81_FR_46279 81 FR 46143 - Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Amendments to Board Rules Relating to Inspections

81 FR 46143 - Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Amendments to Board Rules Relating to Inspections

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 136 (July 15, 2016)

Page Range46143-46144
FR Document2016-16727

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 136 (Friday, July 15, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 136 (Friday, July 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46143-46144]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16727]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78289; File No. PCAOB-2007-04]


Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Order Granting 
Approval of Proposed Amendments to Board Rules Relating to Inspections

July 11, 2016.

I. Introduction

    On March 24, 2016, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(the ``Board'' or the ``PCAOB'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission''), pursuant to Section 107(b) \1\ of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the ``Sarbanes-Oxley Act'') and Section 
19(b) \2\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Exchange 
Act''), a proposal to adopt amendments to Rule 4003, Frequency of 
Inspections, to revise paragraphs (b) and (d) and add new paragraphs 
(e) and (h) (collectively, the ``Proposed Rules'').\3\ The Proposed 
Rules were published for comment in the Federal Register on April 13, 
2016.\4\ At the time the notice was issued, the Commission extended to 
July 12, 2016 the date by which the Commission should take action on 
the Proposed Rules.\5\ The Commission received two comment letters in 
response to the notice.\6\ This order approves the Proposed Rules.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 7217(b).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
    \3\ On October 22, 2007, the Board filed amendments related to 
Rule 4003 with the Commission and requested Commission approval. The 
Commission did not act on the amendments subject to the 2007 filing. 
On February 26, 2016, the Board adopted revisions to those proposed 
amendments and, on March 24, 2016 amended the 2007 filing to reflect 
those revisions.
    \4\ See Release No. 34-77558 (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21909 (April 
13, 2016).
    \5\ Ibid.
    \6\ See letters from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, dated 
April 29, 2016 (``Deloitte''), available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/pcaob-2007-04/pcaob200704-1.pdf, and an anonymous letter, 
dated May 3, 2016 (``anonymous letter''), available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/pcaob-2007-04/pcaob200704-2.htm.
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II. Description of the Proposed Rules

    On February 26, 2016, the Board adopted amendments to Rule 4003 to 
(i) require that at least five percent of registered public accounting 
firms that play a substantial role in the preparation or furnishing of 
an audit report be inspected on an annual basis, (ii) maintain the 
requirement to inspect all firms that issue an audit report for an 
issuer but provide the Board the discretion to forego an inspection, on 
a case-by-case basis, for a firm that does not subsequently issue an 
audit report for two consecutive years, (iii) qualify the term ``audit 
report'' to keep relevant portions of the rule consistent with the 
original meaning, and (iv) specify that no inspection requirement 
arises solely because a firm consented to an issuer's use of a 
previously issued audit report.

A. Amendments Related to the Inspection of Substantial Role Only Firms

    Under the Proposed Rules, the triennial inspection requirement for 
registered public accounting firms that play a substantial role in 
audits but do not issue audit reports (``substantial role only'') \7\ 
is eliminated and replaced with a requirement to inspect at least five 
percent of such ``substantial role only'' firms. As a result, Rule 
4003(b) is amended to delete the references to ``substantial role 
only'' firms and Proposed Rule 4003(h) is added to require that the 
Board will inspect at least five percent of the ``substantial role 
only'' firms on an annual basis. Additionally, Rule 4003(d) is amended 
to remove the references to ``substantial role only'' firms.
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    \7\ We are using the phrase ``substantial role only'' to 
identify the registered public accounting firms that play a 
substantial role in audits of issuers but do not issue audit reports 
with respect to any issuers as distinguished from the category of 
firms that play a substantial role in some audits and separately 
issue audit reports with regards to other audits. Firms that play a 
substantial role in an audit of an issuer must register with the 
PCAOB. See PCAOB Rule 2100(b).
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B. Amendments Related to the Inspections of Firms That Have Not Issued 
Audit Reports in Two Consecutive Years

    Under the Proposed Rules, Rule 4003(b) will continue to retain the 
requirement to inspect any registered public accounting firm that 
issues an audit report with respect to an issuer. However, Proposed 
Rule 4003(e) is added to provide the Board with the discretion to 
forego the inspection of a registered public accounting firm that has 
not issued any audit reports in two consecutive years.

