News & Analysis as of

Ordinary Business Exception Proxy Statements

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Recently Proposed SEC Amendments to the Shareholder Proposal Rule May Further Affect Shareholder Proposals Related to Greenhouse...

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed amendments to Rule 14a-8 that revise three of the thirteen existing bases for the exclusion of shareholder proposals from a publicly traded company’s proxy statement...more

Hogan Lovells

SEC staff issues new guidance on shareholder proposals involving social policy issues - SEC Update

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On November 3 the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued Staff Legal Bulletin 14L (SLB 14L) to provide new guidance on the application of the “ordinary business” and “economic relevance” exceptions to a public company’s...more

Sullivan & Worcester

SEC Staff Issues Legal Bulletin Narrowing Interpretation of Certain Exceptions to Rule 14a-8 Allowing Shareholder Proposals in...

Sullivan & Worcester on

Climate-related issues have taken on an enhanced level of concern at the federal government level since the Biden administration rejoined the Paris Agreement in an effort to stem climate change impacts, and the administration...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

SEC Staff Issues Guidance Relating to Shareholder Proposals

On November 3, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Staff Legal Bulletin (SLB 14L) limiting the ability of public companies to exclude from proxy statements shareholder proposals that relate to...more

Mayer Brown Free Writings + Perspectives

SEC Staff Issues Legal Bulletin Announcing Shift in Shareholder Proposal Review Process Ahead of 2022 Proxy Season

On November 3, 2021, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (Staff) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) issued Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14L (SLB 14L), providing information regarding the...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

SEC Releases Shareholder Proposal Staff Legal Bulletin Regarding Rule 14a-8 Under the Exchange Act

Womble Bond Dickinson on

On November 3, 2021, the Division of Corporation Finance (“Corp Fin”) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released Shareholder Proposals: Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14L(CF) (the “SLB”) to provide information for...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Precautionary and Prudency Measures for Boards Addressing COVID-19 Business Uncertainties

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented economic disruptions worldwide. Businesses that were previously flourishing are now seeing rapid declines in demand and revenue, disruptions in their supply chains, and other...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Public Companies & the Law

SEC staff updates guidance on shareholder proposals

The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance recently provided helpful clarity regarding the exclusion of certain shareholder proposals under Rule 14a-8.  The guidance, Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14K, relates to the “ordinary...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

The Impact of SEC Staff Guidance on Shareholder Proposals Leaves a Murky Path Forward

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

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

New SEC Staff Legal Bulletin on Rule 14a-8 Released

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

Stinson - Corporate & Securities Law Blog

SEC Denies No Action Request Despite Board Analysis under SLB 14I

Apple sought to exclude a shareholder proposal regarding the establishment of a Human Rights Committee on the basis that it involved the company’s ordinary business operations under Rule 14a-8(i)(7)....more

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

M&A Update: SEC Issues Guidance on Issuers’ Ability to Exclude Shareholder Proposals under Rule 14a-8

On November 1, 2017, the staff of the Division of Corporate Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission published Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14I. SLB 14I provides additional guidance to companies and shareholders...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

SEC Provides Greater Deference to Public Company Boards

On Nov. 1, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14I(CF), which articulates important interpretive guidance relating to shareholder proposals submitted to public companies for...more

Bracewell LLP

SEC Releases New Guidance on Shareholder Proposals

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On November 1, 2017, the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission published in Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14I guidance relating to the excludability of certain shareholder proposals...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

SEC Issues New Guidance on Shareholder Proposals

Foley & Lardner LLP on

On November 1, 2017, the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14I (SLB 14I), which provides important guidance to public companies reviewing...more

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

SEC Issues Guidance on Rule 14a-8(i)(9) and Rule 14a-8(i)(7)

On October 22, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance (Division) issued Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14H (SLB 14H), which (1) sets forth a new standard for determining when a shareholder proposal...more

Proskauer Rose LLP

Third Circuit Opinion Raises Uncertainty for the Ordinary Business Exclusion in Shareholder Proposals

Proskauer Rose LLP on

On July 6, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued its opinion in Trinity Wall Street v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The holding permitted Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("Wal-Mart") to exclude a shareholder proposal...more

Foley Hoag LLP

Third Circuit Lets Wal-Mart Exclude Firearms Proposal Under the “Ordinary Business Operations” Exception

Foley Hoag LLP on

On April 14, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit summarily reversed a troubling decision of the Federal District Court in Delaware that required Wal-Mart to include in its 2015 proxy materials a shareholder...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

"Wal-Mart Wins Appeal of Shareholder Proposal Decision"

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a decision on April 14, 2015 that reversed a U.S. District Court opinion and vacated a permanent injunction that would have required Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to include a...more

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