Increasing prevalence of non-GAAP measures in proxy statements

by Cydney Posner According to the WSJ, 2016 saw the biggest gap since 2009 between non-GAAP pro forma results and GAAP results. But non-GAAP measures are not just proliferating in earnings releases, they are also proliferating in proxy statements.  The WSJ article reports that, according to Audit Analytics, the term […]

SEC posts Regulatory Flexibility Agenda for 2017

by Cydney Posner As noted in Broc’s blog on thecorporatecounsel.net, the SEC has posted its  Regulatory Flexibility Agenda for 2017.  And, as Broc observes, these agendas are, to borrow his characterization, purely “aspirational,” and do not commit the SEC to take any of the actions identified or preclude its taking […]

House passes bill for five-year extension of JOBS Act exemption from auditor attestation requirement

by Cydney Posner On Monday, the House passed the Fostering Innovation Act of 2015, notwithstanding this  letter to Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi from the SEC’s Investor Advocate urging a vote against it.  The bill, which presumably now moves to the Senate for consideration, amends Section 404(b) of SOX  (internal […]

SEC posts new and revised CDIs on non-GAAP financial measures

by Cydney Posner The SEC’s verbal blitzkrieg on abuses of non-GAAP financial measures has finally made its way into some new and revised CDIs. As discussed in this PubCo post, in early May, SEC Deputy Chief Accountant Wesley Bricker, speaking before the 2016 Baruch College Financial Reporting Conference, emphasized that the […]

They’re baaack! PCAOB reproposes disclosure of “critical audit matters”

by Cydney Posner Last week, after five years of outreach, the PCAOB once again attempted to make the auditor’s report more relevant and informative to investors by reproposing the auditor reporting standard, The Auditor’s Report on an Audit of Financial Statements When the Auditor Expresses an Unqualified Opinion, and related […]

SEC approves PCAOB rule requiring identification of audit engagement partner on Form AP

by Cydney Posner On Monday, the SEC approved PCAOB rules requiring that, for each audit report, audit engagement partners be named on a new Form AP. The form will also disclose the names and Firm IDs, locations and extent of participation of any other accounting firms, outside of the principal auditor, […]

CEOs behaving badly? What do companies do?

by Cydney Posner CEOs ain’t misbehavin’? A new study from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, “Scoundrels in the C-Suite,” discusses the fallout from and responses to “bad behavior” by CEOs.  While “bad behavior” clearly includes illegal conduct, it may also include other types of questionable but not illegal behavior. […]

SEC staff continues to admonish companies on problematic use of non-GAAP measures

by Cydney Posner In remarks today before the 2016 Baruch College Financial Reporting Conference, SEC Deputy Chief Accountant Wesley Bricker discussed one of the SEC’s topics du jour, non-GAAP reporting.  Recently, the SEC and staff (Chair White, Chief Accountant James Schnurr, Corp Fin Director Keith Higgins) have been barnstorming the […]

SEC adopts final rule amendments completing rulemaking mandate under the JOBS Act

by Cydney Posner Yesterday, the SEC adopted final rule amendments to implement certain sections of the JOBS Act and the FAST Act. The amendments were adopted substantially as proposed in December 2014 (and once again without holding an open SEC meeting).  The amendments revise SEC rules to reflect the new, […]

OECD issues New Edition of OECD Due Diligence Guidance on conflict minerals and declassifies Report on Implementation of Guidance

by Cydney Posner Just in time for those Forms SD and conflict minerals reports, due May 31, the OECD has posted a new  edition of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, Third Edition. The third edition states that it “provides […]