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William Hinman

Top SEC Officials Address What to Say on Earnings Calls During Pandemic

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The SEC’s three part mission—maintain market integrity, facilitate capital formation and protect investors—takes on particular importance in times of economic uncertainty.  Disclosure—providing the public with the information necessary to make informed investment decisions—is fundamental to furthering each aspect of our mission.[i]

In the coming weeks, our public companies will be issuing earnings releases and conducting analyst and investor calls.  We urge companies to provide as much information as is practicable regarding their current financial and operating status, as well as their future operational and financial planning.  In an effort to facilitate robust disclosure and engagement, we provide the following

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SEC Announces Changes in Handling No-Action Requests on Shareholder Proposals

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After the recent proxy and shareholder proposal season, the Division considered whether additional guidance or changes to its process of administering Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 were warranted. As a result of that consideration, the staff focused on how it could most efficiently and effectively provide guidance where appropriate.

The staff will continue to actively monitor correspondence and provide informal guidance to companies and proponents as appropriate. In cases where a company seeks to exclude a proposal, the staff will inform the proponent and the company of its position, which may be that the staff concurs, disagrees or declines to state

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SEC’s Corporate Finance Director Discusses Disclosing Risks

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Today, I would like to discuss [1] how the U.S. securities disclosure requirements, which are largely principles-based, apply in areas where the disclosure topics may be complex, associated with uncertain risks and rapidly evolving. Sounds like Brexit might fit that description, and I don’t think I could come to London this week without spending some time discussing it. I realize that you all may be worn out on the subject, and the U.S. regulatory perspective on this topic may seem of secondary or tertiary interest to those of you living through these events. However, I would note that over half

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