SEC Proposes Amendments to U.S. Federal Proxy Rules

IR Best Practice Insights

SEC Proposes Amendments to U.S. Federal Proxy Rules

IR Best Practice Insights

January 2020

The proxy advisory industry has long been a lightning rod for controversy in the capital markets, with institutional investors generally defending the critical role proxy advisors play in assisting them in processing proxy votes for thousands of companies, while many corporates and industry groups have questioned their opacity, inaccessibility, and influence.

Despite the fact that proxy advisors have long operated in the face of this criticism, there has been no meaningful regulation of these firms that has significantly affected their operations or behavior.

 

That may be about to change. On November 5, 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed amendments (the “Proposed Rules”) to the federal proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).1 The Proposed Rules, which passed by a 3-2 vote of the SEC’s Commissioners, would impose additional disclosure and procedural requirements on proxy advisory firms under the federal proxy rules.

 

To outline the Proposed Rules and their potential impact, BNY Mellon Depositary Receipts, in association with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, has published an overview of the Proposed Rules as part of its IR Best Practices Insight series. This paper is presented in a Q&A format, and outlines key details and provides insights around possible scenarios should the Proposed Rules be adopted. At present, the Proposed Rules are standing for comment in compliance with the SEC’s 60-day comment period that is scheduled to end on February 3, 2020, unless extended.

For more information, please contact:

 

Guy Gresham
Group Head, Global IR Advisory & Investor Solutions
+1 212 815 4693
guy.gresham@bnymellon.com 

Karen Bodner
Head, Global IR Advisory
+1 212 815 2557
karen.bodner@bnymellon.com

Michael O’Brien
Senior Corporate Governance Specialist
+1 212 815 6007
michael.obrien@bnymellon.com

 

Matthew E. Kaplan
Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
+1 212 909 7334
mekaplan@debevoise.com


 

Securities and Exchange Commission (2019, November 5). Amendments to Exemptions from the Proxy Rules for Proxy Voting Advice. Retrieved December 16, 2019, from https://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed.shtml.

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