C. Amendments Related to the Term ``Audit Report'' and Consents to the 
Use of Previously Issued Audit Reports

    Under the Proposed Rules, Rule 4003(d) is amended to add the phrase 
``with respect to an issuer'' to qualify the term ``audit report'' 
within the rule. The added qualification is needed to clarify that the 
Proposed Rules apply only to the audits of issuers because, after the 
original rule was adopted, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act'') \8\ amended the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act to establish the PCAOB's oversight of the audits of broker-
dealers.\9\ Additionally, Rule 4003(b) is amended to provide that no 
inspection requirement arises under the rule solely because a firm 
consents to an issuer's use of a previously issued audit report.
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    \8\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
    \9\ See Section 101 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act [15 U.S.C. 7211].
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D. Applicability and Effective Date

    The Proposed Rules would become effective upon approval by the 
Commission and apply to the audits of all issuers, including audits of 
emerging growth companies (``EGCs''),\10\ as discussed in Section IV 
below. The Proposed Rules do not impact the inspection frequency of the 
audits of brokers and dealers under Exchange Act Rule 17a-5.\11\
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    \10\ The term ``emerging growth company'' is defined in Section 
3(a)(80) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(80)].
    \11\ If the broker or dealer is also an issuer, the Proposed 
Rules could impact the inspection frequency of the audits of such 
broker or dealer.
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III. Comment Letters

    As noted above, the Commission received two comment letters

[[Page 46144]]

concerning the Proposed Rules. Both commenters expressed support for 
the Proposed Rules.\12\
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    \12\ See Deloitte letter and anonymous letter.
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IV. The PCAOB's EGC Request

    Section 103(a)(3)(C) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that any 
rules of the Board ``requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a 
supplement to the auditor's report in which the auditor would be 
required to provide additional information about the audit and the 
financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis)'' shall not 
apply to an audit of an EGC.\13\ The Proposed Rules do not fall into 
this category of rules. Section 103(a)(3)(C) further provides that 
``[a]ny additional rules'' adopted by the PCAOB after April 5, 2012 
shall not apply to the audits of EGCs ``unless the Commission 
determines that the application of such additional requirements is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest, after considering the 
protection of investors and whether the action will promote efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation.'' The Proposed Rules fall within 
this category of additional rules and thus the Commission must make a 
determination under the statute about the applicability of the Proposed 
Rules to audits of EGCs. Having considered those statutory factors, and 
as explained further herein, the Commission finds that applying the 
Proposed Rules to audits of EGCs is necessary or appropriate in the 
public interest.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 7213(a)(3)(C).
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    In proposing application of the Proposed Rules to audits of all 
issuers, including EGCs, the Board requested that the Commission make 
the determination required by Section 103(a)(3)(C). To assist the 
Commission in making its determination under Section 103(a)(3)(C), the 
PCAOB prepared and submitted to the Commission its own EGC analysis, 
which was included in the Commission's public notice soliciting comment 
on the Proposed Rules. In its analysis, the Board states that the 
Proposed Rules do not change or add to the requirements that apply to 
the audits of any issuers, including EGCs. Any inspection of an audit 
of an EGC would be conducted in the same manner as it would have under 
existing PCAOB rules. The Proposed Rules only impact the frequency with 
which the PCAOB may inspect a small number of firms.\14\
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    \14\ Specifically, out of the proposed amendments, only Proposed 
Rule 4003(e) would potentially change inspection frequency. However, 
the number of firms that would be covered by Proposed Rule 4003(e) 
appear to be small. The Board notes that there were 12 firms in 2015 
that had previously issued an audit report in one year but none in 
the following two consecutive years. For the firms that would be 
covered by Proposed Rule 4003(h), the practice of the PCAOB has been 
to inspect five percent of those firms on an annual basis since 
2009.
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    The Board does not anticipate that the Proposed Rules would impact 
the audit quality for audits of EGCs by altering auditors' perception 
regarding inspection likelihood. Specifically, the Board does not 
believe that the Proposed Rules will affect an auditor's perception, 
during an audit of an EGC, of the possibility of such audit being 
inspected or the nature of any inspection or review, if conducted.
    Based on the PCAOB's EGC analysis, we believe the information in 
the record is sufficient for the Commission to make the requested EGC 
determination in relation to the Proposed Rules. The Commission notes 
that because only a small number of firms fall within the categories of 
the Proposed Rules, the impact on the inspection frequency of the 
audits of EGCs is likely limited. Further, as to the ``substantial role 
only'' firms, the PCAOB is merely codifying its current practice.

