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On December 17, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it had settled charges against Ohio-based Express, Inc. (“Express”). The SEC ultimately found that Express violated Sections 13(a) and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-15(a), 14a-3, and 13a-9 by failing to disclose all of its former…

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…

It appears the lone ISS policy update for the US will be to Severance Agreements for Executives/Golden Parachutes.

ISS will vote on a case-by-case basis  on shareholder proposals requiring that executive severance (including change-in-control related) arrangements or payments be submitted for shareholder ratification.

Factors that will be considered include, but are not limited to:

  • The
…

The SEC issued a staff report on the accredited investor definition. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act directs the Commission to review the accredited investor definition as it relates to natural persons every four years to determine whether the definition should be modified or adjusted.  The Staff previously reviewed the definition in…

Both the NYSE and Nasdaq have issued proposed clawback rules in connection with SEC Rule 10D-1.

NYSE

The NYSE proposes to comply with Rule 10D-1 by adopting proposed new Section 303A.14 of the Listed Company Manual. Proposed Section 303A.14 is designed to conform closely to the applicable language of Rule 10D-1 and requires an issuer…