Corporate governance - Vigil

Many public companies have received shareholder proxy access proposals in connection with their upcoming 2017 annual meetings and additional companies are likely to receive proposals in the coming months.

Just about every big business we can think of is organized as a corporation or something similar. But, what, exactly does the corporate form accomplish? What does it do that other forms of organization cannot, and what did its development in early modern England contribute to the making of the modern world?

With a Republican sweep of Congress and the executive branch, there will be a concerted effort this year to reform and restrain the current regulatory state.

It is an honor to speak with you again in honor of Alan B. Levenson, not only a legendary Director of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance and distinguished private practitioner, but also a founder of both this Institute and the annual “SEC Speaks” conference. It is a special honor today that Alan’s daughter Julie Levenson is with us to share her wonderful memories of her father. In these days of politics and partisanship, Alan Levenson stands out as the model public servant, reminding us all of what government service is about. Each day I was at the Commission, I witnessed the dedication and sacrifice that true commitment to public service requires. I am pleased to report that the SEC today remains a strong, independent agency doing a critical job in the finest tradition of Alan Levenson.

Ottawa, February 1, 2017—Canada’s best prospects for trade with China include mineral and agricultural products, services in the technical, financial, recreational and entertainment industries, and food manufacturing, according to new Conference Board of Canada research for the Global Commerce Centre.

2016 saw many notable developments in corporate governance litigation and related regulatory developments. In this article, we discuss significant judicial and regulatory developments in the following areas:

Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD), implemented in 2000, prohibits U.S. public companies from disclosing non-public information selectively. Section 100(b)(2)(iii) of the regulation, however, allowed issuers to disclose non-public information to credit rating agencies (CRAs) for the purpos