In March 2016, the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) proposed new rules regarding disclosure of third-party compensation of directors. This third-party compensation, which may not be publicly disclosed, arises when a party other than the issuer, such as an activist investor, compensates a person in connection with that person’s candidacy for director or service as a director.

With the goal of enhancing transparency around such third-party compensation of directors, Nasdaq proposed Rule 5250(b)(3), which would require Nasdaq-listed companies to publicly disclose compensation or other payments by third parties to nominees for director or board members. On July 1, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved this rule change, which will become effective on August 1, 2016.