CHAPTER 1. Certificate of Incorporation
-
Significance of Certificate of Incorporation
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Amendment of Certificate
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Fees to Maintain Certificate of Incorporation
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Inclusion of Social Responsibility Provisions
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Appendix 1A: Certificate of Incorporation (Delaware)
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Appendix 1B: Action by Written Consent of Board of Directors Amending
Certificate of Incorporation (Delaware)
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Appendix 1C: Certificate of Amendment (Delaware
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Appendix 1D: Written Consent of Stockholders Approving Certificate of
Amendment (Delaware)
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Appendix 1E: Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (MBCA)
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Appendix 1F: Form of Certificate of Formation (Delaware)
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Appendix 1G: Form of Limited Liability Company Agreement (Delaware)
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Appendix 1H: Required Language for a B Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation
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Appendix 1I: Language of the B Corporation Declaration of Interdependence
CHAPTER 2. Bylaws
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Purpose of Bylaws
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Adoption, Amendment, and Repeal of Bylaws
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Appendix 2A: Bylaws (Delaware)
CHAPTER 3. Shareholders’ Meetings
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Need for Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
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Notice of Meetings
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Inspectors of Election
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Ballots
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Conducting an Annual Meeting of Shareholders
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Shareholder Action—Written Consent
-
Overview of the Federal Proxy Rules
-
Electronic Stockholders’ Meetings
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Appendix 3A: Sample Schedule for Annual Meeting and Proxy Preparation
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Appendix 3B: Sample Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
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Appendix 3C: Sample Annual Meeting of Stockholders Internal Agenda and Script
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Appendix 3D: Sample Rules of Governing Conduct of an Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
CHAPTER 4. Shareholder Solicitations
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Required Distributions to Shareholders
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Delivery of Shareholder Communications
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Transmittal Options
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NOBOs
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Search Notices
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Respondent Banks
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Omnibus Proxies
-
Householding
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Voting
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Appendix 4A: Sample Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
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Appendix 4B: Sample Disclosure in Proxy Statement on Householding
CHAPTER 5. Shareholder Voting
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Basics of the Voting Process
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Quorum Requirements
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Discretionary Broker Voting, Broker Non- Votes, and Abstentions
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Disclosure of Voting Requirements
-
Preferred and Non-Voting Shares
-
Election of Directors
-
Discretionary Authority
-
Executive Compensation Approval
-
Requirements Under NYSE and NASDAQ
-
Electronic Voting
-
Appendix 5A: Sample Proxy Language
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Appendix 5B: Sample Proxy Cards
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Appendix 5C: Proxy Presumptions
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Appendix 5D: Skip Snail Mail—How Public Companies Can Deliver Documents
Electronically
CHAPTER 6. Shareholder Proposals
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Definition of Shareholder Proposal
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Regulation of Shareholder Proposals
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Company Choices upon Receipt of Shareholder Proposal
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Negotiations of Shareholder Proposals
-
Majority Voting Proposals
-
Proposals Relating to Compensation
-
Proposals Relating to Corporate Governance
-
Proposals Relating to Climate Change and Environmental Concerns and Social
Issues
-
Proposals Relating to Special Meetings
-
Process of Excluding Proposals
-
Procedural Bases for Exclusion
-
Substantive Bases for Exclusion
-
Presentation of Shareholder Proposals in Proxy Statements
-
Appendix 6A: Sample Shareholder Proposal and Supporting Statement
-
Appendix 6B: Sample Proxy Language for Submission of Shareholder Proposals
-
Appendix 6C: Timeline for Processing Shareholder Proposals
