Overview
- Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange, Paul Atkins laid out a deregulatory roadmap aimed at bringing more small and newer companies to public markets.
- He proposed scaling reporting requirements by company size and limiting disclosures to information that is financially material, noting that firms with about $250 million in float face the same burdens as companies 100 times larger.
- The plan seeks to slim proxy statements and revamp executive‑compensation disclosures, while making it easier for companies to exclude ESG‑focused shareholder proposals.
- Atkins also called for “de‑politicizing” shareholder meetings and pursuing securities‑litigation reforms to deter frivolous suits while preserving meritorious claims.
- The proposals signal policy direction rather than immediate rule changes, and a pending GOP‑only commission after Caroline Crenshaw’s departure could hasten formal rulemaking.