Code of Federal Regulations · Section
§ 240.14a-17 — a-17 Electronic Shareholder Forums
17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-17
(a) A shareholder, registrant, or third party acting on behalf of a shareholder or registrant may establish, maintain, or operate an electronic shareholder forum to facilitate interaction among the registrant's shareholders and between the registrant and its shareholders as the shareholder or registrant deems appropriate. Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the forum must comply with the federal securities laws, including Section 14(a) of the Act and its associated regulations, other applicable federal laws, applicable state laws, and the registrant's governing documents.
(b) No shareholder, registrant, or third party acting on behalf of a shareholder or registrant, by reason of establishing, maintaining, or operating an electronic shareholder forum, will be liable under the federal securities laws for any statement or information provided by another person to the electronic shareholder forum. Nothing in this section prevents or alters the application of the federal securities laws, including the provisions for liability for fraud, deception, or manipulation, or other applicable federal and state laws to the person or persons that provide a statement or information to an electronic shareholder forum.
(c) Reliance on the exemption in § 240.14a-2(b)(6) to participate in an electronic shareholder forum does not eliminate a person's eligibility to solicit proxies after the date that the exemption in § 240.14a-2(b)(6) is no longer available, or is no longer being relied upon, provided that any such solicitation is conducted in accordance with this regulation.
Authorizing Statute
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Records and reports15 U.S.C. § 78q
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Registration of securities15 U.S.C. § 77f
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Registration and regulation of brokers and dealers15 U.S.C. § 78o
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Foreign securities exchanges15 U.S.C. § 78dd
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Information required in registration statement15 U.S.C. § 77g
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General provisions of a liquidation proceeding15 U.S.C. § 78fff
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Necessity for regulation15 U.S.C. § 78b
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Proxies15 U.S.C. § 78n
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Classes of securities under this subchapter15 U.S.C. § 77c
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Registration requirements for securities15 U.S.C. § 78l
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Executive compensation and corporate governance12 U.S.C. § 5221
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Findings and purposes12 U.S.C. § 5461
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Creation; membership; compensation and expenses12 U.S.C. § 241
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Short title15 U.S.C. § 78a
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Trading by members of exchanges, brokers, and dealers15 U.S.C. § 78k
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Manipulative and deceptive devices15 U.S.C. § 78j
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Operations of designated financial market utilities12 U.S.C. § 5465
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Definitions and application15 U.S.C. § 78c
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National securities exchanges15 U.S.C. § 78f
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Rules, regulations, and orders; annual reports15 U.S.C. § 78w
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Comprehensive energy plan15 U.S.C. § 781
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Transaction fees15 U.S.C. § 78ee
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Failure of corporate officers to certify financial reports18 U.S.C. § 1350