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| 5/15/2008 SEC Broadens Opportunities for Small Business Financing |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today broadened small business financing opportunities by adopting a rule amendment under the Investment Company Act to increase the availability of capital to certain smaller companies that may not have ready access to the public capital markets or other forms of conventional financing. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/14/2008 SEC Proposes New Way for Investors to Get Financial Information on Companies |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to formally propose using new technology to get important information to investors faster, more reliably, and at a lower cost. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/7/2008 Staff Recommends Commission Action to Facilitate Investment in Small Business |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management said today that it has prepared a recommendation for consideration by the Commission to increase the availability of capital to certain smaller companies that do not have ready access to the public capital markets or other forms of conventional financing. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/2/2008 The Tax Refund Check is in The Mail, With Investor Tips From the SEC |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that investors awaiting their refund checks from the Internal Revenue Service will simultaneously be receiving information about a new SEC phone-based resource that can help them learn more about various investing topics and avoid investment scams. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/2/2008 SEC Completes Largest-Ever Global Training Program |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission completed its 18th Annual International Institute for Securities Market Development on April 17, 2008. Record attendance at this year's training program totaled 192 senior securities officials from 76 foreign jurisdictions, including four jurisdictions attending the Institute for the first time. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/30/2008 SEC Sets Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2009 |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that in fiscal year 2009, the fees that public companies and other issuers pay to register their securities with the Commission will be set at $55.80 per million dollars. In addition, the fees applicable to most securities transactions will be fixed at $9.30 per million dollars. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/29/2008 Recommendations Ready for Commission Action to Facilitate U.S. Investors' Exercise of Rights in Overseas Mergers and Acquisitions |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Corporation Finance said today that it has completed its review of the Commission's cross-border tender, exchange offer and business combination rules, and has prepared recommendations for consideration by the Commission. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/7/2008 Mutual Fund Comparisons Using Interactive Data Now Available to Investors |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the launch of a new Internet Web page that enables investors to more easily read, analyze, and compare the information provided by mutual funds related to fund cost, risk, and past performance. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/24/2008 SEC Announces Next Steps for Implementation of Mutual Recognition Concept |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a series of actions it intends to take to further the implementation of the concept of mutual recognition for high-quality regulatory regimes in other countries. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/4/2008 SEC Proposes Amendments to Safeguard Customer Privacy |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to propose amendments to Regulation S-P, which sets forth privacy obligations for entities regulated by the Commission. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/4/2008 SEC Proposes to Streamline ETF Approval Process |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to propose two new rules under the Investment Company Act to permit exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to operate without the need to obtain individual exemptive orders from the Commission. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/29/2008 Fee Rate Advisory #7 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| Pursuant to Section 31(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commission has determined it must reduce the Section 31 fee rate. Effective April 1, 2008, the Section 31 fee rate for fiscal 2008 will decrease almost 50 percent, from the current rate of $11.00 per million to a revised rate of $5.60 per million. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/15/2008 SEC Makes Analyzing Corporate Performance Easier for Investors |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the launch of the “Financial Explorer” on the SEC Web site to help investors quickly and easily analyze the financial results of public companies. Financial Explorer paints the picture of corporate financial performance with diagrams and charts, using financial information provided to the SEC as “interactive data” in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/14/2008 Statement of Chairman Cox Regarding Progress Report of Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today issued the following statement regarding the progress report presented by the Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting… See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/13/2008 SEC Votes to Propose All-Electronic Disclosure for Foreign Issuers |