V. Conclusion

    The Commission has carefully reviewed and considered the Proposed 
Rules and the information submitted therewith by the PCAOB, including 
the PCAOB's EGC analysis, and the comment letters received. In 
connection with the PCAOB's filing and the Commission's review,
    A. The Commission finds that the Proposed Rules are consistent with 
the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the securities laws and 
are necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the 
protection of investors; and
    B. Separately, the Commission finds that the application of the 
Proposed Rules to EGC audits is necessary or appropriate in the public 
interest, after considering the protection of investors and whether the 
action will promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation.
    IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, pursuant to Section 107 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act and Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, that the Proposed 
Rules (File No. PCAOB-2007-04) be and hereby are approved.

    By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16727 Filed 7-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 136 / Friday, July 15, 2016 / Notices                                                        46143

                                                provide clarity and transparency in its                  Rules were published for comment in                       require that the Board will inspect at
                                                governance processes by identifying, in                  the Federal Register on April 13, 2016.4                  least five percent of the ‘‘substantial role
                                                OCC’s public rulebook, the parties                       At the time the notice was issued, the                    only’’ firms on an annual basis.
                                                authorized to approve or disapprove                      Commission extended to July 12, 2016                      Additionally, Rule 4003(d) is amended
                                                membership applications, and fulfill the                 the date by which the Commission                          to remove the references to ‘‘substantial
                                                public interest requirements of Section                  should take action on the Proposed                        role only’’ firms.
                                                17A of the Act as described above.                       Rules.5 The Commission received two
                                                                                                         comment letters in response to the                        B. Amendments Related to the
                                                III. Conclusion                                          notice.6 This order approves the                          Inspections of Firms That Have Not
                                                   On the basis of the foregoing, the                    Proposed Rules.                                           Issued Audit Reports in Two
                                                Commission finds that the proposal is                                                                              Consecutive Years
                                                                                                         II. Description of the Proposed Rules
                                                consistent with the requirements of Act,                                                                             Under the Proposed Rules, Rule
                                                and in particular, with the requirements                    On February 26, 2016, the Board                        4003(b) will continue to retain the
                                                of Section 17A of the Act 18 and the                     adopted amendments to Rule 4003 to (i)                    requirement to inspect any registered
                                                rules and regulations thereunder.                        require that at least five percent of                     public accounting firm that issues an
                                                   IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED,                              registered public accounting firms that                   audit report with respect to an issuer.
                                                pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the                      play a substantial role in the preparation                However, Proposed Rule 4003(e) is
                                                Act,19 that the proposed rule change                     or furnishing of an audit report be                       added to provide the Board with the
                                                (SR–OCC–2016–007) be, and it hereby                      inspected on an annual basis, (ii)                        discretion to forego the inspection of a
                                                is, approved.                                            maintain the requirement to inspect all                   registered public accounting firm that
                                                                                                         firms that issue an audit report for an                   has not issued any audit reports in two
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                         issuer but provide the Board the                          consecutive years.
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                authority.20                                             discretion to forego an inspection, on a
                                                                                                         case-by-case basis, for a firm that does                  C. Amendments Related to the Term
                                                Robert W. Errett,                                                                                                  ‘‘Audit Report’’ and Consents to the Use
                                                                                                         not subsequently issue an audit report
                                                Deputy Secretary.                                                                                                  of Previously Issued Audit Reports
                                                                                                         for two consecutive years, (iii) qualify
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–16718 Filed 7–14–16; 8:45 am]              the term ‘‘audit report’’ to keep relevant                   Under the Proposed Rules, Rule
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                   portions of the rule consistent with the                  4003(d) is amended to add the phrase
                                                                                                         original meaning, and (iv) specify that                   ‘‘with respect to an issuer’’ to qualify
                                                                                                         no inspection requirement arises solely                   the term ‘‘audit report’’ within the rule.
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  because a firm consented to an issuer’s
                                                COMMISSION                                                                                                         The added qualification is needed to
                                                                                                         use of a previously issued audit report.                  clarify that the Proposed Rules apply
                                                [Release No. 34–78289; File No. PCAOB–                   A. Amendments Related to the                              only to the audits of issuers because,
                                                2007–04]                                                                                                           after the original rule was adopted, the
                                                                                                         Inspection of Substantial Role Only
                                                                                                         Firms                                                     Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
