Tag: EDGAR

SEC Issues Exemptive Order And Technical Guidance On The Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act

In February 2026, the SEC issued an Exemptive Order and a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as part of its ongoing implementation of the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (“HFIAA”).  The HFIAA expands insider reporting obligations under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act to officers and directors of foreign private issuers (“FPIs”).  For a detailed description of the HFIAA and a useful checklist for its use, see HERE.

As allowed by the HFIAA the exemptive order exempts certain persons from the new requirements where they are subject to the laws of a foreign jurisdiction that apply substantially similar requirements to such person.  While the default requirement is that FPI insiders must file Forms 3, 4, and 5 via EDGAR beginning March 18, 2026, the new Exemptive Order provides a specific, conditional path for insiders in certain jurisdictions to avoid duplicative filings.

Background Section 16(a)

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is designed to provide

外国企業の内部関係者の説明責任を確保する法律

2025年12月18日、トランプ大統領は2026会計年度の国防権限法に署名しました。この法律には、国防法案第8103条としてひっそりと盛り込まれた外国企業内部関係者の説明責任を確保する法（HFIAA）が含まれています。HFIAAは、1934年の証券取引法第16条(a)に基づくインサイダー報告義務を、外国民間発行体（FPI）の役員および取締役にまで拡大するもので、米国証券法における大きな変革をもたらします。

従来、米国国内証券取引所に上場している、または証券取引法第12条に基づいて登録されているFPIの取締役および役員は、証券取引法規則3a12-3に基づき、第16条(a)項に基づく報告義務が免除されていました（参照）。HFIAAはこの免除規定を撤廃し、特定のFPI内部関係者に対する報告義務を、米国国内発行体の内部関係者に長年適用されてきた報告義務と整合させます。

第16条(a)

証券取引法の第16条(a)は、企業の内部関係者による所有状況や取引をタイムリーに公開することで、透明性を高め、投資家を保護することを目的としています。第16条(a)の規定によれば：

• 上場企業の株式クラスの10％超を保有する取締役、役員、実質的所有者は、インサイダーとなった際に初回の保有状況を開示するため、Form 3を提出する必要があります。
• その後の保有状況の変化は、取引発生日から2営業日以内に Form 4で報告しなければなりません。
• 一部の年次報告または繰延報告は、会計年度終了後45日以内に Form 5で提出されます。

HFIAA施行前は、FPIの証券が米国内で取引されていても、これらのインサイダー報告義務は免除されていました。

HFIAAによる主な変更点

第16条(a)報告義務がFPIの役員および取締役にも適用

2026年3月18日、つまりHFIAA施行から90日後より、FPIの役員および取締役は、米国発行体のインサイダーと同様に、第16条(a)に基づく実質保有および取引報告義務を遵守する必要があります。

• 役員および取締役は、2026年3月18日までに Form 3 を提出し、FPIの登録株式に関する全ての実質保有状況を開示しなければなりません。
• それ以降にインサイダーとなった者は、初回の Form 3 を10暦日以内に提出する必要があります。
• 取引の報告は、通常、報告対象となる取引から2営業日以内に Form 4で行うことが求められます。
• 年次報告または繰延報告は、Form 5で提出します。

範囲は以前の提案よりも狭い

HFIAAは第16条(a)を拡張するものの、従来の立法提案よりも対象範囲は狭くなっています：

• 役員や取締役でないFPIの10％超の実質保有者は、第16条(a)の適用から引き続き免除されます。
• FPIのインサイダーは、引き続き第16条(b)の空売り利益責任および第16条(c)の空売り制限の適用除外となります（空売り利益責任の詳細については、 をご覧ください）。

免除事項

HFIAAは、外国の法域の法律が「実質的に同様の」報告義務を課している場合、SECに対し、インサイダー、証券、または取引を第16条(a)項の要件から免除する権限を与えています。SECがこの権限をどのように行使するかは未知数であり、将来の規則制定に影響を与える可能性があります。

