Disclosure Update and Simplification

AGENCY:

Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting amendments to certain of our disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”), or changes in the information environment. We are also referring certain Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. The amendments are intended to facilitate the disclosure of information to investors and simplify compliance without significantly altering the total mix of information provided to investors. These amendments are part of an initiative by the Division of Corporation Finance to review disclosure requirements applicable to issuers to consider ways to improve the requirements for the benefit of investors and issuers. We are also adopting these amendments as part of our efforts to implement title LXXII of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act.

DATES:

Effective on November 5, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ryan Milne, Associate Chief Accountant, at (202) 551-3400, Division of Corporation Finance; Alison Staloch, Chief Accountant, at (202) 551-6918, Division of Investment Management; Tim White, Senior Special Counsel, at (202) 551-5777, Division of Trading and Markets; Harriet Orol, Branch Chief, at (212) 336-9080, Office of Credit Ratings; Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission is adopting amendments to, or referring to the FASB:

I. Introduction and Background

A. Scope of Amendments

1. Issuers With Offerings Registered Under the Securities Act and Classes of Securities Registered Under the Exchange Act

2. Issuers Offering Securities Under Regulation A

3. Issuers Regulated Under the Investment Company Act

4. Other Entities

B. Comments on Objective and Scope of the Proposing Release

C. FASB-Related Considerations

1. Role of the FASB

2. Interaction of Commission Disclosure Requirements and U.S. GAAP

3. Current FASB Projects Concerning the Application of U.S. GAAP

D. Disclosure Location Considerations

II. Redundant or Duplicative Requirements

A. Background

B. Redundant or Duplicative Disclosure Requirements With U.S. GAAP

1. Foreign Currencies

2. Other

C. Redundant or Duplicative Disclosure Requirements With Other Commission Requirements

1. Proposed Amendments

2. Comments on Proposed Amendments

3. Final Amendments

III. Overlapping Requirements

A. Background

B. Overlapping Requirements—Proposed Deletions

1. Overlapping Disclosure Requirements With U.S. GAAP

2. Other Overlapping Disclosure Requirements

3. Overlapping Disclosure Requirements With Both U.S. GAAP and Other Commission Disclosure Requirements

C. Overlapping Requirements—Proposed Integrations

1. Foreign Currency Restrictions

2. Restrictions on Dividends and Related Items

3. Geographic Areas

D. Overlapping Requirements—FASB Referrals

1. Discount on Shares

2. Income Tax Disclosures

3. Major Customers

4. Legal Proceedings

5. Other

IV. Outdated Requirements

A. Background

B. Disclosure Requirements Outdated Due to Passage of Time

C. Disclosure Requirements Outdated Due to Changes in the Regulatory, Business, or Technological Environment

1. Market Price Disclosure

2. Other

V. Superseded Requirements

A. Background

B. Disclosure Requirements Superseded by U.S. GAAP

1. Gains or Loss on Sale of Properties by REITS

2. Consolidation

3. Development Stage Companies

4. Insurance Companies

5. Extraordinary Items

6. Other

C. Disclosure Requirements Superseded by Other Commission Requirements

1. Auditing Standards

2. Other

D. Non-Existent or Incorrect References and Typographical Errors

VI. Other Matters

VII. Economic Analysis

A. Baseline and Affected Parties

B. Anticipated Benefits and Costs

1. Redundant or Duplicative Requirements

2. Overlapping Requirements

3. Outdated Requirements

4. Superseded Requirements

C. Anticipated Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and Capital Formation

D. Alternatives

VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act

A. Background

B. Summary of the Final Amendments

C. Summary of Comment Letters and Revisions to Proposals

D. Burden and Cost Estimates

1. Forms 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, and 1-SA

2. Forms S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, SF-1, SF-3, F-1, F-3, F-4, and 1-A

IX. Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

A. Need for, and Objectives of, the Amendments

B. Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments

C. Small Entities Subject to the Amendments

D. Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

E. Agency Action To Minimize Effect on Small Entities

X. Statutory Authority

I. Introduction and Background

On July 13, 2016, the Commission proposed amendments to certain disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), or changes in the information environment. The Commission also solicited comments on a number of disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. Today we are adopting most of the proposed amendments substantially as proposed. In some cases, based on input from commenters, we are making modifications to the proposed amendments, and in other cases, we are not adopting the proposed amendments. In a few instances, we are adopting additional changes to our rules to make technical corrections and similar amendments identified in connection with this rulemaking. We believe the amendments will facilitate the disclosure of information to investors and simplify compliance without significantly altering the total mix of information provided to investors. We also believe that by eliminating redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded disclosure requirements we may improve investors' ability to make investment decisions more efficiently and reduce issuer compliance costs, which may encourage capital formation. These amendments are a result of the staff's ongoing evaluation of our disclosure requirements and also are part of our efforts to implement title LXXII, section 72002(2) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (the “FAST Act”).

The staff will review these amendments, including any impact on disclosure and capital formation, not later than five years after the effective date of the amendments, and report to the Commission.

A. Scope of Amendments

The amendments affect a variety of entities we regulate. Throughout this release, we refer to the affected entities as issuers. The requirements discussed may apply to entities other than issuers of securities or to subsets of such issuers and, thus, each requirement should be referenced for its specific scope. Entities other than issuers may include, for example, significant acquirees for which financial statements are required under Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X, significant equity method investments for which financial statements are required under 17 CFR 210.3-09 (“Rule 3-09” of Regulation S-X), broker-dealers, investment advisers, and nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”).

1. Issuers With Offerings Registered Under the Securities Act and Classes of Securities Registered Under the Exchange Act

The final rule amendments affect different categories of issuers differently. Our references to domestic issuers encompass large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, and non-accelerated filers, as well as emerging growth companies (“EGCs”) and smaller reporting companies (“SRCs”). In this release, we have highlighted the Commission disclosure requirements that affect SRCs differently from non-SRCs. Our references to foreign private issuers include issuers that may be large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, or non-accelerated filers, as well as EGCs. Specifically:

• Amendments involving Regulation S-K relate to domestic issuers and foreign private issuers that elect to file on forms used by domestic issuers.

• Amendments involving Regulation S-X generally relate to domestic issuers and foreign private issuers that report under U.S. GAAP or a comprehensive body of accounting principles other than U.S. GAAP or IFRS with a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.

• Amendments involving Commission forms relate to either domestic issuers or foreign private issuers, depending on the form under discussion. For example, the amendments to the “F” series of forms only affect foreign private issuers.

Some of the amendments also affect asset-backed issuers.

2. Issuers Offering Securities Under Regulation A

Some of the amendments affect Regulation A issuers, as follows:

• Amendments involving Regulation S-K affect Regulation A issuers that provide narrative disclosure that follows Part I of Form S-1 or Part I of Form S-11 in Part II of Form 1-A.
• Amendments involving Rule 4-10, Rule 8-04, Rule 8-05, and Rule 8-06 of Regulation S-X affect all Regulation A issuers. Amendments involving Rule 8-03(a) of Regulation S-X affect Regulation A issuers that report under U.S. GAAP. Amendments involving the remaining rules in 17 CFR 210.8-01 through 210.8-08 (“Article 8” of Regulation S-X) affect only Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP. No other amendments involving Regulation S-X affect Regulation A issuers.
• Amendments involving Regulation A forms may affect issuers that report under U.S. GAAP or Canadian issuers that report under IFRS.

In this release, we have highlighted the Commission disclosure requirements that affect Regulation A issuers.

3. Issuers Regulated Under the Investment Company Act

Certain amendments are applicable to issuers regulated under the Investment Company Act, as follows:

• Amendments involving Regulation S-K affect business development companies to which the regulation applies.
• Amendments involving Regulation S-X affect investment companies to which the regulation applies.
• Amendments involving Investment Company Act forms may affect investment companies, depending on the form in question.

4. Other Entities

Certain amendments also are applicable to registered broker-dealers, investment advisers, and NRSROs.

B. Comments on Objective and Scope of the Proposing Release

Many commenters were generally supportive of the objective of the release. These commenters indicated that the proposed amendments would improve the effectiveness and usefulness of the information presented to investors while also decreasing the costs of preparing that information, which would also benefit investors. Some of these commenters also identified additional redundancies and overlapping disclosures that the Commission should address. In addition, some commenters recommended that the Commission establish a process to address future redundant, overlapping, outdated, or superseded disclosures.

Some commenters objected to the overall objective and scope of the release to the extent it could result in the elimination of any currently required disclosures. These commenters stated that investors want more (not less) disclosures and provided examples, such as environmental, social, and governance disclosures. Some commenters also expressed concern that, due to the proposed amendments' reliance on U.S. GAAP, and considering the FASB's standard-setting projects related to disclosure framework and materiality, information that is material under the current disclosure framework would no longer be provided to investors.

Several commenters also expressed concern about the timing of the proposal. For example, some commenters were concerned that there was not sufficient time for the staff to consider the comments received on the Commission's earlier concept release on disclosures required by Regulation S-K in determining its proposals because those comments were due the same month the proposal was issued. Other commenters were concerned that the 60-day comment period specified in the Proposing Release did not provide an adequate amount of time to fully consider and provide thoughtful, comprehensive comments. In response to these comments, the Commission extended the comment period by 30 days. We also note that the topics discussed in the Regulation S-K Concept Release were generally broader in scope than the relatively more discrete changes set forth in the Proposing Release.

C. FASB-Related Considerations

1. Role of the FASB

The federal securities laws set forth the Commission's broad authority and responsibility to prescribe the methods to be followed in the preparation of accounts and the form and content of financial statements to be filed under those laws, as well as its responsibility to ensure that investors are furnished with other information necessary for investment decisions. To assist it in meeting this responsibility, the Commission historically has looked to private-sector standard-setting bodies to develop accounting principles and standards. At the time of the FASB's formation in 1973, the Commission reexamined its policy and formally recognized pronouncements of the FASB that establish and amend accounting principles and standards as “authoritative” in the absence of any contrary determination by the Commission. The Commission concluded at that time that the expertise and resources that the private sector could offer to the process of setting accounting standards would be beneficial to investors.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) established criteria that must be met in order for the work product of an accounting standard-setting body to be recognized as “generally accepted” for purposes of the federal securities laws. In accordance with these criteria, the Commission has designated the FASB as the private-sector accounting standard setter for U.S. financial reporting purposes. As the designated private-sector accounting standard setter in the United States, the FASB seeks to undertake a transparent, public standard-setting process. As required under the securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Commission monitors the FASB's ongoing compliance with the expectations and views expressed in the 2003 FASB Policy Statement.

2. Interaction of Commission Disclosure Requirements and U.S. GAAP

a. Overview

Although the FASB functions as the designated private-sector accounting standard setter in the United States, some Commission rules contain accounting and disclosure requirements. In some cases, these Commission requirements mandate disclosures that the FASB later added to U.S. GAAP. Other Commission disclosure requirements have been superseded by U.S. GAAP. From time to time, the Commission has reviewed and amended its disclosure requirements to eliminate rules that became redundant, duplicative, or overlapping as the FASB updated U.S. GAAP. In keeping with this historical practice, many of the amendments we are adopting revise or eliminate Commission disclosure requirements related to information that is addressed by more recently updated U.S. GAAP requirements.

