Developments in Securities Regulation, Corporate Governance, Capital Markets, M&A and Other Topics of Interest. MORE

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Steve has a strong reputation in M&A, securities and international transactions, offering a rare combination of excellence and value who presents well to boards. Steve represents clients across the United States in mergers and acquisitions, ESOPs, REITs, securities regulation, securities offerings, international transactions and financing matters. He uses his deep background in law, finance, accounting and project management to complete his clients' most strategically important and challenging assignments.

The SEC staff has promulgated new views on stablecoins.   Specifically, the staff statement addresses stablecoins that are designed to maintain a stable value relative to the United States Dollar, or “USD,” on a one-for-one basis, can be redeemed for USD on a one-for-one basis (i.e., one stablecoin to one USD), and are backed by assets

The SEC looked favorably on designated crypto mining activities by stating that such activities are not securities. Specifically, the SEC addressed “proof-of-work” activities.  According to the SEC, Proof-of-work (“PoW”) is a consensus mechanism that incentivizes network transaction validation by rewarding network participants, called “miners,” who operate nodes adding computational resources to the network. PoW involves

Erik Gerding, Director, SEC Division of Corporation Finance, issued a statement to clear up misconceptions following filing of an 8-K disclosing a cybersecurity incident.

According to Mr. Gerding, some companies are under the impression that if they experience a material cybersecurity incident, the SEC’s new rules prohibit them from discussing that incident beyond what was

Erik Gerding, Director, Division of Corporation Finance, released a statement on the preferred methods to disclose certain cybersecurity incidents.  Mr. Gerding noted “The cybersecurity rules that the Commission adopted on July 26, 2023 require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents under Item 1.05 of Form 8-K.  If a company chooses to disclose a cybersecurity

The SEC adopted amendments to its rules under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that will require registrants to provide certain climate related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The final rules will require information about a registrant’s climate-related risks that have materially impacted, or are reasonably likely

The NYSE amended its shareholder approval rules to make it easier for listed companies to sell securities to passive existing shareholders without obtaining shareholder approval.  The SEC approved the change on an accelerated basis.

Section 312.03(b)(i) of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual provides that shareholder approval is required prior to the issuance of common stock