[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15354-15355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7681]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 249

[Release No. 33-8183A; 34-47265A; 35-27642A; IC-25915A; IA-2103A, FR-
68, File No. S7-49-02]
RIN 3235-AI73


Strengthening the Commission's Requirements Regarding Auditor 
Independence

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Corrections to final regulations.

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SUMMARY: We are making technical corrections to rules adopted in 
Release No. 33-8183 (January 28, 2003), which were published in the 
Federal Register on February 5, 2003 (68 FR 6005). The rules relate to 
requirements regarding auditor independence and enhanced disclosure of 
fees paid to auditors. This document corrects the numbering scheme for 
items within Forms 10-K and 10-KSB.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Be, Special Counsel, Office of 
Rulemaking, Division of Corporation Finance, at (202) 942-2910, U.S. 
Securities and Exchange Commission,

[[Page 15355]]

450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 28, 2003, the Commission adopted amendments to 
strengthen requirements regarding auditor independence and enhance 
disclosure regarding fees paid to auditors.\1\ These rules were 
designed to implement provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.\2\ 
The adopting release made erroneous references to items within Forms 
10-K and 10-KSB. Accordingly, the amendments correct the numbering of 
items in these forms, but do not alter the disclosure requirements 
described in the original adopting release.
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    \1\ See Release No. 33-8183 (Jan. 28, 2003) [68 FR 6006].
    \2\ Pub. L. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745 (2002).
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II. Need for Correction

    As published, the final regulations contain errors which are in 
need of clarification.

III. Correction of Publication

    In FR Doc. 03-2364 published on February 5, 2003 (68 FR 6005) make 
the following corrections.
    1. On page 6050, in the first column, instruction 10 is corrected 
to read as follows:
    10. Amend Form 10-K (referenced in Sec.  249.310) by:
    a. Redesignating Item 15 of Part IV as Item 16 of Part IV, and
    b. Adding new Item 15 to Part III.
    The addition reads as follows:
* * * * *
    2. On page 6050, in the first, second and third columns, ``Item 
16.'' is corrected to read ``Item 15.'' in each place it appears.

    Dated: March 26, 2003.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-7681 Filed 3-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P