A number of Commission disclosure requirements require information that is incremental to U.S. GAAP rather than being duplicative or overlapping. In the Proposing Release, the Commission solicited comment on certain of these incremental Commission disclosure requirements to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

b. Comments on Interaction of Commission Disclosure Requirements and U.S. GAAP

Several commenters generally supported the referral of certain Commission disclosure requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. These commenters were supportive of a disclosure regime that can be consistently applied to all issuers and indicated that it is beneficial to limit the sources of financial disclosure requirements. In expressing support for a consistently applied disclosure regime, some of these commenters also indicated that having different financial reporting requirements based on the size of the issuer may eliminate information that is material to investors and may make preparation of financial statements as well as analysis of various issuers' financial statements more difficult.

Some commenters expressed concern about placing more reliance on U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements without more formal Commission input or approval in the FASB standard-setting process. One commenter expressed concern about relying on the FASB to develop or require financial disclosures that might be considered appropriate for issuers but not other entities that apply U.S. GAAP. This commenter stated that such an approach could result in “unnecessarily costly” disclosure by entities that are not issuers.

c. Final Amendments

We have determined to retain these incremental requirements and refer some of them to the FASB for its consideration of whether to incorporate such disclosure requirements into U.S. GAAP as part of its standard-setting process. The discussions in this Section, as well as Sections II.B, III.B, and III.D, constitute our referral to the FASB.

Any incorporation of these incremental Commission disclosure requirements into U.S. GAAP could potentially affect all entities that prepare financial statements under U.S. GAAP, including those outside the scope of our regulatory authority. Because U.S. GAAP historically has scaled disclosure requirements only by public business entities versus other entities, and not by issuer status, incorporation into U.S. GAAP could result in the application of some of these requirements to SRCs and issuers relying on Regulation A or Regulation Crowdfunding.

By April 4, 2020, we request that the FASB complete its process to determine whether the referred disclosure items will be added to its agenda of projects for potential standard-setting. The FASB will determine whether and, if so, how to respond to our referrals. In the meantime, we are retaining these disclosure requirements as suggested by commenters. Any future consideration of amendments to these disclosure requirements will take into account the outcome of the standard-setting activities undertaken by the FASB, if any, in response to the referrals we are making.

3. Current FASB Projects Concerning the Application of U.S. GAAP

The FASB updates U.S. GAAP from time to time through its standard-setting projects. In the Proposing Release, the Commission invited commenters to consider two projects on the FASB's agenda when evaluating the proposals and providing feedback. In one project, the FASB proposed changes to U.S. GAAP to describe how entities would assess whether disclosures are material and included a proposal to revise U.S. GAAP to include a reference to materiality as a legal concept. In another project, the FASB undertook to evaluate disclosure requirements for interim reporting. In that project, the FASB has reached a tentative decision that disclosures about matters required to be provided in annual financial statements should be updated in the interim report if there is a substantial likelihood that the updated information would be viewed by a reasonable investor as significantly altering the total mix of information available to the investor.

These FASB projects were, and the interim reporting project remains, subject to public comment and FASB deliberation and could impact those disclosure requirements we have decided to eliminate or revise on the basis that U.S. GAAP requires the same or similar disclosure. In particular, for Commission rules that contain a specified disclosure threshold, investors may receive less information if the disclosure requirement is incorporated into U.S. GAAP and the issuer determines that the information is not material. Throughout the Proposing Release, the Commission identified disclosure requirements that contemplate a disclosure threshold in some manner, for example, through the use of terms such as “material” or “significant” or through the use of bright line disclosure thresholds.

Several commenters expressed concern about the interaction between the current FASB projects and the proposed amendments. Prior to the FASB's decision on materiality discussed below, some commenters submitted comment letters opposing reliance on U.S. GAAP as a basis to eliminate redundant or overlapping disclosure requirements, citing the FASB's potential change in its definition of materiality as the main reason for this opposition. One of these commenters also expressed concern that the FASB's materiality project could remove the phrase “an entity shall at a minimum provide” from several of the U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements referenced in the Proposing Release. Other commenters stated that the FASB's disclosure framework projects would not have a significant effect on the proposed amendments, provided that definitions of materiality applied by the Commission and the FASB remain consistent. Several commenters were supportive of interim disclosure requirements and supported the FASB's tentative decision.

After the end of the comment period for the Proposing Release, the FASB concluded deliberations on a number of matters. For instance, in March 2018, the FASB decided not to amend U.S. GAAP to include a definition of materiality and also not to amend the disclosure sections currently in U.S. GAAP. The FASB also made decisions related to FASB Concepts Statement No. 8. The FASB Concepts Statements are not U.S. GAAP; rather, the FASB Concepts Statements collectively compose the FASB's Conceptual Framework, which sets forth general principles to aid the FASB in identifying factors to be considered when setting disclosure requirements for individual accounting standards and evaluating existing disclosure requirements. Among the decisions from March, the FASB will revise the concept of materiality included in the Conceptual Framework to clarify that the definition that was previously contained in FASB Concepts Statement No. 2, which is also the definition quoted in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, is the definition to be used by the FASB when it considers and formulates its standard setting projects. We believe these decisions by the FASB have clarified that the concept of materiality has not changed from the historical view of how an issuer applies materiality to the financial statements.

We believe the FASB's decision not to amend U.S. GAAP to include a definition of materiality, as well as the decisions related to FASB Concepts Statement No. 8, substantially address the concerns expressed by commenters about the impact of the current FASB standard-setting projects. As a result of these decisions, we believe there will not be changes to how an issuer applies the concept of materiality to its financial statements, including the related notes. We are therefore eliminating certain of our disclosure requirements, as proposed, on the basis that U.S. GAAP requires the same or similar disclosures. In addition, issuers remain liable for their disclosures, including the omission of any information required to make the disclosures not misleading. Issuers should continue to consider both quantitative and qualitative factors in assessing materiality for the accounting and disclosure of an item, and also should continue to consider whether they have made critical accounting estimates and assumptions for which disclosure should be provided in MD&A. Further, U.S. GAAP requires a description of an issuer's significant accounting policies.

D. Disclosure Location Considerations

a. Overview

In some cases, our amendments result in the relocation of disclosures within a filing, with the following consequences:

• Prominence Considerations—the current location of some disclosures may provide a certain level of prominence and/or context to other disclosures located with them. The relocation of these disclosures may change the prominence and/or context of both the relocated disclosures and the remaining disclosures. We refer to these consequences collectively as “Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations.”
• Financial Statement Considerations—the amendments related to some topics result in the relocation of disclosures from outside to inside the financial statements, subjecting this information to annual audit and/or interim review, internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”), and XBRL tagging requirements, as applicable. The safe harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) would not be available for such disclosures. Conversely, relocation of disclosures from inside to outside the financial statements would have the opposite effect—namely, this information would not be subject to annual audit and/or interim review, ICFR, and XBRL tagging requirements, as applicable, while the safe harbor under the PSLRA would be available. These topics would also be subject to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations. We refer to these consequences collectively as “Disclosure Location—Financial Statement Considerations.”

• Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations—some overlapping requirements, while similar, are not redundant or duplicative because one set of requirements includes a bright line disclosure threshold, while the other set of requirements does not. Where a requirement contains a bright line disclosure threshold, matters involving amounts below that threshold are not required to be disclosed. With the exception of disclosure requirements about major customers, the Commission disclosure requirements we discuss contain bright line disclosure thresholds, while the corresponding U.S. GAAP requirements do not. For these topics, the elimination of the bright line threshold would potentially change the disclosure provided to investors. We refer to these considerations collectively as “Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations.”

b. Comments on Disclosure Location Considerations

Some commenters indicated that, due to the emergence of electronic data analysis and search tools, investors and other users are generally placing less emphasis on disclosure location. Views were mixed on relocating disclosures into the financial statements. Some commenters stated that they prefer most financial disclosures to be within the financial statements given the audit requirement and ICFR, while others opposed relocation for these same reasons. Numerous commenters also expressed concern about moving disclosures that contain forward-looking information into the financial statements. These commenters noted that such relocation would introduce liability concerns for registrants because the safe harbor under PSLRA would no longer apply and could create potential verification and auditability issues for auditors. Other commenters also expressed concern that it could result in loss of information that may currently be provided by registrants voluntarily.

Some commenters opposed eliminating any bright line thresholds in Commission disclosure requirements because the thresholds establish a baseline of disclosure for all registrants in certain areas. These commenters expressed concern about using a materiality standard for disclosure because it may reduce the information made available to investors or diminish comparability of registrants. Other commenters were supportive of eliminating the bright line thresholds, especially the thresholds discussed in the Proposing Release, and generally supported a more principles-based disclosure framework. These commenters also indicated that materiality is a better disclosure standard because certain of the existing bright line thresholds result in disclosure that, in their view, is immaterial to investors and costly to provide.

c. Final Amendments

We are adopting the majority of the proposed amendments that were identified with Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations or Financial Statement Considerations because (a) commenters were supportive of the amendment and did not express concern with the relocation of the disclosure; or (b) the overlapping U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements, identified in the Proposing Release, are already subject to audit and ICFR requirements. We also are amending one disclosure requirement identified with Bright Line Disclosure Thresholds Considerations relating to restrictions on dividends as proposed. We are not adopting other proposed amendments due to concern about the relocation of the disclosure and possible loss of forward-looking and voluntary information. In addition, we are referring some of the disclosure requirements with Disclosure Location or Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

II. Redundant or Duplicative Requirements

A. Background

In the Proposing Release, the Commission identified a number of disclosure requirements that require substantially similar disclosures as U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements. The Commission proposed to eliminate these redundant or duplicative Commission disclosure requirements to simplify issuer compliance efforts in light of the obligation to provide substantially the same information to investors under other requirements.

B. Redundant or Duplicative Disclosure Requirements With U.S. GAAP

1. Foreign Currencies

Rule 3-20 of Regulation S-X describes the currency requirements for financial statements of foreign private issuers. The third sentence of Rule 3-20(d) of Regulation S-X provides the definition of “the currency of an operation's primary economic environment” and “a hyperinflationary environment.” The Commission proposed to eliminate these definitions because U.S. GAAP provides substantially the same definitions.

While most commenters supported the elimination, two commenters recommended that the Commission retain these provisions. These commenters indicated that while the definitions are the same in the Commission disclosure requirement and U.S. GAAP, the definition in U.S. GAAP can be interpreted to apply only to a subsidiary, division, branch or joint venture of the issuer rather than the issuer itself, whereas Rule 3-20(d) applies to both the issuer and each of its material operations.

After further consideration and in light of concerns raised about whether Rule 3-20(d) and U.S. GAAP are duplicative, we are retaining the definitions in the current rule and referring the issue to the FASB for potential clarification in U.S. GAAP.

2. Other

The Commission proposed to eliminate a number of other requirements that are substantially redundant or duplicative of U.S. GAAP disclosures. The table below describes each of these requirements and identifies the corresponding U.S. GAAP requirement. For the Commission disclosure requirements proposed for elimination that apply to foreign private issuers that report using IFRS, we identify the corresponding IFRS requirement.

Commenters generally supported these proposed amendments due to the redundant or duplicative nature of the Commission disclosure requirements with U.S. GAAP and IFRS, and no commenter specifically opposed the amendments. We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

C. Redundant or Duplicative Disclosure Requirements With Other Commission Requirements

1. Proposed Amendments

In the Proposing Release, the Commission identified disclosure requirements that are redundant or duplicative of other Commission requirements. In most of these cases, the rule or item proposed to be eliminated is a reference to another Commission requirement and elimination would not affect compliance with the underlying requirement. The table below describes each proposed amendment.

2. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters generally supported these proposed amendments. One commenter recommended retaining the last sentence of Rule 3-20(d) of Regulation S-X without providing further explanation.

