SEC Approves Further Regulatory Relief and Assistance for Hurricane Sandy Victims

The SEC issued an order providing regulatory relief to publicly traded companies, investment companies, accountants, transfer agents, and others affected by Hurricane Sandy. To address compliance issues caused by Sandy, the order conditionally exempts affected persons from the requirements of the federal securities laws with regard to:

• Exchange Act filing requirements for the period from October 29, 2012, to November 20, 2012, provided that the filer discloses the reasons why, in good faith, it cannot file on a timely basis;
• Proxy and information statement delivery requirements for companies or others attempting to deliver materials to affected areas;
• Investment Company Act requirements for the transmittal to shareholders in affected areas of the annual and semi-annual reports of registered investment companies for the period from October 29, 2012, to November 20, 2012;
• Transfer agent compliance with Exchange Act Sections 17A and 17(f) and Exchange Act Rules 17Ad-1 through 17Ad-20, and Exchange Act Rules 17f-1 and 17f-2 for the period from October 29, 2012, to December 1, 2012;
• Auditor independence requirements as they relate to reconstruction of previously existing accounting records for audit clients.

View Order in full here (links externally to SEC website).See also: News item containing prior grant of extensions. See also: Press Release.