AI governance and related disclosures will likely be top of mind for issuers and investors, with companies navigating the challenges of balancing innovation with responsible integration as market expectations and best practices continue to emerge.
Reincorporation proposals continue to be an area of shareholder interest. Among the 10 existing public companies that sought to reincorporate in the second half of 2025, a desire for more favorable legal environments to suit unique business operations and strategies played a significant role.
Compensation
Companies are beginning to exercise upward discretion on annual to offset the unanticipated impact of tariffs. This trend will likely become widespread as more companies report on their 2025 pay outcomes.
CEO transitions at UnitedHealth and Paramount Global highlight the continued importance of thoughtful succession planning, particularly with regard to the quantum, structure, and disclosure of related pay arrangements.
ESG & Activism
Recent SEC changes to both the no-action relief process and filing of exempt solicitations have created uncertainty for companies and investors navigating shareholder proposals and the broader activism space.
Many companies have already scaled back or eliminated their ESG-related initiatives and disclosures in response to political pressures. Although some shareholders have submitted proposals aimed at restoring these efforts, others have sought to further scale them back.