3. Final Amendments

We are adopting the other amendments as proposed, with one exception. After additional analysis, we are not adopting the proposed elimination of the last sentence in Rule 3-20(d) because it relates to a small population of issuers (i.e. foreign private issuers that do not apply either U.S. GAAP or IFRS) and to avoid any unintended consequences in light of a commenter's recommendation. Additionally, the amendments eliminate a redundant requirement in Instruction 3 to Item 504 of Regulation S-K that was identified subsequent to the proposal.

III. Overlapping Requirements

A. Background

In the Proposing Release, the Commission identified disclosure requirements that are related to, but not the same as, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements, which we refer to in this release as overlapping requirements. The Commission proposed the following related to these requirements:

• Delete disclosure requirements that: (1) Require disclosures that convey reasonably similar information to or are encompassed by the disclosures that result from compliance with the overlapping U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or Commission disclosure requirements; or (2) require disclosures incremental to the overlapping U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or Commission disclosure requirements and may no longer be useful to investors.
• Integrate Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, other Commission disclosure requirements.

The Commission also solicited comment on certain Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

B. Overlapping Requirements—Proposed Deletions

1. Overlapping Disclosure Requirements With U.S. GAAP

The Proposing Release identified several disclosure requirements that the Commission believed to be overlapping with U.S. GAAP.

a. Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements

(1) Proposed Amendments

Since the requirements in Regulation S-X governing repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements were adopted in 1986, the FASB has amended the U.S. GAAP requirements for the accounting and disclosures for repurchase agreements and similar transactions, which has resulted in overlapping disclosure requirements. We discuss these overlapping requirements and the proposed amendments below.

(a) Balance Sheet Presentation

Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require separate presentation of repurchase liabilities associated with repurchase agreements on the face of the balance sheet. Regulation S-X, unlike U.S. GAAP, sets forth a 10 percent threshold for separate presentation. The Commission proposed to delete the requirement for separate presentation in Rule 4-08(m)(1)(i) and the related 10 percent threshold and noted the Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations. The Commission also proposed to retain the requirement to include accrued interest payables in the separately presented liability amounts.

(b) Disaggregated Disclosures

While Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require disaggregated disclosures about repurchase agreements, they differ in the form and content of the disaggregated disclosures. First, Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require disaggregated disclosures of repurchase liabilities by class of collateral and maturity interval. U.S. GAAP permits an entity to determine the appropriate level of disaggregation and classes of collateral to be presented on the basis of the nature, characteristics, and risks of the collateral pledged, whereas Regulation S-X provides a few illustrative examples of classes. Regulation S-X also specifies maturity intervals (e.g., overnight, up to 30 days), whereas U.S. GAAP permits judgment to determine an appropriate range of maturity intervals. Further, Rule 4-08(m)(1)(ii) of Regulation S-X requires the disaggregated disclosure to be combined in the form of a single table. Although U.S. GAAP is silent about the form of disclosure, its sole example of an approach to comply with its requirements is a single table that includes both classes of collateral as well as maturity intervals similar to those required by Regulation S-X. Overall, U.S. GAAP permits more judgment to determine the classes to be presented, the range of maturity intervals, and the form of disclosure than Regulation S-X.

Second, Regulation S-X specifies tabular disclosure of the carrying amount of associated assets sold under repurchase agreements disaggregated by class of asset sold and maturity interval (e.g., overnight, up to 30 days) of the repurchase agreement. Instead of a tabular format, U.S. GAAP requires separate presentation on the transferor's balance sheet of the carrying amount of assets that the transferee has the right to sell or repledge. U.S. GAAP also requires disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of the carrying amount and balance sheet classification of both the assets pledged as collateral that the transferee does not have the right to sell or repledge and the associated liabilities, along with quantitative information about the relationship(s) between them.

The Commission proposed to delete the identified Regulation S-X requirements because the disclosures that result from compliance with U.S. GAAP, and the accompanying disclosure objectives and aggregation principles, convey reasonably similar information as the disclosures required by Regulation S-X.

Third, Regulation S-X requires disaggregated disclosures of the market value of assets sold under repurchase agreements for which unrealized changes in market value are reported in income. Although the FASB deliberated adding a requirement to U.S. GAAP to disclose the market value of these assets, it ultimately decided against doing so due to operability concerns.

Based on the foregoing, the Commission proposed to delete Rule 4-08(m)(1)(ii), with the exception of the requirement in Rule 4-08(m)(1)(ii)(A)(ii) to disclose the interest rate on repurchase liabilities, which the Commission would retain. Regulation S-X, unlike U.S. GAAP, sets forth a 10 percent threshold for the disaggregated disclosures; therefore, the proposed amendments give rise to Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations.

(c) Collateral Policy

The Commission proposed to delete the requirement in Regulation S-X to disclose an issuer's policy with regard to taking possession of assets purchased under reverse repurchase agreements because U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of the issuer's policy for requiring collateral or other security. Although U.S. GAAP is not as specific as Regulation S-X about taking possession of collateral, the Commission believed Regulation S-X requires disclosures that are encompassed by the disclosures that result from compliance with U.S. GAAP.

Regulation S-X, unlike U.S. GAAP, requires these disclosures when the aggregate carrying amount of reverse repurchase agreements exceeds 10 percent of total assets. As such, the proposed amendment gives rise to Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters were split on the proposals related to the requirements for repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements. A number of commenters expressed support for the proposed amendments except for the elimination of the collateral policy disclosure requirement. These commenters agreed that the U.S. GAAP disclosures provide reasonably similar information for the balance sheet presentation and disaggregated disclosure requirements. Certain commenters were not supportive of the deletion of the collateral policy disclosure requirements and recommended referring the requirement to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. These commenters stated that the disclosure provides useful information to understanding the credit risk associated with the transactions in which the issuer does not take possession of the collateral.

Several other commenters opposed the proposed amendments, expressing concern that the amendments would eliminate disclosures that are material to investors and other users of the financial statements. For example, one of the commenters stated that the information required by Rule 4-08(m)(1)(ii) is essential to understanding an issuers' liabilities in the repo market. Another commenter indicated that it cannot support the proposed revisions to repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements disclosure requirements at this time, given the importance of these disclosures, the relative newness of the changes to the U.S. GAAP requirements, and the existence of differences in the form and content of the respective requirements. One commenter also indicated that it believes repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements should be discussed in SEC filings more than just in the financial statement footnotes because they are complex financial instruments that can have a dramatic impact on the financing and liquidity of financial institutions and other businesses.

Additionally, while one commenter explicitly supported the elimination of the 10 percent threshold in Rule 4-08(m)(1)(ii), other commenters expressed concerns, indicating that the removal could result in less disclosure of information that is material to investors.

(3) Final Amendments

In light of the comments about the importance of the information, we are retaining the Regulation S-X disclosure requirements related to repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and referring these requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

b. Derivative Accounting Policies

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of accounting policies for certain derivative instruments. Regulation S-X applies to: (1) Derivative financial instruments, as defined under U.S. GAAP, and (2) derivative commodity instruments such as commodity futures, swaps, and options that are permitted to be settled in cash or with another financial instrument, to the extent such instruments are not within the definition of derivative financial instruments. For both types of instruments, Regulation S-X requires, where material, disclosure of the accounting policies; the criteria required to be met for each accounting method used; the accounting method used if those criteria are not met; the method used to account for terminations of derivatives designated as hedges or derivatives used to affect the terms, fair values, or cash flows of a designated item; the method used to account for derivatives when the designated item matures, is sold, is extinguished, or is terminated; and how the derivative instruments are reported in the financial statements.

U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of accounting principles and methods that materially affect the financial statements, including those involving a selection from existing acceptable alternatives, and important judgments about the appropriateness of the principles. In the Proposing Release, the Commission stated that it believes these U.S. GAAP principles call for reasonably similar information as the corresponding requirements in Regulation S-X, as they require disclosure of the accounting method applied to each aspect of a material derivative transaction from inception to termination.

In addition, for derivative financial instruments, as defined under U.S. GAAP, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of how and why the issuer uses derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and how they affect the financial statements. Although Regulation S-X is more detailed than U.S. GAAP, the specificity in Regulation S-X stemmed, in part, from the absence of a comprehensive accounting model for derivatives when the Commission adopted these disclosure requirements. Since that time, the FASB has adopted an accounting model for derivative financial instruments, as defined under U.S. GAAP. Because U.S. GAAP has a comprehensive accounting model for contracts that meet the definition of a derivative financial instrument, the Commission stated in the Proposing Release that it believes that the additional specific disclosure requirements in Rule 4-08(n) are no longer applicable.

Based on the foregoing, the Commission proposed to delete Rule 4-08(n) and Note 2(b) to Rule 8-01.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

While several commenters supported the proposed deletion of the Regulation S-X requirements related to derivative accounting policies, two commenters expressed concern. One of these commenters, while supportive of deleting the disclosure requirements, indicated that U.S. GAAP does not provide clear guidance on how to measure written options that do not meet the definition of a derivative financial instrument under U.S. GAAP. For this reason, this commenter recommended referring this issue to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. The other commenter stated that the Commission should increase instead of decrease disclosures related to derivatives.

(3) Final Amendments

We are eliminating most of the requirements in Rule 4-08(n) as proposed. However, after additional consideration, we are not eliminating the requirement to disclose where in the statement of cash flows the effect of derivative financial instruments is reported. U.S. GAAP does not have a similar disclosure requirement. We also are referring the statement of cash flows disclosure requirement to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. We continue to believe that the U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements and related principles call for information that is reasonably similar to the information called for by the disclosure requirements in Regulation S-X and that some of the additional disclosure requirements in Rule 4-08(n) are no longer applicable. Finally, we are sharing the comment letters that request review of the disclosures for derivatives and accounting for written options with the FASB because these considerations are beyond the scope of this rulemaking.

c. Research and Development Activities

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-K requires disclosures, if material, of the amount spent on research and development activities for all years presented. The Commission proposed to delete this requirement because, although Regulation S-K uses terms that differ from U.S. GAAP, U.S. GAAP requires reasonably similar disclosures.

First, Regulation S-K refers to the “amount spent,” while U.S. GAAP refers to “costs charged to expense” or “costs incurred.” The Commission release adopting this requirement used the term “expense” when discussing this requirement.

Regulation S-K also uses the term “company-sponsored,” but U.S. GAAP does not. However, the Regulation S-K Adopting Release specified that the amount of company-sponsored research and development expenses to be disclosed should be determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, suggesting no difference in scope was intended.

In addition, Regulation S-K refers to “customer-sponsored” research and development activities, while U.S. GAAP refers to “research and development performed on behalf of others.” Because U.S. GAAP refers to all other parties, which is broader than customers, the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP would encompass those required by Regulation S-K.

Further, Item 101(c)(1)(xi) only refers to customer-sponsored “research activities” rather than research and development activities. However, we do not believe this difference is substantive because Item 101(h)(4)(x) refers to “research and development activities” and it was intended to “parallel” Item 101(c)(1)(xi).

Similarly, Item 5.C of Form 20-F requires foreign private issuers to describe their research and development policies, where significant, and disclose the amount spent on company-sponsored research and development activities. The Commission proposed to delete the requirement to disclose the amount spent, as foreign private issuers are already required to disclose the amount of research and development expenses in the notes to the financial statements. In certain circumstances, IFRS requires that amounts spent on development be capitalized as an intangible asset, instead of expensed, and also disclosed. While Commission disclosure requirements use terms different from IFRS, the Commission stated in the Proposing Release that it believes IFRS results in reasonably similar disclosures for the same reasons discussed above with regards to differences in terminology between Commission disclosure requirements and U.S. GAAP.

