WORD OF THE DAY® for Hedge Funds – 10b5-1 Plan
One of the routine duties of counsel for a public company is advising officers and directors on their trades in company stock and their SEC responsibilities when they leave. Because those discussions are routine, it may be...more
On March 1, 2023, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) unsealed an indictment against the founder, CEO, and Chairman of a publicly traded health care company (the “Company”), alleging that he had illegally executed trades...more
Executive suites in public companies across America took notice in recent weeks when federal prosecutors filed the first ever case based exclusively on an executive’s sale of company shares pursuant to what is commonly...more
A “Rule 10b5-1 plan” is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense provided in Rule 10b5-1(c), the rule that provides an affirmative defense to an allegation of having traded on the basis of material nonpublic information...more
On December 14, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) adopted final rules (the “Final Rules”) which will affect trading by directors and officers of listed issuers and disclosure about such...more
On January 13, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed several rule and form amendments to address potentially abusive practices relating to the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans, grants of options and other...more
Overview of SEC Final Rules on Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans - On December 14, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) unanimously adopted final rules adding new conditions applicable to Rule 10b5-1 trading...more
[This post revises and updates my earlier post primarily to provide a more detailed discussion of the contents of the adopting release.] - At an open meeting in December last year—happy new year!—the SEC voted to adopt...more
In December 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1, the rule that provides an affirmative defense to claims of insider trading for persons acquiring or disposing of...more
On December 14, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) adopted amendments bolstering the conditions to be met in order for a person to rely on the affirmative defense from insider trading available...more
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 14, 2022, finalized amendments to Rule 10b5-1 that will both amend the Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) affirmative defense to insider trading liability and create new disclosure...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in a rare unanimous vote, adopted amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and new disclosure requirements to enhance investor...more
On December 14, the SEC adopted long-awaited amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act that add new conditions for a trading arrangement to qualify for the rule’s affirmative defense against Rule 10b-5 liability for...more
On December 14, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new rules (i) implementing additional conditions for insiders to rely on the affirmative defense for Rule 10b5-1 trading plans (“10b5-1 plans”)...more
On December 14, 2022, the SEC adopted final rules amending Rule 10b5-1, the safe harbor that allows directors, executive officers and others, including issuers, to engage in securities transactions while in possession of...more
On December 14, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) unanimously adopted amendments (the “amendments”) to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and related disclosure...more
On December 14, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments regarding Rule 10b5-1 insider trading plans and related disclosures. The amendments aim to strengthen investor protections concerning...more
On December 15, 2021, the SEC proposed amendments regarding Rule 10b5-1 trading plans and share repurchase programs. The SEC proposed rules are intended to diminish information asymmetry between public companies and investors...more
The SEC prevailed on a motion to dismiss a closely watched lawsuit alleging that the defendant had engaged in insider trading based on news about a not-yet-public corporate acquisition when he purchased securities of a...more
The Proposal would have a significant impact on current practices surrounding the use of Rule 10b5-1 plans by public companies and insiders. On December 15, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a set...more
In June 2021, Chairman Gary Gensler of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) expressed the view that it was time to “freshen up” Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1 - the rule that provides an affirmative defense to claims of...more
On December 15, 2021, the SEC proposed amendments to Rule 10b5-1, a rule that provides a safe-harbor from liability from the “insider trading” prohibitions under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. ...more
On December 15, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed amendments (the “proposal”) to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and related disclosure obligations...more
Recent warnings from the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the US Congress could translate into more aggressive scrutiny of trading plans adopted pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Act of...more