Check out the latest Governance Matters podcast where Ron Schneider of Donnelley Financial Solutions discusses best practices for these key documents Many companies’ proxy statements have evolved in recent years from a simple compliance document in line with SEC requirements to become a key tool in communicating with shareholders and other stakeholders and sharing the corporate narrative. The range of both the topics covered and the stylistic methods by which disclosures are made have expanded beyond what most professionals would have anticipated.

At DFIN’s second annual Activate Executive Summit, CFOs and finance leaders from various industries gathered amidst a backdrop of optimism and economic momentum. With the U.S. stock market nearing record highs, discussions of interest rate cuts and a recovering IPO market dominated the news.

This Guide to Effective Proxies is a searchable catalog of innovative and best practice proxy disclosures, drawn from the public filings of DFIN’s blue-chip client base. It is the most comprehensive and widely used resource of its kind.

With this Guide, you will discover how to:

• Create a more engaging proxy using design, branding and visual elements

• Highlight diversity and key qualifications to help humanize leadership

Join us as we unveil the 12th Edition Guide to Effective Proxies. The Guide is a searchable catalog of innovative and best practice proxy disclosures, drawn from the public filings of DFIN’s blue-chip client base. It is the most comprehensive and widely used resource of its kind. 

Speakers: 

Equilar recently released its first “Cybersecurity Disclosure Trends” report, based on analysis of the proxy statements and Form 10-K’s of the Equilar 100 companies (the 100 largest US companies by revenues), from 2019 through 2023. This inaugural report supplements their annual “Preparing for Proxy Season” Reports, DFIN was asked to provide independent commentary for the report, adding insight and advice to the numbers.

 Key data in the report includes: 

Board reports convey key information about a company's performance to its board of directors, so they can make informed decisions. While this sounds straightforward, boards sometimes do not fully understand the financial reports they receive. As a result, their ability to make effective decisions is hampered.

Tune in to listen to experts from DFIN, Alliance Advisors, American Outdoor Brands and The Williams Companies about the 2024 proxy season and 2025 proxy plans. The featured speakers share their thoughts about emerging trends and recommend strategies for evolving your proxy statements. 

Speakers: 

Nearly every public company in the United States is required by its charter documents, the corporate law of its state of incorporation, and the federal securities laws to hold a meeting of shareholders at least once each year. However, holding an annual meeting of shareholders involves much more than merely fulfilling a legal requirement.

Hear from Equilar’s Steve Lessaris, DFIN’s Ron Schneider and the KPMG Board Leadership Center’s Stephen Brown on the most pressing issues of 2024 and insights into governance topics that may emerge in the new year and beyond.

Discussion Topics include:

• The state of ESG and what’s next
• The emergence of AI risks and concerns
• Expectations for PvP in year two and other compensation issues - as well as key proxy advisory firm guideline updates

Discover how DFIN helped American Outdoor Brands develop highly stylized proxy statements focused on better amplifying their company story and defining what sets their company apart. 

“ActiveDisclosure gives us the flexibility of doing a lot of the work on our own and then using DFIN proxy statement experts to make everything look amazing.” 
Douglas Brown 
Chief Counsel and Corporate Secretary at American Outdoor Brands