ASIC has announced that it will adopt a temporary ‘no action’ position in relation to the convening and holding of virtual meetings by companies despite the expiry of the Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 3) 2020 on 21 March 2021.

UPDATE: ASIC has published its ‘no action position’ here relating to the convening and holding of meetings using virtual technology between 21 March 2021 and 31 October 2021. 

On 18 March 2021 the Senate voted to delay consideration of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021 to extend electronic signing of documents by corporations and virtual meetings to August 2021. Background.

In order to provide the market with a degree of certainty, ASIC says its ‘no action’ position will:

• support the holding of meetings using appropriate technology;
• facilitate electronic dispatch of notices of meeting including supplementary notices; and
• allow public companies an additional two months to hold their AGMs.

ASIC will not be providing a no-action position in relation to electronic signatures.

Accordingly, the COVID relief from section 127 of the Corporations Act will expire and a company should sign a single, static document by ‘wet ink’ signature only.

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