| Today the Securities and Exchange Commission unanimously voted to propose amendments to modernize its disclosure requirements for foreign companies, including eliminating all requirements for paper submissions. Many of the proposed SEC rule changes are designed to update the Commission’s rules, reflect advancements in technology, and respond to the increasing globalization of the capital markets. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/13/2008 SEC Proposes Plain English Narrative Disclosure By Investment Advisers To Investors |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to propose rule amendments requiring investment advisers to prepare and deliver to clients and prospective clients a narrative brochure written in plain English. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/12/2008 SEC Hosts Historic Meeting of Securities Regulators From Major Emerging Markets |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it held its first Emerging Markets Conclave with heads of securities regulators from Brazil, China, South Africa and South Korea. These leading emerging markets came together to discuss challenges faced by growing securities markets, including balancing an effective regulatory scheme while promoting capital development. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/8/2008 SEC, NASAA and FINRA Announce New Steps to Help Protect Senior Investors |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) today announced a new initiative as part of securities regulators' efforts to protect senior investors. The goal of the initiative is to identify effective practices used by financial services firms in dealing with senior investors, and to provide information about these practices publicly. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/5/2008 SEC Chairman Cox Announces Creation of New Office, Appointment of Leaders, to Expedite Distribution of Billions to Injured Investors |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the appointments of the top two leaders of the agency's newly created Office of Collections and Distributions. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/1/2008 Statement of the European Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Mutual Recognition in Securities Markets |
| SEC Chairman Christopher Cox and the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy met in Washington, D.C., on February 1. They had a wide-ranging discussion on topics of mutual interest, including the current market volatility, accounting standards, sovereign wealth funds, credit rating agencies, XBRL developments and mutual recognition of securities regulation. With regard to the recent market movements, they discussed national and international efforts to analyze the circumstances resulting in the loss of market liquidity and mitigate its recurrence. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/1/2008 SEC Begins Small Business Costs and Benefits Study of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 |
| SEC Begins Small Business Costs and Benefits Study of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 |
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| 12/27/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #6 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| President Bush signed H.R. 2764, the appropriations bill that includes funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission, on Dec. 26, 2007. Accordingly, effective Dec. 31, 2007, the Section 6(b) fee rate applicable to the registration of securities, the Section 13(e) fee rate applicable to the repurchase of securities, and the Section 14(g) fee rate applicable to proxy solicitations and statements in corporate control transactions will increase to $39.30 per million dollars. The Section 6(b) rate is also the rate used to calculate the fees payable with the Annual Notice of Securities Sold Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/21/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #5 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| The continuing resolution funding the Securities and Exchange Commission for fiscal year 2008 since Oct. 1, 2007, is being extended through Dec. 31, 2007. Therefore, fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g) and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will remain at their current rates. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/21/2007 SEC Staff Issues Year-End Help For Expensing Employee Stock Options |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the Chief Accountant and Division of Corporation Finance today released a new Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) that is intended to assist public companies in valuing stock option grants to their employees for income statement purposes. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/14/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #4 For Fiscal Year 2008 |
| The continuing resolution funding the Securities and Exchange Commission for fiscal year 2008 since Oct. 1, 2007, is being extended through Dec. 21, 2007. Therefore, fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g) and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will remain at their current rates. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/12/2007 SEC Announces Roundtable Discussions Regarding International Financial Reporting Standards |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it will host two roundtable discussions in December on issues surrounding the growing prevalence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for more information |
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| 12/11/2007 SEC Facilitates Smaller Company Access to Capital Markets |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today unanimously approved changes that will give smaller companies faster and easier access to capital when they need it or market conditions are favorable. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/5/2007 SEC's Office of Interactive Disclosure Urges Public Comment as Interactive Data Moves Closer to Reality for Investors |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Interactive Disclosure today heralded the release for public comment of computer labels that will help companies make their financial disclosures more useful for investors. See SEC Release for more information . |