実務およびコンプライアンス上の考慮点

HFIAAの施行に伴い、FPIとその内部関係者は、以下の点を含め、長年の慣行の見直しを迫られます。(i) EDGAR Next提出資格 – FPIの取締役および役員は、2026年3月18日までにEDGAR Next提出資格を取得する必要があります。これらの資格の取得には時間がかかる場合があるため、早期の準備が不可欠です。(ii) 「役員」の資格要件を満たす者の特定 – 第16条の適用上、「役員」は証券取引法規則16a-1(f)で定義されており、従来の経営幹部レベルの役職に加え、主要な政策立案者も含まれます。FPIは、どの個人（潜在的な「委任による取締役」を含む）がこの定義を満たす可能性があるかを評価する必要があります。(iii) 内部報告および方針 – FPIは、第16条(a)の厳格な提出期限および電子提出要件を遵守するため、インサイダー取引に関する方針および内部報告手続きを更新する必要があります。

提出の遅延または不正確な場合、SECによる執行リスクが生じる可能性があるため、堅牢な内部統制が不可欠です。この点に関して、FPIは、セクション16報告書の継続的な提出を可能にするために、指定の担当者に限定的な委任状を付与することを検討すべきです。

本ブログでは、下記にコンプライアンスチェックリストも掲載しています。

投資家および市場への影響

HFIAAは、米国内で取引されるFPIの内部関係者が、米国国内発行体の内部関係者と同等の透明性基準を求められるようにすることで、米国投資家に公平な環境を提供することを目的としています。この変更は、外国のインサイダーが、開示が遅延、未完成、または免除される状況を利用して情報上の優位性を持つ可能性があるという長年の懸念に対応するものです。特に、外国の報告制度が米国基準と異なる場合に問題とされてきました。

結論

外国企業内部関係者の説明責任を確保する法（HFIAA）は、外国民間発行体（FPI）に対する第16条(a)インサイダー報告の大きな転換点となります。 2026年3月18日からの遵守が求められるため、FPIおよび該当する内部関係者は、報告義務の評価、必要なSEC提出資格の取得、内部システムの整備を今すぐ開始する必要があります。大口保有者やショートスイング利益責任の免除は、立法上のバランスを意図したものですが、この法律はより広い政策目的を示しています。すなわち、米国市場で取引されるすべての発行体に対して、透明性と説明責任を強化することです。

以下のチェックリストは、主要なコンプライアンス手順を示しています。

1. 適用確認

☐ 会社が外国民間発行体（FPI）に該当することを確認
☐ 会社が以下のいずれかを有していることを確認：

• 証券取引法第12条に基づき登録された株式、または
• 米国のナショナル証券取引所に上場されている株式

☐ 個人が以下のいずれかに該当することを確認：

• 取締役、または
• Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f)の定義に基づく役員（Officer）

注意：職位だけでは判断できません。規則16の定義では、方針決定権に重点が置かれています。

2. 対象となる内部関係者の特定

☐ 以下の全員のリストを作成：

• 取締役会メンバー
• 執行役員
• 方針決定機能を担う個人
• 潜在的な「代理取締役」

☐ 関連会社や組織が代理取締役の問題を引き起こす可能性があるかを確認

☐ 役員や取締役でない10％超の実質保有者は、引き続き免除であることを確認

3. 初回報告義務の設定（Form 3）

☐ 施行日現在の既存の取締役および役員について：

• 発行体の登録株式に関する全ての実質保有状況を報告するForm 3を作成

☐ 施行日以降に任命された新しい取締役や役員について：

• 任命日から10暦日以内にForm 3を提出

☐ 実質保有ルールを確認：

• 間接保有
• 家族や支配下の組織
• 株式報酬およびデリバティブ証券

4. 継続的取引報告（Form 4）の準備

☐ 報告対象となる取引を特定する手続きを実施：

• 公開市場での株式の売買
• オプションの付与および行使
• 制限付き株式の付与および権利確定
• 贈与および譲渡
• Rule 10b5-1プランに基づく取引

