernize MD&A and Related Financial Disclosures

On January 30, 2020, the SEC issued new guidance to companies that use key performance indicators and metrics in their MD&A. Concurrently, the SEC also proposed amendments that would significantly simplify and modernize the requirements for a company’s MD&A and related financial disclosures. New MD&A Guidance The SEC’s new guidance is effective immediately, and applies to all key performance indicators and metrics used in a...

House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Address 8-K Trading Gap

House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Address 8-K Trading Gap

On January 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4335, the “8-K Trading Gap Act of 2019” (the “Act”) by a bipartisan vote of 384 to 7. The Act is designed to stop company insiders from trading during the 8-K trading gap, as described below. While many companies have insider trading policies in place which would already prevent such trades, a 2015 Columbia...

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 Proposes Resource Extraction Payments Disclosure Rules

SEC Proposes Resource Extraction Payments Disclosure Rules

At the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) open meeting on December 18, 2019, the Commissioners proposed rules to require resource extraction issuers to file an annual Form SD that includes information about payments related to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals that are made to a foreign government or to the U.S. federal government. The proposed rules implement Section 13(q) of...

SEC Proposes Expansion of the Definitions of “Accredited Investor” and “Qualified Institutional Buyer”

SEC Proposes Expansion of the Definitions of “Accredited Investor” and “Qualified Institutional Buyer”

At the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) open meeting on December 18, 2019, the Commissioners approved proposed amendments to the definition of “accredited investor” under Regulation D under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) and the definition of a “qualified institutional buyer” in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act. Commissioners Robert Jackson and Allison Lee both...

SEC Adopts Proposed Rules for Procedural Requirements and Resubmission Thresholds for Shareholder Proposals and Exemptions from Proxy Rules for Proxy Voting Advisors

SEC Adopts Proposed Rules for Procedural Requirements and Resubmission Thresholds for Shareholder Proposals and Exemptions from Proxy Rules for Proxy Voting Advisors

At the SEC’s open meeting yesterday (November 5, 2019), the Commissioners approved two new proposed rules in their ongoing efforts to modernize proxy solicitation and shareholder proxy access, as follows: (1) amendments to certain procedural requirements, including ownership requirements, documentation requirements, meetings to discuss proposals and limitations on the number of proposals submitted, and resubmission thresholds for shareholder proposals, and (2) amendments to proxy rules...