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| 11/29/2007 SEC Releases Sample Format for Proposed Mutual Fund Summary Prospectus |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission has published a prototype "summary prospectus" for mutual funds, and asked for public comment from investors. The proposed streamlined prospectus would let investors quickly learn key information about a mutual fund. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/28/2007 SEC Adopts Proxy Rule Amendments Encouraging Electronic Shareholder Forums |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission voted today to adopt amendments to the federal proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to facilitate the use of electronic shareholder forums. The amendments are expected to open up new avenues for real-time communications among shareholders, and between shareholders and the companies they own. See SEC Release See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/15/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #3 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| The continuing resolution funding the Securities and Exchange Commission for fiscal year 2008 since Oct. 1, 2007, has been extended further through Dec. 14, 2007. Therefore, fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g) and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will remain at their current rates. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/15/2007 SEC Takes Action to Improve Consistency of Disclosure to U.S. Investors in Foreign Companies |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to help American investors better analyze and get more readily comparable financial information from the U.S.-registered foreign companies in which they invest. The Commission's action responds to the record number of U.S. investors who own the securities of foreign companies, and the growing need for high-quality accounting standards that transcend borders. See SEC Release See SEC Release
for more information. |
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| 11/15/2007 SEC Votes to Adopt Three Rules to Improve Regulation of Smaller Businesses |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to adopt three measures to modernize and improve its capital-raising, reporting and disclosure requirements for smaller companies. These measures address some of the key recommendations made by the SEC's Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies in its final report. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/15/2007 SEC Votes to Propose Improvement of Mutual Fund Disclosure |
| The Commission today voted unanimously to propose rule changes that are intended to improve mutual fund disclosure. The proposed rules would require that all mutual fund investors receive a clear, concise summary of key information needed to make an informed investment decision. The rule changes would also encourage funds to harness the power of the Internet to allow investors to choose the format in which they receive more detailed information and to provide that information in a more user-friendly format than is available today. The proposed rules are intended to enable investors to use and compare mutual fund information more effectively. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/14/2007 SEC Renames Division of Market Regulation as Division of Trading and Markets |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it has changed the name of the Division of Market Regulation to the "Division of Trading and Markets" to better reflect the Division's full range of responsibilities. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/9/2007 Chairman Cox, Overseas Counterparts Meet to Discuss Interactive Data Timetable |
| U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox on Friday, while at meetings of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, concluded a week of bilateral discussions with securities regulators from Japan, China, Korea, Canada and Australia focused, among other things, on timetables for implementation of interactive data initiatives for financial reporting. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/5/2007 SEC Staff Releases Accounting Bulletin For Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Under GAAP |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the Chief Accountant and Division of Corporation Finance today announced the release of Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 109, "Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings." The SAB provides the staff's views on the accounting for written loan commitments recorded at fair value under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 11/2/2007 SEC Proposes Rule Amendments to Provide Investors Internet Access to Exemptive Applications |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed that mutual funds and other companies seeking exemptions under the Investment Company Act of 1940 submit their applications electronically so investors can access them sooner and the Commission can consider them more quickly. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 10/9/2007 SEC Announces New Unit to Lead Global Move to Interactive Data |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the creation of a new office within the 74-year old agency to lead the transformation to interactive financial reporting by public companies, and tapped an 11-year veteran of McGraw-Hill, whose career includes seven years with the firm’s Standard & Poor’s division, as the agency’s Director of Interactive Disclosure. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 9/28/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #2 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| When fiscal year 2008 starts on Oct. 1, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission expects to be operating under a continuing resolution that will extend through Nov. 16, 2007. During this period, fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g) and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will remain at their current rates. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 9/25/2007 SEC Chairman Cox Announces Landmark Progress in Providing Instant, User-Friendly Access to Financial Reporting Information for Investors |
| The promise of investor-friendly financial reporting moved closer to reality today as Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox announced the completion of all work on developing data tags for the entire system of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The announcement came at a New York press conference attended by Chairman Cox, whose agency has strongly supported the use of data tags in financial reporting by U.S. public companies. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 9/21/2007 SEC Releases Source Code for Interactive Data Viewer for Free Use by the Market |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox announced today that the source code for the Interactive Financial Report Viewer that enables investors to analyze companies’ interactive data filings is now available via its Web site for free use by the market. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 9/19/2007 Registration Begins for ‘CCOutreach’ National Seminar to Help Chief Compliance Officers Succeed in Protecting Investors |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the beginning of registration for the annual CCOutreach National Seminar to help mutual fund and investment adviser chief compliance officers (CCOs) further enhance their compliance programs for the protection of investors. See for more information. |
