LegiStorm

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Highlights

GAO reviewed the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) new rule on foreign issuer reporting enhancements. GAO found that (1) the final rule amends Commission rules to foreign private issuers--these rules are intended to enhance the information that is available to investors; and (2) SEC complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.





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Securities and Exchange Commission: Foreign Issuer Reporting Enhancements, GAO-09-98R, October 20, 2008 B-317283 October 20, 2008 The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd Chairman The Honorable Richard C. Shelby Ranking Minority Member Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsUnited States Senate The Honorable Barney Frank Chairman The Honorable Spencer Bachus Ranking Minority Member Committee on Financial Services House of Representatives Subject: Securities and Exchange Commission: Foreign Issuer Reporting Enhancements Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission), entitled –Foreign Issuer Reporting Enhancements— (RIN: 3235-AK03). We received the rule on September 24, 2008. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on October 6, 2008. 73 Fed. Reg. 58,300. The final rule amends Commission rules relating to foreign private issuers?these rules are intended to enhance the information that is available to investors. These amendments are part of a series of initiatives that seek to effect changes in disclosure and other requirements applicable to foreign private issuers in light of market developments, new technologies, and other matters in a manner that promotes investor protection and cross-border capital flows. The final rule has an effective date of December 5, 2008. Enclosed is our assessment of the Commission's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the Commission complied with the applicable requirements. If you have any questions about this report or wish to contact GAO officials responsible for the evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule, please contact Michael R. Volpe, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8236. signed Robert J. Cramer Associate General Counsel Enclosure cc: Florence E. Harmon Acting Secretary Securities and Exchange Commission ENCLOSURE REPORT UNDER 5 U.S.C. sect. 801(a)(2)(A) ON A MAJOR RULE ISSUED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ENTITLED "FOREIGN ISSUER REPORTING ENHANCEMENTS" (RIN: 3235-AK03) (i) Cost-benefit analysis The final rule adopts a number of amendments to foreign private investor rules. The Commission performed a cost-benefit analysis of all the amendments. For example, the final rule enables foreign issuers to test their eligibility to use the special forms and rules available to foreign private issuers once a year, rather than continuously. Commission cited simplification of the compliance requirements as a benefit of this amendment, –which could make the >U.S. markets more attractive to [foreign investors] as a source of capital and thereby enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. markets compared to other markets.— The Commission noted that investors could incur costs from the amendments if foreign issuers that have been reporting under the domestic reporting regime immediately switch over to the foreign private issuer forms once they qualify as foreign private issuers. (ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 603-605, 607, and 609 The Commission certified that the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. For this reason, the Commission did not prepare a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. (iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. sections 1532-1535 The final rule, promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, is not subject to Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. (iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 551 et seq. The final rule was issued using the notice and comment procedures contained in the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sect. 553. On March 12, 2008, the Commission published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. 73 Fed. Reg. 13,404. The Commission received 52 comments in response to the proposed rule and responds to those comments in the final rule. Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. sections 3501-3520 The final rule contains –collection of information— requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Commission submitted these requirements to the Office of Management and Budget for review. Statutory authorization for the rule The final rule was promulgated under the authority of sections 6, 7, 10, and 19 of the Securities Act, as amended, and sections 3, 12, 13, 15, 23, and 36 of the Exchange Act, as amended. Executive Order No. 12,866 The final rule, promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, is not subject to the review requirements of the Order.



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