On April 3rd, the SEC released a statement concerning the importance of high-quality financial reporting given the significant impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other divisions and offices of the SEC, the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) is closely monitoring the issues raised by COVID-19 on investors and global capital markets. The pandemic has presented a serious challenge with significant implications for financial reporting, national markets, and the US economy more generally.
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On April 2nd, a group of five federal financial regulatory agencies announced that they will consider comments submitted before May 1, 2020 on the proposal to modify the Volcker rule’s general prohibition on banking entities investing in or sponsoring hedge funds or private equity funds. These funds are generally known as “covered funds.”
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The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation announced on March 31st that it is hosting a series of virtual coffee breaks to engage with the public to discuss updates, trends, and perspectives on how COVID-19 is impacting raising capital. Each virtual coffee break will spotlight what is currently happening in a particular area of the market and incorporate feedback from entrepreneurs, investors, and other market participants. Continue reading "SEC Small Business Advocate to Host Virtual..." »

On March 31, the SEC announced its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will host a meeting via video conference on April 2, 2020. This meeting is in response to the challenges small businesses are facing in coping with COVID-19.
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On March 25th, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance released Guidance Topic No, 9, which focuses on guidance for disclosure given the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This guidance provides the Division of Corporation Finance’s current views regarding disclosure and other securities law obligations that companies should consider in light of business and market disruptions. The Division of Corporation Finance reminds readers that this guidance is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the SEC. Like all staff guidance, the advice has no legal force or effect. It does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.
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The SEC and its staff recognize that the COVID-19 public health crisis has presented challenges for some entities and individuals who require initial access to file through the EDGAR system, particularly those applicants who have experienced trouble obtaining notarization of the authorized signature on the Form ID application. This notarization process is required by Rule 10(b) of Regulation S-T.
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On March 26th, the SEC announced it will provide additional temporary regulatory relief to market participants due to the impacts of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). These actions involve 1) parties needing to gain access to make filings on the EDGAR system, 2) certain company filing obligations under Regulation A and Regulation Crowdfunding, and 3) a filing requirement for municipal advisers.
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The SEC announced on March 25th that it is extending the filing periods covered by its previously enacted conditional reporting relief for certain public company filing obligations under the federal securities laws. It is also extending regulatory relief that was previously provided to funds and investment advisers whose operations may be affected by COVID-19. In addition, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance has now issued its views regarding disclosure obligations and other securities law matters as the impact of COVID-19 increases. Continue reading "SEC Extends Conditional Exemptions From..." »

The SEC released an announcement concerning Form ID and difficulties with form notorization given the recent coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business. The SEC understands that the COVID-19 public health crisis is presenting challenges for some entities and individuals who are seeking initial access to file submissions through the EDGAR system. In particular, users are encountering trouble in meeting the notary requirement in the Form ID access application process. This problem with notary access is also affecting other EDGAR access processes that require notarization.
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On March 23rd, the SEC announced temporary flexibility for registered funds affected by recent market events. New exemptions will provide additional flexibility for registered open-end management investment companies other than money market funds (“open-end funds”) and insurance company separate accounts registered as unit investment trusts (“separate accounts”) to obtain short-term funding. The flexibility detailed in this order will permit these funds to borrow funds from certain affiliates and to enter into certain other lending arrangements. The relief is designed to provide funds with additional tools to manage their portfolios for the benefit of all shareholders as investors possibly seek to rebalance their investments in light of market turmoil.
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The SEC released for immediate effectiveness a proposed rule filing submitted by New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) to facilitate electronic auctions in light of the NYSE’s decision to temporarily close its New York trading floor. NYSE announced that it will temporarily close its trading floor effective Monday, March 23, as a precautionary measure in response to COVID-19. The NYSE rule filing modifies certain rules to set wider price parameters and to remove volume limits, within which NYSE designated market makers (DMMs) can facilitate auctions in an electronic trading environment.
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The SEC announced on March 22nd that it is providing further regulatory relief due to the effects of COVID-19, in this case for registered transfer agents and certain other persons with regulatory obligations under the federal securities laws. The impacts of COVID-19 may directly or indirectly present challenges for transfer agents and other persons. To address these challenges, the SEC issued an order that provides registered transfer agents and certain other persons with exemptive relief for certain regulatory obligations under the federal securities laws subject to certain conditions. This relief is applicable through May 30, 2020. Importantly, at all times transfer agents are subject to the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-12. This rule requires transfer agents to ensure that they adequately safeguard securities and funds in their possession or custody, and the mandate is unaltered by the current situation.
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To aid our clients in their efforts to transition to telecommuting and remote work, we are offering a webinar on Tuesday, March 24 from 11:00am to 12:00pm EDT that will cover the different methods of deploying GoFiler remotely.

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With the emergence and spread of COVID-19 in the United States and, in particular, within New York State, Novaworks has been planning and preparing to ensure that this event causes minimal disruption to the services and software we provide for our clients. In that vein and in the interest of transparency, we would like to share some information about how we are currently addressing this situation and what steps your organization can take to ensure you are also prepared.

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On March 14th, the SEC released a proposed rule filing submitted by Cboe Exchange, Inc. to facilitate the continued operation of the options exchange in light of Cboe’s decision to temporarily suspend open outcry trading on its Chicago trading floor. This SEC action has immediate effectiveness.
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