Category: Exchange Act Reporting and Disclosure Effectiveness

SEC Clarifies the Compliance Deadline for New Mining Disclosure Rules

SEC Clarifies the Compliance Deadline for New Mining Disclosure Rules

On April 29, 2020, the SEC issued new Compliance & Disclosure Interpretations (the “New C&DIs”) that clarified the compliance deadline for many mining companies that file with the SEC on non-MJDS forms such as Form 10-K or Form 20-F to comply with the SEC’s new mining disclosure rules in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. The New C&DIs follow closely on the heels of the National...

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...

SEC Chairman Issues Public Statement Encouraging Public Companies to Make Prompt COVID-19 Disclosure; No Action on Certain Proposed Rule Making until May 1

SEC Chairman Issues Public Statement Encouraging Public Companies to Make Prompt COVID-19 Disclosure; No Action on Certain Proposed Rule Making until May 1

On April 2, 2020, SEC Chairman John Clayton, issued a public statement amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the statement, Chairman Clayton stated that the Commission and its staff remain focused on protecting the interests of Main Street investors who are “the lens through which” the Commission evaluates if it is effectively advancing its mission and noting that the Commission “continue[s] to allocate [its] resources...

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 Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Disclosures and Other Matters

SEC Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Disclosures and Other Matters

On March 25, the SEC issued CF Disclosure Guidance Topic No. 9 that provides the Division of Corporation Finance’s current views regarding disclosure and other securities law obligations that companies should consider with respect to COVID-19 and related business and market disruptions. In the guidance, the SEC recognizes that it may be difficult to assess or predict with precision the broad effects of COVID-19 on...

SEC Staff Offers Relief From Manual Signature Requirements Amid Coronavirus Concerns

SEC Staff Offers Relief From Manual Signature Requirements Amid Coronavirus Concerns

As more annual meetings may be held virtually this year, and many board meetings are being held telephonically due to social distancing or travel restrictions caused by COVID-19, working remotely has created a number of logistical challenges for companies, including the gathering of manually executed signature pages for electronic filings with the SEC. The Staff of the SEC has now provided guidance to help address...

SEC Amends Definition of Accelerated and Large Accelerated Filer

SEC Amends Definition of Accelerated and Large Accelerated Filer

On March 12, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) adopted amendments to the “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” definitions in the Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The amendments would exclude from the definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” issuers that are eligible to be smaller reporting companies and that have less...

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...