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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

One of the hottest going-public trends in 2020 and 2021 has been the rise of SPACs – Special Purpose Acquisition Companies – as a vehicle for private companies to go public. SPACs are shell companies that are formed, funded and taken public for the purpose of later acquiring an operating company. By merging with a…