Governance & Compliance Insider

The SEC Amends Policy on Economic Projections, and Issues Final Rules and Additional Guidance for SPACs and Shell Companies

Exchange Act Reporting and Disclosure Effectiveness / SEC Rulemaking

7 Feb, 2024

The SEC Amends Policy on Economic Projections, and Issues Final Rules and Additional Guidance for SPACs and Shell Companies

As discussed in more detail in our eUpdate published today, the SEC on January 24, 2024 adopted final rules amending the disclosure and registration requirements applicable to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and shell companies that register or file reports with the SEC. These amendments impose significant new requirements on SPAC IPOs, as well as de-SPAC and similar transactions for SEC reporting shell companies. As...

Exchange Act Reporting and Disclosure Effectiveness / SEC Rulemaking / Securities Act Compliance

23 Oct, 2023

SEC Amends Schedule 13D/G Requirements

On October 10, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved amendments to the Regulation 13D-G reporting regime for persons who beneficially own more than 5% of a class of securities (“5% Owners”) that is registered under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The amendments accelerate the deadlines by which 5% Owners must file initial reports and amendments on Schedule...

SEC’s Prescribed Clawback Policy – Effective Date Postponed and Approved by SEC!

SEC Rulemaking

12 Jun, 2023

SEC’s Prescribed Clawback Policy – Effective Date Postponed and Approved by SEC!

NYSE, NYSE American and Nasdaq have postponed the effective date of the proposed clawback listing standards, so they would take effect on October 2, 2023, and issuers would be required to adopt compliant clawback policies by December 1, 2023. Furthermore, the SEC has granted accelerated approval of each exchange’s proposal, as amended. The amendments have not changed the substantive requirements for a clawback policy. However,...

SEC Rulemaking

21 Dec, 2022

SEC Amends Insider Trading Safe Harbor and Requires New Disclosures to Address Insider Trading Risks

On December 14, 2022, the SEC adopted final rules amending Rule 10b5-1, the safe harbor that allows directors, executive officers and others, including issuers, to engage in securities transactions while in possession of material non-public information, by entering into a binding contract, instruction or plan adopted prior to effecting the transaction and at a time when the seller was not in possession of material non-public...

Inflation Reduction Act: New Excise Tax Discourages Stock Repurchase Transactions

Legislative Actions

22 Aug, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act: New Excise Tax Discourages Stock Repurchase Transactions

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, HR 5376 (the “Act”), into law. Among other significant changes, the Act includes a new 1% excise tax on stock repurchase transactions by certain publicly traded corporations (the “Excise Tax”). The Excise Tax is substantially identical to the excise tax included in numerous versions of the previously proposed Build Back Better Act...

SEC Requires Electronic Submission of “Glossy” Annual Reports

SEC Rulemaking

15 Jun, 2022

SEC Requires Electronic Submission of “Glossy” Annual Reports

On June 3, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission mandated the electronic filing or submission of certain documents that reporting companies currently may provide as paper filings, by adopting amendments to Regulation S-T. Electronic Submission of “Glossy” Annual Reports “Glossy” annual reports, which are prepared in accordance with Rule 14a-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and delivered to shareholders with proxy materials, must...

SEC Rulemaking

19 Nov, 2021

Universal Proxy Card Requirement

As expected, the SEC has adopted final rules requiring the use of universal proxy cards in shareholder meetings involving non-exempt contested director elections held after August 31, 2022. In addition, certain amendments will impact proxy disclosure for all director elections, contested or uncontested. Amended Proxy Disclosure for All Director Elections The rules establish new proxy disclosure requirements for all director elections, including uncontested elections. The proxy card...

Governance and Disclosure Considerations from the SEC’s Climate Change Comment Letters

Environmental, Social and Governance Matters

12 Oct, 2021

Governance and Disclosure Considerations from the SEC’s Climate Change Comment Letters

The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance has issued a sample comment letter, and sent actual comment letters to a series of public companies, asking for additional Form 10-K disclosure on topics addressed in the SEC’s 2010 Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change, Release No. 33-9106 (Feb. 2, 2010), or an explanation for why the comments do not apply. The comment letters are a preamble to the...

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

Proxy Statements and Annual Meetings

20 Sep, 2021

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 Approves Nasdaq Board Diversity Listing Rules

Board Governance and Compensation / SEC Rulemaking / Securities Act Compliance

16 Aug, 2021

SEC Approves Nasdaq Board Diversity Listing Rules

On August 6, 2021, the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) approved Nasdaq Rules 5605(f) and 5606 on board diversity, which are the first of their kind to be implemented on a national scale in the United States. They are controversial, opposed by SEC Commissioners Hester Peirce and Elad Roisman, and may face legal challenges. While there has been no indication that the NYSE will follow,...

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