What If You Need to Change Your Annual Meeting Location or Date Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus?

Now is the season when many public companies are planning for and getting ready to finalize, print and mail a proxy statement for the annual meeting. What if, unfortunately, a company needs to change the location or date of the meeting (or change to a virtual meeting if state law permits) due to developments relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak?

Here is our current advice, based on our analysis of the SEC’s proxy rules and Delaware law, and taking a practical view in light of the emergency and dynamic nature of this situation.