Shareholder proposal rule
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) recently released its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey (the "Policy Survey"). In keeping with its prior practice, ISS seeks responses from institutional shareholders, issuers,...more
On December 19, 2023, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) released its updates to its Proxy Voting Guidelines. Somewhat unusually, ISS made only one change to its voting recommendation policies for U.S. public...more
The 2023 proxy season is just around the corner. This quick reference guide, which is intended to supplement Shearman & Sterling’s 20th Annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, summarizes themes from the...more
Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") and Glass Lewis & Co. LLC ("Glass Lewis"), the two major proxy advisory firms, recently issued their updated proxy voting guidelines for the 2023 proxy season. These policy updates...more
The 2022 proxy season is just around the corner. This quick reference guide, which is intended to supplement Shearman & Sterling’s 19th Annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, summarizes themes from the...more
During 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted rule changes and provided public companies with useful guidance on various topics. In December, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) released its...more
Companies have important decisions to make as they prepare for the 2022 annual meeting and reporting season. We have compiled this overview of key issues — including SEC disclosure requirements, recent SEC guidance,...more
Alston & Bird will host this live seminar from our Atlanta office in addition to a live webcast. Learn about key developments and issues facing companies and investors and what you need to do to prepare for the 2022 proxy...more
The COVID-19 pandemic, volatile market conditions, and increasing stakeholder attention to a range of environmental and social topics made 2020 a remarkably difficult year for many public companies. 2021 will bring new...more
As companies look to plan their FY 2020 annual report and prepare for the 2021 AGM season, we have reflected on our experience in 2020. We summarise below key learnings and what we think will undoubtedly be on the agenda and...more
Welcome to the second annual Benesch Corporate Governance Report, which focuses on trends and best practices at middle market public companies. 2019 saw a continued focus on corporate governance from a number of audiences...more
With the 2020 proxy and annual reporting season upon us, this Legal Update provides 10 tips for companies to consider when drafting annual reports on Form 10-K and proxy statements for filing with the US Securities and...more
Companies preparing for their annual shareholder meetings will need to consider a variety of factors, including new guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and recommendations from Glass, Lewis & Co. (Glass...more
Proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) have issued updated proxy voting guidelines for the upcoming 2020 proxy season. Notable policy updates issued by one or...more
Recently, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis released revisions to their respective proxy voting guidelines for 2020. The ISS and Glass Lewis updates applicable to U.S. companies are discussed separately...more
Another record breaking year for shareholder proposals, including significant support for activists' and other dissident proposals - The number of shareholder proposals made by activist shareholders, votes against...more
This market trends article discusses Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14I and Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14J of the Divisionm of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission, both of which provide guidance with respect...more
Welcome to the first Annual Benesch Corporate Governance Report focused on trends and best practices at mid-market public companies. While we have seen many reports focused on corporate governance practices of Fortune 100...more
In November 2017, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (Staff) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued guidance concerning companies’ ability to exclude shareholder proposals from their proxy...more
During 2018, the SEC issued rule updates and guidance that are intended to ease certain public reporting requirements and clarify the SEC’s position with respect to the shareholder proposal process. While the SEC is taking...more
As calendar year-end companies ramp up for year-end reporting and proxy season, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis & Co. (GL) have released updates to their proxy voting guidelines. GL’s comprehensive...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its Shareholder Proposals: Staff Legal Bulletin 14J on Rule 14a-8 earlier this week, following its November 2017 Staff Legal Bulletin 14I. This most recent Staff...more
On October 23, 2018, the Division of Corporation Finance (Staff) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14J (SLB 14J), which provides important guidance concerning shareholder...more
In anticipation of the upcoming annual report and proxy season, we are highlighting new requirements and trends for public companies in 2018....more
This companion supplement to the Fenwick survey, “Corporate Governance Practices and Trends: A Comparison of Large Public Companies and Silicon Valley Companies,” covers trends in stockholder voting at annual meetings in the...more