Securities and Exchange Commission: Foreign Issuer Reporting Enhancements, GAO-09-98R, October 20, 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: 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
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
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.
(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
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.