Discussion three | COVID-19: What now. What next.

Interactive conversations in KPMG LLP's series What now. What next.

Let’s talk. As the world heads into uncharted territory, business leaders are navigating the impacts of COVID-19. Now is the time to discuss the new reality.

With an agenda shaped by your input, we're meeting each week to address the business-critical challenges brought on by this pandemic. KPMG is actively connecting with the market to share leading perspectives from hundreds of clients around the world. Join us for this series as we talk through the most pressing issues and solutions we’ve heard from executives, governments and other regulators.

Topics for the April 15 discussion were based on recommendations by participants in the April 8 discussion.

US and global stimulus programs: Access to capital

The size of global relief programs aimed at easing the pain from the pandemic, and the speed at which governments enacted these legislative relief measures, is unprecedented. In the U.S., Congress approved a historic $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security (CARES) Act. Companies are now looking forward and thinking about whether governments will supplement their initial legislative efforts. The U.S. Congress and other governments around the world are considering additional relief measures.

Performance improvement: Position for the recovery

While businesses consider external levers resulting from legislation, they can also identify internal performance improvement levers to help jump-start recovery. In the coming weeks, companies will make difficult decisions about how to reposition themselves. Cost cutting, while integral to this effort for many companies, is not the only lever to consider. Moving forward will take a disciplined and methodical approach to protect businesses in the short term and prepare for the new reality.

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