SEC Provides Hurricane Relief

On September 28, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced regulatory relief for a broad class of companies and others affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria. The SEC staff also indicated that it would be responsive to other issues that these parties may face if brought to the staff's attention on a case-by-case basis.

The SEC issued an exemptive order that conditionally exempts affected persons from certain requirements of the federal securities laws for a period following the hurricanes. This relief includes additional time for public companies to file Exchange Act reports and provides that filings made in accordance with the order will be deemed current and timely for purposes of Form S 3 eligibility, Form S 8 eligibility and the current public information requirements of Rule 144(c).

The time periods for relief are as follows:

• With respect to those persons or entities affected by Hurricane Harvey, for the period from and including August 25, 2017 to October 6, 2017, all reports, schedules or forms must be filed on or before October 10, 2017;
• With respect to those persons or entities affected by Hurricane Irma, for the period from and including September 6, 2017 to October 18, 2017, all reports, schedules or forms must be filed on or before October 19, 2017; and
• With respect to those persons or entities affected by Hurricane Maria, for the period from and including September 20, 2017 to November 1, 2017, all reports, schedules or forms must be filed on or before November 2, 2017.

SEC Exemptive Order.

The Commission also adopted interim final temporary rules that extend the filing deadlines for specified reports and forms that companies must file pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A.

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