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| 9/11/2007 SEC Small Business Forum to Focus on Recent Rule Proposals for Smaller Companies |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission will hold its annual Forum on Small Business Capital Formation on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Eastern, at the Commission's Washington, D.C., headquarters. This year's small business forum will focus on recent SEC rule proposals addressing securities registration and disclosure requirements for smaller companies. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 9/7/2007 NYSE Euronext Becomes First Exchange to File Financial Statements Using Interactive Data |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that NYSE Euronext is the first stock exchange to submit financial reporting information using interactive data. See SEC Press Release for more information. |
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| 8/16/2007 EDGAR Filer Manual for Release 9.7 |
| The current version of the EDGAR Filer Manual Volumes I - III can be downloaded from the links below. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/26/2007 SEC Gives Regulatory Approval for NASD and NYSE Consolidation |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today gave final regulatory approval related to the consolidation of the member firm regulatory functions of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and NYSE Regulation, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Stock Exchange LLC. The Commission approved rule changes that allow for the consolidation of member firm regulation into a single, consolidated self-regulatory organization. The consolidated organization will be known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/25/2007 SEC Soliciting Public Comment on Role of IFRS in the U.S. |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to publish a Concept Release for public comment on allowing U.S. issuers, including investment companies, to prepare their financial statements using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as published by the International Accounting Standards Board. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/25/2007 SEC Approves PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5 Regarding Audits of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting; Adopts Definition of "Significant Deficiency" |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously in favor of a new auditing standard and other measures to increase the accuracy of financial reports while reducing unnecessary costs, especially for smaller public companies. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/24/2007 SEC Staff Provide Information To Assist Newly-Registered Investment Advisers |
| Securities and Exchange Commission staff announced that they will send all newly registered advisers a "welcome letter," along with a plain English summary of the key provisions of the Investment Advisers Act to help them understand their compliance responsibilities. The goal is to help educate newly registered advisers about their compliance obligations that promote investor protection. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/11/2007 SEC Votes to Adopt Antifraud Rule Under Investment Advisers Act |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted unanimously to adopt a new antifraud rule under the Investment Advisers Act that will clarify the Commission's ability to bring enforcement actions under the Advisers Act. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 7/3/2007 SEC Soliciting Public Comment on Eliminating Reconciliation Requirement for IFRS Financial Statements |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission has published for public comment a proposal to eliminate the current requirement that foreign private issuers filing their financial statements using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) also file a reconciliation of those financial statements to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). The Commission voted unanimously on June 20, 2007, to issue the proposal for public comment. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/27/2007 SEC Establishes Advisory Committee to Make U.S. Financial Reporting System More User-Friendly for Investors |
| Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the establishment of an advisory committee that will examine the U.S. financial reporting system with the goals of reducing unnecessary complexity and making information more useful and understandable for investors. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/25/2007 SEC Adds Software Tool for Investors Seeking Information on Companies’ Activities in Countries Known to Sponsor Terrorism |
| In the latest of a series of steps to use the Internet and interactive computer technology to make public company disclosures more accessible to investors, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced that the SEC has added to its Web site a software tool that permits investors to obtain information directly from company disclosure documents about their business interests in countries the U.S. Secretary of State has designated “State Sponsors of Terrorism.” See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/21/2007 SEC Votes to Adopt Final Amendments to Rule 105 of Regulation M, Short Selling in Connection With a Public Offering |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, to adopt amendments to strengthen Rule 105 of Regulation M. Rule 105 helps prevent abusive short selling and market manipulation to ensure that offering prices are set by natural forces of supply and demand for the securities being offered rather than by manipulative activity. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/14/2007 New "ComplianceAlerts" to Help SEC-Registered Firms Identify Deficiencies and Improve Compliance Programs |
