The SGX RegCo has just announced today (7 April 2020) that there will be an automatic 60 day extension for all issuers with financial year (FY) ending on or before 31 March 2020 to hold their annual general meetings (AGMs). For issuers with FY ended 31 Dec 2019, the deadline to hold AGMs is now automatically extended to 29 June 2020.  However, issuers are required to issue their annual reports at least 14 days before the date of the AGM, and issuers with FY ended 31 Dec 2019 must still issue their annual reports by 15 April 2020.

Issuers will need to notify SGX RegCo of, and announce via SGXNet the following:

• their relevant FY-end and the indicative timeline to convene their AGM; and
• the Board of Directors’ confirmation that the time extension will not be in contravention of any laws and regulations governing the issuer and its constitution (or the equivalent in the issuer’s country of incorporation).

For more details, please refer to the announcement made by SGX: https://www.sgx.com/media-centre/20200407-sgx-regco-grants-automatic-60-day-extension-issuers-hold-agms

In addition, SGX RegCo has also issued FAQs on the holding of AGMs: https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2020-04/20200402%20FAQs-General-Meeting.pdf

In particular, the following will be of interest to many issuers:

SGX is providing grant of S$5,000 per issuer to help defray the additional costs of organising AGMs in light of the measures introduced by MOH. This ‘AGM Facilitation Grant’ will cover all AGM-related expenses incurred between 16 March 2020 and 15 March 2021, such as augmenting physical AGMs with video conferencing, additional logistics such as on-site temperature taking or pre-AGM shareholder communication, amongst others. To apply, listed companies are requested to complete the AGM Facilitation Grant Application Form and submit to SGXCorporateCoverage@sgx.com

Disclaimer: This update is provided to you for general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice.