On November 20, the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance, the Division of Investment Management, and the Division of Trading and Markets (the Staff) of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an updated statement on requirements for manual signatures related to SEC filings.
Continue Reading SEC Staff Issues Statement Regarding Signature Requirements

On November 23, the Division of Corporation Finance (the Division) of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued CF Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 10 (the Guidance), providing the Division’s views regarding disclosure considerations for companies based in or with the majority of their operations in the People’s Republic of China (referred to as “China-based” companies).
Continue Reading Division of Corporation Finance Issues Disclosure Consideration for China-Based Issuers

On November 24, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to propose amendments (the Proposal) to (1) Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), which exempts certain compensatory equity offerings by non-reporting issuers from registration under the Securities Act, and (2) Form S-8, which is a registration statement form available for compensatory securities offerings by reporting issuers.
Continue Reading SEC Announces Proposed Amendments to Rule 701 and Form S-8

On November 17, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to Regulation S-T to permit the use of electronic signatures in executing documents submitted electronically to the SEC through EDGAR.
Continue Reading SEC Adopts Amendments Permitting Use of Electronic Signatures for EDGAR Filings

On November 12, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) issued updates to its 2021 US benchmark proxy voting policies. ISS will apply the updated policies to shareholder meetings occurring on or after February 1, 2021.

Proxy advisory firms, such as ISS, review proposals to be voted on at public company shareholder meetings and make voting recommendations to their clients based on the firm’s voting policies and standards.
Continue Reading ISS Issues Its 2021 Proxy Season Updates

On November 18, the Division of Corporation Finance (Division) of the Securities and Exchange Commission released updates to the Division’s Financial Reporting Manual. The Financial Reporting Manual is a key source of the Division’s informal accounting guidance and has been updated with changes through October 30.
Continue Reading SEC Division of Corporation Finance Releases Financial Reporting Manual Updates

On November 2, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to adopt a set of amendments (the Amendments) to “harmonize, simplify and improve the multilayer and overly complex exempt offering framework” to “promote capital formation and expand investment opportunities while preserving or improving important investor protections,” according to the SEC’s press release announcing the Amendments.
Continue Reading SEC Approves Amendments to Harmonize and Simplify Offering Exemptions