by Heather L. Coleman, Matthew M. Friestedt, and Marc Treviño

Requires Description of any Hedging Policies or Practices Adopted, Not Specified Transactions; Will Apply to Most Companies Beginning in 2020

SUMMARY

On December 18, 2018, the SEC adopted rules requiring disclosure of policies and practices regarding hedging for directors, officers and employees of U.S. public companies.  These rules require public companies to describe, in any proxy or information statement relating to director elections, any practices or policies they have adopted regarding the ability of its directors, officers or employees to engage in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of equity securities of the public company or its affiliates. The rules cover both equity securities granted as part of compensation and those otherwise held directly or indirectly.

The final rules do not require any company to prohibit hedging transactions or to otherwise adopt hedging policies and do not require disclosure of any particular hedging transactions.

These rules will generally apply to proxy and information statements with respect to the election of directors during fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2019, although there is a one-year transition period for emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies. Continue reading →