Form 1-A also requires Regulation A issuers to disclose, if material, the amount spent on research and development activities for all years presented. As this requirement is based on the requirement in Regulation S-K, Regulation A issuers that report under either U.S. GAAP or IFRS provide substantially the same information in the notes to their financial statements, as described above.

Accordingly, the Commission proposed to delete Item 101(c)(1)(xi) of Regulation S-K and Item 101(h)(4)(x) of Regulation S-K, Item 5.C of Form 20-F, and Item 7(a)(1)(iii) of Form 1-A. The Proposing Release noted Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations, because these disclosures are located in the business description section of the filing, while the corresponding U.S. GAAP and IFRS disclosures are in the notes to the financial statements.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Most commenters were supportive of the proposed amendments. Additionally, a commenter recommended that the Commission consider feedback from preparers and users, including feedback provided in response to the S-K Concept Release, that issuers may be less willing to voluntarily supplement the required disclosures in the notes to the financial statements with forward-looking information because note disclosures are not subject to the safe harbor under the PSLRA. This commenter indicated some registrants do voluntarily provide qualitative disclosures about research and development activities and the loss of this information may be material to a user's understanding of the registrant's financial statements. Another commenter recommended also rescinding the requirement to disclose a description of a foreign private issuer's research and development policies for the last three years in Item 5.C of Form 20-F or clarifying whether this disclosure requirement relates to accounting policies or research and development activities.

One commenter did not support the deletion of Item 101(c)(1)(xi) and Item 101(h)(4)(x) of Regulation S-K, indicating that these disclosures, along with other disclosures required by Item 101, are necessary in assessing and understanding a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders.

(3) Final Amendments

We are adopting the amendments as proposed. We do not believe eliminating these requirements regarding amounts spent on research and development activities will affect the assessment and understanding of a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders, as this information will remain in the notes to the financial statements. In addition, disclosure of trend information related to research and development activities and expenses, where material, is required by Item 303 of Regulation S-K, and we expect registrants to continue to provide such disclosures as necessary. Further, the proposed amendments do not preclude registrants from continuing to provide voluntary disclosures as part of the description of their business or elsewhere outside the financial statements.

We are not eliminating the requirement to disclose a description of a foreign private issuer's research and development policies for the last three years, as one commenter suggested. This requirement was initially adopted as part of the description of business disclosure, and it is intended to cover research and development activity rather than an accounting policy.

d. Warrants, Rights, and Convertible Instruments

(1) Proposed Amendments

Item 201(a)(2)(i) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure on Form S-1 or Form 10 of the amount of common equity subject to outstanding options, warrants, or convertible securities, when the class of common equity has no established United States public trading market. U.S. GAAP more broadly requires disclosure of the terms of significant contracts to issue additional shares, the number of shares authorized for certain equity awards, and, in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the weighted-average incremental shares that would be issued from the assumed exercise or conversion of options, warrants, and convertible securities. As such, the Commission proposed to delete Item 201(a)(2)(i) of Regulation S-K.

The Proposing Release explained that the proposed amendments give rise to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations because Item 201(a)(2)(i) disclosures are located with related information about the potential dilution of equity for which there is no established United States public trading market, while the U.S. GAAP disclosures are in the notes to the financial statements.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Most commenters were supportive of the proposed amendments. One commenter opposed the amendments, stating that these requirements should not be eliminated because U.S. GAAP does not explicitly require the same information and the disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K are more “straightforward.”

(3) Final Amendments

We are eliminating Item 201(a)(2)(i) of Regulation S-K as proposed. We believe U.S. GAAP elicits reasonably similar information to that required by the disclosure requirement in Regulation S-K, and in some cases, would elicit information for a broader array of potentially dilutive arrangements. For example, disclosure of the existence of contingently issuable shares is not an explicit requirement in Item 201(a)(2)(i), though it is explicitly contemplated by the U.S. GAAP requirement.

e. Equity Compensation Plans

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-K prescribes the form and content for the disclosure of existing equity compensation plans where equity securities are authorized for issuance. This information is currently required in Part III of Form 10-K, Item 11 of Form S-1, Item 9 of Form 10, and Item 10 of Schedule 14A. In 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123R”), which resulted in disclosures that overlap with Item 201(d).

Regulation S-K incrementally requires: (1) For options, warrants, or rights assumed in a business combination, disclosure of the number of securities to be issued upon exercise and the weighted-average exercise price, and (2) disclosure of any formula for calculating the number of securities available for issuance under the plan. Item 201(d) further provides instructions about the aggregation of equity compensation plan disclosures. Although these requirements are not explicitly contained in U.S. GAAP, the Commission stated in the Proposing Release that it believes the U.S. GAAP requirement to provide disclosures to enable investors to understand the nature and terms of equity compensation arrangements and the potential effects of those arrangements on shareholders would result in reasonably similar disclosures.

Regulation S-K also incrementally requires disaggregation of information between equity compensation plans approved by security holders and those not approved by security holders. The Commission adopted these requirements in 2001 before the major national securities exchanges required listed issuers to have, with limited exceptions, shareholder approved plans. Because the exchanges on which the majority of domestic issuers, representing substantially all domestic issuer market capitalization, are listed now have such requirements, the Commission stated in the Proposing Release that it believed disaggregation of the disclosures about the plans in this manner is no longer useful to investors.

Based on the foregoing, the Commission proposed to delete Item 201(d) and the references to it in Part III of Form 10-K and Item 10(c) of Schedule 14A. These proposed amendments would not affect the disclosures related to new plans or modifications of existing plans subject to shareholder action. Because disclosures required by Item 201(d) are located with related information about the issuer's common equity and related stockholder matters, while the corresponding disclosures are in the notes to the financial statements, the proposed amendments give rise to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations. In particular, as a result of the proposed amendments, Item 201(d) disclosures would no longer be provided in Schedule 14A alongside information on equity compensation plans subject to security holder action. Instead, investors would obtain that information from the notes to the financial statements in the separate Form 10-K filing. With the proposed amendments, issuers may also be less willing to voluntarily supplement the required disclosures in the notes to the financial statements with forward-looking information because note disclosures are not subject to the safe harbor under the PSLRA.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Some commenters supported the proposed amendments, but a number of commenters opposed eliminating certain Item 201(d) disclosure requirements. Some commenters expressed concern that the proposed amendments would eliminate the requirement to disclose the number of shares available for future issuance, which they stated is material to shareholders. Other commenters opposed deleting the requirement to disclose the formula for calculating the number of securities available for issuance under the equity compensation plan. These commenters indicated that such disclosure is not likely to occur without further clarification of how the general disclosure principle in U.S. GAAP applies to the calculation, and recommended we refer this item to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. Additionally, some commenters opposed the deletion of the disaggregation disclosure requirement.

(3) Final Amendments

After further consideration, we are retaining the equity compensation plans disclosure requirements and are referring them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. We recognize the concerns expressed by commenters that U.S. GAAP does not explicitly require certain information, such as the formula for calculating the number of securities available for issuance under the plan. This information may be material to investors in making informed decisions about the scope of an issuer's equity compensation program and the potential dilutive effect, both economically and in voting power, of awards authorized for issuance under all equity compensation plans.

f. Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-K requires issuers that register debt securities to disclose the historical and pro forma ratios of earnings to fixed charges. Regulation S-K also requires issuers that register preference equity securities to disclose the historical and pro forma ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings (collectively, “ratio of earnings to fixed charges”). Regulation S-K further requires the filing of an exhibit setting forth the computation of any ratio of earnings to fixed charges. Similarly, Instruction 7 to “Instructions as to Exhibits” of Form 20-F requires foreign private issuers to disclose how any ratio of earnings to fixed charges presented in the filing was calculated. U.S. GAAP and IFRS require disclosure of many of the components commonly used in this ratio (e.g., income, interest expense, lease expense), as well as information from which other ratios that convey reasonably similar information about an issuer's ability to meet its financial obligations may be computed.

A variety of analytical tools are available today to investors that may accomplish a similar objective as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges. This ratio measures the issuer's ability to service fixed financing expenses—specifically, interest expense, including management's approximation of the portion of lease expense that represents interest expense, and preference dividend requirements—from earnings. Other ratios that accomplish similar objectives include other variations of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, the interest coverage ratio, and the debt-service coverage ratio, which can be calculated based on information readily available in the financial statements. Certain components commonly used in the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, such as the portion of lease expense that represents interest and the amortization of capitalized interest, are not readily available elsewhere. Despite this, the requirement to disclose the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as opposed to the various components (e.g., income, interest expense, lease expense) of this ratio that investors may use as desired, may place undue emphasis on this particular measure.

Moreover, while debt agreements may contain fixed charge coverage covenants, debt investors often negotiate contractual agreements with issuers to obtain financial information to meet their needs, which may be more relevant and useful than a prescribed disclosure of a ratio of earnings to fixed charges. Companies are also required to discuss the material impacts of these covenants to the extent that they are reasonably likely to limit the company's ability to undertake additional financing or are reasonably likely to be breached.

Based on these considerations, the Commission proposed to remove the requirement to disclose the ratio of earning to fixed charges by deleting Item 503(d) and Item 601(b)(12). The Commission also proposed to delete Instruction 7 to “Instructions as to Exhibits” of Form 20-F.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters were supportive of the proposed amendments. One of these commenters indicated that, in its experience, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges is generally not used by investors or other users of financial statements, and debt covenant financial requirements may already be disclosed where material and vary significantly from company to company. Another commenter, while supportive of the proposed amendments, recommended that the Commission obtain feedback from investors about the continued utility of the pro forma ratio disclosure, as information on a pro forma basis may not be as readily available.

(3) Final Amendments

We are adopting the amendments as proposed, including the elimination of the pro forma ratio. Although one commenter suggested that pro forma information may be less readily available, we note that information about the offering's effect on fixed charges, such as the interest rate, maturities, and amount of proceeds used to discharge indebtedness, is currently required by Item 504 of Regulation S-K.

g. Other

(1) Proposed Amendments

The table below describes each of the remaining disclosure requirements that are overlapping with U.S. GAAP and the proposed amendments.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters supported these proposed amendments. In addition, commenters identified another overlapping requirement in Regulation S-X for Registered Investment Companies. The commenters noted that Rule 6-09.3 of Regulation S-X requires separate disclosure of distributions paid to shareholders from (a) Investment income—net; (b) realized gain from investment transactions—net; and (c) other sources, while U.S. GAAP requires distributions paid to be disclosed as a single line item. These commenters recommended amending Regulation S-X to align it with the requirements in U.S. GAAP.

(3) Final Amendments

We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed. We are also amending Rule 6-09.3 of Regulation S-X, as suggested by commenters and similar to the amendments to Rule 6.04-17, to require presentation of the total, rather than the components, of distributions to shareholders, except for tax return of capital distributions. U.S. GAAP requires similar presentation of information as the Regulation S-X requirements, and the incremental requirement to separately present certain components is not useful to investors because of the unique tax status of registered investment companies.

2. Other Overlapping Disclosure Requirements

The Proposing Release also identified overlapping Commission disclosure requirements. These disclosure requirements and the related proposed amendments are described in the table below.

Commenters supported the proposed amendments. We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed because investors will continue to receive similar information under other Commission disclosure requirements.

3. Overlapping Disclosure Requirements With Both U.S. GAAP and Other Commission Disclosure Requirements

The Proposing Release identified several Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with both U.S. GAAP and other Commission disclosure requirements.

a. Interim Financial Statements—Pro Forma Business Combination Information

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require supplemental pro forma information about business combinations in the notes to interim financial statements. These disclosure requirements differ in two ways: (1) Scope and (2) the line items required to be disclosed. Notwithstanding these differences, the Proposing Release noted that U.S. GAAP and Item 9.01 of Form 8-K result in disclosures reasonably similar to the corresponding requirements in Regulation S-X.

