From Distance Meetings to Diversity Reports: 2020 Updates for NY State Businesses
As we move to the end of the 2025 AGM season, we have updated our analysis of how FTSE 350 companies have held their AGMs since January. Our review highlights emerging trends in shareholder communications, the evolution of...more
Despite being home to the Silicon Valley, California has not embraced with abandon virtual-only meetings of shareholders. Section 600(e) of the Corporations Code currently does not permit virtual only meetings unless one of...more
South Carolina-chartered corporations may now hold virtual meetings of shareholders whereby shareholders and proxy holders not physically present at the annual or special meeting location may participate by means of remote...more
Currently, the California Corporations Code prohibits a California corporation from conducting a meeting of shareholders solely by electronic transmission by and to the corporation, electronic video screen communication,...more
The Massachusetts Legislature recently extended the provisions of a special act that allows Massachusetts public companies and Massachusetts non-profit corporations to hold shareholder and member meetings entirely remotely....more
Last year, the California legislature enacted AB 663 (Chen) in order to provide California corporations with greater flexibility to hold virtual-only meetings of shareholders. Among other things, AB 663 amended Corporations...more
In September 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly passed, and Governor Roy Cooper signed into law, Session Law 2021-162 (House Bill 320), Part I of which includes amendments to the North Carolina Business Corporation Act...more
On September 20, 2021, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 320 into law, permitting North Carolina corporations to hold shareholders’ meetings solely by means of remote communication under the North Carolina...more
As discussed in our March 17, 2020 and April 3, 2020 client alerts, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the ability of North Carolina corporations to hold in-person meetings of shareholders. Because the North...more
Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker’s COVID executive order permitting public companies incorporated in Massachusetts to hold virtual-only shareholder meetings is set to expire on August 14, 60 days after the June 15 lifting...more
As we approach our 11th month of COVID-19 restrictions, the pandemic continues to evolve with new variants, while vaccination efforts move forward at a snail’s pace because of limited supplies in many states. Many hoped for a...more
As our clients and friends know, each year Mintz provides an analysis of the regulatory developments that impact public companies as they prepare for their fiscal year-end filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission...more
Holding Your Annual Meeting Virtually—Lessons Learned From 2020 - In light of the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it comes as no surprise that there was a dramatic increase in the number of virtual...more
Following an accelerated legislative procedure, the Temporary Act COVID-19 came into force in April 2020. The Act has retroactive effect until and including 16 March 2020. This "Emergency Act" provides, among other things,...more
As COVID-19 rages on, companies are again flocking to virtual annual meetings for the 2021 proxy season, but with one important difference: the luxury of time. Many companies are already exploring retention of virtual annual...more
In recognition of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Registrar of Corporations for nonresident domestic corporations formed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands has adopted new regulations addressing the conduct of...more
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are holding their annual stockholder meetings through either virtual or remote channels of communication (“virtual meeting”). Of those companies holding virtual meetings, a large...more
Among the many challenges companies are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic is how to conduct their shareholder meetings. Current social distancing requirements are effectively forcing companies to choose between postponing...more
In these unprecedented times of “shelter in home” orders, remote working, and other strategies Americans are taking to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19, we anticipate that many organizations will decide to...more
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEC staff provided guidance on changing the date time and place of an annual meeting, switching to a virtual shareholder meeting and certain matters related to shareholder proposals....more
On April 6, 2020, Governor John Carney of the State of Delaware issued the Tenth Modification of the Declaration of a State of Emergency for the State of Delaware Due to a Public Health Threat (the “Declaration”). The initial...more
With annual reports on Form 10-K publicly filed and first quarter earnings releases getting underway, proxy season – the annual practice of filing and distributing proxy statements, reserving meeting venues and courting...more
In recent weeks, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and market participants have dealt with the current and potential impact of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. To help market participants remain in...more
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is impacting every aspect of doing business, and annual meetings of shareholders are no exception. Each corporation is required by state corporation law, and usually its own bylaws, to hold...more
On April 1, 2020, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 125, which permits and encourages corporations incorporated in North Carolina to conduct all or any part of a shareholders’ meeting solely by...more