UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 14, 2020

One World Trade Center, Suite 8500

New York, NY 10007

(Address of principal executive offices)

(212) 220-7434

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share

(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b–2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b–2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨ 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

45-day Extension to File Annual Report on Form 10-K

On March 4, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) issued an order under Section 36 (Release No. 34-88318) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) granting exemptions from specified provisions of the Exchange Act and certain rules thereunder (the “Order”). The Order provides that a registrant (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2)subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Section 13(a) or 15(d), and any person required to make any filings with respect to such a registrant, is exempt from any requirement to file or furnish materials with the Commission under Exchange Act Sections 13(a), 13(f), 13(g), 14(a), 14(c), 14(f), 15(d) and Regulations 13A, Regulation 13D-G (except for those provisions mandating the filing of Schedule 13D or amendments to Schedule 13D), 14A, 14C and 15D, and Exchange Act Rules 13f-1, and 14f-1, as applicable, where certain conditions are satisfied.

Alternus Energy Inc. (the “Company”) is furnishing this Current Report on Form 8-K to indicate its reliance on the Order in connection with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as a result of the circumstances set forth below.

The Company’s key financial personnel and outside service providers important to the development of its financial statements currently are on “lock-down” orders or “shelter in place” recommendations due to the COVID-19 pandemic or are otherwise displaced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the travel and work restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is unable to develop and complete financial records needed for the Company to file a timely and accurate Annual Report on Form 10-K for its year ended December 31, 2019, by the prescribed date without undue hardship and expense to the Company.

Accordingly, in reliance upon the Order, the Company expects to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K within 45 days after March 30, 2020.

Risk Factors

“Our business operations have been and may continue to be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of the novel respiratory illness coronavirus (“COVID-19”).

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel respiratory illness COVID-19 a pandemic.The new strain of COVID-19 is considered to be highly contagious and poses a serious public health threat.The outbreak of COVID-19emerged in China and spread to Europe, where we have significant operations. We generate our revenue from the sale of electricity from our solar parks in Italy, Germany, and Romania.

Any outbreak of such epidemic illness or other adverse public health developments may materially and adversely affect the global economy, our markets and our business. A prolonged disruption or any further unforeseen delay in our operations in Europe could continue to result in delays in theincreased costs and reduced revenue from our operations.

We cannot foresee whether the outbreak of COVID-19 will be effectively contained, nor can we predict the severity and duration of its impact. If the outbreak of COVID-19 is not effectively and timely controlled, our business operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected as a result of the deteriorating market outlook, the slowdown in regional and national economic growth, weakened liquidity and financial condition of our customers or other factors that we cannot foresee. Any of these factors and other factors beyond our control could have an adverse effect on the overall business environment, cause uncertainties in the regions where we conduct business, cause our business to suffer in ways that we cannot predict and materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable securities laws. These statements include the anticipated timing of the filing of Company’sannual statement under the Exchange Act; the expected impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on the Company’s financial reporting capabilities and its operations generally and the potential impact of such virus on the Company’s customers, distribution partners, advertisers and production facilities and other third parties. These and other forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks and uncertainties are, in many instances, beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements, which are presented as of the date of this filing, will not be updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement except as required by law.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.