Category: Securities

SEC Issues New Cybersecurity Guidance

On February 26, the SEC published interpretive guidance to assist public companies in preparing disclosures about cybersecurity risks and incidents. The SEC’s new guidance reinforces and expands on its October 2011 guidance, emphasizing the importance of adopting sound cybersecurity policies and procedures and safeguards against insider trading in the event of a potentially material cybersecurity breach....

Status Check on the SEC’s Proposed Overhaul of the Mining Disclosure Regime (Part 2)

The SEC is aiming to finalize its new mining disclosure rules within the next year, according to statements made last week by William Hinman, Director of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, at the Securities Regulation Institute. For more details regarding the SEC’s original 2016 proposal to revamp the rules, and reactions by industry, see...

Changes to Upcoming Auditor’s Reports

The United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) issued new standards for auditor’s reports that will effect Canadian issuers who are SEC registered. The initial changes go into effect for issuers with fiscal years ending after December 15, 2017. Our understanding is that some Canadian auditors for issuers who are MJDS eligible will try...

Status Check on the SEC’s Proposed Overhaul of the Mining Disclosure Regime

About 18 months have passed since the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published its bold attempt to modernize the disclosure requirements for mining companies that are listed on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise report to the SEC. With final rules not yet adopted, the fight for a streamlined reporting regime continues. The SEC’s proposed...

Do You Need a Risk Factor for Proposed U.S. Federal Income Tax Reform?

Tax reform efforts by Congress are ongoing, and the substance of the tax bills remains fluid. However, for foreign corporations with U.S. operations, there are some specific potential risks to consider, such as additional limitations on the deductibility of interest, the migration from a “worldwide” system of taxation to a territorial system, and the use...

Annual Report Reminders for Foreign Private Issuers

There are a couple of recent developments that we would like to remind issuers to keep in mind for their upcoming annual reports. Foreign private issuers who prepare their financial statements in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) will be required to file their annual audited financial statements in XBRL format in respect...

Are Your Private Placement Documents Up To Date?

Over the last few years, many Canadian junior resource companies and startup companies have cut back on their legal spend, not necessarily undertaking a legal review of each new private placement of securities, or limiting their review to a Canadian one. Yet over this same time frame, the applicable U.S. rules and relevant interpretations have...

Equifax Data Breach: Preliminary Lessons for the Adoption and Implementation of Insider Trading Policies

The recent data breach at Equifax, a major credit rating agency, has provided an unexpected reminder of the importance of well-structured insider trading policies. Following last week’s announcement of the data breach, it was disclosed that certain Equifax executives, including its Chief Financial Officer, sold a portion of their holdings after the cyberattack was discovered,...

Regulation A+ May Become Available To SEC Reporting Issuers

On September 5, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed (by a vote of 403-3) the Improving Access to Capital Act. The Act directs the SEC to amend Regulation A+ to allow SEC reporting issuers to use Regulation A+ when raising capital, and to deem their SEC periodic reports to satisfy the periodic and...

NYSE Rule Change For Dividends and Distributions

Readers listed on the NYSE will want to note a recent rule change. Effective immediately, notification of public announcements regarding dividends or stock distributions must be provided to the NYSE at least ten minutes prior to public release, even after market close. Read more in the post from our partner Jason Brenkert here: https://governancecomplianceinsider.com/nyse-rule-change-requires-ten-minutes-advance-notice-of-public-announcement-of-dividends-or-stock-distributions/