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Appendix 6D: Checklist for Processing Shareholder Proposals
-
Appendix 6E: Practical Pointers for Stockholders
-
Appendix 6F: Practical Pointers for
-
Appendix 6G: Publication of SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal
Bulletin No. 14 (CF) (July 13, 2001)
-
Appendix 6H: Publication of SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal
Bulletin No. 14A (July 12, 2002)
-
Appendix 6I: SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14B
(CF)(September 15, 2004)
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Appendix 6J: SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14C
(CF)(June 28, 2005)
CHAPTER 6A. Climate Change
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Disclosure and Proposals
-
Climate Change Disclosure Requirements
-
Proposals Relating to Climate Change and Environmental Concerns
-
Appendix 6A-A: Sample Climate Change Disclosure
CHAPTER 7. Board Meetings
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Board Responsibilities
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Board Action
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Meeting Notice
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Quorum Requirements
-
Proxy Voting
-
Meeting Frequency and Length
-
Meeting Agendas
-
Meeting Attendance
-
Executive Session Meetings of Independent Directors
-
Corporate Governance Guidelines
-
Appendix 7A: Sample Resolutions of the Board of Directors
-
Appendix 7B: Sample Unanimous Written Consent of the Board of Directors
CHAPTER 8. Minutes of Board Meetings
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Keeping Minutes
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Finalizing, Approving, and Storing Minutes
-
Document Retention
-
Policy Regarding Minutes
-
Review of Minutes in Connection with SEC Filings
-
Secretarial Certificates
-
Shareholder Rights
-
Appendix 8A: Sample Minutes of Compensation Committee
-
Appendix 8B: Sample Report of the Compensation Committee (Reflecting Actions
Taken in Sample Minutes)
-
Appendix 8C: Sample Minutes of Annual Meeting of Directors
-
Appendix 8D: Sample Secretarial Certificate: Election of Officer
-
Appendix 8E: Sample Secretarial Certificate: Banking Authorities
-
Appendix 8F: Sample Minutes of Special Meeting of Directors for the Purpose of
Reviewing a Proposed Merger
CHAPTER 9. Board Materials
-
Collection and Dissemination of Information
-
Quantity of Information
-
Timing the Delivery of Information
-
Types of Information in Board Materials
-
Methods of Delivering Information
-
Corporate Governance Guidelines
CHAPTER 10. Board Composition and Compensation Practices
-
Board Composition
-
Rules Affecting Board
-
Composition Compliance with NYSE, NYSE Amex, and NASDAQRules
-
Board Compensation Practices
-
Board Compensation
-
Stock-Related Compensation
-
OtherForms of Compensation
-
Disclosure
-
Appendix 10A: Sample Director Compensation
CHAPTER 11. Board Committees
-
Role of Corporate Secretaries
-
Committee Formation
-
Table 11-1. Some Regulatory Requirements Governing Board’s Formation of a
Committee
-
Appointment of Committee Members Committee Composition
-
Types of Committees: Executive Committee; Audit Committee; Compensation
Committee; Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Finance Committee;
Advisory Committee on Contributions; Public Issues Committee; Risk Committee;
Management Disclosure Committee; Special Committee
-
Committee Action and Authority
-
Disclosure Committee Member Orientation
-
Committee Member Liability
-
Appendix 11A: Sample Bylaw Provisions Establishing Board Committees
-
Appendix 11B: Sample Resolutions Establishing Special Litigation Committee
-
Appendix 11C: Sample Resolutions Establishing Audit Committee Financial Expert
-
Appendix 11D: Sample Charter of Executive Committee
-
Appendix 11E: Sample Charter of Risk Committee
CHAPTER 12. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
-
Nominating Committee
-
Appendix 12A: Sample Charter of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
-
Appendix 12B: Board Self-Evaluation Questionnaire
-
Appendix 12C: Examplesof New Proxy Disclosure Required with Regard to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
CHAPTER 13. Compensation Committee Functions
-
Compensation Committee Composition
-
Charter and Recordkeeping
-
Compensation Committee Disclosure In General
-
Compensation Committee Consultants
-
Compensation Committee Consultant
-
Specific Disclosure
-
Incentive-Based Compensation
-
Arrangements For Financial
-
Services Firms
-
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
-
Say-On-Pay
-
Appendix 13A: Sample Charter of Compensation
-
Appendix 13B: Statement by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner on Compensation
(June 10, 2009
-
Appendix 13C: TARP Certification
CHAPTER 13A. Say on Pay
-
Appendix 13A-A: Example of Say-on-Pay Proxy Proposal
-
Appendix 13A-B: Example of Say-on-Pay Frequency Proposal
CHAPTER 14. Audit Committees
-
Audit Committee Functions
-
Audit Committee Composition
-
Financial Qualifications
-
Audit Committee Charter
-
Audit Committee Certification
-
Disclosure
-
Appendix 14A: Sample Audit Committee Charter
-
Appendix 14B: Examples of Pre-Approval Policies
-
Appendix 14C: Audit Committee Self-Evaluation Questionnaire
-
Appendix 14D: Short-Form Audit Committee Charter
CHAPTER 14A. Risk Assessment
-
Appendix 14A-A: Sample Risk Assessment Disclosure
CHAPTER 15. Indemnification and D&O Insurance
-
Indemnification Insurance Coverage
-
Notification of Insurable Event
-
Disclosure
-
Mergers and Acquisitions
-
Appendix 15A:10Items Public Companies Should Consider Before Buying D&O
Insurance
-
Appendix 15B: SEC Press Release Regarding Lucent Technologies Inc.
