SEC : le temps du virtuel !
L’autorité boursière américaine a publié le 13 mars 2020 un guide en vue d’aider les grandes entreprises dans le contexte du COVID-19 pour les aider à organiser leurs assemblées annuelles virtuelles : « SEC Staff Provides Guidance to Promote Continued Shareholder Engagement, Including at Virtual Annual Meetings ».
Résumé
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that the SEC staff has published guidance to assist public companies, investment companies, shareholders, and other market participants affected by COVID-19 with their upcoming annual shareholder meetings. The guidance is designed to facilitate the ability of companies to hold these important meetings, including through the use of technology, and engage with shareholders while complying with the federal securities laws.
Under the guidance, the affected parties can announce in filings made with the SEC the changes in the meeting date or location or the use of “virtual” meetings without incurring the cost of additional physical mailing of proxy materials. The guidance also encourages companies to provide shareholder proponents with alternative means, such as by telephone, to present their proposals at the annual meetings in light of the difficulties that shareholder proponents face due to COVID-19.
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