                                                Public Company Accounting Oversight                                                                                Consumer Protection Act (‘‘Dodd-Frank
                                                Board; Order Granting Approval of                           Under the Proposed Rules, the                          Act’’) 8 amended the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
                                                Proposed Amendments to Board Rules                       triennial inspection requirement for                      to establish the PCAOB’s oversight of
                                                Relating to Inspections                                  registered public accounting firms that                   the audits of broker-dealers.9
                                                                                                         play a substantial role in audits but do                  Additionally, Rule 4003(b) is amended
                                                July 11, 2016.                                           not issue audit reports (‘‘substantial role               to provide that no inspection
                                                I. Introduction                                          only’’) 7 is eliminated and replaced with                 requirement arises under the rule solely
                                                                                                         a requirement to inspect at least five                    because a firm consents to an issuer’s
                                                   On March 24, 2016, the Public                         percent of such ‘‘substantial role only’’
                                                Company Accounting Oversight Board                                                                                 use of a previously issued audit report.
                                                                                                         firms. As a result, Rule 4003(b) is
                                                (the ‘‘Board’’ or the ‘‘PCAOB’’) filed                   amended to delete the references to                       D. Applicability and Effective Date
                                                with the Securities and Exchange                         ‘‘substantial role only’’ firms and
                                                Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’),                                                                                      The Proposed Rules would become
                                                                                                         Proposed Rule 4003(h) is added to                         effective upon approval by the
                                                pursuant to Section 107(b) 1 of the
                                                Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the                                                                                    Commission and apply to the audits of
                                                                                                         subject to the 2007 filing. On February 26, 2016, the     all issuers, including audits of emerging
                                                ‘‘Sarbanes-Oxley Act’’) and Section                      Board adopted revisions to those proposed
                                                19(b) 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of                amendments and, on March 24, 2016 amended the             growth companies (‘‘EGCs’’),10 as
                                                1934 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’), a proposal                  2007 filing to reflect those revisions.                   discussed in Section IV below. The
                                                to adopt amendments to Rule 4003,
                                                                                                            4 See Release No. 34–77558 (April 7, 2016), 81 FR      Proposed Rules do not impact the
                                                                                                         21909 (April 13, 2016).                                   inspection frequency of the audits of
                                                Frequency of Inspections, to revise                         5 Ibid.
                                                paragraphs (b) and (d) and add new                          6 See letters from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
                                                                                                                                                                   brokers and dealers under Exchange Act
                                                paragraphs (e) and (h) (collectively, the                Limited, dated April 29, 2016 (‘‘Deloitte’’), available
                                                                                                                                                                   Rule 17a–5.11
                                                ‘‘Proposed Rules’’).3 The Proposed                       at https://www.sec.gov/comments/pcaob-2007-04/            III. Comment Letters
                                                                                                         pcaob200704-1.pdf, and an anonymous letter, dated
                                                  18 In approving this proposed rule change, the         May 3, 2016 (‘‘anonymous letter’’), available at            As noted above, the Commission
                                                                                                         https://www.sec.gov/comments/pcaob-2007-04/               received two comment letters
                                                Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
                                                                                                         pcaob200704-2.htm.
                                                impact on efficiency, competition, and capital              7 We are using the phrase ‘‘substantial role only’’
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                                                formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                                                                                     8 Public   Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
                                                  19 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).                                to identify the registered public accounting firms
                                                                                                                                                                     9 See   Section 101 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act [15
                                                  20 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                         that play a substantial role in audits of issuers but
                                                                                                         do not issue audit reports with respect to any            U.S.C. 7211].
                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 7217(b).                                                                                                10 The term ‘‘emerging growth company’’ is
                                                                                                         issuers as distinguished from the category of firms
                                                  2 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).                                                                                              defined in Section 3(a)(80) of the Exchange Act [15
                                                                                                         that play a substantial role in some audits and
                                                  3 On October 22, 2007, the Board filed                 separately issue audit reports with regards to other      U.S.C. 78c(a)(80)].
                                                amendments related to Rule 4003 with the                 audits. Firms that play a substantial role in an audit       11 If the broker or dealer is also an issuer, the

