Best known for its role in the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform how business transactions are conducted. For now, blockchain is primarily applied in digital financial transactions, like cryptocurrencies, but it presents a lot of opportunities for a wide variety of industries—from home entertainment to real estate to contract drafting —and beyond. This short article offers a brief introduction to blockchain, provides insight about its current uses, and summarizes some future applications.
Read MoreIn Laborers’ Local #231 Pension Fund v. Cowan, No. 17-478, 2018 BL 85103 (D. Del. Mar. 13, 2018), the court granted Rory Cowan and his co-executives’ (“Defendants”) motion to dismiss Laborers’ Local #231 Pension Fund’s (“Plaintiffs”) amended complaint. The court held Plaintiffs failed to state a claim in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) because they failed to allege “a misleading or false statement or omission” in the proxy statement.
Read MoreIn Webb v. SolarCity Corp., No. 5:14–CV–01435–BLF, 2018 BL 79348 (9th Cir. Mar. 08, 2018), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal of a securities fraud action brought in a third amended complaint (“TAC”) by James Webb (“Plaintiff”), a member of a class of plaintiffs who purchased shares in SolarCity, against SolarCity Corporation and two of its cofounders, Lyndon Rive and Robert Kelly (collectively “Defendants”). The court held Plaintiff failed to adequately plead the scienter element necessary to state a claim under § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1943 (“Act”).
Read MoreIn Pfizer Inc. 2018 BL 030118 (March 1, 2018), Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit the omission of a shareholder proposal submitted by Trinity Health (“Proponents”) requesting Pfizer disclose the risks from rising pressure to contain U.S. prescription drug prices and explain how Pfizer plans to mitigate those risks. The SEC issued the requested no action letter allowing for the exclusion of the proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(10).
Read MoreIn General Electric Co., 2018 BL 71731 (Mar. 1, 2018), General Electric Company (“GE”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit omission of a proposal submitted by Martin Harangozo (“Shareholder”) requesting that GE’s board of directors provide cumulative voting in the election of directors. In addition, Shareholder submitted images he wished to be displayed in support of his proposal, three unattributed quotes, and the following statement: “The increase in shareholder voice as represented in cumulative voting may serve to better align shareholder performance to CEO performance (see image).” The SEC declined to issue the requested no action letter in its entirety under Rule 14a-8(i)(4) but found grounds to exclude the attached images under Rule 14a-8(i)(3).
Read MoreIn Ford Motor Company., 2018 BL 424 (Jan. 2, 2018), Ford Motor Company (“Ford”) asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for permission to exclude a shareholder proposal submitted by Martin Harangozo (“Shareholder”) requesting that Ford issue a report outlining the costs and benefits of feeding its employees, specifically regarding the effects on employee health, productivity, and company profitability. The SEC issued the requested no action letter allowing for the exclusion of the proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(7).
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