☐ Form 4提出の期限（2営業日）をスケジュール化

☐ 内部通知要件を整備し、内部関係者が取引を迅速にコンプライアンス担当者に報告できる体制を確立

5. 年次および繰延報告（Form 5）

☐ 繰延報告の対象となる取引を特定
☐ Form 5提出期限をスケジュール化：

• 会計年度末から45日以内

☐ 年間を通じて見落とした取引がないかを確認

6. EDGARおよび提出手続きの準備

☐ 対象となるすべての内部関係者がEDGAR Next資格を取得していることを確認
☐ 内部関係者が以下を保有していることを確認：

• CIK番号
• パスフレーズ
• 適切な委任状（代理人が提出する場合）

☐ 最初の提出期限前に、提出プロセスをテスト

7. 社内規程および内部統制の更新

☐ インサイダー取引規程を更新し、以下を反映：

• 第16条(a)の報告義務
• 提出期限の短縮

☐ 以下を策定または改訂：

• 第16条コンプライアンス規程
• 社内取引報告書フォーマット
• 事前承認手続き（該当する場合）

☐ 取締役および役員に対して研修を実施：

• 報告対象となる取引

The Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act

On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which — buried in the defense bill as Section 8103 — includes the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (“HFIAA”). The HFIAA represents a major change in U.S. securities law by expanding insider reporting obligations under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to officers and directors of foreign private issuers (“FPIs”).

Historically, directors and officers of FPIs listed on a U.S. national securities exchange or registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act were exempt from Section 16(a) reporting under Exchange Act Rule 3a12-3 (see https://securities-law-blog.com/2024/10/08/foreign-private-issuers-sec-registration-and-reporting-and-nasdaq-corporate-governance-part-1/). The HFIAA eliminates that exemption, aligning the reporting requirements for certain FPI insiders with those long applicable to insiders of U.S. domestic issuers.

Section 16(a)

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is designed to provide timely public disclosure of ownership and transactions by corporate insiders to protect investors by increasing transparency. Under Section 16(a):

• Directors,

SEC’s Fall 2024 Flex Regulatory Agenda

The SEC has published its semi-annual Fall 2024 regulatory agenda (“Agenda”) and plans for rulemaking.  The Agenda is published twice a year, and for several years I have blogged about each publication.  Although items on the Agenda can move from one category to the next, be dropped off altogether, or new items pop up in any of the categories (including the final rule stage), the Agenda provides valuable insight into the SEC’s plans and the influence that comments can make on the rulemaking process.

The Agenda is broken down by (i) Proposed Rule Stage; (ii) Final Rule Stage; and (iii) Long-term Actions.  The Proposed and Final Rule Stages are intended to be completed within the next 12 months and Long-term Actions are anything beyond that.  The number of items to be completed in a 12-month time frame is 30, down from 34 on the Spring 2024 Agenda and 43 on the Fall 2023 Agenda.  Many in the industry believe the

SEC Adopts New EDGAR Rules

A year after publishing proposed rules, on September 27, 2024, the SEC adopted rule and form amendments to the EDGAR system dubbing the updates as EDGAR Next (for a review of the proposed rules see HERE).   The rule changes are meant to enhance security and improve access to the EDGAR system.  My view is that will accomplish the former and not the latter. The changes require EDGAR filers to authorize identified individuals who are responsible for managing the filers’ EDGAR accounts. Individuals acting on behalf of filers on EDGAR will need individual account credentials to access those EDGAR accounts and make filings.

The new rules amend Rules 10 and 11 of Regulation S-T and amend Form ID.  Only the identified authorized individuals will be able to access a filer’s EDGAR account.  The authorized individual(s) need not be an employee of the filer, but the filer needs to provide a notarized power of attorney to appoint someone.

Through the

SEC Proposes New EDGAR Rules

On September 13, 2023, the SEC proposed rule and form amendments to the EDGAR system dubbing the updates as EDGAR Next.  The rule changes are meant to enhance security and improve access to the EDGAR system.  My view is that will accomplish the former and not the latter. The changes would require EDGAR filers to authorize identified individuals who would be responsible for managing the filers’ EDGAR accounts. Individuals acting on behalf of filers on EDGAR would need individual account credentials to access those EDGAR accounts and make filings. As part of the proposed rule changes, the SEC is making a beta software public for testing and feedback which software would eventually be used by filers if the proposed new rules are implemented.

