On November 22, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stayed the recently enacted Share Repurchase Disclosure Modernization Rule (Repurchase Disclosure Rule) pursuant to section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Firth Circuit’s (Fifth Circuit) October 31, 2023 opinion providing the SEC 30 days to correct defects in the Repurchase Disclosure Rule. For an overview of the Fifth Circuit’s October 31 opinion, please refer to our earlier blog post: Fifth Circuit Requires SEC to Revisit Share Repurchase Disclosure Rules.
Continue Reading SEC Stays Repurchase Disclosure Rules and the Fifth Circuit Denies SEC’s Motion for Additional Time to Cure Rule DefectsCalifornia GHG Emission Website Disclosure Legislation to Take Effect on January 1, 2024
Recently, the State of California enacted Assembly Bill 1305: the Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act (AB 1305), which requires companies, under certain circumstances, to make website disclosures of certain information about their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and emissions-reduction programs.
Continue Reading California GHG Emission Website Disclosure Legislation to Take Effect on January 1, 2024Fifth Circuit Requires SEC to Revisit Share Repurchase Disclosure Rules
On October 31, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Fifth Circuit) issued an opinion finding that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) violated the Administration Procedure Act when adopting recent amendments to its share repurchase rules (as amended, the Rule). Rather than vacate the Rule, the Fifth Circuit provided the SEC with 30 days to correct the errors identified by the Fifth Circuit.
Continue Reading Fifth Circuit Requires SEC to Revisit Share Repurchase Disclosure RulesRegister Now | 5th Annual Corporate & Securities Counsel Public Company Forum
Please join us for our 5th Annual Corporate & Securities Counsel Public Company Forum.
Continue Reading Register Now | 5th Annual Corporate & Securities Counsel Public Company ForumCalifornia Legislature Passes Significant Climate Disclosure Bills With Potential Broad Scope
Over the weekend, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two major climate-related disclosure bills, Senate Bill 253: Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and Senate Bill 261: Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk (SB 261), which could have potentially broad application for companies meeting certain revenue thresholds that conduct business in California, whether or not such companies are incorporated or headquartered in California.
Continue Reading California Legislature Passes Significant Climate Disclosure Bills With Potential Broad ScopeThe PCAOB Closes Comment Period on Controversial Proposal to Expand Auditor Responsibility for Legal Compliance
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently closed the comment period for its proposal (the Proposal) to significantly increase the responsibility of audit firms to evaluate and disclose a subject public company’s noncompliance with laws and regulations (commonly referred to as NOCLAR).
Continue Reading The PCAOB Closes Comment Period on Controversial Proposal to Expand Auditor Responsibility for Legal ComplianceSEC Comment Letters on Non-GAAP Measures
In a recent article for Agenda, I commented on the comment letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to non-GAAP measures and what this focus could mean for audit committees.
Continue Reading SEC Comment Letters on Non-GAAP MeasuresNon-GAAP Comment Letters: SEC Areas of Focus
On December 13, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued seven new or revised Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (C&DIs) on topics regarding the use of non-GAAP financial measures in SEC filings. Typically, the release of C&DIs, whether new or revised, indicates that a certain subject will be an area of heightened focus in SEC comment letters and enforcement actions.
Continue Reading Non-GAAP Comment Letters: SEC Areas of FocusSEC Adopts Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules
On July 26, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), by a 3-2 vote, adopted final rules intended to enhance public companies’ disclosures regarding (1) cybersecurity incidents through a new required current report item under Form 8-K and (2) cybersecurity risk management and governance in annual reports on Form 10-K through a new item under Regulation S-K.
Continue Reading SEC Adopts Cybersecurity Disclosure RulesPractical Considerations for Adopting a Clawback Policy in Advance of Effective Date of NYSE and Nasdaq Listing Standards
On June 9, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved proposed amendments of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) to their respective listing standards to implement the SEC’s previously adopted recoupment rules. These listing standard amendments extended the effective date for the new clawback listing standards to October 2, 2023, meaning that companies listed on either exchange will need to adopt a compliant clawback policy no later than December 1, 2023.
Continue Reading Practical Considerations for Adopting a Clawback Policy in Advance of Effective Date of NYSE and Nasdaq Listing Standards