Those lucky individuals who are responsible for EDGAR codes (for companies and Section 16 filers) are strongly encouraged to confirm this week that those EDGAR codes, specifically the CCCs (CIK Confirmation Codes) and Passphrases, are both (1) valid AND (2) current. EDGAR codes are valid if they are correct and are current if they have been established or reset since September 2019. Valid and current CCCs and Passphrases will be required to enroll in EDGAR Next via the EDGAR Next dashboard, and after Friday, March 21, the process for obtaining valid and current codes will be more tedious.
Disclosure
SEC Expands Accommodations for Draft Registration Statements
On March 3, 2025, the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it is further expanding existing accommodations to allow more companies to confidentially submit draft registration statements for nonpublic review. These accommodations provide more flexibility for certain companies to initiate registration of their securities, spin-offs, and other offering processes without making the process initially public.
Proxy Reporting of 5% Shareholders’ Beneficial Ownership Based on 13G Filings
Among the many new rules and considerations affecting proxy season disclosures this year, one of the more subtle changes affects beneficial ownership disclosure pursuant to S-K Item 403(a). That rule requires companies to report the beneficial ownership of their greater than 5% shareholders “as of the most recent practicable date,” with beneficial ownership being determined in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 13d-3. In years past, all Schedule 13G filers were required to file amendments within 45 days after the end of the calendar year to report any change to their previously reported holdings.
SEC Signals Potential Strategy Shift in Climate Disclosure Rule Litigation
On Tuesday, Mark Uyeda, Acting Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), issued a statement signaling potential updates to the SEC’s position in the ongoing legal challenges to its climate disclosure rule. As previously reported, the SEC stayed its climate disclosure rule last year pending the outcome of the related consolidated litigation before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
SEC Lawsuit Against Elon Musk: Late is Late . . . Whether You Report on Schedule 13G or 13D
In an interesting development in the week leading up to the 2025 inauguration of President Donald Trump, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced a legal action against Elon Musk. In its complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (the “Court”) on January 14, 2025 (the “Complaint”), the SEC alleges Musk failed to timely file a Schedule 13D after acquiring over five percent of the outstanding shares of common stock (the “Shares”) of Twitter, Inc. (the “Company” or “Twitter”). The late filing resulted in a violation of Section 13(d)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 13d-1(a) thereunder, both of which impose strict liability for such reporting failures. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of any ill-gotten gains, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.
California Solicits Input On—and Issues Enforcement Update For—Future Climate Reporting
Request for Comments. On December 16, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) issued a request for public feedback and information regarding certain implementing regulations for Senate Bill (“SB”) 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and SB 261 (the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act). As a reminder, SB 253 requires U.S. companies doing business in California with annual revenues over $1 billion to begin reporting Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions in 2026 and Scope 3 GHG emissions in 2027. SB 261 requires U.S. companies doing business in California with annual revenues over $500 million to biennially report on climate-related risks and their steps to mitigate such risks, with the first report due on or before January 1, 2026. Both SB 253 and SB 261 make CARB responsible for the laws’ enforcement and for adopting certain implementing regulations.
Preparing for California’s Climate Reporting Legislation – Takeaways from Recent Amendments and Early AB 1305 Reporting Trends
Last year, California adopted a trio of laws requiring certain public and private companies to provide climate-related disclosures. As a quick refresher:
- Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (Senate Bill 253). For U.S. companies doing business in California with annual revenues over $1 billion, Senate Bill (“SB”) 253 requires them to report their greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions annually beginning in 2026 (for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions) and 2027 (for Scope 3 emissions).
- Greenhouse Gases: Climate-related Financial Risk (Senate Bill 261). For U.S. companies doing business in California with annual revenues over $500 million, SB 261 effectively requires them to begin biennial reporting in 2025 regarding their “climate-related financial risks” and adopted measures to reduce or adapt to them.
- Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures (Assembly Bill 1305). For companies that make certain environmental claims, adopt particular environmental goals, or purchase, use, market, or sell voluntary carbon offsets in California, Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1305 requires annual website disclosure providing support for those claims, goals, or offsets.
Early Insights from the Insider Trading Policies Filed by S&P 500 Companies under the SEC’s New Exhibit Requirement
I. Introduction
For fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2023, domestic public companies are required to disclose whether they have adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and/or other dispositions of their securities by their directors, officers and employees, or the companies themselves, and if so to file those policies and procedures as an exhibit to their annual reports on Form 10-K.[1] While calendar year companies must comply with these requirements in their Form 10-K for, or proxy statement following, the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, 49 S&P 500 companies had addressed these requirements in filings as of June 30, 2024.[2]
Important Reminder to 13F Filers – New Vote Reporting Disclosures Required on Form N-PX (due August 31, 2024)
As a quick reminder, all institutional investment managers filing 13F reports under the Exchange Act (“13F Filers") are subject to a new requirement this year to file a Form N-PX by August 31, 2024. Form N-PX includes disclosures regarding certain executive compensation-related proposals described below.
Preparing for CDP’s New Sustainability Reporting Platform
Earlier this month, CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) announced the launch of a new environmental disclosure platform. CDP is a non-profit that scores and assesses participating companies and cities, states, and regions on climate, deforestation, and water security topics. According to CDP, over 23,000 companies (representing two-thirds of global market capitalization) disclosed through CDP in 2023.