ASIC has formally extended the time public companies have to hold their annual general meetings.

Under the ASIC Corporations (Extension of Time to Hold AGMs) Instrument 2021/770:

• all public companies with balance dates between 21 February 2021 and 7 July 2021 have an additional two months to hold their AGM, and
• public companies limited by guarantee with balance dates between 24 January 2021 and 7 April 2021 have an additional four months to hold their AGM.

This legislative instrument adds to the no-action position ASIC has taken giving companies with balance dates up to 7 July 2021 an additional two months to hold AGMs .

This extension is in addition to measures recently passed by parliament in Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Act 2021 to permit the convening and holding of meetings using technology until 31 March 2022.

Separately Treasury has released exposure draft legislation containing permanent reforms to facilitate the use of technology in meetings, to execute documents and send meeting-related materials.

These reforms make permanent the temporary relief currently in place which is facilitating the continuation of business through the Coronavirus crisis.

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