On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the SEC acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” in adopting its new share repurchase disclosure rules without conducting a proper cost-benefit analysis in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (the “APA”). The court also found that the SEC failed to respond to the comments submitted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the other petitioners, who sued to block the rules earlier this year. In granting the petition for review, the court stopped short of vacating the rules but instead provided the SEC with a 30-day period to address the rulemaking deficiencies noted in court’s opinion by adequately substantiating the rule’s benefits and costs—whether through quantitative, qualitative or such other mode of analysis that satisfies its statutory obligation under the APA—in the judgment the court. Although some may view the court’s opinion as a legal victory that may doom the rule, its ultimate disposition remains in abeyance during this period of limited remand. In the meantime, our recommendation to issuers already in the midst of preparing required disclosures is to remain prepared for either outcome as they navigate the complex maze resulting from the SEC’s recent flurry of new and amended rules.
Further Update:
On November 22, 2023, the SEC announced the issuance of an order in light of the court’s decision, postponing the effectiveness of the share repurchase rules to an unspecified date pending judicial review. Pursuant to the order, the effectiveness of the rules has been indefinitely stayed subject to further action by the SEC.
