Compliance: Page 28


  • As SEC ramps up SPAC rules, lawsuits could follow

    The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to step up scrutiny of special purpose acquisition companies. If it does, sponsors and investors could start challenging it in courts, a former SEC commissioner says.

    By Robert Freedman • May 10, 2021
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    Permission granted by Terra Ingredients
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    ESG reporting

    Companies ignoring ESG may become 'uninvestable,' says investment bank chief

    Interest in sustainability goals is growing "enormously" and companies that ignore the trend risk rejection by investors, according to Larry Wieseneck, co-president of investment bank Cowen.

    By May 7, 2021
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from CFO Dive

    The promises and traps of generative AI, revamped modern finance teams and stark geopolitical risks are among the top forces CFOs are grappling with this year.

    By CFO Dive staff
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    Corporate tax rate unlikely to rise above 25%

    Along with the tax hike, mandatory ESG reporting and the treatment of remote workers are priorities that stand a good chance of congressional passage this year, a lobbyist for the accounting profession says.

    By Robert Freedman • May 7, 2021
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    Trump CFO Weisselberg on shaky ground by claiming ignorance

    Although CFOs aren’t expected to make legal decisions, they don’t have the luxury of a "don’t ask, don’t tell" approach, legal specialists say, because the financial and legal sides of complex issues are intertwined. 

    By Ted Knutson • May 6, 2021
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    PPP runs out of funds for most lenders

    About $8 billion remains available through MDIs and CDFIs, the Small Business Administration told banking trade groups Tuesday. But the portal has largely stopped accepting applications, the American Bankers Association said.

    By Dan Ennis • May 5, 2021
  • Under Armour hit with $9M fine for undisclosed 'pull forwards'

    The company accelerated revenue without disclosing material information to investors about the practice, the Securities and Exchange Commission says.  

    By Robert Freedman • May 4, 2021
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    ESG investing fails to outperform: study

    ESG investing offers neither superior returns nor risk protection, and investors seeking outperformance are looking “in the wrong place,” a Scientific Beta study finds.

    By May 4, 2021
  • President Joe Biden participates in a conference phone call with governors affected by a snowstorm in the Midwest and southwest Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in the Oval Office of the White House.
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    Retrieved from The White House.
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    Corporate inversions could return under Biden tax plan

    Despite hurdles, companies could merge with a smaller foreign company and relocate outside the U.S. to avoid a big tax bite.

    By Robert Freedman • May 4, 2021
  • SEC hits companies for hiding restatements before seeking filing delays

    The agency used data analytics to identify companies that sought a filing delay and then shortly afterward announced a correction to a previous filing. 

    By Robert Freedman • May 3, 2021
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Biden climate policy poses credit risks for 'carbon-intensive' companies: Moody's

    Biden administration plans for curbing climate change will increase credit risks for companies in carbon-intensive industries while creating business opportunities, Moody’s said.

    By April 30, 2021
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    Multinationals reported $6.16B in negative forex exposure for Q4: study

    A decline in negative foreign exchange impact during the fourth quarter was probably "the calm before the storm" that likely occurred during the first quarter of 2021, according to Kyriba.

    By April 29, 2021
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    SEC said to be weighing SPAC disclosure guidelines

    Whether or not guidance is issued, the agency is signaling concerns over "frothy" forward-looking statements in the hot alternative IPO market.

    By Robert Freedman • April 29, 2021
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    Fotolia
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    Biden tax hikes won't change company credit plans: Moody's

    Companies have shown they’re impervious to tax policy changes in part because of low interest rates and investors’ hunt for yield.

    By Robert Freedman • April 28, 2021
  • President Joe Biden participates in a conference phone call with governors affected by a snowstorm in the Midwest and southwest Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in the Oval Office of the White House.
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    Retrieved from The White House.
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    Biden plan would increase taxes on multinationals by $1.2 trillion over 10 years: study

    Biden’s proposal to raise corporate taxes to fund $2 trillion in infrastructure spending would harm U.S. competitiveness, the Tax Foundation says.

    By April 28, 2021
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    SPAC market during Q1 showed 'explosive growth': Duff & Phelps

    The SPAC market boomed during the first quarter of 2021, Duff & Phelps said, noting that SPAC warrants this month have come under regulatory scrutiny.

    By April 23, 2021
  • New SPAC scrutiny demands solid forecasts

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has signaled there’s no safe harbor for merger-related forward guidance if numbers aren’t justified.

    By Robert Freedman • April 20, 2021
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    Rising number of IRS corporate audits end in 'no change': tax expert

    Companies have outgunned IRS auditors with high-paid accountants and attorneys, pushing up the number of audits that result in no change to tax filings, tax experts say.

    By April 20, 2021
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    Democrats, Republicans finalizing draft LIBOR bill, pledging cooperation

    The legislative effort to smooth the phase-out of LIBOR will test whether the two parties can cooperate in heeding warnings from regulators of systemic risk.

    By April 19, 2021
  • FASB passes change on sales-type day-one lease losses

    The change aligns with what was in place before the accounting standards board made sweeping changes to the treatment of leases under ASC 842. 

    By Robert Freedman • April 16, 2021
  • Belvedere debuts new 'Made With Nature' brand platform
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    Courtesy of Belvedere
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    Deep Dive

    SEC cybersecurity tactics point to ESG approach, attorney says

    As the Securities and Exchange Commission builds investor protections on sustainable investing, CFOs can look to the agency's approach to cybersecurity for hints on how to prepare for disclosure rules and enforcement actions.

    By April 15, 2021
  • SEC taking hard look at SPAC warrants, disclosures

    A recent flurry of federal cautionary statements signals the hands-off days of special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) IPOs are over.   

    By Robert Freedman • April 15, 2021
  • Senate confirms Gensler to lead SEC in 53-45 vote

    While leading the Biden administration’s watchdog of Wall Street, Gensler is expected to toughen aspects of oversight that were eased during the Trump administration.

    By April 14, 2021
  • SEC in 'risk alert' warns that some ESG funds may mislead investors

    The SEC found that some investment companies may have made misleading statements on ESG investing processes and adherence to ESG frameworks.

    By April 12, 2021
  • Most companies will likely link executive pay to environmental targets: ING survey

    Spurred on by the pandemic, most companies are accelerating their “green transformation” and plan to tie executive pay to environmental goals, ING said in an ESG survey.

    By April 7, 2021
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    Coinbase's direct IPO could be hard act to follow

    High name recognition and strong investor interest are needed to go public when there’s no big underwriter or a road show to generate excitement, a capital raise specialist says.

    By Robert Freedman • April 7, 2021