| The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission today released its first ComplianceAlert letter to help chief compliance officers of SEC-registered firms learn more about common deficiencies and weaknesses that SEC examiners are finding during compliance examinations. This broader sharing of recent examination findings can benefit compliance officers and help them to proactively fine-tune their compliance and supervisory controls. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/14/2007 SEC Conducts Major Securities Market Oversight Training Program in Middle East |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it has completed a comprehensive Capital Market Development and Oversight Training Program in the Middle East, held in Manama, Bahrain, from June 3-6. The four-day regional program led by SEC staff included intensive training on methods for conducting investigations of insider trading, financial fraud and market manipulation. The training also focused on market surveillance techniques and broker-dealer inspections and compliance. See SEC Release for more information. |
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| 6/12/2007 Commission Announces Agenda for June 19th Roundtable on Rule 12b-1 |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the panelists and final agenda for the June 19th Roundtable on Rule 12b 1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Rule 12b-1 permits mutual funds to use fund assets to pay for the sale of fund shares and other distribution-related activities. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/23/2007 Proposed Modernization of Smaller Company Capital-Raising and Disclosure Requirements |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed a series of six measures to modernize and improve its capital raising and reporting requirements for smaller companies. Many of the proposals address key recommendations made by the SEC’s Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies in its final report. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/23/2007 SEC Approves New Guidance for Compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission today unanimously approved interpretive guidance to help public companies strengthen their internal control over financial reporting while reducing unnecessary costs, particularly at smaller companies. The new guidance will enhance compliance under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by focusing company management on the internal controls that best protect against the risk of a material financial misstatement. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 5/7/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #1 for Fiscal Year 2008 |
| The Investor and Capital Markets Fee Relief Act requires that the Commission make annual adjustments to the rates for fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g), and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/25/2007 SEC, UK FSA, and UK FRC Sign Protocol for Sharing Information on Application of IFRS |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission, the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority (FSA), and the United Kingdom Financial Reporting Council (FRC) signed a protocol today for implementing the Work Plan between the SEC and the Committee of European Securities Regulators to share information on application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by issuers listed in the UK and the U.S. (See previous announcement relating to the SEC-CESR Work Plan at http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006/2006-130.htm.) SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/24/2007 SEC Announces Next Steps Relating to International Financial Reporting Standards |
| Following up on its roundtable last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a series of actions it intends to take relating to the acceptance of financial reporting in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/5/2007 SEC Announces Process for Proposals on Securities 'Ticker' Symbols
SEC Announces Process for Proposals on Securities 'Ticker' Symbols
The |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission has received two proposed national market system plans from separate groups of stock exchanges relating generally to securities symbols. In addition, Nasdaq has filed with the Commission a separate proposal to permit a company in certain circumstances to retain its symbol when transferring its listing to Nasdaq from another stock exchange. After publishing these plans and proposal for comment the Commission will resolve the conflicts over the allocation of stock symbols as fairly and expeditiously as possible. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 4/4/2007 SEC Commissioners Endorse Improved Sarbanes-Oxley Implementation To Ease Smaller Company Burdens, Focusing Effort On 'What Truly Matters' |
| The SEC's Commissioners today endorsed the recommendations of the agency's professional staff to eliminate waste and duplication in the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance exercise, in a move that will particularly benefit smaller companies. The Commissioners urged the SEC staff to continue to work closely with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to make the internal controls provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 more efficient and cost effective. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/28/2007 SEC Schedules Open Meeting to Discuss PCAOB'S Proposed Auditing Standard and SEC'S Proposed Management Guidance for Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced it will hold an open meeting on April 4, 2007, to discuss the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) proposed auditing standard for Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the coordination of that proposed standard with the Commission’s related pending proposal to provide guidance for management of public companies implementing Section 404. Both proposals were published for public comment in December 2006, and the comment periods for both proposals ended on Feb. 26, 2007. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/27/2007 SEC Posts Text of Rules Facilitating Foreign Private Issuer Deregistration Under the Exchange Act |
