§ 78u-5. Application of safe harbor for forward-looking statements
(a)
Applicability
This section shall apply only to a forward-looking statement made by—
(b)
Exclusions
Except to the extent otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation, or order of the Commission, this section shall not apply to a forward-looking statement—
(1)
that is made with respect to the business or operations of the issuer, if the issuer—
(A)
during the 3-year period preceding the date on which the statement was first made—
(i)
was convicted of any felony or misdemeanor described in clauses (i) through (iv) of section
78o
(b)(4)(B) of this title; or
(c)
Safe harbor
(1)
In general
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in any private action arising under this chapter that is based on an untrue statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact necessary to make the statement not misleading, a person referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall not be liable with respect to any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, if and to the extent that—
(A)
the forward-looking statement is—
(B)
the plaintiff fails to prove that the forward-looking statement—
(i)
if made by a natural person, was made with actual knowledge by that person that the statement was false or misleading; or
(2)
Oral forward-looking statements
In the case of an oral forward-looking statement made by an issuer that is subject to the reporting requirements of section
78m
(a) of this title or section
78o
(d) of this title, or by a person acting on behalf of such issuer, the requirement set forth in paragraph (1)(A) shall be deemed to be satisfied—
(B)
if—
(i)
the oral forward-looking statement is accompanied by an oral statement that additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statement is contained in a readily available written document, or portion thereof;
(d)
Duty to update
Nothing in this section shall impose upon any person a duty to update a forward-looking statement.
(e)
Dispositive motion
On any motion to dismiss based upon subsection (c)(1) of this section, the court shall consider any statement cited in the complaint and any cautionary statement accompanying the forward-looking statement, which are not subject to material dispute, cited by the defendant.
(f)
Stay pending decision on motion
In any private action arising under this chapter, the court shall stay discovery (other than discovery that is specifically directed to the applicability of the exemption provided for in this section) during the pendency of any motion by a defendant for summary judgment that is based on the grounds that—
(g)
Exemption authority
In addition to the exemptions provided for in this section, the Commission may, by rule or regulation, provide exemptions from or under any provision of this chapter, including with respect to liability that is based on a statement or that is based on projections or other forward-looking information, if and to the extent that any such exemption is consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors, as determined by the Commission.
(h)
Effect on other authority of Commission
Nothing in this section limits, either expressly or by implication, the authority of the Commission to exercise similar authority or to adopt similar rules and regulations with respect to forward-looking statements under any other statute under which the Commission exercises rulemaking authority.
(i)
Definitions
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)
Forward-looking statement
The term “forward-looking statement” means—
(A)
a statement containing a projection of revenues, income (including income loss), earnings (including earnings loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, or other financial items;
(B)
a statement of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the products or services of the issuer;
(C)
a statement of future economic performance, including any such statement contained in a discussion and analysis of financial condition by the management or in the results of operations included pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission;
(D)
any statement of the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C);
[1] So in original. The semicolon probably should be a comma.