Seminar  Seminar

Drafting Securities Filings 2012


Why you should attend

This workshop will analyze in detail the principal forms and certain drafting issues and techniques used in filings with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), with particular emphasis on the mechanics of and timing for assembling particular filings. Recent legislation, including the controversial Jumpstart Our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act and recent and proposed rule changes affecting disclosure obligations will be addressed as part of the topics covered.

What you will learn

  • Overview of the disclosure cycle and the integrated disclosure system; Regulation S-K
  • Exchange Act registration and reporting, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and more
  • Securities Act registration statements, including discussion of eligibility, the drafting process, incorporation by reference, “experts,” consents and shelf registration
  • Securities Act Section 5 - the communication rules and related filings
  • Broad overview of proxy statements, including when preliminary filings are required, the shareholder proposal process, as well as year-end timing and filing issues
  • Securities filings used in mergers, acquisitions and other significant corporate transactions
  • Section 16 filings
  • Mechanics and implications of risk disclosures in both Securities Act and Exchange Act filings
  • Review procedures in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance
  • The JOBS Act and continuing issues in securities filings resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Special Features
  • Earn one hour of Ethics credit
  • Earn Skills credit

Who should attend

Practitioners interested in learning about and understanding filings made under the U.S. federal securities laws, as well as those who would like a review of the area. This course may also be suitable for other corporate, litigation and business law attorneys who handle cases where issues under the securities laws can arise.

Day One:  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Morning Session:  9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

9:00  Introduction and Opening Remarks

Steven V. Bernard

9:15  Overview of the Federal Securities Laws

  • Securities Act of 1933 and related forms
  • Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and related forms
  • Integrated disclosure system
  • Regulation S-K - Summary of Line Item Disclosure
  • Regulation S-X
  • New rules for “emerging growth companies”

Steven V. Bernard, N. Adele Hogan

10:15  Filings Under the ’34 Act

  • Registration and filing “triggers” - Sections 12(b), 12(g) and 15(d) - effect of the JOBS Act
  • Section 13 filing requirements
  • Section 14 filing requirements
  • Section 16 filing requirements
  • Company vs. third party filings

Steven V. Bernard, Keir D. Gumbs

11:15  Networking Break

11:30  The Disclosure Cycle and Related Filings

A. The Duty to Disclose
  • Disclosure beyond the line items: the sources of the duty to disclose
  • Duty to update and duty to correct
  • Missing guidance - breaking the bad news
B. Quarterly Earnings Cycle
  • Earnings announcements and related filings; “outlook”; investor/analyst call
  • Quarterly report on Form 10-Q
  • Regulations G and FD and their effects on filings
C. Form 10-K Disclosure Requirements
  • Summary of contents
  • Coordination with proxy materials
Steven V. Bernard

12:30  Lunch Break

Afternoon Session:  1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

1:30  Current Report on Form 8-K
  • Events triggering obligation to file
  • Use of 8-K to satisfy other filing requirements
  • “Furnished” vs. “filed” reports
  • The “safe harbor”
  • 8-K “traps”
Janet L. Fisher

2:30  Networking Break

2:45  MD&A and the Annual Report to Shareholders
  • Relationship to financial statements and financial disclosure
  • Current Commission focus on MD&A topics
  • Enforcement actions
  • Additional disclosure items for the annual report to shareholders
  • MD&A drafting exercise
Steven V. Bernard, Mark A. Borges, Jeffrey S. Hochman

4:00  Proxy Statements
  • Up-to-the-minute overview of rules
  • Preliminary and definitive filings
  • Shareholder proposal process
  • Drafting CD&A and related compensation disclosures
  • Scaled executive compensation disclosures for “emerging growth companies”
Mark A. Borges

5:00  Adjourn

Day Two:  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Morning Session:  9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