| The Commission today published its new rules for deregistration by foreign companies as adopted by the Commission March 21, 2007. By eliminating conditions that had been considered a barrier to entry, the amended rules will encourage participation in U.S. markets and increase investor choice. The text can be found at . SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/20/2007 Filing Date Adjustment for Electronic TA Submissions |
| Due to software issues that are encountered while processing Form TA-1 and Form TA-2, some transfer agents currently are not able to submit these forms electronically on EDGAR. These issues are scheduled to be corrected by April 1, 2007. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/8/2007 Commission Announces March 19 Roundtable: Creating Interactive Data to Serve Investors |
| The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Vanguard Group Chairman and CEO John J. Brennan will be the keynote speaker at the Commission's March 19 roundtable on the use of interactive data by public companies and mutual funds to improve disclosure for individual investors. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/2/2007 Statement of SEC Division of Market Regulation Director Erik Sirri Regarding the Start of the Trading Phase of Compliance With Regulation NMS on Monday, March 5, 2007 |
| Erik R. Sirri, Director of the Division of Market Regulation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, made the following statement today regarding the start of the Trading Phase of Regulation NMS. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 3/1/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #8 for Fiscal Year 2007 |
| Pursuant to Section 31(j)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commission determined that a mid-year adjustment to the Section 31 fee rate for FY 2007 is not required. As a result, the Section 31 fee rate of $15.30 per million dollars that will take effect on March 17 will remain at that level through the end of the fiscal year. The Section 31 assessment on round turn transactions in security futures also will remain at $0.0042 per transaction after March 17. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 2/28/2007 Electronic Filing of Transfer Agent Forms |
| Beginning January 11, 2007, all transfer agent forms (Forms TA-1, TA-2, and TA-W) that are filed with the Commission must be filed in electronic format on the Commission’s EDGAR database. For a complete description of the electronic filing system and of the Commission’s purpose in adopting an electronic filing requirement for transfer agent forms (SEC Press Release.) |
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| 2/15/2007 Fee Rate Advisory #6 for Fiscal Year 2007 |
| The Congress has passed and the President is expected to sign House Joint Resolution 20, the continuing resolution that will fund many federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the remainder of FY 2007. This continuing resolution shall be deemed the Commission's "regular appropriation" for FY 2007, and therefore, when signed into law, will trigger changes in the rates of fees collected by the SEC. The Commission will issue a new fee advisory once the President has signed the appropriations bill. SEC Release for more information. |
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| 12/1/2006 Notice Re: Co-Reg Filings with S/C ID's |
| Investment companies with series and class (contract) requirements ("S/C Funds") should take note of the following guidance concerning submitting co-registrant filings with series/class (contract) identifiers (s/c id's) to ensure that s/c id's are attributed to the CIK of the intended S/C Fund.
(SEC Press Release.) |
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| 10/10/2006 EDGAR 9.5 to be released October 30, 2006 |
| Changes in this release include support for the designation of Accelerated filer status and Transfer Agent (TA) filings. For additional information, see the SEC Release. |
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| 9/29/2006 SEC Fee Rate Change |
| The SEC will operate under a continuing resolution from October 1, 2006 to Nov. 17, 2006. During this period, fees paid under Section 6(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 13(e), 14(g) and 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will remain at their current rates. Five days after the date of enactment of the Commission's regular fiscal year 2007 appropriation, the Section 6(b) fee rate applicable to the registration of securities, the Section 13(e) fee rate applicable to the repurchase of securities, and the Section 14(g) fee rate applicable to proxy solicitations and statements in corporate control transactions will decrease to $30.70 per million from the current rate of $107.00 per million, as previously announced. For additional information, see the SEC Fee Order. |
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9/25/2006 EDGAR 9.3 UPDATE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 6, 2006
SEC INVESTS $54 MILLION TO TRANSFORM EDGAR SYSTEM AND INCORPORATE INTERACTIVE DATA -- |
| SEC Chairman Christopher Cox announced that the SEC has awarded three contracts totaling $54 million to transform the agencys EDGAR system over the next few years with a focus of moving towards interactive data or XBRL. (SEC Press Release.) |
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| 2/6/2006 EDGAR 9.3 UPDATE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 6, 2006 |
| The SEC upgraded the EDGAR system to support the rule changes to support the SEC Series and Class (Contract) Identifiers and other related items. For additional details on the rules change, please see the (SEC Press Release.) |
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| 2/3/2006 SERIES AND CLASS (CONTRACT) IDENTIFIERS MANDITORY FOR INVESTMENT COMPANY REGISTRANTS |
| Starting February 6, filers who filed their latest registration statements or amendments on Form N-1A, N-3, N-4, or N-6 (S/C Funds) must include their series and classes (contracts) identifiers in those EDGAR submissions identified in the EDGAR Filer Manual. These submissions must include all series and/or class (or contract) identifiers of each series and/or class (or contract) on behalf of which the filing is made. See Rule 313 of Regulation S-T [17 CFR 232.313]. (SEC Press Release.) |
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