                                                Commission and requested Commission approval.            of an issuer must register with the PCAOB. See            Proposed Rules could impact the inspection
                                                The Commission did not act on the amendments             PCAOB Rule 2100(b).                                       frequency of the audits of such broker or dealer.



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                                                46144                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 136 / Friday, July 15, 2016 / Notices

                                                concerning the Proposed Rules. Both                         The Board does not anticipate that the             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                commenters expressed support for the                     Proposed Rules would impact the audit                 COMMISSION
                                                Proposed Rules.12                                        quality for audits of EGCs by altering
                                                                                                                                                               [Release No. 34–78283; File No. SR–
                                                                                                         auditors’ perception regarding
                                                IV. The PCAOB’s EGC Request                                                                                    NYSEMKT–2016–42]
                                                                                                         inspection likelihood. Specifically, the
                                                   Section 103(a)(3)(C) of the Sarbanes-                 Board does not believe that the                       Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                                Oxley Act requires that any rules of the                 Proposed Rules will affect an auditor’s               MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of
                                                Board ‘‘requiring mandatory audit firm                   perception, during an audit of an EGC,                Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting
                                                rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s                of the possibility of such audit being                Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
                                                report in which the auditor would be                     inspected or the nature of any                        Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                required to provide additional                           inspection or review, if conducted.                   Amendment No. 1, To Amend Rule
                                                information about the audit and the                         Based on the PCAOB’s EGC analysis,                 952NY With Respect to Opening
                                                financial statements (auditor discussion                 we believe the information in the record              Trading in an Options Series
                                                and analysis)’’ shall not apply to an                    is sufficient for the Commission to make
                                                audit of an EGC.13 The Proposed Rules                    the requested EGC determination in                    July 11, 2016.
                                                do not fall into this category of rules.
                                                                                                         relation to the Proposed Rules. The                   I. Introduction
                                                Section 103(a)(3)(C) further provides
                                                                                                         Commission notes that because only a                     On March 23, 2016, NYSE MKT LLC
                                                that ‘‘[a]ny additional rules’’ adopted by
                                                                                                         small number of firms fall within the                 (‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                the PCAOB after April 5, 2012 shall not
                                                                                                         categories of the Proposed Rules, the                 and Exchange Commission
                                                apply to the audits of EGCs ‘‘unless the
                                                                                                         impact on the inspection frequency of                 (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
                                                Commission determines that the
                                                                                                         the audits of EGCs is likely limited.                 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
                                                application of such additional
                                                                                                         Further, as to the ‘‘substantial role only’’          of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
                                                requirements is necessary or appropriate
                                                                                                         firms, the PCAOB is merely codifying its              thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
                                                in the public interest, after considering
                                                                                                         current practice.                                     amend Exchange Rule 952NY regarding
                                                the protection of investors and whether
                                                the action will promote efficiency,                      V. Conclusion                                         the process for opening trading in an
                                                competition, and capital formation.’’                                                                          options series. The proposed rule
                                                The Proposed Rules fall within this                         The Commission has carefully                       change was published for comment in
                                                category of additional rules and thus the                reviewed and considered the Proposed                  the Federal Register on April 12, 2016.3
                                                Commission must make a determination                     Rules and the information submitted                   On May 25, 2016, the Commission
                                                under the statute about the applicability                therewith by the PCAOB, including the                 extended the time period within which
                                                of the Proposed Rules to audits of EGCs.                 PCAOB’s EGC analysis, and the                         to approve the proposed rule change,
                                                Having considered those statutory                        comment letters received. In connection               disapprove the proposed rule change, or
                                                factors, and as explained further herein,                with the PCAOB’s filing and the                       institute proceedings to determine
                                                the Commission finds that applying the                   Commission’s review,                                  whether to disapprove the proposed
                                                Proposed Rules to audits of EGCs is                         A. The Commission finds that the                   rule change to July 11, 2016.4 On July
                                                necessary or appropriate in the public                   Proposed Rules are consistent with the                8, 2016, the Exchange submitted
                                                interest.                                                requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act                Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
                                                   In proposing application of the                       and the securities laws and are                       change.5 The Commission received no
                                                Proposed Rules to audits of all issuers,                 necessary or appropriate in the public                comment letters on the proposed rule
                                                including EGCs, the Board requested                      interest or for the protection of                     change. The Commission is publishing
                                                that the Commission make the                             investors; and                                        this notice to solicit comment on
                                                determination required by Section                           B. Separately, the Commission finds                Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
                                                103(a)(3)(C). To assist the Commission                   that the application of the Proposed                  change from interested persons and is
                                                in making its determination under                        Rules to EGC audits is necessary or                   approving the proposed rule change, as
                                                Section 103(a)(3)(C), the PCAOB                          appropriate in the public interest, after             modified by Amendment No. 1, on an
                                                prepared and submitted to the                            considering the protection of investors               accelerated basis.
                                                Commission its own EGC analysis,                         and whether the action will promote                   II. Description of the Proposed Rule
                                                which was included in the                                efficiency, competition, and capital                  Change, as Modified by Amendment
                                                Commission’s public notice soliciting                    formation.                                            No. 1
                                                comment on the Proposed Rules. In its                       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED,
                                                analysis, the Board states that the                                                                               Exchange Rule 952NY sets forth the
                                                                                                         pursuant to Section 107 of the Sarbanes-              Exchange System’s automated opening
                                                Proposed Rules do not change or add to                   Oxley Act and Section 19(b)(2) of the
                                                the requirements that apply to the                                                                             process.6 Current Rule 952NY(b)
                                                                                                         Exchange Act, that the Proposed Rules
                                                audits of any issuers, including EGCs.                   (File No. PCAOB–2007–04) be and                         1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                Any inspection of an audit of an EGC                     hereby are approved.                                    2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                would be conducted in the same                                                                                   3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77540
                                                manner as it would have under existing                      By the Commission.
                                                                                                                                                               (April 6, 2016), 81 FR 21623 (‘‘Notice’’).
                                                PCAOB rules. The Proposed Rules only                     Jill M. Peterson,                                       4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77911

