**GAO-03-464R**                      Feb 19, 2003                  

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## Highlights

GAO reviewed the Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC) new rule on requirements regarding auditor independence. GAO found that (1) the rule would amend the SEC's requirements regarding auditor independence to enhance the independence of accountants that audit and review financial statements and prepare attestation reports filed with the SEC, and (2) SEC complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.

##  Securities and Exchange Commission: Strengthening the Commission's Requirements Regarding Auditor Independence, GAO-03-464R, February 19, 2003

B-291942February 19, 2003The Honorable Richard C. Shelby     Chairman     The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes     Ranking Minority Member     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs     United States SenateThe Honorable Michael G. Oxley     Chairman     The Honorable Barney Frank     Ranking Minority Member     Committee on Financial Services     House of Representatives     Subject:*Securities and Exchange Commission: Strengthening the Commission's Requirements Regarding Auditor Independence*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 (SEC), entitled Strengthening the Commission's Requirements Regarding Auditor Independence (RIN: 3235-AI73).  We received the rule on January 29, 2003.  It was    published in the Federal Register as a final rule on February 5, 2003.  68 Fed. Reg. 6006.     The final rule amends the SEC's requirements regarding auditor independence to enhance the independence of accountants that audit and review financial statements and prepare attestation reports    filed with the SEC.  The final rule implements section 208 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-204).     Enclosed is our assessment of the SEC'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 SEC complied with the applicable requirements.     If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210.  The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the    subject matter of the rule is Thomas McCool, Managing Director, Financial Markets and Community Investments.  Mr. McCool can be reached at (202) 512-8678.                 signed     Kathleen E. Wannisky     Managing Associate General Counsel     Enclosurecc: Jill Peterson     Assistant Secretary     Securities and Exchange Commission            ENCLOSURE     ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C.  801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE     ISSUED BY THE     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION     ENTITLED     "STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION'S REQUIREMENTS     REGARDING AUDITOR INDEPENDENCE"     (RIN: 3235-AI73)(i) Cost-benefit analysis     The SEC considered the costs and benefits of the final rule.  The SEC states that many of the costs are difficult to quantify and no specific cost figures were cited by commenters on the    final rule.  However, SEC expects the benefits of the final rule to be increased investor confidence.  SEC notes that additional costs will be incurred by public companies in having to    use a separate vendor for certain services.  Also, accounting firms may lose one or more sources of income because they will no longer be able to sell certain non-audit services to their    audit clients.(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.  603-605, 607, and 609     The SEC prepared an Initial and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in connection with the proposed and final rules, respectively.  The analyses meet the informational requirements of the    Act.     In an attempt to lessen the burden on small entities, the SEC has exempted firms with fewer than five audit clients and fewer than 10 partners from the partner rotation and compensation    provisions.(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C.  1532-1535     As an independent regulatory agency, the SEC 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.  551 etseq.     The final rule was issued using the notice and comment procedures found at 5 U.S.C. 553.  On December 13, 2002, the SEC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal    Register.  67 Fed. Reg. 76779.  In the preamble to the final rule, the comments received are discussed.     Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.  3501-3520     The final rule contains information collections that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.  SEC listed the required    information regarding the collections, including the hourly and cost burdens in the proposed rule.  The eight collections have been approved by OMB and assigned OMB control numbers.     Statutory authorization for the rule     The final rule is promulgated under the under the authority contained in sections 7, 8, 10, 19, and 28 of the Securities Act; sections 3, 10A, 12, 13, 14, 17, 23, and 36 of the Exchange Act;    sections 5, 10, 14, and 20 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; sections 8, 30, 31, and 38 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; sections 203 and 211 of the Investment Advisors Act    of 1940; and sections 3(a) and 208 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.     Executive Order No. 12866     As the rule was promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, it is not subject to the review requirements of the order.

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