SEC Gives Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) a Makeover
With the aim of eliminating certain duplicative disclosures, and modernizing and enhancing Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) disclosures for the benefit of investors while reducing the compliance burden on companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed amendments to simplify and enhance certain financial disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K. The proposed amendments, released January 30, 2020, are part of an ongoing re-evaluation of the current disclosure regime per the SEC’s recommendation in the Report on Review of Disclosure Requirements in Regulation S-K, which was mandated by Section 108 of the JOBS Act, adopted in 2012.
The proposed amendments would eliminate Items 301 (Selected Financial Data), 302 (Supplementary Financial Information) and 303(a)(5) (Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations in MD&A) of Regulation S-K, as well as revise a number of disclosure obligations under Item 303 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition … Read More »
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Issues Ruling on Conflict Minerals
On April 14, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued its opinion in the conflicts minerals case, National Association of Manufacturers, et al., v. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Court of Appeals upheld most aspects of the statute and the rule, but found that the statute and rule violate the First Amendment “to the extent that the statute and rule require regulated entities to report to the Commission and to state on their website that any of their products have not been found to be ‘DRC conflict free.’” The Court of Appeals remanded the case to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. As of this time, there is no reprieve for issuers from the requirement to file a Form SD or conflict minerals report with the … Read More »
