With the increased concentration of share ownership by institutional investors over the past several decades, the influence of proxy advisory firms on shareholder votes has grown dramatically, all while the proxy regulatory process has become more complex. Against this background, the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued two interpretive releases on August 21, 2019. This Legal Update focuses on the release that provided guidance regarding the applicability of certain rules promulgated under Section 14 of…

On August 8, 2019, the US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed amendments to Regulation S-K that are intended to modernize business, legal proceedings and risk factor disclosures. According to the SEC, the proposed amendments are designed to update rules to account for developments since they were first adopted or last amended and to improve the readability of disclosures for investors while discouraging repetition and disclosure of immaterial information and simplifying compliance for reporting companies. This…

On June 18, 2019, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a concept release soliciting “comment on possible ways to simplify, harmonize, and improve the exempt offering framework to promote capital formation and expand investment opportunities while maintaining appropriate investor protections.” Under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), every offer and sale of securities must be registered with the SEC unless an exemption from registration is available. In the concept release,…

Since the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was enacted in 2012, emerging growth companies (EGCs) have benefited from the opportunity to test the waters with investors and gauge interest in a potential offering. Title I of the JOBS Act amended Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) in order to provide that certain communications made by EGCs or persons acting on their behalf with institutional accredited investors and qualified institutional…