Big Deals Continue, Despite Headwinds in Healthcare

July 30, 2019 Healthcare

Despite headwinds that threatened to throw off healthcare deals, mergers and acquisitions were active in 2019.  Even big deals weren’t off the table, despite the uncertainty created by a federal judge’s 2018 decision that the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. In fact, some of the biggest deals of early 2019 were in the healthcare space.

Two Activism Trends That Might Menace Your Board

July 8, 2019 All Industries

In the past few years activists have broadened their horizons, targeting even small and mid cap companies. Institutional investors are supporting activists more and more, and if you didn’t already have enough keeping you up at night, there are two new trends in this ever evolving landscape that put your company at risk.

Considering Going Public? What Senior Executives Need to Know Before They Go

June 18, 2019 All Industries

Every year, growing companies consider exploring public markets, where they can find the huge benefit of immediate access to capital. But taking that step also can be a large expense, and it can change the way companies operate, what management teams focus on and how autonomous they are. Senior executives making decisions about going public have a lot to think about.

Human Capital Management – New Regulation Taking Shape

May 31, 2019 All Industries

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee voted to ask the SEC to investigate whether public companies should be required to disclose information around the idea of human capital management. Analysis is underway. While it won’t impact you this proxy season, here’s what you need to know.

ESG Shareholder Proposals

May 8, 2019 All Industries

2019 could be the year of the human, at least where shareholder proposals are concerned. Proposals this year run the gamut, from talent and diversity, to battling plastics and opioids. A snapshot of four human issues making the rounds at annual meetings.

2019 Proxy Season: Achtung Baby

April 30, 2019 All Industries

Another proxy season is underway—leaders beware. Although the usual concerns of corporate governance, executive compensation and regulatory disclosures abound, new, specific worries sit under each of those umbrellas. Under compensation, one proxy advisory firm has a new way to evaluate compensation metrics. Within the disclosure realm, the optics of pay ratio disclosure will continue to create flashy headlines in 2019. Approach with caution.