Shareholder proposal rule
Introduction - The 2026 proxy season is expected to bring meaningful developments that have the potential to reshape how companies approach the proxy process. From the continued reversing of the pendulum regarding...more
With the partial federal government shutdown likely to close the SEC for only a day or two – see this new set of Corp Fin FAQs on the impact of a shutdown, which is essentially the same as the guidance from the last shutdown;...more
As companies gear up for 2026, what happens at the SEC could smooth the path for public capital raising efforts. However, with “lessons learned” from the government-wide shutdown still fresh in our memories – and becoming...more
Wilson Sonsini’s 2025 Silicon Valley 150 Corporate Governance Report reviews the corporate governance practices and disclosures of Silicon Valley’s largest public companies. The report includes information regarding board...more
The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance has issued a statement outlining its new approach to handling shareholder proposal no-action requests under Exchange Act Rule 14a8 for the 2025–2026 proxy season....more
On October 9, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins delivered the keynote address at the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance’s 25th Anniversary Gala, providing details about what he calls his project to “make initial public...more
On June 20, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 2337 (SB 2337), which imposes new regulations on proxy advisory firms — such as ISS and Glass Lewis — when providing voting recommendations and other...more
Public companies are revisiting their disclosures to keep up with recent EOs and SEC developments this proxy season....more
In our earlier blog post, we discussed Staff Legal Bulletin 14M (SLB 14M), which rescinded prior Staff Legal Bulletin 14L (SLB 14L). The staff of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) indicated that SLB 14M is...more
In one of its first actions under the new Administration, the SEC staff issued new guidance that largely reinstated older guidance that had supported the ability of public companies to exclude shareholder proposals from their...more
Our Securities Group examines the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new guidance on the “economic relevance” and “ordinary business” exclusions for shareholder proposals....more
The 2023 proxy season is just around the corner. This quick reference guide, which is intended to supplement Shearman & Sterling’s 20th Annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, summarizes themes from the...more
On July 14, 2022, the SEC voted 3-2 to propose a rule adopting amendments to Rule 14a-8 (the Proposed Amendments), which requires companies subject to the federal proxy rules to include certain shareholder proposals in...more
On July 13, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed amendments to Rule 14a-8, which specifies the conditions under which companies can exclude shareholder proposals from the company’s proxy...more
As companies finalize materials for annual shareholder meetings, we recommend consideration of the following key requirements and disclosures: SEC proxy filing requirements; website and submission requirements; proxy...more
The 2022 proxy season is just around the corner. This quick reference guide, which is intended to supplement Shearman & Sterling’s 19th Annual Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey, summarizes themes from the...more
With the 2020 proxy and annual reporting season upon us, this Legal Update provides 10 tips for companies to consider when drafting annual reports on Form 10-K and proxy statements for filing with the US Securities and...more
As reporting companies advance in preparations of their 2019 annual report and 2020 proxy statement, this update includes a recap of some of the more significant disclosure rules adopted and other announcements published by...more
Our preliminary list of important planning considerations for the 2020 proxy season is set forth below. Directors’ and Officers’ Questionnaires; Committee Charters - We have identified only a few possible changes to...more
The 10-K and proxy season begins in a little over a month for companies with calendar fiscal year-ends. The following governance and disclosure developments should be considered in the course of preparing these filings....more
SEC Adopts Final Rules for Disclosure of Hedging Policies. On December 18, 2018, the SEC approved final rules regarding the disclosure of a company’s hedging practices or policies, as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act. This...more
It is already that time of year when public companies should be thinking about the 2019 proxy and annual reporting season. Advance planning greatly contributes to a successful proxy season, culminating with the annual meeting...more
For those who want to start preparing for the 2019 proxy season, our preliminary list of important considerations is set forth below: Review 162(m) Disclosures in Proxy Statements... ...more
Companies preparing for their annual shareholder meetings will need to consider a variety of factors, including new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements, guidance from Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc....more
The 2016 proxy season occurs in an environment of heightened shareholder activism and an ever-increasing focus on compensation and corporate governance disclosures. This Proxy Season Field Guide provides you with an overview...more