SEC regulatory compliance & reporting
The coronavirus pandemic has led to changes in operations that require increased attention to internal controls, Securities and Exchange Commission staff said at the AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments.
The SEC has voted to adopt amendments that are intended to modernize, simplify and enhance management’s discussion and analysis and other required financial disclosures.
The Securities and Exchange Commission voted to permit the use of electronic signatures in authentication documents and to facilitate electronic service and filing in the commission’s administrative proceedings.
The SEC voted to amend rules that govern its whistleblower program and the amount a shareholder must hold to have a proposal included in a company’s proxy statement.
The SEC announced rule changes that will change the disclosures bank and savings and loan registrants are required to provide investors.
The SEC voted to amend its rules for public company disclosures of the description of business, legal proceedings and risk factors. The commission also changed its definition of "accredited investor."
Public companies need to carefully consider their obligations in disclosing the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on their operations, liquidity, and capital resources, according to staff guidance issued by the SEC Division of Corporation Finance.
The SEC voted to amend its rules and forms for disclosing financial information about acquired or disposed businesses.
Responding to travel, mailing and other issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SEC has published updated staff guidance on shareholder meetings for companies and other issuers of public stock.
Companies that elect to defer or suspend FASB rules for credit losses or troubled debt restructurings in accordance with the CARES Act will not be found in violation of GAAP.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it has extended coronavirus-related filing relief provided to public companies, funds and investment advisers.
The SEC issued amendments that exempt smaller reporting companies with less than $100 million in revenue from the requirement to obtain attestation of their internal control over financial reporting from an outside auditor.
The SEC said public companies that have trouble meeting filing obligations because of the coronavirus outbreak may qualify for regulatory relief under certain conditions.
The SEC voted to propose amendments that would simplify disclosure requirements and issued guidance on key performance indicators and metrics in MD&A.
All issuers will be allowed to 'test the waters.'
The SEC is considering expanding opportunities for nonaccredited investors. That means more investors may be relying on private-equity fund valuations and auditors’ assessments of those valuations.
The SEC issued new rules for testing the waters on IPOs and modernizing regulation of ETFs. It also proposed amendments to enhance protections for investors.
Commission also proposes changes for disclosures on acquisitions and disposals.
The SEC voted to propose reducing the number of public companies required to obtain an attestation of their internal control over financial reporting from an independent auditor.
The SEC proposed rules changes designed to make disclosures less costly for acquisitions and disposals of businesses while preserving valuable information for investors.