On August 6, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the proposed rules submitted by the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) relating to diversity on the boards of directors of Nasdaq listed companies (the...more
On August 6, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the proposed rule change submitted by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) to adopt new listing rules establishing a disclosure-based framework...more
The second edition of the Silicon Valley 150 Risk Factor Trends Report summarizes the risk factor disclosure practices of the Valley’s largest public companies.
In August 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...more
On May 19, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Nasdaq's proposal to allow companies to conduct primary direct listings on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. This approval comes nearly five months...more
On April 12, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a joint statement by John Coates, Acting Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, and Paul Munter, Acting Chief Accountant, which provides...more
On April 2, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the proposed rule change filed by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to amend certain of the shareholder approval requirements in the NYSE Listed Company...more
On March 24, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted interim final amendments to implement the submission and disclosure requirements of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or HFCA Act, new...more
In a series of recent public statements and announcements, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signaled that climate change disclosures will be front and center on its agenda....more
Below is a summary of the rule changes, guidance, and disclosure considerations related to annual reports on Form 10-K to be filed in 2021....more
On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the proposed rule change filed by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) allowing companies to sell new shares and raise capital in direct listings....more
On November 19, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it voted to adopt amendments to modernize, simplify, and enhance certain financial disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K, including...more
On December 1, 2020, Nasdaq announced the filing of a proposal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt new listing rules related to board diversity and disclosures. If adopted, these new listing rules...more
U.S. House of Representatives Passes the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act -
On November 23, 2020, the Division of Corporation Finance published CF Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 10, Disclosure Considerations for...more
On November 24, 2020, Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (Glass Lewis) announced that it released its 2021 Proxy Voting Policy Guidelines for the United States, and its 2021 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Policy Guidelines,...more
In April 2020, Wilson Sonsini, together with two other leading Silicon Valley-based law firms, submitted a formal rulemaking petition to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking the SEC to amend Rules 11 and...more
ISS and Glass Lewis Open Peer Group Submission Windows Soon -
On November 12, 2020, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) published its Proxy Voting Guidelines Updates for 2021, which are effective for meetings on or...more
On October 14, 2020, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) published for comment its proposed voting policy changes for the 2021 proxy season. If adopted, these policy changes would generally apply to meetings that...more
On September 30, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation mandating representation of underrepresented communities on the boards of publicly held corporations based in California. This new law, known as...more
At an open meeting on September 23, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt amendments to certain procedural requirements and to the resubmission thresholds under the shareholder-proposal...more
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is pleased to present the Silicon Valley 150 Risk Factor Trends Report, which analyzes the risk factor practices of the Valley’s largest public companies.
This report covers risk factor...more
On July 22, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 3 to 1, along party lines, to adopt amendments to its proxy solicitation rules relating to proxy voting advice. The final amendments, which were...more
Directors, officers, and other company insiders often receive a meaningful portion of their overall compensation through equity awards. As these awards vest, these insiders may seek to liquidate some or all of their...more
In light of the continued market uncertainty caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) have tolled compliance periods for certain of their...more
With earnings season rapidly approaching for many public companies, the uncertain and fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic is giving rise to complex determinations of what must, should, or can be disclosed and when. In light...more
Over the past week, several measures have been implemented to assist public companies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in meeting their disclosure and governance obligations. These measures include, among others...more