                                                impact the frequency with which the                      Assistant Secretary.                                  (May 25, 2016), 81 FR 35115 (June 1, 2016).
                                                                                                                                                                 5 See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
                                                PCAOB may inspect a small number of                      [FR Doc. 2016–16727 Filed 7–14–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                               Commission, from Martha Redding, Associate
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                firms.14                                                 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                               General Counsel, Assistant Secretary, NYSE MKT,
                                                                                                                                                               LLC dated July 11, 2016. As more fully described
                                                  12 See Deloitte letter and anonymous letter.           there were 12 firms in 2015 that had previously       below, in Amendment No. 1 the Exchange proposes
                                                  13 15 U.S.C. 7213(a)(3)(C).                                                                                  additional modifications to Rule 952NY(c) to clarify
                                                                                                         issued an audit report in one year but none in the
                                                  14 Specifically, out of the proposed amendments,       following two consecutive years. For the firms that   and detail how the Exchange would determine the
                                                only Proposed Rule 4003(e) would potentially             would be covered by Proposed Rule 4003(h), the        opening price upon dissemination of an NBBO from
                                                change inspection frequency. However, the number         practice of the PCAOB has been to inspect five        OPRA.
                                                of firms that would be covered by Proposed Rule          percent of those firms on an annual basis since         6 See Exchange Rule 952NY. The term ‘‘System’’

                                                4003(e) appear to be small. The Board notes that         2009.                                                 refers to the Exchange’s electronic order delivery,



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Document Created: 2016-07-15 02:53:36
Document Modified: 2016-07-15 02:53:36
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation81 FR 46143 

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