InfoBytes Blog
SEC broadens and extends relief for businesses affected by Covid-19
On March 25, the SEC announced that publicly traded companies have an additional 45 days, subject to certain conditions, to file annual and quarterly reports in an effort to help businesses whose operations may be affected by Covid-19. Disclosure reports due between March 1 and July 1 will be eligible for extensions if companies can justify the need, the SEC stated in the announcement, which supersedes and extends a previously issued order on March 4. To qualify for an extension, “companies must continue to convey through a current report a summary of why the relief is needed in their particular circumstances for each periodic report that is delayed.” In addition, the SEC issued orders (see here and here) that will give certain investment funds and investment advisors more time to meet filing and delivery requirements and more flexibility to avoid in-person meetings. These orders broaden and extend relief that the SEC announced earlier this month (covered by InfoBytes here). The announcement also provides public company disclosure guidance as well as additional information with respect to certain obligations under various securities laws.