Practice Area Blogs & Digests

Recently, Goodyear agreed to pay $16 million to resolve SEC charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the books and records and internal control provisions of the federal securities laws.

At the annual “SEC Speaks” conference, SEC regional director David Glockner noted that bringing enforcement actions for poor cybersecurity risk disclosure was “high on [the SEC’s] radar screen.”

Recently, ISS weighed in on the proxy access debate with its voting policy for proposals that allow shareholders to nominate directors on the company’s ballot.

The heat is rising in a battle that pits small popcorn manufacturer Candyland, Inc. against industry giants Cornfields and Snyder’s-Lance. 

A shareholder proposal sponsored by activist John Chevedden aimed at limiting long-tenured directors at Costco failed by a substantial margin at Costco’s annual meeting this year.

General Electric announced that it amended its bylaws to allow a shareholder or a group of up to 20 shareholders that has owned three percent or more of the company’s stock for at least three years to nominate and include in the company’s proxy materials directors constituting up to 20 percent of the board. 

Last week, the SEC proposed rules to enhance corporate disclosure of company policies for hedging transactions engaged in by directors, officers and other employees.

Glass Lewis, a prominent proxy advisory firm, has now added its views to the proxy access battlefront.

In the wake of headline-making cyber breaches and class action lawsuits for data losses, companies face growing scrutiny and evolving legal and regulatory standards.

A recent Seventh Circuit decision suggests public companies should take care when disclosing employment-related litigation.