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Publications

'Thelen's Chart Summarizing The Status Of SEC Rulemaking On Corporate Governance / Sarbanes-Oxley'


July 01, 2004

SubjectProposing ReleaseAdopting Release
(SOX citation, if appicable)
FINANCIAL & ACCOUNTING
SEC Approves PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2PCAOB Release No. 2004-1   (Mar. 9, 2004)

Release No. 34-49884 (June 17, 2004)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports

PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1 Effective May 24, 2004PCAOB Release No. 2003-25     (Dec. 17, 2003)Release No. 34-49707 (May 14, 2004)
Strengthening the Commission's Requirements Regarding Auditor IndependenceRelease No. 33-8154 (Dec. 2, 2002)

Release No. 33-8183 (Jan. 28, 2003)

As amended by:
Release No. 33-8183a (Mar. 26, 2003)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on Auditor Independence (Aug. 13, 2003)
(SOX §§ 201 - 207)

Improper Influence on Conduct of AuditsRelease 34-46685 (Oct. 18, 2002) Release No. 34-47890 (May 20, 2003)
(SOX § 303)
Retention of Records Relevant to Audits and ReviewsRelease No. 33-8151 (Nov. 21, 2002)Release No. 33-8180 (Jan. 24, 2003)
(SOX § 802)
DISCLOSURE
Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing DateRelease No. 33-8106 (June 17, 2002)Release No. 34-49424 (Mar. 16, 2004)
Acceleration of Periodic Report Filing Dates and Disclosure Concerning Website Access to ReportsRelease No. 33-8089 (Apr. 12, 2002)Release No. 33-8128 (Sept. 5, 2002)

As amended by:
Release No. 33-8128A (Apr. 8, 2003)

Certification of Disclosure in Companies' Quarterly and Annual Reports

Memo on March 21, 2003 Proposing Release

Release No. 34-46079 (June 17, 2002)
Release No. 33-8212 (Mar. 21, 2003)

Release No. 33-8124 (Aug. 29, 2002) (SOX § 302(a))
(SOX § 906)

Final certification rules proposed in Rel. No. 33-8212 were adopted in Rel. No. 33-8238 (June 5, 2003).

Disclosure in MD&A of Critical Accounting PoliciesRelease No. 33-8098 (May 10, 2002)

Pending; see Proposing Release: Disclosure in MD&A, re Off-Balance Sheet, below

See also Commission Guidance Regarding MD&A Interpretive Release No. 33-8350 (Dec. 19, 2003)

Disclosure in MD&A of Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities and CommitmentsRelease No. 33-8144 (Nov. 4, 2002)Release No. 33-8182 (Jan. 27, 2003)
(SOX § 401(a))

Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP (Pro Forma) Financial Measures; Filing Earnings Releases by 8-K

Memo on FAQs

Release No. 33-8145 (Nov. 5, 2002)Release No. 33-8176 (Jan. 22, 2003)
(SOX § 401(b))

FILING GUIDANCE: Release No. 33-8216 (Mar. 27, 2003)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Release No. 34-47226 (June 12, 2003)
Disclosure Required by Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley on Internal ControlsRelease No. 33-8138 (Oct. 22, 2002) Release No. 33-8238 (June 5, 2003)
(SOX § 404)

PCAOB Release No. 2003-017 (Oct. 7, 2003), Proposed Auditing Standard: An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction with an Audit of Financial Statements.
Disclosure Required by Sections 406 and 407 of Sarbanes-Oxley on Audit Committee Financial Expert and Code of EthicsRelease No. 33-8138 (Oct. 22, 2002)Release No. 33-8177 (Jan. 22, 2003)
(SOX §§ 406, 407)

As amended by:
Release No. 33-8177a (Mar. 26, 2003)
Disclosure Regarding Nominating Committee Functions and Communications Between Security Holders and Boards of DirectorsRelease No. 34-48301 (Aug. 8, 2003)Release No. 33-8340 (Nov. 24, 2003)
Form 8-K Disclosure of Certain Management TransactionsRelease No. 33-8090 (Apr. 12, 2002)Pending; see Additional Form 8-K proposing release, below.
Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing DateRelease No. 33-8106 (June 17, 2002)Pending; not required by SOX, no statutory deadline for final rule adoption
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Standards Relating To Listed Company Audit CommitteesRelease No. 34-47137 (Jan. 8, 2003)Release No. 33-8220 (Apr. 9, 2003)
(SOX § 301)
NYSE: New Standards and Changes in Corporate Governance and Practices of NYSE-Listed CompaniesAmendment No. 2 (October 8, 2003)

Amendment No. 1 Release No. 34-4672 (Apr. 11, 2003)

Original Proposal (Aug. 16, 2002)

SEC Release No. 34-48745 (Nov. 4, 2003) Order Approving Proposed Rule Changes Relating to Corporate Governance (NYSE and NASD)
(SOX § 301)

NYSE Final Corporate Governance Rules (Nov. 4, 2003)
(NYSE Rule 303A)

FAQs NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A Corporate Governance Listing Standards (Feb. 13, 2004)

Proposed Corporate Governance Amendments (Section 303A)

Security Holder Director NominationsRel. No. 34-48626 (Oct. 14, 2003)

See also Staff Report: Review of the Proxy Process Regarding the Nomination and Election of Directors (Jul. 15, 2003)
SEC final rule pending
NYSE: Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation PlansAmended W/R/T Equity Compensation Plans (Oct. 8, 2002, as corrected Oct. 21, 2002)Release No. 34-48108 (June 30, 2003)Order Approving NYSE and Nasdaq Proposed Rule Changes Relating to Equity Compensation Plans

(NYSE Rule 303A(8))
FAQs on Equity Compensation Plans (Dec. 12, 2003)
INSIDERS
Insider Trades During Pension Fund Blackout PeriodsRelease No. 34-46778 (Nov. 6, 2002)Release No. 34-47225 (Jan. 22, 2003)
(SOX §306(a))
Acceleration of Ownership Reports on Trading by Officers, Directors and Principal Security HoldersNoneRelease No. 34-46421 (Aug. 27, 2002)
(SOX § 403(a))

Rules supplemented by Mandated Electronic Filing and Website Posting for Forms 3, 4 and 5, below
Mandated Electronic Filing and Website Posting for Forms 3, 4 and 5Release No. 33-8170 (Dec. 20, 2002)Release No. 33-8230 (May 7, 2003)(SOX § 403)
ATTORNEY CONDUCT

Implementation of Standards of Professional Conduct for Attorneys

Memo on "Up-the-Ladder" reporting:

Memo on "Noisy Withdrawal" proposals:

Release No. 33-8150 (Nov. 21, 2002)

Release No. 33-8186 (Jan. 29, 2003)
(re: Noisy Withdrawal)
Release No. 33-8185 (Jan. 29, 2003)
(SOX § 307)

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© Thelen LLP. This guide is published as an information service to clients and friends. Please recognize that the information is general in nature and must not be relied upon as legal advice.

The members of our Corporate Governance Group are following recent events carefully and have extensive experience in advising companies and their officers and directors as to how best to comply with the changing regulatory environment. We look forward to continue working with you and to assisting you in your efforts to comply with these new laws and regulations. Should you have any questions, please contact your Thelen partner or any member of our Corporate Governance Group.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

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