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”

Armando Castro, Ann Yvonne Walker

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

Armando Castro, Ann Yvonne Walker

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”

Jackie Liu

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, Brooks Stough

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
William F. Alderman, Stephen E. Gillette, Mark P. Shuman

11:00  Networking Break

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

William F. Alderman, Stephen E. Gillette, Mark P. Shuman

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
Bruce K. Dallas, Mark P. Shuman and Panel

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
Michael S. Dorf

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
Jonathan W. Hughes

5:00  Adjourn
Chairperson(s)
Steven V. Bernard ~ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC
Speaker(s)
William F. Alderman ~ Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Mark A. Borges ~ Principal, Compensia, Inc.
Armando Castro ~ DLA Piper
Bruce K. Dallas ~ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Michael S. Dorf ~ Shearman & Sterling LLP
Stephen E. Gillette ~ Jones Day
Jonathan W. Hughes ~ Arnold & Porter LLP
Jackie Liu ~ Morrison & Foerster LLP
Mark P. Shuman ~ Legal Branch Chief, Information Technologies and Service, Division of Corporation Finance, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Brooks Stough ~ Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP
Ann Yvonne Walker ~ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC
Program Attorney(s)
Danielle T. Bersofsky ~ Program Attorney, Practising Law Institute

San Francisco Seminar Location

PLI California Center, 685 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105. (415) 498-2800

San Francisco Hotel Accommodations

The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94105. Call (800) 917-7456 seven days a week from 6:00 am to 12:00 am (PDT) and mention you are attending this program at Practising Law Institute to receive the preferred rate. For online reservations, go to www.sfpalace.com/pli to receive the preferred rate.

Due to high demand we recommend reserving hotel rooms as early as possible.

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Item# 35046
Location:  San Francisco, CA
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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.