Securities and Exchange Commission: Commission Guidance and Revisions to the Cross-Border Tender Offer, Exchange Offer, Rights Offerings, and Business Combination Rules and Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rules for Certain Foreign Institutions, GAO-09-116R, October 24, 2008
The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd
Chairman
The Honorable Richard C. Shelby
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
The Honorable Barney
Frank
Chairman
The Honorable Spencer Bachus
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Financial Services
House of Representatives
Subject: Securities and Exchange Commission: Commission Guidance and Revisions to the Cross-Border Tender Offer, Exchange Offer, Rights Offerings, and Business Combination Rules and Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rules for Certain Foreign Institutions
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 “Commission
Guidance and Revisions to the Cross-Border Tender Offer, Exchange Offer, Rights
Offerings, and Business Combination Rules and Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Rules for Certain Foreign Institutions” (RIN: 3235-AK10). We received the rule on
This final rule expands certain exemptions for cross-border
tender offers, exchange offers, rights offerings, and business combinations. Certain cross-border transactions are exempt
from certain rules and reporting requirements.
These exemptions are meant to address conflicts between
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: J.
Lynn Taylor
Assistant 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
"COMMISSION GUIDANCE AND REVISIONS TO THE
CROSS-BORDER TENDER OFFER, EXCHANGE OFFER,
RIGHTS OFFERINGS, AND BUSINESS COMBINATION RULES
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING RULES
FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS"
(RIN: 3235-AK10)
(i) Cost-benefit analysis
The Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission)
analyzed the costs and benefits of this final rule. The Commission found that the benefits of
this final rule include (1) reducing the costs of certain cross-border
transactions through fewer filings and other changes, (2) enhanced flexibility
for bidders, (3) promoting the use of the exemptions, (4) reducing the burden
on the Commission of providing no-action or exemptive orders, and (4)
harmonizing the treatment of exchange offers and cash tender offers. The Commission identified some costs of this
final rule, including reduced procedural and informational safeguards of
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 603-605, 607, and 609
The Commission prepared a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in compliance with the Act. The Commission concluded that this final rule may impact some small entities. The Commission detailed in the final rule alternatives considered and actions taken to minimize significant adverse impacts on small entities.
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. sections 1532-1535
As an independent regulatory agency, the Commission is not subject to the Act.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under
acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 551 et seq.
The Commission promulgated this final rule using the
notice and comment procedures found in the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. sect. 553. On
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. sections 3501-3520
This final rule contains amendments to information collection requirements subject to the Act, and the Commission has submitted those requirements to the Office of Management and Budget for review. The Commission has concluded, for the three information collection requirements analyzed, this final rule will not change the paperwork burden.
Statutory authorization for the rule
The Commission promulgated this rule under the authority of sections 3(b), 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, and 28 of the Securities Act of 1933 and sections 12, 13, 14, 23, 35A, and 36 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 15 U.S.C. sections 77c(b), 77g, 77h, 77i, 77j, 77s, 77z-3, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78w, 78ll, 78mm.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. sections 78c(f), 78w(a)(2)
Section 3(f) of the Act requires the Commission to
determine whether a rulemaking will promote efficiency, competition, and
capital formation. 15 U.S.C. sect.
78c(f). Section 23(a)(2) of the Act also
prohibits any rulemaking that would impose a burden on competition not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. 15 U.S.C. sect. 78w(a)(2). The Commission concludes that this rule will
promote efficiency and capital formation and will not impact competition.
Executive Order No. 12,866
The Commission is not subject to Executive Order 12,866 because it is an independent regulatory agency.