On September 16, 2010, the SEC's final rules for proxy access were published in the Federal Register. The proxy access rules are effective 60 days after such publication, and accordingly, will be effective on November 15, 2010. In order to take advantage of the new proxy access rules, nominating shareholders must file a Schedule 14N with the SEC no earlier than 150 calendar days, and no later than 120 calendar days, before the anniversary of the date that the company mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting. As such, to determine whether the new rules will affect a company’s 2011 proxy season, subtract 120 days from the anniversary of the date the 2010 proxy materials were mailed to shareholders. If the resulting date is on or after November 15, 2010, the new rules will be in effect for the company’s 2011 proxy season, provided the company is not a smaller reporting company or a foreign private issuer. See our blog SEC Adopts Mandatory Proxy Access Rule for Shareholder Director Nominations -- Applicable for 2011 Proxy Season (August 27, 2010) for additional information regarding the new proxy access rules.