In the latest SEC enforcement action relating to alleged misrepresentations pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak, the agency has filed a securities fraud action against the President and Chief Science Officer of a biotechnology company who allegedly made false statements to investors concerning the status of his company’s COVID-19 test. The enforcement action complaint also contains allegations concerning the individual’s statements about the status of his company’s delinquent SEC reporting. The enforcement action underscores the fact that the SEC intends to enforce the securities laws with respect to company statements falsely suggesting the company is in a position to profit from the coronavirus outbreak. A copy of the SEC’s September 25, 2020 complaint can be found here. The SEC’s September 25, 2020 press release regarding the enforcement action can be found here.
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SEC Files First COVID-19 Related Enforcement Action
The SEC has made it clear that it will be monitoring market activity related to the coronavirus outbreak. The agency’s Chairman and others have declared that they expect companies to be forthcoming about the impact of the pandemic on company operations and finances, and underscored the fact that the agency will be watching. On April 24, 2020, the agency announced that it had formed a COVID-19 market monitoring group. And on April 28, 2020, the agency brought what as far as I know is its first coronavirus outbreak-related enforcement action, when it filed an action against a penny stock company Praxsyn Corporation and its CEO for public claims about the company’s claims about its ability to acquire and distribute N95 face masks. A copy of the SEC’s complaint can be found here. The SEC’s April 28, 2020 press release about the enforcement action can be found here.
Continue Reading SEC Files First COVID-19 Related Enforcement Action