The proposed rules would amend Rules 10 and 11 of Regulation S-T and amend Form ID.  Only the identified authorized individuals would be able to access a filer’s EDGAR account.  The authorized individual(s) need not be

SEC Publishes Sample Comment Letter Regarding XBRL Disclosure

Back in June, 2018, the SEC adopted the Inline XBRL requirements (see HERE) and since that time almost all new disclosure rules require either XBRL tagging or Inline XBRL.  In December 2022 a new law was passed requiring the SEC to “establish a program to improve the quality of the corporate financial data filed or furnished by issuers under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”),” causing the SEC to focus even more on XBRL use.  As a result, in September 2023, the SEC published a sample letter to companies regarding their XBRL disclosures.

The sample letter consists of six comments, which I have included in full below followed by a short commentary on the point.

1. Your filing does not include the required Inline XBRL presentation in accordance with Item 405 of Regulation S-T. Please file an amendment to the filing to include the required Inline XBRL presentation.

SEC Reopens The Comment Period On Proposed New Share Repurchase Disclosure Rules

On December 15, 2021, the SEC proposed amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b-18, which provides issuers and affiliates with a non-exclusive safe harbor from liability for market manipulation under Sections 9(a)(2) and 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) when issuers bid for or repurchase their common stock.  The proposed amendments are intended to improve the quality, relevance, and timeliness of information related to issuer share repurchases.

The proposed new rules were part of a broader SEC initiative aimed at market manipulation and insider trading, including the recently adopted amendments related to Rule 10b5-1 Insider Trading Plans (see HERE).

On December 7, 2022, the SEC re-opened the comment period on the proposed new rules for an additional 30 days after publication in the federal register.  The reason for re-opening the comment period is that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 added a corporate non-deductible excise tax equal to one

Public Market Listing Standards

One of the bankers that I work with often once asked me if I had written a blog with a side-by-side comparison of listing on Nasdaq vs. the OTC Markets and I realized I had not, so it went on the list and with the implementation of the new 15c2-11 rules, now seems a very good time to tackle the project.  I’ve added NYSE American to the list as well.

Quantitative and Liquidity Listing Standards

Nasdaq Capital Markets

To list its securities on Nasdaq Capital Markets, a company is required to meet: (a) certain initial quantitative and qualitative requirements and (b) certain continuing quantitative and qualitative requirements.  The quantitative listing thresholds for initial listing are generally higher than for continued listing, thus helping to ensure that companies have reached a sufficient level of maturity prior to listing.  NASDAQ also requires listed companies to meet stringent corporate governance standards.

A Review of FINRA’s Corporate Finance Rule

As the strongest U.S. IPO market in decades continues unabated, it seems a good time to talk about underwriter’s compensation.  FINRA Rule 5110 (Corporate Financing Rule – Underwriting Terms and Arrangements) governs the compensation that may be received by an underwriter in connection with a public offering.

Rule 5110 – The “Corporate Financing Rule”

Rule 5110 regulates underwriting compensation and prohibits unfair arrangements in connection with the public offerings of securities.  The Rule prohibits member firms from participating in a public offering of securities if the underwriting terms and conditions, including compensation, are unfair as defined by FINRA.  The Rule requires FINRA members to make filings with FINRA disclosing information about offerings they participate in, including the amount of all compensation to be received by the firm or its principals, and affiliations and relationships that could result in the existence of a conflict of interest.  As more fully described herein, underwriter’s compensation is subject to lock-up provisions.

Filing Requirements

SEC Fall 2020 Regulatory Agenda

The SEC’s latest version of its semiannual regulatory agenda and plans for rulemaking has been published in the federal register.  The Fall 2020 Agenda (“Agenda”) is current through October 2020.  The Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions contains the Regulatory Plans of 28 federal agencies and 68 federal agency regulatory agendas. The Agenda is published twice a year, and for several years I have blogged about each publication.

Like the prior Agendas, the Fall 2020 Agenda is broken down by (i) “Pre-rule Stage”; (ii) Proposed Rule Stage; (iii) Final Rule Stage; and (iv) Long-term Actions.  The Proposed and Final Rule Stages are intended to be completed within the next 12 months and Long-term Actions are anything beyond that.  The number of items to be completed in a 12-month time frame is down to 32 items.  The Spring Agenda had 42 and the Fall 2019 had 47 on the list.

