The Empire Life Insurance Company has changed the location of its upcoming annual meeting, but has asked interested stakeholders, shareholders and participating policy holders to remain at home and not attend the annual meeting in person, due to the restrictions linked to the COVID-19 situation.

Although the annual meeting will now be held via live webinar, unlike other companies who’ve made similar announcements, Empire says the meeting will not be held virtually with virtual voting.

“Common shareholders and participating policyholders cannot vote as part of the webinar, and are strongly encouraged to vote by proxy in advance of the meeting,” the company said in a statement released April 9. The deadline to vote by proxy in advance of the meeting is Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Further details regarding access to the webinar will be made available in the events section of the company’s website.

Those wishing to vote at the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, are encouraged to do so using one of the methods described in the company’s management information circular. Existing proxy materials will not be updated to reflect the change of location or the addition of a live webinar. Shareholders and policyholders may continue to use their existing proxy materials for voting in connection with the annual meeting.