Author: Kimberley R. Anderson

Kimberley helps clients achieve key business goals through securities offerings and acquisitions and guides public companies through corporate governance and disclosure requirements.

Glass Lewis Releases Its 2017 Policy Guidelines

Glass Lewis Releases Its 2017 Policy Guidelines

Glass Lewis released its updated policy guidelines for the 2017 proxy season for several countries, including the United States and Canada.  The most significant change in the United States guidelines relates to director overboarding and was expected.  The changes to the United States guidelines include: Director Overboarding Policy As indicated in last year’s guidelines, in 2017, Glass Lewis will generally recommend voting against a director...

Act Now! Glass Lewis Opens Its Issuer Data Report Service Enrollment

Act Now! Glass Lewis Opens Its Issuer Data Report Service Enrollment

On November 17, 2016, Glass Lewis opened enrollment for its 2017 Issuer Data Report (IDR) program.  This program will cover companies in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and all EU countries on a first-come, first-served basis.  Space is limited, so the enrollment will close on the earlier of January 6, 2017, or as soon as the annual limit for each of the...

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....

Nasdaq Doesn’t Require Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plan Amendments to Increase Tax Withholding

Nasdaq Doesn’t Require Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plan Amendments to Increase Tax Withholding

Material amendments to equity compensation plans require shareholder approval under Nasdaq rules. Last week, Nasdaq posted a new FAQ #1269 regarding amendments to equity compensation plans to increase the tax withholding rate.  FAQ #1269 is set forth below. “Generally, an amendment to increase the withholding rate to satisfy tax obligations would not be considered a material amendment to an equity compensation plan. Allowing the holder...

Comment Period Extended by a Month for Proposed Mining Property Disclosure Rules

Comment Period Extended by a Month for Proposed Mining Property Disclosure Rules

On June 16, 2016, the SEC proposed new rules to update disclosure requirements for mining properties.  The intent of the extensive and complex proposed rules is to align them more closely with current industry and global standards, specifically disclosure standards based on the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards.  The SEC’s current disclosure requirements for mining properties, Industry Guide 7 (Mining Operations), are woefully...

Can you design better compensation disclosure? The SEC wants your thoughts on S-K Item 402 – and the rest of Subpart 400

Can you design better compensation disclosure? The SEC wants your thoughts on S-K Item 402 – and the rest of Subpart 400

As part of its Disclosure Effectiveness Initiative, the SEC has previously requested comments on parts of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X.  On August 25th, the SEC requested comment on Subpart 400 of Regulation S-K.  Subpart 400 covers a lot of territory, including disclosure requirements on management, compensation and corporate governance.   The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) required the SEC to review Regulation S-K...

Can a shareholder who is unable to rely on the HSR passive investor exemption still file a Schedule 13G? Maybe, says the SEC Staff in new guidance

Can a shareholder who is unable to rely on the HSR passive investor exemption still file a Schedule 13G? Maybe, says the SEC Staff in new guidance

Last Tuesday, the US Department of Justice announced a record $11 million fine against an activist investment firm for improperly claiming an exemption from Hart-Scott-Rodino’s notification and waiting period provisions reserved for passive investors.  Two days later, in the wake of the DOJ’s announcement, the SEC Staff issued guidance stating that the inability to rely on the HSR passive investor exemption (relating to the acquisition...

2016 Amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law

2016 Amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law

The DGCL was amended in June.  Most notably, the amendments (i) broadened the availability of Section 251(h) mergers consummated without stockholder approval following a first-step tender or exchange offer for all shares entitled to vote on the merger, (ii) eliminated de minimis appraisal claims under Section 262, and (iii) allows companies to make a pre-judgment payment to dissenting stockholders to reduce interest costs in connection...

SEC Approves NASDAQ Rule Requiring Disclosure of “Golden Leash” Arrangements

SEC Approves NASDAQ Rule Requiring Disclosure of “Golden Leash” Arrangements

Do your directors have a “golden leash”? If so, NASDAQ-listed companies will be required to publicly disclose those arrangements as a result of newly adopted rules. “Golden leash” arrangements are compensation arrangements between activist shareholders and their director nominee in connection with his or her service on, or candidacy for, a company’s board of directors, usually in connection with a proxy fight. In a typical...

SEC Issues Guidance to Tighten Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

SEC Issues Guidance to Tighten Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Many companies rely on non-GAAP financial measures to help explain company performance. The SEC is paying attention to the use of non-GAAP numbers and has provided more guidance to issuers. See our summary here: https://www.dorsey.com/newsresources/publications/client-alerts/2016/05/tighten-use-of-non-gaap-financial-measures