Practice Pointers: Anticipating And Addressing SEC Comments On Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The use of non-GAAP financial measures by public companies continues to be an area of growing concern for the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Since the staff of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance (the "Staff") released its updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations on May 17, 2016, on the use of non-GAAP financial measures (the "Updated C&DIs"), the Staff has issued more than 200 comment letters related to non-GAAP financial measures that have become publicly available.

In this alert, we look at common themes or areas of concern identified by the Staff in these comment letters, as well as responses given by registrants. We also highlight pronouncements by senior members of the Staff on the important "critical gatekeeper" role audit committee members play in ensuring credible and reliable financial reporting, including compliance with the Updated C&DIs. Finally, we look at industry initiatives aimed at improving the dialogue among management,