{"id":1932,"date":"2021-02-03T11:26:05","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T16:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seci.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=1932"},"modified":"2021-02-03T11:26:05","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T16:26:05","slug":"where-to-place-the-performance-graph-a-filed-versus-furnished-example","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/where-to-place-the-performance-graph-a-filed-versus-furnished-example\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to Place the Performance Graph? A Filed Versus Furnished Example"},"content":{"rendered":"

A frequent question in our SEC Reporting Skills Workshop is \u201cWhat the heck is going on with the performance graph required by S-K Item 201(e)<\/a>?\u201d\u00a0 This question stems from a bit of history about the performance graph, an obscure instruction, and the distinction between furnished and filed documents.<\/p>\n

(Spoiler alert:\u00a0 The graph is not required in Form 10-K and can be furnished in the annual report to shareholders.)<\/p>\n

S-K 201(e) requires a five-year line graph comparing the annual percentage change in the registrant’s cumulative total shareholder return on a class of common stock with the cumulative total return of a broad equity market index and a published industry, line-of-business or peer index.\u00a0 You can read all the details of the requirement here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is an example of the graph from Coca Cola\u2019s 2019 Form 10-K.<\/p>\n

\"Picture1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where to place the graph turns out to be a murky question.\u00a0 Originally, this graph was a required proxy disclosure.\u00a0 Several years ago, when the SEC expanded the proxy executive compensation disclosures, they proposed to remove the graph.\u00a0 Several commenters on the proposal asked the SEC to retain the requirement, stating that it provided valuable information.\u00a0 The SEC did not want to include the graph in the proxy for a variety of reasons.\u00a0 As a compromise, the Final Rule added the graph to S-K Item 201.\u00a0 What the Final Rule did not do was require the graph in Form 10-K.<\/p>\n

This is where the filed versus furnished question arises.\u00a0 Historically, the graph was not filed information. \u00a0It was simply furnished in the proxy.\u00a0 If the SEC had required the graph in Form 10-K it would have become filed information and subject to the 1934 Act\u2019s liability provisions for filed information.\u00a0 To keep this from happening, the SEC added the following instruction to S-K Item 201(e):<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The information required by paragraph (e) of this Item need not be provided in any filings other than an annual report to security holders required by Exchange Act Rule 14a-3 (17 CFR 240.14a-3) or Exchange Act Rule 14c-3 (17 CFR 240.14c-3) that precedes or accompanies a registrant’s proxy or information statement relating to an annual meeting of security holders at which directors are to be elected (or special meeting or written consents in lieu of such meeting). Such information will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Unfortunately, this instruction was kind of hidden after an instruction for smaller reporting companies.<\/p>\n

    The bottom line is that the graph does not have to be in Form 10-K and does not have to be filed information.\u00a0 It can be included in the annual report to shareholders, which is furnished, not filed.\u00a0Companies that put the graph in the part of the annual report to shareholders that is not included in Form 10-K do not subject the disclosure to the 1934 Act\u2019s liability provisions.<\/p>\n

    This annual report from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store<\/a> provides an example of how the graph can be placed in the \u201cwrap\u201d pages of a \u201c10-K wrap\u201d annual report to shareholders.\u00a0 This means the graph is not included in the filed Form 10-K.\u00a0 You will find the graph on the back cover of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store annual report to shareholders.<\/p>\n

    Lastly, to further illustrate the confusion about this graph, here is an SEC comment letter and company response about the placement of the graph.<\/p>\n

    The SEC Comment Letter<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Re: Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.<\/p>\n

    Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended March 28, 2015<\/p>\n

    Dear Ms. D\u2019Amico:<\/p>\n

    We have limited our review of your filing to the financial statements and related disclosures and have the following comments. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure.<\/p>\n

    Please respond to these comments within ten business days by providing the requested information or advise us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response.<\/p>\n

    After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments.<\/p>\n

    Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended March 28, 2015<\/p>\n

    Item 5. Market for the Company\u2019s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters, page 16<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Please tell us your consideration for including the performance graph as required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      The Company\u2019s Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Item 5. Market for the Company\u2019s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Please tell us your consideration for including the performance graph as required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Response: <\/strong>It is our understanding that the performance graph is required to be included in the Company\u2019s annual report to stockholders, but not in its Form 10-K. This understanding is based on Instruction 7 to Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K, which states that \u201cthe information required by paragraph (e) of Item 201 need not be provided in any filings other than an annual report to security holders required by Exchange Act Rule 14a-3 or Exchange Act Rule 14c-3 that precedes or accompanies a registrant\u2019s proxy or information statement relating to an annual meeting of security holders at which directors are to be elected (or special meeting or written consents in lieu of such meeting).\u201d Further the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance has indicated in Regulation S-K Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations Question 106.10 that the performance graph is not required to be included under Item 5 of Form 10-K and need only be provided in the issuer\u2019s annual report to stockholders.<\/p>\n

        The performance graph as required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K is included in the Company\u2019s 2015 Annual Report under the Financial Highlights section on page 5.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        SEC Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Dear Ms. D\u2019Amico<\/p>\n

        We have completed our review of your filing. We remind you that our comments or changes to disclosure in response to our comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the company or the filing and the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filing to be certain that the filing includes the information the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all applicable rules require.<\/p>\n

        As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        A frequent question in our SEC Reporting Skills Workshop is \u201cWhat the heck is going on with the performance graph required by S-K Item 201(e)?\u201d\u00a0 This question stems from a bit of history about the performance graph, an obscure instruction, and the distinction between furnished and filed documents. (Spoiler alert:\u00a0 The graph is not required … Continue reading Where to Place the Performance Graph? A Filed Versus Furnished Example<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[116,242,1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[154],"class_list":["post-1932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-10-k-tips","category-reporting","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1932\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1932"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seciblog.pli.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}