Regulation S-X requires disclosure of pro forma information for “significant” business combinations for SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP and “material” business combinations for non-SRCs. U.S. GAAP, on the other hand, does not qualify the size of the business combinations to which pro forma information requirements apply. Accordingly, the requirements in U.S. GAAP apply to the same or a greater number of business combinations and, thus, subsume the scope of the corresponding requirements in Regulation S-X.

With respect to the line items required to be disclosed, Regulation S-X requires disclosure of pro forma revenue, net income, net income attributable to the issuer, and net income per share. Regulation S-X also requires SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP to disclose pro forma income from continuing operations. U.S. GAAP only requires disclosure of pro forma revenue and earnings. This difference resulted from changes to U.S. GAAP, in part to converge with IFRS, in 2007.

As a result of these changes, issuers are required to disclose more pro forma information about business combinations in interim periods than in annual periods, even though Regulation S-X generally imposes fewer obligations with regard to interim financial statements. Moreover, Rule 8-03(b)(4) requires SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP to present more line items than the corresponding requirement in Rule 10-01(b)(4) for non-SRCs, even though Commission disclosure requirements, as a general matter, provide certain accommodations for SRCs and Regulation A issuers.

In proposing these amendments, the Commission noted that Item 9.01 of Form 8-K mitigates at least in part the absence of a U.S. GAAP requirement to present pro forma earnings per share, as it requires SRCs and non-SRCs to file pro forma financial information for significant acquisitions, including earnings per share, through the issuer's most recently filed balance sheet. We note, however, this pro forma financial information would not cover the same periods as the pro forma information required under Rule 8-03(b)(4) and Rule 10-01(b)(4) for SRCs and non-SRCs, and Form 8-K does not apply to Regulation A issuers.

Based on the foregoing, the Commission proposed to eliminate the requirements for pro forma financial information in interim filings for business combinations in Rule 8-03(b)(4) and Rule 10-01(b)(4).

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Several commenters supported the proposal to eliminate pro forma business combination financial information in interim filings. However, other commenters opposed eliminating these requirements, expressing concern over the level of disclosure about merger and acquisition activities. One commenter stated that frequent financial reporting about mergers, such as pro forma results on an interim basis, results in the issuer more timely identifying and disclosing problems related to a merger. Another commenter recommended the disclosure requirements be improved rather than deleted because they provide a window into merger and acquisition activities.

(3) Final Amendments

We are deleting the requirement for pro forma financial information in interim filings for business combinations in Rule 8-03(b)(4) and Rule 10-01(b)(4) as proposed. We continue to believe that U.S. GAAP, and Item 9.01 of Form 8-K for SRCs and non-SRCs, result in reasonably similar disclosures as the corresponding requirements we are deleting. We also believe the elimination of these requirements will not result in less frequent financial reporting about mergers and their impact on issuers because U.S. GAAP will continue to require disclosure of such activities in interim periods as well as year-end.

b. Interim Financial Statements—Dispositions by SRCs and Tier 2 Regulation A Issuers

(1) Proposed Amendments

For significant dispositions, Regulation S-X requires SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP to disclose in the notes to the financial statements pro forma information. The pro forma disclosure requirements for dispositions for these issuers are the same as described above for significant business combinations.

There are two types of dispositions: (1) Those that meet the definition of discontinued operations and (2) all others (hereafter referred to as “other dispositions”). U.S. GAAP requires that the effects of discontinued operations be isolated and separately presented on the income statement on a retrospective basis, thereby obviating the need for pro forma information for discontinued operations in the notes to the financial statements.

For other dispositions, we believe the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP generally result in reasonably similar disclosures as the pro forma disclosures mandated by Rule 8-03(b)(4). Specifically, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of pre-tax profit and pre-tax profit attributable to the parent for individually significant dispositions for all interim periods presented. However, U.S. GAAP does not contain an equivalent to the requirement in Rule 8-03(b)(4) to disclose pro forma revenues as if the other disposal occurred at the beginning of the periods presented.

The Proposing Release noted that Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K may help mitigate any loss of information about pro forma revenues, as it requires SRCs to file within four business days after a significant disposition, pro forma financial information pursuant to Rule 8-05 of Regulation S-X, including revenue, income from continuing operations, and income per share, through the most recently filed balance sheet date. This pro forma financial information would not cover the same periods as the separate results required under Rule 8-03(b)(4) and is not applicable to Regulation A issuers.

In addition, Rule 8-03(b)(4) requires SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP to disclose more information about dispositions in interim periods than in annual periods, even though Regulation S-X, as noted above, generally imposes fewer obligations with regard to interim financial statements. Moreover, Rule 8-03(b)(4) requires SRCs and Regulation A issuers in a Tier 2 offering that report under U.S. GAAP to disclose more extensive information about other dispositions than is required of non-SRCs, even though Commission disclosure requirements, as a general matter, provide certain scaled disclosure accommodations for SRCs.

Accordingly, the Commission proposed to delete the pro forma disclosure requirements in Rule 8-03(b)(4).

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters indicated that the requirement in Item 9.01 of Form 8-K to provide pro forma financial information pursuant to Rule 8-05 does not sufficiently substitute for the pro forma disclosure requirement for significant dispositions in Rule 8-03(b)(4) for SRCs because Item 9.01 of Form 8-K only refers to significant acquisitions and does not reference dispositions. Several of these commenters were nevertheless supportive of the proposed deletion because, in their observation, a number of issuers provide pro forma information for significant dispositions under Item 9.01 of Form 8-K despite there not being an explicit requirement. Some commenters recommended that the Commission amend Article 8 to encompass significant dispositions.

(3) Final Amendments

After further consideration, we are retaining the pro forma disposition disclosure requirement in Rule 8-03(b)(4). We believe the views expressed by commenters about Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K and its reference to the pro forma requirements for significant acquisitions in Article 8 of Regulation S-X warrant additional analysis and consideration.

c. Segments

(1) Proposed Amendments

Item 101(b) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure of segment financial information, restatement of prior periods when reportable segments change, and discussion of interim segment performance that may not be indicative of current or future operations. U.S. GAAP and Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K require similar disclosures. Moreover, Item 101(b) explicitly permits issuers to cross-reference between the notes to the financial statements and the description of business to avoid duplicative disclosures about segments. The Commission, therefore, proposed to delete Item 101(b).

Regulation A issuers are similarly required to cross-reference to their segment disclosures under U.S. GAAP or IFRS. The Commission, therefore, also proposed to delete Item 7(b) of Form 1-A.

Because the disclosure required by Item 101(b) of Regulation S-K and Item 7(b) of Form 1-A (or the cross-reference to the notes to the financial statements) are located in the business description section of the filing, while the corresponding U.S. GAAP disclosures are in the notes to the financial statements, the Commission noted in the Proposing Release that the proposed elimination gives rise to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Most commenters supported the proposed amendments. One of these commenters observed that another disclosure requirement, which requires segment disclosures for each year an audited financial statement is provided, also overlaps with U.S. GAAP. One commenter opposed the proposed amendments, stating that the segment disclosures in Item 101(b) of Regulation S-K, along with other disclosures required by Item 101, are necessary in assessing and understanding a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders.

(3) Final Amendments

We are eliminating the requirements in Item 101(b) of Regulation S-K and Item 7(b) of Form 1-A as proposed. While this will remove the requirement to provide financial information about segments in the business description section, these disclosures will continue to be available in the notes to the financial statements. Accordingly, we do not believe eliminating the requirement will affect the assessment and understanding of a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders. Additionally, we are eliminating Rule 3-03(e) of Regulation S-X, as suggested by a commenter, because it is also redundant with U.S. GAAP. Further, U.S. GAAP requirements are broader than Rule 3-03(e) because U.S. GAAP requires segment disclosures for all periods for which a statement of income is provided, including unaudited interim periods, while Rule 3-03(e) requires the disclosure for each year for which an audited statement of income is provided.

d. Geographic Areas

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-K requires disclosure of financial information by geographic area. U.S. GAAP requires similar disclosures. Item 101(d)(2) explicitly permits issuers to cross-reference between the notes to the financial statements and the description of business to avoid duplicative disclosures about geographic areas. The Commission, therefore, proposed to delete Item 101(d)(1) and Item 101(d)(2).

Further, Item 101(d)(3) of Regulation S-K requires disclosures of any risks associated with an issuer's foreign operations and any segment's dependence on foreign operations. The Proposing Release stated that Item 101(d)(3) requires disclosures that appear to be largely encompassed by the disclosures that result from compliance with other parts of Regulation S-K. For example, Item 503(c) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure of significant risk factors.

In addition, Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure of trends and uncertainties by segment, if appropriate to an understanding of the issuer as a whole, which would include disclosure of a segment's dependence on foreign operations. The Commission, therefore, proposed to delete Item 101(d)(3).

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Most commenters were supportive of the proposed amendment, while a few commenters opposed it. One commenter stated that the geographic area disclosures, along with other disclosures required by Item 101, are necessary in assessing and understanding a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders. Another commenter expressed concern that the Commission is proposing to reduce information about the geographic segments of a business when geographic factors are growing in importance (i.e., foreign tax consideration). This commenter further suggested that the Commission should simultaneously add explicit references to geographic factors in the required discussions of business risk and trends, if Items 101(d)(l)-(3) are eliminated.

(3) Final Amendments

We are eliminating the requirements in Item 101(d) as proposed. We believe that U.S. GAAP requires reasonably similar disclosures and note that Item 101(d)(2) explicitly permits issuers to cross-reference between the notes to the financial statements and the description of business to avoid duplicative disclosures about geographic areas. Further, we are amending, as proposed, Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K to add an explicit reference to “geographic areas.” We believe this requirement, along with the disclosures required under Item 503(c) of Regulation S-K, will provide the disclosure necessary to understand the risks associated with geographic factors and to assess a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders.

e. Seasonality

(1) Proposed Amendments

Regulation S-K and U.S. GAAP both require disclosures about seasonality in interim periods. Item 101(c)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K requires annual seasonality disclosure. Seasonality, by definition, relates to variations within annual periods, so the effects of seasonality are not evident in annual financial statements. The Proposing Release stated that interim seasonality disclosures required under U.S. GAAP seem more useful to investors than annual seasonality disclosures.

Item 101(c)(1)(v), unlike U.S. GAAP, incrementally requires seasonality disclosure at the segment level, to the extent material to an understanding of the business as a whole. Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure of results of operations, liquidity, and capital resources in interim periods at the segment level, when appropriate to an understanding of the business. Accordingly, the Proposing Release stated that Item 303(b), in conjunction with U.S. GAAP, would seem to result in reasonably similar disclosures as Item 101(c)(1)(v) about the effects of seasonality on an issuer's financial statements at the segment level, if material and appropriate to an understanding of the business. The Commission therefore proposed to delete Item 101(c)(1)(iv). Because the disclosures required by Item 101(c)(1)(v) are located in the business description section, while the corresponding disclosures required by Item 303(b) and U.S. GAAP are in MD&A and the notes to the financial statements, the proposed amendment gives rise to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations.

The Commission also proposed to delete Instruction 5 to Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K because it requires disclosures that convey reasonably similar information to the disclosures that result from compliance with U.S. GAAP. The proposed deletion of Instruction 5 to Item 303(b) gives rise to Disclosure Location—Prominence Considerations because U.S. GAAP requires seasonality disclosures in the financial statements, whereas Instruction 5 requires disclosure in MD&A.

