The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of Corporate Finance (Division) published a statement on May 21, 2024, regarding how public companies may disclose cyber incidents they determined to be immaterial....more
On January 24, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) approved final rules relating to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”). The final rules follow the SEC’s issuance of proposed rules on March...more
Recent enforcement actions brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) signal that the SEC is paying close attention to public company financial reporting and will continue to punish misleading accounting and...more
On September 27, 2023, facing the prospect of a lapse of appropriations, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance published a summary of the anticipated impact on its operations of...more
If U.S. congressional leaders are unable to resolve the current federal budget standoff, it is expected that much of the federal government, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), would shut down soon...more
The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, or CorpFin, has released an updated financial reporting manual (FRM). In keeping with prior convention, updates as of Dec. 31, 2022, are marked with a “Last updated: 12/31/2022”...more
On January 4, 2023, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs released the Fall 2022 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which includes, among other things, the SEC’s semi-annual regulatory agenda....more
On May 3, 2022, the Division of Corporation Finance ("Corp Fin") of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") posted a sample comment letter emphasizing companies' potential disclosure obligations related to direct or...more
On Thursday, March 24th, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced an agenda for a March 30th open meeting for the Divisions on Corporate Finance and Investment Management. The meeting has only one agenda item: SPACs,...more
The Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently published a sample letter to companies providing illustrative comments that the Division of Corporation Finance may issue to...more
On September 22, 2021, the Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance published a sample letter to companies regarding climate change disclosure. The letter contains sample comments that the Division may issue to companies...more
John Coates, Acting Director, Division of Corporation Finance, issued a statement questioning the application of the safe harbor for forward looking information in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) to a...more
A flurry of recent climate-related announcements from the SEC forecasts an upcoming policy battle at the agency. Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee has signaled that “ESG” will clearly be in focus across the SEC’s various...more
Rhode Island Federal Court Dismisses Securities Class Action Against CVS Arising From Statements Made After Omnicare Acquisition; SEC Division of Corporation Finance Suggests Companies Issue Additional Disclosures When...more
2020 marked an incredible surge in the prevalence of Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) initial public offerings and business combinations (“deSPAC transactions”). In 2020, there were 248 SPAC IPOs (raising total...more
In a remarkable year for the equity markets in 2020, the increased use of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) to take companies public stands out as a defining trend. In 2020, well-known private businesses – like...more
On December 22, 2020, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Corporation Finance issued new guidance with disclosure considerations for special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs"). The new...more
On October 8, 2020, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance spoke at PLI’s The SEC Speaks in 2020 program, providing insights on recent developments, rulemakings, guidance and initiatives....more
On September 9, 2020, the staff of the SEC Division of Corporation Finance (Staff) updated CF Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 7 (Confidential Treatment Applications Submitted Pursuant to Rules 406 and 24b-2) to explain the...more
On June 23, 2020, the Division of Corporation Finance (“Division”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provided additional guidance (“Topic No. 9A”) regarding disclosures about operations, liquidity and capital...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) and Division of Corporation Finance (Division) have separately issued statements emphasizing the continued importance of high-quality...more
On May 4, 2020, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the Staff) of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) released guidance in the form of four frequently asked questions (FAQs) related...more
On May 4, 2020, the U.S. SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) published four “FAQs” relating to the application of the Commission’s March 25, 2020 Order (the “COVID-19 Order”) providing extended deadlines for...more
Recognizing the logistical difficulties of submitting Forms 144 in paper in light of COVID-19 concerns, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (CorpFin) announced last April 10 that it will not recommend enforcement...more
As public companies approach an unprecedented earnings season due to the COVID-19 outbreak, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton and Division of Corporation Finance Director William Hinman issued...more