Governance & Securities Watch - Feed https://governance.weil.com/category/covid19-updates/ What's New: Updates from Weil’s Governance, Securities & Reporting Group Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:34:47 +0000 hourly 1 Looking Ahead to the 2022 Proxy Season: ISS Annual Policy Survey and New Climate Survey Topics Reflect Focus on ESG and Climate Risk Oversight and SPAC Transactions https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/looking-ahead-to-the-2022-proxy-season-iss-annual-policy-survey-and-new-climate-survey-topics-reflect-focus-on-esg-and-climate-risk-oversight-and-spac-transactions/ Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:57:00 +0000 https://governance.weil.com/?p=1562 Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has launched its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey (available here) along with a separate Climate Policy Survey (available here), signaling potential changes to voting policies for 2022. Topics covered in the Annual Policy Survey include non-financial environment, social and governance (ESG) performance metrics in executive compensation plans, racial equity audits, virtual-only annual […]

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]]> Key Priorities for Boards of Directors in 2021 https://governance.weil.com/latest-thinking/key-priorities-for-boards-of-directors-in-2021/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 20:22:00 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1472 Boards of directors continue to navigate a complex, unsettling environment following a year of geopolitical turmoil, social unrest, economic volatility and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, boards are challenged to establish a corporate purpose and a strategy that addresses the needs of a broad group of stakeholders that includes shareholders, employees, customers, […]

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]]> Audit Committee Update: 21 Financial Reporting Disclosure & Control Tips for 2021 https://governance.weil.com/latest-thinking/audit-committee-update-21-financial-reporting-disclosure-control-tips-for-2021/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 21:44:39 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1469 As audit committees move into overdrive to review the 2020 annual reports on Form 10-K of calendar-year companies, in this Alert we offer “tips” drawn from recent Securities and Exchange Commission rule changes, guidance, enforcement cases and staff comment letters. We also provide helpful insights for audit committees into the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s […]

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]]> Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: Glass Lewis Issues Policy Updates – New Policies Focus on Racial/Ethnic Board Diversity, ESG Risk Oversight, Board Refreshment, SPACs and Executive Compensation https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/heads-up-for-the-2021-proxy-season-glass-lewis-issues-policy-updates/ Tue, 08 Dec 2020 21:18:00 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1441 Glass Lewis has released updates to its proxy voting guidelines applicable generally for shareholder meetings held after January 1, 2021. Noteworthy changes focus on board diversity and refreshment, board oversight responsibilities relating to environmental, social and governance issues, special purpose acquisition companies and executive compensation topics. The updates also refine and codify certain other existing […]

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]]> Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: Insights & Warnings for Compensation Committees are Revealed in the Say-on-Pay Vote Results of Midyear Proxy Filers https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/heads-up-for-the-2021-proxy-season-insights-warnings-for-compensation-committees/ Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:20:32 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1438 Many Compensation Committees at calendar year-end companies are gearing up now for year-end meetings to consider whether executive compensation program adjustments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are warranted, and wondering how shareholders may react to those decisions. This alert provides a preview and early warning by examining the actions taken by quarter and midyear […]

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]]> Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: ISS Issues Policy Updates – New and Revised Policies Focus on Racial/Ethnic Board Diversity, ESG Risk Oversight, Board Refreshment and Exclusive Forum Provisions https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/heads-up-for-the-2021-proxy-season-iss-issues-policy-updates/ Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:14:52 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1436 Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has issued its proxy voting policy updates for shareholder meetings to be held on or after February 1, 2021. The key policy updates focus on board composition, including racial and ethnic diversity, board oversight responsibilities relating to ESG, and exclusive forum provisions. ISS also clarified that its COVID-19 guidance, will continue […]

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]]> Heads-Up for the Compensation Committee: ISS Issues FAQs on COVID-19-Related Pay Decisions – Provides Roadmap for CD&A Disclosures https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/heads-up-for-the-compensation-committee-iss-issues-faqs-on-covid-19-related-pay-decisions/ Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:36:48 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1430 As the 2021 proxy season approaches, compensation committees are actively assessing the unique challenges they face in making short- and long-term executive compensation decisions amidst the ongoing pandemic. Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS) has released frequently asked questions (FAQs) on how ISS will approach COVID-19-related pay decisions in the context of ISS’ qualitative pay-for-performance evaluation in […]

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]]> Looking Ahead to the 2021 Proxy Season: ISS Survey Results Could Signal Flexibility https://governance.weil.com/proxy-season-updates/looking-ahead-to-the-2021-proxy-season-iss-survey-results/ Thu, 01 Oct 2020 17:58:02 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1413 Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS) has released results of its annual policy survey previewing possible policy changes for the upcoming proxy season. The results primarily reflect the views of U.S. institutional investors and public companies and are available here. We expect that ISS will publish draft 2021 policy updates in late October and release final policy […]

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]]> SEC Staff Brings Down its Q1 COVID-related Reporting Guidance for Q2: Focus on Liquidity and Capital Resources, CARES Act Assistance, Ability to Continue as a Going Concern and High-Quality Financial Reporting https://governance.weil.com/covid19-updates/sec-staff-brings-down-its-q1-covid-related-reporting-guidance-for-q2/ Mon, 29 Jun 2020 20:24:56 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1382 As June 30 rapidly approaches, public companies are busy with the quarter’s close and planning their Q2 earnings releases and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Even with the experience of the first quarter under their belts, management faces an ongoing challenge of determining to what extent historical results may — or may not — be […]

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]]> The CARES Act: An Updated Guide to the Main Street Lending Program for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses https://governance.weil.com/covid19-updates/the-cares-act-an-updated-guide-to-the-main-street-lending-program/ Tue, 05 May 2020 20:37:53 +0000 http://governance.weil.com/?p=1357 On April 30, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced expansions to the scope and eligibility of the Main Street Lending Program following the solicitation of public comments. The Main Street Lending Program, originally announced on April 9, 2020, provides for the purchase by the Federal Reserve of up to $600 billion in loans to small […]

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