Items on the Agenda can move from one category to

SEC Proposed Rule Changes For Exempt Offerings – Part 4

On March 4, 2020, the SEC published proposed rule changes to harmonize, simplify and improve the exempt offering framework.  The SEC had originally issued a concept release and request for public comment on the subject in June 2019 (see HERE). The proposed rule changes indicate that the SEC has been listening to capital markets participants and is supporting increased access to private offerings for both businesses and a larger class of investors.  Together with the proposed amendments to the accredited investor definition (see HERE), the new rules could have as much of an impact on the capital markets as the JOBS Act has had since its enactment in 2012.

The 341-page rule release provides a comprehensive overhaul to the exempt offering and integration rules worthy of in-depth discussion.  I have been breaking the information down into a series of blogs, with this fourth blog focusing on amendments to Regulation A other than integration and offering communications which

Hester Peirce Proposal For Treatment Of Cryptocurrency

SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, nicknamed “Crypto Mom,” has made a proposal for the temporary deregulation of digital assets to advance innovation and allow for unimpeded decentralization of blockchain networks.   Ms. Peirce made the proposal in a speech on February 6, 2020.

The world of digital assets and cryptocurrency literally became an overnight business sector for corporate and securities lawyers, shifting from the pure technology sector with the SEC’s announcement that a cryptocurrency is a security in its Section 21(a) Report on the DAO investigation. Since then, there has been a multitude of enforcement proceedings, repeated disseminations of new guidance and many speeches by some of the top brass at the SEC, each evolving the regulatory landscape.  Although I wasn’t focused on digital assets before that, upon reading the DAO report, I wasn’t surprised.  It seemed clear to me that the capital raising efforts through cryptocurrencies were investment contracts within the meaning of SEC v.

SEC Strategic Plan

On June 19, 2018, the SEC published a draft Strategic Plan and requested public comment on the Plan. The Strategic Plan would guide the SEC’s priorities through fiscal year 2022. The Plan reiterates the theme of serving the interests of Main Street investors, but also recognizes the changing technological world with a priority of becoming more innovative, responsive and resilient to market developments and trends. The Plan also broadly focuses on improving SEC staff’s performance using data and analytics.

The Strategic Plan begins with a broad overview about the SEC itself, a topic I go back to and reiterate on occasion, such as HERE. The SEC’s mission has remained unchanged over the years, including to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. In addition, according to the Strategic Plan, the SEC:

• Engages and interacts with the investing public directly on a daily basis through a variety of channels, including investor roundtables and education

The SEC Has Issued New Guidance On Cybersecurity Disclosures

On February 20, 2018, the SEC issued new interpretative guidance on public company disclosures related to cybersecurity risks and incidents. In addition to addressing public company disclosures, the new guidance reminds companies of the importance of maintaining disclosure controls and procedures to address cyber-risks and incidents and reminds insiders that trading while having non-public information related to cyber-matters could violate federal insider-trading laws.

The prior SEC guidance on the topic was dated, having been issued on October 13, 2011. For a review of this prior guidance, see HERE. The new guidance is not dramatically different from the 2011 guidance.

Introduction

The topic of cybersecurity has been in the forefront in recent years, with the SEC issuing a series of statements and creating two new cyber-based enforcement initiatives targeting the protection of retail investors, including protection related to distributed ledger technology (DLT) and initial coin or cryptocurrency offerings (ICO’s). Moreover, the SEC has asked the House Committee on Financial

SEC Has Published Final Rules Adopting Regulation A+

On March 25, 2015, the SEC pleasantly surprised the business community by releasing final rules amending Regulation A. The new rules are commonly referred to as Regulation A+.  The existing Tier I Regulation A, which does not preempt state law, has been increased to $20 million and the new Tier II, which does preempt state law, allows a raise of up to $50 million.  Issuers may elect to proceed under either Tier I or Tier II for offerings up to $20 million.  As is becoming common in the industry, I will refer to the new rules, including both Tier I and Tier II offerings, as Regulation A+.

In its press release announcing the passage, SEC Chair Mary Jo White was quoted as saying, “These new rules provide an effective, workable path to raising capital that also provides strong investor protections.  It is important for the Commission to continue to look for ways that our rules can facilitate capital raising