(2) Comments on Proposed Amendments

Most commenters supported the proposed amendments. Some of these commenters also provided their views on the Disclosure Location Considerations. For example, one commenter, who supported both proposed amendments, indicated that U.S. GAAP requires disclosure about seasonality when the interim financial statements reflect material seasonal variations, but it does not require disclosure when an issuer expects interim financial results to become seasonal or an issuer expects the seasonal financial results to change significantly in the future. Another commenter recommended that the Commission consider feedback from preparers and users about the potential for registrants to reduce any voluntary information about seasonality that may currently be provided that is subject to the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA.

One commenter opposed the proposed amendments indicating that these disclosures, along with other disclosures required by Item 101, are necessary in assessing and understanding a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders.

(3) Final Amendments

We are adopting as proposed the elimination of Instruction 5 to Item 303(b). We continue to believe that U.S. GAAP in combination with the remainder of Item 303 requires disclosures in interim reports that convey reasonably similar information to the disclosures required by Instruction 5 to Item 303(b). We also believe that, even without this instruction, the requirements in Item 303 elicit disclosure of forward-looking information in interim reports to the extent that the effects of seasonality may become material. However, we are retaining the seasonality disclosure requirements in annual reports in Item 101(c)(1)(v), due to a concern about potential loss of information in the fourth quarter about the extent to which the business of an issuer or its segment(s) is or may be seasonal because U.S. GAAP may not elicit this disclosure.

f. Other

The table below describes each of the remaining disclosure requirements that are overlapping with both U.S. GAAP and other Commission disclosure requirements. The related proposed amendments to delete those overlapping Commission disclosure requirements are also discussed below.

Commenters generally supported the proposed amendments, and no commenter specifically opposed the amendments. Accordingly, we are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

C. Overlapping Requirements—Proposed Integrations

In the proposing release, the Commission discussed disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, other Commission disclosure requirements. In these cases, the Commission proposed to integrate the overlapping Commission disclosure requirements.

1. Foreign Currency Restrictions

a. Proposed Amendments

If consolidation of foreign subsidiaries is deemed appropriate notwithstanding the presence of foreign currency exchange restrictions, Rule 3A-02(d) of Regulation S-X requires disclosure of the effect of foreign subsidiaries' currency exchange restrictions upon the consolidated financial position and operating results of the issuer and its subsidiaries. To streamline Commission disclosure requirements, the Commission proposed to relocate this requirement to Rule 3-20(b) of Regulation S-X, which addresses other currency considerations.

Rule 3-20(b), however, applies only to foreign private issuers, whereas Rule 3A-02(d) applies to all issuers. To prevent any loss of disclosure from the relocation of Rule 3A-02(d) to Rule 3-20(b), the Commission proposed to delete the reference to foreign private issuers in the title of Rule 3-20, which would broaden the scope of Rule 3-20(b) and Rule 3-20(e) to all issuers. Rule 3-20(b) also sets forth requirements for foreign private issuers if their reporting currency is not the U.S. dollar. Despite the proposed expansion of the scope of Rule 3-20(b) discussed above, the Commission stated in the Proposing Release that it did not intend to expand the instances in which a reporting currency other than the U.S. dollar would be permitted. The Commission therefore proposed amendments to Rule 3-20(a) to specify that domestic issuers and foreign issuers who do not meet the foreign private issuer definition must present their financial statements in U.S. dollars.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters were generally supportive of the proposed amendments except for the proposed amendment to Rule 3-20(a). Some commenters recommended that the Commission consider providing all registrants the same flexibility in selecting their reporting currency as foreign private issuers or allowing domestic issuers to report using the currency of the country in which they have substantially all of their operations. Additionally, one of these commenters recommended further revisions to reorganize Rule 3-20 of Regulation S-X and to move the disclosure requirements for currency exchange restrictions from the financial statement footnotes to Item 303 of Regulation S-K.

c. Final Amendments

We are adopting the amendments to delete the reference to foreign private issuers in the title of Rule 3-20 and relocate the requirements of Rule 3A-02(d) to Rule 3-20(b) as proposed. We are also adopting the amendment to require a non-foreign private issuer to present its financial statements in U.S. dollars. This amendment is not intended to change current disclosure practices. Domestic issuers and foreign issuers that do not meet the foreign private issuer definition may continue to request to present financial statements in a currency other than U.S. dollars in appropriate circumstances.

In addition, while we acknowledge commenters' recommendation that we consider providing all registrants the flexibility to select their reporting currency; we are not adopting that suggestion at this time. We believe more information is needed to determine whether any unintended consequences could result, and thus believe such a change is beyond the scope of this rulemaking.

In a technical change for clarification, we also are replacing the word “selected”, in the phrase “currency selected for reporting purposes,” with “used” in Rule 3-20(d) because non-foreign private issuers are not permitted to “select” their reporting currency.

2. Restrictions on Dividends and Related Items

Commission requirements mandate disclosure about restrictions on the payment of dividends and related items in a number of locations. The table below describes each of the disclosure requirements related to this mandate, the proposed amendment, and reason for it.

Commenters generally supported the proposed amendments, and no commenter specifically opposed the amendments. Accordingly, we are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed. The amendments simplify our disclosure requirements by integrating overlapping Commission disclosure requirements into existing disclosure requirements where the incremental information is reasonably similar.

3. Geographic Areas

Item 101(d)(4) of Regulation S-K requires, when interim financial statements are presented, a discussion of the facts that indicate the three-year financial data for geographic performance may not be indicative of current or future operations. This requirement is similar to requirements in Instruction 3 to Item 303(a) and Instruction 4 to Item 303(b) to identify elements of income which are not necessarily indicative of the issuer's ongoing business, except that there is no explicit reference to “geographic areas” in either requirement. To streamline the requirements in Regulation S-K, the Commission proposed to revise Item 303 to add an explicit reference to “geographic areas” and delete Item 101(d)(4).

Commenters were generally supportive of the proposed amendments. Some commenters recommended clarification of the proposed revision to Item 303, noting that it is not clear whether an issuer must discuss the geographic information as part of the segment discussion or has a choice to discuss its operations on a segment or geographical basis.

We are adopting the amendment substantially as proposed. As suggested by commenters, we are clarifying that geographic areas are an example of a subdivision of a business that is required to be discussed when management believes such discussion would be appropriate to an understanding of the business and that discussion of geographic areas is not required in all circumstances.

D. Overlapping Requirements—FASB Referrals

In the proposing release, the Commission discussed Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP and solicited comments to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. For the reasons discussed below, we have determined to refer the incremental Commission disclosure requirements described in this section to the FASB for its consideration of whether to incorporate such disclosure requirements into U.S. GAAP as part of its normal standard-setting process. The discussion in this section, as well as Sections I.C., II.B., and III.B., constitute our referral to the FASB.

Any incorporation of these incremental Commission disclosure requirements into U.S. GAAP could potentially affect all entities that prepare financial statements under U.S. GAAP, including those outside the scope of our regulatory authority. Additionally, the disclosure requirements described below in Section III.D.3 and certain Topics in Section III.D.5 currently allow for scaled disclosure by SRCs and issuers relying on Regulation A or Regulation Crowdfunding. Depending on how these disclosures are incorporated, if at all, into U.S. GAAP, U.S. GAAP may not permit these issuers to scale such disclosures.

By April 4, 2020, we request that the FASB complete its process to determine whether the referred disclosure items will be added to its agenda of projects for potential standard-setting. In the meantime, we are retaining the disclosure requirements discussed in this section. Any future consideration of amendments to these disclosure requirements will take into account the outcome of the standard-setting activities undertaken by the FASB, if any, in response to the referrals we are making.

1. Discount on Shares

Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both set forth requirements about the presentation of items in the equity section of the financial statements. However, Regulation S-X incrementally requires discounts on shares to be presented separately as a deduction from the applicable accounts. Discounts on shares may arise, for example, from stock issuance costs, which are recognized as a reduction in equity. In the Proposing Release, the Commission solicited comments to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer this disclosure requirement to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

Some commenters recommended that the Commission eliminate the disclosure requirement in Regulation S-X, for the following reasons: (1) Stock issuance costs recorded within equity do not amortize, and therefore, the commenters did not see the ongoing relevance of the disclosure; (2) in the period of issuance, such costs are already required to be presented separately in the financing section of the statement of cash flows; and (3) other discounts to par or stated value are likely captured by other disclosure requirements. Other commenters recommended that the Commission refer the incremental disclosure requirement to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

There are various types of transactions that could result in discount on shares. Commenters supporting elimination of the Regulation S-X requirement indicated that U.S. GAAP overlaps with Rule 4-07 with respect to stock issuance costs but did not state whether U.S. GAAP overlaps with respect to other transactions that result in discount on shares. Based on these considerations, we are retaining the disclosure requirements in Rule 4-07 and are referring them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

2. Income Tax Disclosures

Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP both require disclosures about income taxes in the notes to the financial statements. However, Rule 4-08(h) includes certain incremental requirements, some of which give rise to Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations.

Specifically, although U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X both require disclosure of the components of income tax expense, Rule 4-08(h) incrementally: (1) Requires disclosure of the amount of domestic and foreign pre-tax income and income tax expense, (2) requires disaggregation of the foreign component of pre-tax income and income tax expense with the domestic component if it exceeds five percent of the respective total, and (3) defines “foreign” for purposes of this disclosure.

In addition, although U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X both require a reconciliation of the domestic federal statutory tax rate to the effective tax rate, Rule 4-08(h) incrementally: (1) Requires disaggregation of reconciling items if they individually exceed five percent of the amount computed by multiplying pre-tax income by the applicable statutory income tax rate, (2) clarifies the statutory tax rate to use in the income tax rate reconciliation for foreign issuers, and (3) requires, when the statutory tax rate used differs from the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate, disclosure of the basis for using that rate.

In the Proposing Release, the Commission solicited comments to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer these disclosure requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

Several commenters recommended elimination of the Commission disclosure requirements, if the FASB adopts its proposed income tax standard. Some of these commenters further indicated that, if the proposed income tax standard is not adopted, the Commission should consider comments received by the FASB to determine whether further amendment should be made to Rule 4-08(h). Some commenters recommended retaining both requirements under Rule 4-08(h) and U.S. GAAP, as they believe investors need more detailed disclosure of corporate income tax liabilities. Only one commenter recommended that the Commission refer this issue to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S.GAAP.

Additionally, a number of commenters recommended that the Commission require disclosure of certain information, such as profit or loss before taxes and effective tax rate, on a country-by-country basis. Some of these commenters indicated that this transparency would help investors assess the risks that could arise from operating in multiple jurisdictions as well as the likelihood of repatriation of foreign earnings. Some of the commenters who recommended the country-by-country disclosure also recommended requiring the disclosure of the aggregate amount corporations would owe in U.S. taxes should they repatriate their offshore earnings. In contrast, one commenter indicated that further disaggregating foreign amounts by foreign jurisdiction would not provide useful information as such disaggregation would neither reflect exposure to future foreign tax nor shed light on future potential repatriation. This commenter further recommended that the current five percent thresholds for the effective rate reconciliation be revisited, as they can result in an unnecessarily large number of line items when pre-tax income is relatively small.

After considering the comments, we are retaining the income tax disclosure requirements in Rule 4-08(h). While we acknowledge the suggestions made by commenters related to additional income tax disclosures, these are beyond the scope of this rulemaking. There also have been significant changes to the tax law that may affect the accounting and disclosure requirements for income taxes. We are referring these disclosure requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. The FASB is currently reviewing its disclosure requirements for income taxes and discussing the financial reporting effects of recent changes in tax law.

