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The SEC’s New Universal Proxy Rules for Contested Director Elections: Implications for Shareholder Activism

Notice, Disclosure, Solicitation, Filing, and Formatting, and Other Requirements

Recording of a 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with Q&A

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Conducted on Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE webinar will discuss the SEC's new rules for universal proxy cards in contested director elections, the effect of these new rules on all director elections, including uncontested elections, the new proxy statement disclosures mandated by these new rules, and the potential game-changing impact of these new rules on shareholder activism.

Description

On Nov. 17, 2021, the SEC adopted final rules requiring the use of universal proxy cards in contested director elections that include all director nominees to be presented at a shareholders meeting. The regulations include notice, disclosure, solicitation, filing, formatting, presentation, and other mandates that will significantly change how contested board elections are conducted.

Currently, shareholders voting by proxy in contested elections cannot vote for a mix of director nominees from competing slates as they could if they voted in person at a shareholders' meeting. Universal proxy cards, including all duly nominated director candidates from the registrant and the dissident, will allow shareholders to vote through the proxy process just as they can vote in person.

Listen as our authoritative panel of speakers, with extensive experience advising on contested director elections and other forms of shareholder activism, discusses the SEC's new rules mandating the use of universal proxy cards in contested director elections.

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Outline

  1. Overview of the new universal proxy rules
  2. New Rule 14a-19
  3. New notice and filings requirements for all soliciting parties
  4. New formatting and presentation requirements for universal proxy cards
  5. New minimum solicitation requirements for shareholders presenting their slate of director candidates
  6. New requirements for all director elections, including uncontested elections, that mandate inclusion of "against" and "abstain" voting options on a proxy card where such options have legal effect under state law
  7. New requirements for disclosure in the proxy statement about the effect of all voting options provided on the universal proxy card
  8. Timelines for new disclosures in the annual meeting proxy statement
  9. Timeline for implementation of the new rules regarding the use of the universal proxy card and the voting options to provide on the universal card
  10. How the timeline for the implementation of the new rules could impact the timing of contested meetings in 2022

Benefits

The panel will review these and other essential issues:

  • Under what circumstances will a universal proxy card be required?
  • What new notice and filing requirements will be imposed on all soliciting parties?
  • How will the competing slates of director nominees be presented on a universal proxy card?
  • How will uncontested director elections be impacted by the new rules?
  • What new proxy statement disclosures will be required?
  • Why the universal proxy card could be a "game-changer" for shareholder activism and invite more shareholder activism and threatened proxy contests at annual meetings
  • What is the timeline for complying with the various requirements of the new rule?

Faculty

Ball, Thomas
Thomas Ball

Senior Vice President
Alliance Advisors

Mr. Ball is a Senior Vice President in the Proxy Solicitation Group at Alliance Advisors. He is a recognized expert...  |  Read More

Gottfried, Keith E.
Keith E. Gottfried

CEO
Gottfried Shareholder Advisory

Mr. Gottfried is the founder and CEO of Gottfried Shareholder Advisory LLC, a boutique strategic advisory/consulting...  |  Read More

Stronski, Neil
Neil P. Stronski

Partner
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

Mr. Stronski concentrates in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities law and general corporate...  |  Read More

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