In a previous blog, we discussed some of the plusses and minuses of Title V of the JOBS Act which includes a crowdfunding component.  We talked about concerns that the crowdfunding exemption would give rise to abuses of the law without adequate oversight. Let’s take another look at more of the specifics of this controversial […]

65 new state law changes have been enacted regarding examinations and audits of abandoned property as of September 2012. States looking for additional revenue are passing laws that will allow them to dip into those funds earlier than previous laws allowed.   Abandoned property (sometimes referred to as unclaimed) refers to accounts in financial institutions […]

What is SVP? The Signature Validation Program is a plan designed to provide protection against fraud and forgery for non-securities transactions that are not covered under section 306 of the UCC. SVP Stamps are used across the investment industry to protect shareholder accounts from unauthorized maintenance or non-financial requests. How does SVP work? An officer […]

Micro-cap stocks are shares in companies that are not well-established, have a small number of shares in public hands (“thinly traded” shares) and often trade at less than $5.00 per share. The SEC is concerned about implementing new rules and regulations on micro-cap companies due to the potential increase in fraud. A majority of brokers […]

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board recently held a series of three roundtables on Mandatory Auditor Rotation. PCAOB believes that questions persist about whether more can and should be done to enhance auditor independence, objectivity and professional skepticism. Proposals are being considered both within and outside the U.S. for measures such as regulation of engagement […]

What We Learned in 2012 and What We Can Expect in 2013 At the recent MSTA conference, Carl Hagberg of Carl T. Hagberg & Associates and John Ferguson of Morrow & Co. LLC presented an open dialogue regarding the past proxy season as well as strategies for next year.  Here is a synopsis of their […]

Thanks to regulatory changes, 2012 is seeing some important modifications to ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) laws. Those changes will hopefully help ERISA pension plan participants and participants in company-sponsored employee savings plans better understand how those plans are managed. Along with the increased transparency surrounding the selection and monitoring of service providers, the […]