-
Appendix 15C: Sample Indemnification Agreement
CHAPTER 16. Electronic Filings, EDGAR, and XBRL
-
Scope of EDGAR
-
Recent Developments
-
XBRL
-
Hypertext Links
-
Internet Use Document Retrieval
-
Civil Liability
-
Appendix 16A: Common EDGAR Filing Mistakes
-
Appendix 16B: Common XBRL Filing Mistakes
CHAPTER 17. Section 16
-
Purpose
-
Enforcement
-
Reporting System
-
Insider Status
-
Reportable Securities
-
Forms 3, 4, and 5
-
Derivative Securities
-
Filing Responsibilities
-
Disclosure of Delinquencies
-
Corporate Secretary’s Responsibilities
-
Electronic Filing
-
Appendix 17A: Sample Board Resolution Designating Section 16 Officers
-
Appendix 17B: Memorandum Summarizing Compliance with Section 16 (with Exhibits)
CHAPTER 18. Insider Trading
-
Definition of Insider Trading
-
Application
-
Definition of Material Non-Public Information
-
Definition of Window Periods
-
Avoiding Liability
-
Enforcement and Penalties
-
Exchange Regulation of Insider Trading
-
Appendix 18A: Sample Insider Trading Policy
CHAPTER 19. Dividend Declarations, Stock Splits, Treasury Stock, and
Repurchase Plans
-
Definition of Dividend
-
Authority and Process of Declaration
-
Notification to Transfer Agent and Others
-
Record, Payment, and Ex-Dividend Dates
-
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits
-
Treasury Stock
-
Stock Repurchase Plans
-
Appendix 19A: Sample Board Resolutions Approving Cash Dividend
-
Appendix 19B: Sample Press Release Announcing Dividend
-
Appendix 19C: Sample Board Resolutions Approving Stock Dividend
-
Appendix 19D: Sample Board Resolutions Approving Stock Repurchase Program
CHAPTER 20. Transfer Agents
-
Stock Transfer Agents—Role, Obligations, Laws, and Liability
-
Issuing and Transferring Shares
CHAPTER 21. Corporate Disclosure and Regulation FD
-
Disclosure Coordinator and Disclosure Committee
-
Disclosure Controls and Procedures and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
-
Material Information
-
Selective Disclosure and Regulation FD
-
Securities Offering Reform
-
Best Practices Guidelines
-
Earnings Guidance
CHAPTER 22. Website Disclosure, E-Forums, and Other Electronic
Communications
-
Website Disclosure Requirements
-
Website Hyperlinks
-
Up-to-Date Websites .
-
Types of Information Posted Corporate Intranets E-Forums and Other Electronic
Communications
CHAPTER 23. Executive Compensation and Related Person Disclosure
-
Overview
-
Compensation Disclosure and Analysis
-
Executive Compensation Tables; Named Executive Officer; Director Compensation;
Perquisites; Tabular Disclosure
-
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management Transactions
with Related Persons, Promoters, and Certain Control Persons
-
Corporate Governance
-
Disclosure of Compensation Policies and Risk Management Revisions to the
Summary Compensation Table
-
Enhanced Director and Nominee Disclosure
-
Considerations of Diversity in Nominations
-
New Disclosure About Company Leadership Structure
-
Expanded Disclosures About Compensation Consultants’ Fees and Services
-
Current Reporting and Voting Results
-
Stock Option Timing
-
Compensation Practices and Disclosure
-
Obligations in the Current Economic Environment
CHAPTER 24. Corporate Governance Guidelines
-
Basics of Corporate Governance Guidelines
-
Making Guidelines Publicly Available
-
Considerations When Drafting Corporate Governance Guidelines
-
Appendix 24A: Corporate Governance Policy (Annotated Discussion Draft)
(September 2010)
-
Exhibit A: Guidelines for Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics
CHAPTER 25. Corporate Governance Listing Standards Applicability
-
Certifications and Written Affirmations
-
Board Composition
-
Board Committees
-
Failure to Comply
-
Appendix 25A: Overview of NYSE and Nasdaq Corporate Governance Rules
-
Appendix 25B: NYSE Listed Company Manual, Section 303A Corporate Governance
Standards, Frequently Asked Questions (Revised January 4, 2010)
-
Appendix 25C: Nasdaq, Corporate Governance Rules and the Interpretative
Process, Frequently Asked Questions
CHAPTER 26. Internal Investigations
-
Initiating an Internal Investigation
-
Who Should Conduct the Investigation
-
Conducting the Investigation
-
Conducting Interviews
-
Maintaining Confidentiality and Privilege
-
Reporting the Findings of the Internal Investigation
-
Appendix 26A: Sample Litigation Hold Memorandum
CHAPTER 27. Whistleblower Claims Under Sarbanes-Oxley and Section 21F of
the Exchange Act
-
Covered Entities
-
Initiation and Investigation
-
Appealing the Preliminary Decision
-
Alternate Route:Federal District Court
-
Elements of the Employee’s Claim
-
Remedies
-
Criminal Penalties
-
Release of SOX Claims
-
Arbitration of SOX Claims
-
Issue Preclusion
-
Expanding Federal Protection and Whistleblowers Incentives
-
Limiting Liability and Protecting Against Retaliation Claims
-
Appendix 27A: Sample Anti-Retaliation Policy
CHAPTER 28. Document Retention Policies
-
Purpose and Scope
-
Design and Operation
Table of Websites
Index