On October 17, 2017, the staff (the "Staff") of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance issued two new compliance and disclosure interpretations ("C&DIs") on the use of non-GAAP financial measures in forecasts for business combination transactions. In the first C&DI, the Staff clarified that financial measures provided to a financial advisor, including financial measures included in forecasts used in connection with a business combination transaction, would be excluded from the definition of non-GAAP financial measures, and therefore not subject to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K and Regulation G, if and to the extent:

  • the financial measures are included in forecasts provided to the financial advisor for the purpose of rendering an opinion that is materially related to the business combination transaction; and
  • the forecasts are being disclosed in order to comply with Item 1015 of Regulation M-A or requirements under state or foreign law, including case law, regarding disclosure of the financial advisor's analyses or substantive work.

Therefore, assuming these two conditions are satisfied, the guidance should provide comfort to M&A deal participants that the disclosure of management forecasts in merger registration statements, proxy statements and tender offer statements would not be subject to Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K and Regulation G. In the second C&DI, the Staff clarified that the exemption from Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K and Regulation G for non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in communications relating to a business combination transaction does not extend to the same non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in registration statements, proxy statements and tender offer statements.

The new C&DIs are available here.

Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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