Tagged: annual meeting

Reminder of the SEC’s Shareholder Proposal Amendments Effective for 2022 Annual Meetings

Reminder of the SEC’s Shareholder Proposal Amendments Effective for 2022 Annual Meetings

For those public companies soon to be receiving shareholder proposals for their upcoming annual shareholder meetings, please keep in mind that in September 2020, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 14a-8. These amendments apply to any shareholder proposal submitted for an annual or special meeting to be held on or after January 1, 2022. However, the SEC may revisit this rulemaking and postpone their effectiveness...

SEC Updates Guidance on Shareholder Meetings Affected by COVID-19

SEC Updates Guidance on Shareholder Meetings Affected by COVID-19

On April 7, 2020, the SEC updated its prior guidance for conducting shareholder meetings in light of COVID-19 concerns to address delays in printing and mailing of proxy materials and clarify that its guidance applies for special meetings of shareholders, as well as annual meetings.  Previously, the SEC had advised issuers of its view that an issuer that has already mailed and filed its definitive...

SEC Takes Targeted Action to Assist Funds and Advisers, Permits Virtual Board Meetings and Provides Conditional Relief from Certain Filing Procedures

SEC Takes Targeted Action to Assist Funds and Advisers, Permits Virtual Board Meetings and Provides Conditional Relief from Certain Filing Procedures

On March 13, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), indicating that it is closely monitoring the impact of coronavirus on investors, funds and advisers, announced regulatory relief for funds and investment advisers whose operations may be affected by the coronavirus. The relief covers in-person board meetings and certain filing and delivery requirements for investment funds and investment advisers.  Recognizing that the impacts of the...

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,...

Shareholder Proposals Restricting Board/Management Access to Preliminary Voting Results May Be Excluded

Shareholder Proposals Restricting Board/Management Access to Preliminary Voting Results May Be Excluded

On January 6, 2017, the SEC Staff granted no-action relief that would allow companies to exclude shareholder proposals preventing management or the board from accessing preliminary voting results on uncontested matters prior to the annual meeting, including a running tally of votes for and against, and using that information to solicit votes. See, The Boeing Company, Ferro Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.,...

First U.S. Proxy Access Nominee

First U.S. Proxy Access Nominee

On November 10, 2016, GAMCO Asset Management filed a Schedule 13D/A and 14N announcing that it had used the proxy access bylaw at National Fuel Gas to nominate a director candidate for election to NFG’s board at the upcoming 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.  This nomination appears to be the first use of proxy access bylaws by a shareholder to nominate a director in the...

SEC Staff Makes Life a Little Easier for Reporting Companies by Permitting Annual Reports to Shareholders to be posted on Company Websites

SEC Staff Makes Life a Little Easier for Reporting Companies by Permitting Annual Reports to Shareholders to be posted on Company Websites

On November 3, 2016, in a new C&DI, the SEC Staff stated they will not object if a company posts an electronic version of its annual report to shareholders on its corporate web site by the dates specified in Rule 14a-3(c), Rule 14c-3(b) and Form 10-K, respectively, in lieu of mailing paper copies or submitting it on EDGAR. The report must remain accessible for at...

SEC Proposes Universal Ballots in Contested Elections

SEC Proposes Universal Ballots in Contested Elections

On October 26, 2016, in a split vote, the SEC proposed the mandated use of universal ballots in contested director elections at annual meetings. The proposed rules were controversial even before they were proposed – the House of Representatives approved a spending bill this summer that included a provision prohibiting the SEC from proposing or implementing the use of the universal ballots in contested elections....