Japan's Financial Services Agency: Information On COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

For those facing difficulties with cash flow as impact of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic spreads

Financial Services Agency (FSA) has made a leaflet for those facing difficulties with cash flow as impact of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic spreads.

Banks are providing timely and flexible cash flow support for companies and individuals. Please actively consult with your main banks.

”For those facing difficulties with cash flow as impact of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic spreads”
(Japanese version: published March 30, 2020, English version: published April 6, 2020)

Notice on Establishment of FSA Consultation Hotline Related to COVID-19

The FSA has established the Consultation Hotline Related to COVID-19 as outlined below. The purpose of the Hotline is to accept queries regarding to which contact point at financial institutions inquiries about COVID-19 should be directed, or consultations concerning transactions with financial institutions that have been impacted by COVID-19.

The FSA Consultation Hotline Related to COVID-19 is a toll-free line, so feel free to call for a consultation if you have concerns relate to transaction with financial institutions.

For more information, please see the website listed below.

Notice on Establishment of the FSA Consultation Hotline Related to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (February 28, 2020) (Available in Japanese)

0120-156811 (Toll-free) (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Weekdays)
(Available only in Japanese)

Note: To dial using an IP phone, please call 03-5251-6813.

Notice on Requests to Financial Institutions

The FSA makes the following requests to financial institutions.

○Cash Flow Support for Companies as Impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Outbreak Grows (Request)

(Japanese version: published March 24, 2020, English version: published April 6, 2020)

【Request related to support for companies】

To endeavor to strengthen cooperation with the Japan Finance Corporation, etc., in order to make every effort in financing support for companies.
For companies who have carried out a change in conditions concerning existing loans, to sincerely and conscientiously respond to continuing financing support even after the change in conditions as well as consultations for management improvements.#
To actively cooperate with credit guarantee corporations, and make practical use of the safety net guarantee system and other systems based on additional requests of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency.

○Cash Flow Support for Companies as Impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Outbreak Grows (Statement by ASO Taro, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services)

(Japanese version: published March 6, 2020, English version: published March 13, 2020)

○Cash Flow Support for Companies as Impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Outbreak Grows
(Japanese version: published March 6, 2020, English version: published April 6, 2020)

【Request related to support for companies】
The Minister requested:

Determine the business conditions and short-term cash flow at companies in even greater detail by visiting their facilities, setting up emergency consultation desks, etc.
Follow up carefully on circumstances at companies that have existing loans and be quick and flexible in changing loan conditions
Actively implement emergency lending programs for new loans (and make collateral/guarantee requirements more flexible) to meet the needs of companies promptly and appropriately, including the use of safety net loans/guarantees from policy financial institutions and credit guarantee associations
Establish systems capable of providing prompt and appropriate support for companies.

○Notice on “Basic policy on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) infection control measures” (February 25, 2020) (Available in Japanese)

【Requests related to the prevention of the spread of contagion within Japan】

Stay informed of the information on COVID-19 infection released by national and local governments
Wash hands thoroughly, always practice coughing etiquette, and observe other basic personal infection prevention practices
To lower chances of coming into contact with a patient or infected person, proactively promote the encouragement of providing days off for employees who appear to have a fever or other signs of a common cold, the staggering of work hours, and working from home.
We are not requesting across-the-board restraint with holding events at the current time, but when holding an event, we request that the host reconsiders the necessity of the event, taking into account the spread of infection and the situation at the venue in order to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

○Notice on response to measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) infection within Japan (February 19, 2020) (Available in Japanese)

【Requests related to preventing the spread of infection within Japan】
We request that the employer makes efforts to prevent the spread of infection, such as

Environmental maintenance related to the provision of days off for employees in line with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “Notice on criteria for receiving consultation and medical examination for COVID-19 infection.”
Implement methods to reduce opportunities for employees to become infected, such as the staggering of work hours and working from home.

○Request for the Implementation of Measures against COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Outbreak
(Japanese version: published February 7, 2020, English version: published March 18, 2020)

【Requests related to support for business operators】
Where a business operators is impacted by the disease, we request that financial institutions provide polite management consultations, such as visiting the business operator, supply the funds necessary for business continuation, and respond appropriately to modify conditions with existing loans.

○Measures that insurance companies are required to implement in response to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) infection (Requests)

(Japanese version: published March 13, 2020, English version: published March 27, 2020)

【Implementation of measures to protect insurance policyholders】
Take the following three actions:

Implement appropriate measures, such as a grace period for the payment of premiums and policy renewal;
Distribute information on the measures above as widely as possible, including to insurance policyholders; and
If you decide to stop providing over-the-counter services and/or to take other emergency measures, promptly distribute information on such measures, including the names of branches/offices that will implement them, to all customers.

Reference casebook on a collection of financial institutions' favorable response-practices taken against COVID-19

The FSA has published a reference casebook containing a collection of financial institutions' favorable response-practices to the FSA's request to the institutions to cooperate with relevant parties and deal with COVID-19-affected parties through business management consultations and new loans or changes of loan terms appropriate to the parties’ individual circumstances.

PDF Reference casebook on a collection of financial institutions' favorable response-practices taken against COVID-19（March 27, 2020) (Available in Japanese)

Notice regarding the deadline for submission of annual securities and other reports in connection with the COVID-19 infection

The following is a notification regarding the deadline for submission of annual securities and other reports in connection with the COVID-19 infection. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local Finance Bureau or its branch office.

○Regarding the disclosure of the documents based on the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (annual securities report, internal control report, quarterly securities report, semi-annual securities report), if they cannot be submitted by the deadline due to unavoidable reasons triggered by the impact of the COVID-19 infection, such as making it impossible to continue the auditing of Chinese subsidiaries, you may receive an extension to the submission deadline according to the approval of the head of your local Finance Bureau or its branch office, so feel free to contact your local Finance Bureau or its branch office.
Note: Annual securities report and
Internal controls report： Within three months following the end of the fiscal year
Quarterly securities report： Within 45 days following the end of the quarterly accounting period
Semi-annual securities report： Within three months following the end of the interim accounting period

○Also, regarding extraordinary reports, if a company cannot generate an extraordinary report by itself due to the impact of the COVID-19 infection, after the circumstances causing the delay end, the company shall submit the report as soon as possible, and the report shall be deemed to have been submitted without delay.

○In addition to those mentioned herein, if you are facing any obstacles, difficulties, or other issues produced by the COVID-19 infection, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance Bureau or branch office in your jurisdiction.

○Notice regarding the deadline for submission of annual securities and other reports in connection with COVID-19 infection
(Japanese version: published February 10, 2020, English version: published March 13, 2020)

Responses other than the above-mentioned

FSA-Related

Cabinet Office Ordinance Concerning Partial Revision of Regulation for Enforcement of the Money Lending Business Act
(Japanese version: published March 16, 2020, English version: published April 6, 2020)
Reconfirmation of Prudential Standards in Response to the Increasing Impact of the Spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
(Japanese version: published March 16, 2020, English version: published April 6, 2020)

Stock Exchange-Related (Available in Japanese)

Notice regarding handling of timely disclosure due to the impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (Tokyo Stock Exchange) (February 10, 2020)
Notice regarding handling of timely disclosure due to the impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (Sapporo Securities Exchange) (February 10, 2020)
Notice regarding handling of timely disclosure due to the impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (Nagoya Stock Exchange) (February 10, 2020)
Notice regarding handling of timely disclosure due to the impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (Fukuoka Stock Exchange) (February 10, 2020)
Overview of action policies due to the impact of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) (Tokyo Stock Exchange) (March 18, 2020)