SEC - Mahony Partners

Nov

2021

Shareholder Meetings May Never be the Same

Corporate annual meetings – normally staid affairs – could be more dramatic next year thanks to two developments: the universal proxy ballot and the growing clout of retail shareholders. Both factors will put a premium on effective communication by companies and boards. Last week, the SEC approved a new rule requiring companies to use a universal proxy ballot in contested director elections. Long sought by the largest institutional investors, the universal proxy puts all board candidates on a single slate and clearly identifies the individu... Read More

Jun

2019

Investors Weigh the Limits of Voluntary Climate Actions

Climate Change

Investors who follow climate risk have had a dizzying few weeks. Beyond the reports about record-setting floods in the Midwest and predictions of a climate apocalypse, there were climate-related shareholder votes at two big oil companies and a progress report on corporate climate disclosures. Read More

May

2019

Pressure Grows on SEC to Act on Climate Disclosure

Climate Change, Financial Services

These days it seems a U.S. official can mention climate change only when they’re outside the country. A case in point is William Hinman, who heads the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance and addressed climate risk at a conference in London. Mr. Hinman spoke about the disclosure of complex risks, and he mentioned climate risk only briefly at the end of his remarks. It was just a few sentences, but his words were the most anyone from the SEC has said in years on a topic of growing importance to investors. Read More

Jun

2016

Lululemon’s Phantom Director

Crisis, Financial Services

Can a public company have a phantom director and refuse to answer questions about it? Lululemon Athletica thinks so. But will it prompt big investors to take a tougher stand on director elections? (more…) Read More

Jan

2016

BlackRock Plays the Victim in ETF Drama

Crisis, Financial Services

Portraying yourself as a victim can be a great communication strategy. It deflects attention and can even arouse sympathy. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has been playing the part masterfully ever since a volatile stock market exposed flaws in one of his company’s biggest products. But is BlackRock the victim - or the villain? Read More

Oct

2015

Is Businesswire Doomed?

Uncategorized

Goldman Sachs released its quarterly results last week over Twitter, abandoning the news distribution services it had used since becoming a public company in 1999. It’s welcome news for Twitter, which could use the boost, but not for Businesswire and PRNewswire, the two giants in the news services industry. Silence from the SEC suggests more companies could follow. (more…) Read More

Aug

2014

Bill Ackman’s Lesson in the Language of Takeovers

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

As a general rule, it’s a bad idea for a money manager to utter the words “insider trading” in any context. Hedge fund titan Bill Ackman is learning that lesson as the SEC begins an Read More

Jul

2013

The SEC Allows Private Fund Marketing: Now What?

Advertising, Financial Services

The SEC has just opened the door for broad public marketing of investments from start-ups, hedge funds and private equity firms, breaking a taboo that has been in place for 80 years. No, we’re not likely to see Henry Kravis pitch buyout funds on late-night television alongside ads for pizza and discount furniture. But some things will change. Here’s a look at five. Read More

Feb

2013

Goldman’s Heinz Problem

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

Although it is Wall Street’s biggest deal advisor, Goldman Sachs is not advising on the mammoth $28 billion takeover of Heinz. But the firm is involved in the widening investigation about suspicious options trades that came from a Goldman client account in Zurich just before the deal was announced. Goldman isn’t accused of wrongdoing, but its communication strategy – if it has one – is doing nothing to help the firm’s battered reputation. Read More