On November 17, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules requiring the use of universal proxy cards in contested director elections as discussed in Release No. 34-93596 (the Adopting Release). Universal...more
In a win for activist shareholders, on November 17, 2021, the SEC voted to adopt final rules requiring the use in contested director elections of domestic issuers of "universal proxy cards," or proxy cards naming all director...more
What You Need To Know: •The new rules require the use of universal proxy cards in all contested elections. •The new rules will take effect on September 1, 2022...more
Despite being one of the more well-known doctrines in corporate law, the rule articulated in Blasius—that directors who act with the primary purpose of interfering with a stockholder vote must have a compelling justification...more
On April 16, 2021, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a release reopening the comment period (Reopening Release) on its proposal for a mandatory universal proxy to be used for all contested director...more
In 2015, the stockholders of nominal defendant, Investors Bancorp, Inc. (“Investors Bancorp” or the “Company”), voted to approve an equity incentive plan (“EIP”) adopted by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”)....more
A universal proxy may benefit public companies in certain contested director elections, but the ability to use this tool may depend on a company’s bylaws. Key Points - ..In contested director elections, the binary...more
You probably recall that, on November 9, 2016, GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (entity affiliated with activist investor Mario Gabelli) and certain affiliates used the proxy access bylaws recently adopted at National Fuel Gas...more
On October 26, 2016, the SEC proposed amendments to the proxy rules that would require the use of universal proxies in all non-exempt solicitations in contested elections of directors. The focus of the SEC proposal is to...more
At an open meeting held on October 26, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted two to one to propose amendments for the mandatory use of universal proxy cards and additional voting options and disclosure...more
With Congress and the Presidency soon to be under Republican control, it would not be surprising, unless the SEC acted with unusual speed, if the universal proxy rules never went into effect. Commissioner Piwowar, a...more
On October 26, 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 2-to-1 to propose amendments to the proxy rules that would require the use of universal proxy cards in contested elections. The proposed changes, if...more
The SEC today proposed amendments to the proxy rules to require parties in a contested election to use universal proxy cards that would include the names of all director nominees. The proposal gives shareholders the ability...more