God only knows how the SEC chooses. It does seem random. On the one hand, they're still catching up with companies that haven't filed since the late 90s. Why don't they deal with them all at once? Most are defunct by now, and will not be objecting.
They also seem to send delinquency letters to some companies that haven't been delinquent as long. How do they decide who gets letters, and who doesn't? I have no idea. The companies are supposed to reply to, and act on, the delinquency letters. Many don't bother. So after about a year--but sometimes two years or more--the SEC initiates an administrative proceeding to revoke registration.
But some long-time delinquent filers somehow manage to fly under the radar.
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