3. Major Customers

Regulation S-K and U.S. GAAP both require disclosures about major customers. However, Regulation S-K is more expansive in its requirements and differs from U.S. GAAP in two ways: (1) The threshold for disclosure and (2) the requirement to disclose a customer's name in certain instances. We note that because disclosures required by Regulation S-K, unlike those required by U.S. GAAP, may be provided outside of the audited financial statements, these differences give rise to Disclosure Location—Financial Disclosure Considerations. These differences also give rise to Bright Line Disclosure Threshold Considerations.

First, Item 101(c)(1)(vii) of Regulation S-K requires disclosure if loss of a customer, or a few customers, would have a material adverse effect on a segment. This threshold differs from U.S. GAAP in that it is qualitative and focuses on the impact on a segment. In contrast, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of each customer that comprises 10 percent or more of total revenue. Although the requirements for SRCs in Item 101(h)(4)(vi) are more similar to U.S. GAAP in that they do not prescribe a segment focus, they also differ from U.S. GAAP in that they do not set forth a 10 percent bright line test for disclosure.

Second, Item 101(c)(1)(vii) requires disclosure of the name of any customer that represents 10 percent or more of the issuer's revenues and whose loss would have a material adverse effect on the issuer. In 1999, the Commission considered deleting this requirement to conform to U.S. GAAP. However, the Commission determined to retain this requirement, as it continued to believe that the identity of major customers is material information to investors and that the disclosure allows a reader to better assess risks associated with a particular customer, as well as material concentrations of revenues related to that customer.

Because U.S. GAAP historically has scaled disclosure requirements only by public business entities versus other entities, and not by issuer status, incorporation of these requirements into U.S. GAAP could result in the application to SRCs of the disclosure threshold and the requirement to name a customer in certain instances.

Several commenters supported the Commission eliminating this disclosure requirement because it is substantially similar to the corresponding U.S. GAAP requirements, which they believe sufficiently highlight customer concentrations. A few commenters further suggested that the disclosure of major customers could be harmful because of the competitively sensitive nature of this information. The remaining commenters supported referring the requirement to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. One of these commenters also recommended the FASB consider whether the disclosure objective in U.S. GAAP should be clarified. Another commenter recommended a principles-based approach rather than a bright line disclosure threshold for the requirement to disclose customer names, as this threshold may not be material to some registrants. One commenter recommended retaining the requirement, asserting that the identity of major customers is material information to investors and it allows a reader to better assess risks associated with a particular customer, as well as material concentrations of revenues related to that customer.

We are retaining this disclosure requirement and are referring it to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. We believe the objective of the U.S. GAAP disclosure requirement is similar to the Commission disclosure requirement; however, U.S. GAAP does not require disclosure of a major customer's name.

4. Legal Proceedings

U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of certain loss contingencies. 17 CFR 229.103 (“Item 103” of Regulation S-K) requires disclosure of certain legal proceedings, which are one type of loss contingency. Item 103 does not require disclosure of certain matters that do not exceed 10 percent of the issuer's consolidated current assets, while U.S. GAAP provides a more general materiality threshold. In practice, to comply with Regulation S-K, issuers commonly repeat some or all of the disclosures provided in the notes to the financial statements under U.S. GAAP or include a cross-reference to those disclosures.

As further described in Section III.E.15 of the Proposing Release, although Item 103 and U.S. GAAP have overlapping requirements, they differ in certain respects. Incorporation of Item 103 requirements into U.S. GAAP would have implications for investors, issuers, and other stakeholders. In the Proposing Release, the Commission described in detail (a) the differences between Item 103 and U.S. GAAP; (b) the potential consequences of incorporating the Item 103 requirements into U.S. GAAP; and (c) other considerations related to Item 103. The Commission solicited comment about whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer the disclosure requirements to the FASB.

Many commenters opposed the integration of Item 103 and U.S. GAAP. A number of commenters stated that the objectives of Item 103 and U.S. GAAP differ, and some of these commenters indicated that a better articulation of the objectives may be warranted. Many commenters also indicated that, if the Commission chooses to move forward with the integration, the American Bar Association policy statement regarding lawyers' responses to auditors' requests for information and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) auditing standards should be revisited as they both incorporate the U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements. On a similar note, some commenters indicated that integration would also expand audit and interim review requirements, as well as XBRL tagging requirements, which would be burdensome and costly to issuers. These commenters further expressed concern that the integration could lead to increased disclosure of immaterial items and may eliminate the safe-harbor protections currently afforded to forward-looking statements related to legal proceedings under Regulation S-K.

Some commenters recommended the deletion of Item 103 altogether or at minimum some of the disclosure requirements contained therein. For example, one of these commenters stated that U.S. GAAP, together with Items 303 and 503(c) of Regulation S-K, elicits the appropriate level of disclosure of material legal proceedings to inform investment and voting decisions of a reasonable investor. Another commenter recommended the deletion of the requirement to disclose proceedings known to be contemplated but which are not probable of being asserted because this does not provide useful information to investors.

The commenters who supported the integration of Item 103 into U.S. GAAP noted the repetition that is currently present in many filings. However, one of these commenters recommended the Commission consider undertaking outreach with preparers, users, and other regulators and develop disclosure objectives for the incremental disclosures. Other commenters also recommended that the Commission conduct more analysis and outreach in this area, particularly with the accounting and legal professions.

Some commenters indicated that the existing disclosure requirements in both Item 103 and U.S. GAAP do not provide sufficient information for investors to understand the nature, potential magnitude, and timing of any loss contingencies relating to legal proceedings, and recommended specific changes to the requirements. Some of their recommendations include greater use of bright line disclosure thresholds and preserving Item 103's disclosure requirements for low-probability but high magnitude liabilities.

Additionally, several commenters expressed concerns with the bright line disclosure threshold for certain matters imposed by the existing requirements in Item 103, stating that some of the disclosures based on the threshold may not be material.

In response to the concerns expressed by commenters, we are retaining the disclosure requirements in Item 103 without amendment. In addition, we are not referring these disclosure requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP at this time. In light of the various views expressed by commenters, we believe further consideration is warranted with respect to the implications of potential changes to these requirements.

5. Other

The table below describes the remaining overlapping requirements discussed in the proposing release as well as the incremental differences between these requirements.

Some commenters recommended that the Commission eliminate some of these disclosure requirements because the required disclosures are available elsewhere. For example, one commenter recommended the deletion of the requirement related to tax status of distributions per unit because this information is available to shareholders in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099. Some commenters recommended eliminating the consolidation disclosure requirements in Rule 3A-03(b) because they overlap with U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements. One commenter recommended deletion of the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement disclosure requirements because they provide reasonably similar information as the corresponding U.S. GAAP requirements. This commenter recommended that the only repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement disclosure requirement that the Commission should refer to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP is the requirement to disclose the repurchase liability and the interest rate(s) thereon. Another commenter recommended eliminating certain interim financial statement information due to overlapping U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements. Some commenters also suggested eliminating the products and services disclosure requirement because U.S. GAAP requires substantially similar disclosures. These commenters observed that while U.S. GAAP provides an impracticability exception, that exception is used infrequently and, when it is relied upon, the issuer will have the same practicability issue with providing the products and services disclosures under Regulation S-K. A few commenters observed that U.S. GAAP oil and gas producing disclosures are generally interpreted to apply to each period presented. For this reason, one commenter recommended deletion of Item 302(b) of Regulation S-K.

Most commenters, however, including some who recommended eliminating certain disclosure requirements, supported the Commission retaining most or all of these disclosure requirements and referring them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. One commenter specifically requested the Commission retain the disclosure requirements for repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements as they are complex financial instruments that can impact the financing and liquidity of financial institutions and other businesses.

Commenters had the following additional recommendations for both the Commission and the FASB as it relates to the potential incorporation of the Commission's disclosure requirements into U.S. GAAP:

• Revisit the bright line disclosure thresholds in the requirements (e.g., the 10% threshold in Rule 4-08(m)) and whether U.S. GAAP should require similar bright line disclosure thresholds;

• Clarify the concept of “authorization of debt” in Rule 4-08(f);

• Coordinate to provide enhanced disclosures for significant accounting policies that provide a more comprehensive discussion of critical accounting estimates, including more robust information about underlying assumptions that are highly judgmental, as well as their propensity to change;

• Consider the timing of the disclosure requirements related to combinations of entities under common control because these disclosures could be useful to investors on both an interim and annual basis and ensure the disclosure objectives and requirements are clear; and

• Work together to further reduce redundancies between Commission disclosure requirements and U.S. GAAP, such as the oil and gas disclosures in 17 CFR 229.1200 (“Item 1200” of Regulation S-K) and those in U.S. GAAP industry standards.

We are retaining these requirements and referring all of the disclosure requirements described in the table above to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

IV. Outdated Requirements

A. Background

The Commission proposed to amend certain requirements that have become outdated as a result of the passage of time or changes in the regulatory, business, or technological environments. These amendments were intended to simplify issuer compliance efforts. Further, to reduce any loss of information or increased burdens for investors, the Commission also proposed to require additional disclosure of information that is expected to be readily available to issuers.

B. Disclosure Requirements Outdated Due to Passage of Time

In the Proposing Release, the Commission noted that some of its disclosure requirements have become obsolete due to passage of time. The table below describes each outdated requirement and what the Commission proposed to eliminate.

Commenters supported the proposed amendments to delete the requirements above, which have become outdated. We are adopting both of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

C. Disclosure Requirements Outdated due to Changes in the Regulatory, Business, or Technological Environment

In the Proposing Release, the Commission staff noted that some of its disclosure requirements have become obsolete as the regulatory, business, or technological environments have changed over time. For example, some of the Commission's disclosure requirements are no longer relevant, or some information required to be disclosed is no longer readily available or can be derived from alternative sources. Below we discuss these outdated requirements and the related proposed amendments.

1. Market Price Disclosure

a. Proposed Amendments

Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K requires issuers to disclose the following:

• The principal U.S. market(s) where its common equity is traded. Foreign issuers must also disclose the principal established foreign public trading market, if applicable. Where applicable, issuers must disclose that there is no established public trading market for their common equity.

• If the principal U.S. market is an exchange, the high and low sale prices for their common equity for each quarter within the two most recent fiscal years and subsequent interim period.

• If the principal U.S. market is not an exchange, the high and low bid quotations for the same periods as above. Where applicable, issuers must identify the source of the quotations and include appropriate qualifying language.

• Foreign issuers that identify a principal established foreign trading market for common equity are also required to provide market price disclosure comparable to that of a domestic issuer. If the primary U.S. market for the foreign issuer trades using American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), then foreign issuers must disclose prices based on the ADRs.

• When Item 201(a)(1) disclosure is included in a Securities Act registration statement or an Exchange Act proxy or information statement, the price for their common equity as of the latest practicable date.

Today, the daily market prices of most publicly traded common equity securities, including those quoted on an automated quotation system, are readily available free on numerous websites, including the exchanges' or quotation systems' websites. On these websites, investors can view daily closing prices, up to the previous day, and intra-day quotes, which would be more up-to-date than the prices required by Item 201(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. Additionally, many of these websites allow users to download the daily historical data over customized time horizons. These features result in more robust information than the disclosure required by Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K.

