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SEC social media guidance for the UK

Andrea Ward looks at the SEC investigation into Netflix's use of social media and what it means for the disclosure of material, non-public information

THE US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently issued guidance on the use of social media for companies, updating its 2008 guidance on the use of company websites.

This update followed an SEC investigation into whether Netflix and its chief executive officer, Reed Hastings, had contravened Regulation FD (fair disclosure) and Section 13(a) of the US Securities Exchange Act 1934.

Under Regulation FD, companies must ensure that when they intentionally disclose material, non-public information, they simultaneously distribute that information to the public. When such disclosures are made inadvertently, they must be distributed to the public as soon as possible afterwards.

There is no single standard for companies to follow, but companies should be consistent in their approach to making disclosures, and should not deviate from their usual methods of publication, without considering their obligations under the legislation.
The 2008 Guidance states that “whether a company’s web site is a recognised channel of distribution will depend on the steps that the company has taken to alert the market to its web site and its disclosure practices, as well as the use by investors and the market of the company’s web site.”

Prior to the incident which triggered the SEC investigation, Netflix had routinely made company announcements through press releases, letters to shareholders and on its official blog. However, on 3 July 2012, the company’s CEO posted this message on his personal Facebook page:

“Congrats to Ted Sarados, and his amazing content licensing team. Netflix monthly viewing exceeded one billion hours for the first time ever in June. When House of Cards and Arrested Development debut, we’ll blow these records away. Keep going, Ted, we need even more!”

The SEC’s investigation focused on whether the company had sufficiently notified investors, the market and the media of the means of distribution it planned to use, such that these parties could know where to look for disclosures of material information about the company, or ready themselves to receive it. In this case, neither Reed Hastings, nor Netflix had previously used his Facebook page to distribute company information and the SEC found that the company had not taken any steps to make the public aware that this could be used. Netflix usually directed the public to its own Facebook page, website, blog and Twitter feed.

Although no further action was taken against either the company, or its CEO, the investigation revealed that there was some uncertainty regarding Regulation FD and the 2008 guidance, as far as the rules apply to information released through social media. Rather than revise the the guidance, the SEC’s Report of Investigation into the Netflix matter was issued as an update, explaining how the existing guidance extends to social media disclosures.

The SEC recognises and understands that companies can and should use the internet and other electronic communications to disseminate company information, as it promotes efficiency and transparency. The SEC also stated that it does “not wish to inhibit the content, form, or forum of any such disclosure, and we are mindful of placing additional compliance burdens on issuers.” That said, the investigation and report presented a good opportunity to make these two points:

1. Issuer communications through social media channels require careful Regulation FD analysis comparable to communications through more traditional channels;
2. The principles outlined in the 2008 guidance – and specifically the concept that the investing public should be alerted to the channels of distribution a company will use to disseminate material information – apply with equal force to corporate disclosures made through social media channels.

In summary, the report provides that:

• Issuers should examine whether they are using a “recognised channel of distribution” for communicating with their investors;
• Appropriate notice must be given to investors of the specific channels a company will use;
• Corporate websites should identify any social media channels a company intends to use for the dissemination of material non-public information, to give investors and the markets the opportunity to subscribe, join, register or review them;
• Disclosure of material, non-public information on the personal social media site of an individual corporate officer (without advance notice to investors that the site may be used for this purpose), is unlikely to qualify as a method “reasonably designed to provide board, non-exclusionary distribution of the information to the public” within the meaning of Regulation FD.

UK companies should be aware of this updated guidance, and carefully manage any disclosures by their employees (and senior executives). One course of action is to ban the reporting of any company information by employees on their own social media accounts, unless authorised and approved in advance, and to limit online disclosures to the company’s website. If social media is used as a channel for communicating company information, it is important to establish guidelines for all staff and ensure that information is accurately reported using the correct channels.

Andrea Ward is a senior associate with international law firm, McGuireWoods London 

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