9:00  Deconstructing the Registration Statement; the Regulatory Process
  • Form eligibility considerations (e.g., S-1, S-3)
  • The drafting process and how to add value
  • The new confidential review process for “emerging growth companies”
  • Making the initial filing
  • Responding to SEC comments
  • Confidential treatment requests
  • Incorporation by reference
  • “Experts” and consents
  • Section 5 and the communication rules
  • Electronic road shows
  • Liability issues and considerations
  • Risk disclosure
    - Drafting risk factors
    - PSLRA safe harbor rules
    - “Bespeaks caution” doctrine
  • Review procedures in the Division of Corporation Finance
    - Brief overview of the division
    - Processing ‘33 Act filings
    - Current Staff focus
Jay Ingram, Gideon Schor, Vasiliki B. Tsaganos

11:00  Networking Break

11:15  Deconstructing the Registration Statement; the Regulatory Process (Continued)

Jay Ingram, Gideon Schor, Vasiliki B. Tsaganos

12:30  Lunch Break

Afternoon Session:  1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

1:30  Current Issues in Securities Practice
  • The JOBS Act and other recent legislative developments
  • Recent judicial developments
  • Review of recent and proposed SEC rule changes
  • Continuing implications of Dodd-Frank
Steven V. Bernard, Mark A. Borges, William J. Chudd, N. Adele Hogan, Jay Ingram, Jeffrey D. Karpf

2:45  Networking Break

3:00  Securities Filings in M&A Transactions
  • ’33 Act issues - Form S-4 and Rule 425
  • Tender offers - Schedules TO and 14D-9
  • “Going Private” transactions - Schedule 13E-3
  • Exempt offerings in M&A transactions
    - Regulation D and fairness hearings
William J. Chudd

4:00  Ethical Dilemmas in Preparation and Review of SEC Filings
  • Ethical considerations in SEC practice
  • Lawyers as “gatekeepers”
  • The SEC’s “reporting up” rules
  • 2(e) (now 102(e)) proceedings
  • Implications of and experience under the 2010 whistleblower rules
Maura Barry Grinalds

5:00  Adjourn
Chairperson(s)
Steven V. Bernard ~ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC
Speaker(s)
Mark A. Borges ~ Principal, Compensia, Inc.
William J. Chudd ~ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Janet L. Fisher ~ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Maura Barry Grinalds ~ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Keir D. Gumbs ~ Covington & Burling LLP
Jeffrey S. Hochman ~ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
N. Adele Hogan ~ Hogan Law Associates PLLC
Jay Ingram ~ Legal Branch Chief, Division of Corporation Finance, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Jeffrey D. Karpf ~ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Gideon Schor ~ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC
Vasiliki B. Tsaganos ~ Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Program Attorney(s)
Danielle T. Bersofsky ~ Program Attorney, Practising Law Institute

New York City Seminar Location

PLI New York Center, 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street (21st floor), New York, New York 10019. Message Center, program days only: (212) 824-5733.

New York City Hotel Accommodations

Due to high demand and limited inventory in NYC, we recommend reserving hotel rooms as early as possible.

The New York Hilton & Towers, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. 1 block from PLI Center. Reservations 1-800-HILTONS or, 1-877-NYC-HILT. Please mention that you are booking a room under the Practising Law Institute Corporate rate and the Client File # is N495741. Reservations on line at www.hilton.com and enter the same Client File # in the Corporate ID # field to access Practising Law Institute rates.

The Warwick New York Hotel, 65 West 54th Street New York, NY 10019. 1 block from PLI Center. Reservations 800-223-4099 or, hotel direct 212-247-2700. Please mention that you are booking a room under the Practising Law Institute Corporate rate. Reservations on line at www.warwickhotelny.com Click reservations in menu bar on left. Select desired dates. In 'Special Rates' drop down window select Corporate Rate. In 'Rate Code' enter PLIN. Click search and select desired room type and rate plan. Or, you may email reservation requests to: res.ny@warwickhotels.com

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Special Note: In New York, newly admitted attorneys may receive CLE credit only for attendance at "transitional" programs during their first two years of admission to the Bar. Non-traditional course formats such as on-demand web programs or recorded items, are not acceptable for CLE credit. Experienced attorneys may choose to attend and receive CLE credit for either a transitional course or for one geared to experienced attorneys.  All product types, including on-demand web programs and recorded items, are approved for experienced attorneys.

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Item# 35045
Location:  New York, NY
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Seminar attendance includes course handbook and associated course materials. A downloadable course handbook will also be available several days prior to the program start for your review.