As a result, the Commission proposed the following amendments to Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K:

• Issuers with one or more classes of common equity would be required to disclose the principal U.S. market(s) where each class is traded and the trading symbol(s) used by the market(s) for each class of common equity. Foreign issuers also would be required to identify the principal established foreign public trading market, if any, and the trading symbol(s), for each class of their common equity.
• Issuers with common equity that is not traded on an exchange would be required to indicate, as applicable, that any over-the-counter quotations in such trading systems reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
• Issuers with no class of common equity traded in an established public trading market would be required to state that fact and disclose the range of high and low bid information, if applicable, for each quarter over the last two fiscal years and any subsequent interim period. Also, such issuers would be required to disclose the source and explain the nature of such quotations.

As proposed to be amended, Item 201(a)(1) would eliminate the detailed disclosure requirement of sale or bid prices for most issuers whose common equity is traded in an established public trading market and replace it with disclosure of the trading symbol. The proposed amendments would also align Item 201(a)(1) with Item 501(b)(4) of Regulation S-K.

Foreign private issuers that file Form 20-F are subject to disclosure requirements similar to those included in Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K. Item 9.A.4 of Form 20-F requires the following price history of the stock to be offered or listed for both the U.S. market and the principal trading market outside the United States, as applicable:

• The annual high and low market prices for the last five full financial years;
• Quarterly high and low market prices for the last two full financial years and any subsequent period; and
• Monthly high and low market prices for the last six months.

For preemptive share issuances, the issuer must disclose the market prices for the first trading day in the most recent six months, the last trading day before the announcement of the offering, and for the latest practicable date. If an issuer's securities are “not regularly traded in an organized market,” the issuer must discuss any lack of liquidity.

The Commission also proposed to amend Item 9.A.4 of Form 20-F to be consistent with the proposals related to Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K. Specifically, the Commission proposed to amend Item 9.A.4 to require disclosure of the U.S. and principal market(s) where the issuer's common equity trades and the trading symbol(s) assigned to the issuer's common equity that is traded in the U.S. market and principal market. For issuers whose common equity is not traded in any established public trading market, disclosure of that fact would still be required.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters generally supported the proposed amendments. In the Proposing Release the Commission asked if investors and issuers understood the term “established public trading market” and whether further guidance is needed to determine what constitutes “limited or sporadic quotations.” One commenter recommended that the Commission clarify and define these terms without suggesting specific changes. Another commenter recommended that the Commission require disclosure of trading symbol(s) for primary markets where all issued “instruments” are traded, and define clear standards for the ticker notation so that all filers use the same notation. This commenter also recommended disclosure of the security identifier (CUSIP) in addition to the trading symbol and the ADR ratio, as applicable.

c. Final Amendments

To help investors locate listed securities and current trading prices, we are adopting the amendment to Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K and Item 9.A.4 of Form 20-F substantially as proposed, with minor modifications. First, we are removing the term “established” from “principal established foreign public trading market” in Item 201(a)(1) to be consistent with the scope of disclosure required for domestic issuers in the U.S. market and for foreign private issuers in Item 9.A.4. Second, we are retaining the clarification currently in Item 9.A.4 that “principal market” means “outside the host market” as this language was inadvertently proposed for elimination. Finally, we are adding the term “principal” in front of “host market” in the amended first sentence of Item 9.A.4. to be consistent with Item 201, which requires disclosure of “principal United States market(s).”

In addition, while we acknowledge the commenter's recommendations that we also require disclosure of trading symbol(s) for all issued “instruments,” as well as CUSIP and ADR ratio when applicable, we are not adopting that suggestion as it is beyond the scope of this rulemaking.

2. Other

The table below describes each of the remaining disclosure requirements that have become obsolete as the regulatory, business, or technological environments changed over time, and the related proposed amendments.

Commenters supported the proposed amendments and agreed with the reasons provided in the Proposing Release. We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed, which will remove obsolete disclosure requirements and reduce issuers' compliance burdens.

V. Superseded Requirements

A. Background

As accounting, auditing, and disclosure requirements have changed over time, inconsistencies have arisen between the newer requirements and existing Commission disclosure requirements. The Commission proposed amendments to update Commission disclosure requirements to reflect more recently updated U.S. GAAP requirements or more recently updated Commission disclosure requirements.

B. Disclosure Requirements Superseded by U.S. GAAP

The Commission staff has observed in its filing reviews that, in practice, issuers are able to successfully navigate inconsistencies between newer accounting and disclosure requirements and existing Commission disclosure requirements by complying with the requirement that was updated more recently. This is particularly the case with respect to changes in U.S. GAAP requirements, as the Commission has designated the FASB as the private-sector accounting standard setter. However, the Commission sought to simplify compliance efforts by proposing changes to several disclosure requirements that the Commission believed were superseded by U.S. GAAP.

1. Gains or Loss on Sale of Properties by REITS

Regulation S-X requires REITs to present separately all gains and losses on the sale of properties outside of continuing operations in the income statement. U.S. GAAP, however, restricts that presentation to gains and losses on disposals that meet the definition of discontinued operations. As a result, the Commission proposed to eliminate Rule 3-15(a)(1) of Regulation S-X.

Commenters were supportive of the proposed amendment. We are adopting the elimination of Rule 3-15(a)(1) of Regulation S-X as proposed. We believe this amendment will simplify compliance for issuers by eliminating the disclosure requirement in Rule 3-15(a)(1) of Regulation S-X that conflicts with the requirement in U.S. GAAP.

2. Consolidation

a. Proposed Amendments

The Commission provided guidance on the presentation of consolidated and combined financial statements when it first issued Regulation S-X in 1940. Since that time, certain U.S. GAAP consolidation requirements have changed significantly, creating inconsistencies between Regulation S-X and U.S. GAAP. For instance, Article 3A of Regulation S-X, Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements, includes several inconsistencies with U.S. GAAP related to difference in fiscal periods, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (“BHC Act”), and intercompany transactions. The table below describes each requirement related to consolidation that the Commission proposed to eliminate and the reason for its proposed elimination.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters were generally supportive of the proposed amendments. Some commenters asked for clarification on whether the amendment to extend the changes in stockholders' equity and non-controlling interests disclosure requirement to interim periods would be presented only for the year-to-date period, or for quarterly period(s) as well. One commenter supported the proposed elimination of Rule 8-03(a)(2) and Rule 10-01(b)(2) in Regulation S-X, but questioned whether the extension of the disclosure requirement in Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X to interim periods was necessary or efficient. As an alternative, the commenter recommended amending Regulation S-X to move the dividend per share disclosure requirements from the face of the financial statements to the notes to the financial statements, which would eliminate the conflict with U.S. GAAP.

One commenter observed the need to update Rule 6-03(c)(1)(i) of Regulation S-X, which also has been superseded by U.S. GAAP. The commenter noted the Commission disclosure requirement permits the consolidation of the financial statements of registered investment companies and business development companies only with the financial statements of subsidiaries which are investment companies, whereas U.S. GAAP also permits consolidation when an investment company holds a controlling financial interest in an operating entity that provides services to the investment company.

c. Final Amendments

We are adopting the amendments as proposed with one minor change. As suggested by commenters, the final amendments clarify that Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X requires both the year-to-date information and subtotals for each interim period.

The extension of the disclosure requirement in Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X may create some additional burden for issuers, including Regulation A issuers, because it will require disclosure of dividends per share for each class of shares, rather than only for common stock, and disclosure of changes in stockholders' equity in interim periods. However, as noted in the Proposing Release, we expect this burden will be minimal, as the required information is already available from the preparation of other aspects of the interim financial information such as the balance sheet and earnings per share. The amended rule will require companies to provide information on the dividends issued and the relationship the dividends have to stockholders' equity in one place, which may help investors understand some of the strategic decisions made by management, such as dividend payout versus share buyback.

In response to a commenter's suggestion, we are deleting the requirements for consolidation by investment companies in Regulation S-X because it conflicts with U.S. GAAP. The U.S. GAAP requirement is broader and additionally requires consolidated financial statements when a reporting entity has a controlling financial interest in another entity.

3. Development Stage Companies

U.S. GAAP previously required presentation of cumulative financial information from inception and related disclosures for development stage companies. Regulation S-X requires the U.S. GAAP disclosures for development stage companies in interim periods. In June 2014, the FASB eliminated the U.S. GAAP disclosure requirements for development stage companies. Accordingly, the Commission proposed to eliminate the superseded U.S. GAAP disclosure requirement for development stage companies in Rule 8-03(b)(6) and Rule 10-01(a)(7).

Commenters supported our proposal to eliminate these requirements. Some of these commenters also recommended deleting the definition of development stage company in in Rule 1-02(h) of Regulation S-X.

We are adopting the amendments as proposed. We are not deleting the definition of development stage company in Rule 1-02(h) of Regulation S-X as it is used in other Commission requirements (e.g., Rule 251(b)(3) of Regulation A and Rule 419(a)(2)(i) of Regulation C). As a result, we believe the definition in Rule 1-02(h) of Regulation S-X continues to be useful when applying these other Commission requirements.

4. Insurance Companies

a. Proposed Amendments

17 CFR 210.7-02(b) (“Rule 7-02(b)” of Regulation S-X) permits mutual life insurance companies and their wholly-owned stock insurance company subsidiaries to prepare financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting requirements. In the proposing release, the Commission proposed to eliminate this rule, as the Commission did not believe that issuers under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act currently rely on Rule 7-02(b) of Regulation S-X as a basis to report under statutory accounting requirements.

The Commission also proposed two other amendments related to Insurance Companies and Regulation S-X. The first amendment relates to the separate presentation on the balance sheet of an asset called “reinsurance recoverable on paid losses.” The Commission proposed to delete the reference to “paid losses” in this line item because U.S. GAAP was revised in 1992 to allow reinsurance recoverable receivables on paid and unpaid losses to be presented together. The second amendment relates to the definition of “Separate Account Assets” that are presented separately as a summary total on the balance sheet. U.S. GAAP defines differently separate account assets that are required to be reported as a summary total. Thus, the Commission proposed to replace the reference to variable annuities, pension funds, and similar activities in Rule 7-03(a)(11) with a reference to U.S. GAAP.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Many commenters supported all three proposals. However, some commenters opposed the elimination of the ability of mutual life insurance companies to utilize statutory accounting principles for registration of insurance products under the Securities Act. These commenters stated that the preparation of U.S. GAAP financial statements would impose significant financial and administrative burdens on mutual life insurers. These commenters indicated that if the amendments to Rule 7-02(b) were adopted, a mutual insurance company issuing a general account insurance product would have to comply with the requirement to provide U.S. GAAP financial statements in Form S-1 or S-3, and as a result, mutual life insurance companies that do not already prepare U.S. GAAP financial statements may limit their offerings of general account insurance products. One commenter suggested that the Commission should expand Rule 7-02(b) to allow its application to all insurance companies that do not otherwise prepare U.S. GAAP financial statements. Other commenters advised that elimination of the rule should involve a full analysis of the potential costs and benefits. These commenters also outlined the relevance of financial statements prepared under statutory accounting principles for general account insurance products.

c. Final Amendments

After further consideration and in light of the concerns expressed by commenters, we are not adopting the proposed amendment to eliminate Rule 7-02(b). We are adopting the amendments to Rule 7-03(a)(6) and 7-03(a)(11) as proposed to simplify compliance for issuers by removing the elements of those rules that conflict with U.S. GAAP.

5. Extraordinary Items

a. Proposed Amendments

Various Commission disclosure requirements and forms refer to extraordinary items. In January 2015, the FASB eliminated extraordinary items from U.S. GAAP. To update Commission disclosure requirements, the Commission proposed to delete references to extraordinary items in our rules and forms. The Commission proposed to delete the requirement in Item 302(a)(1) of Regulation S-K to disclose “income (loss) before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting” in supplemental quarterly financial information, and in its place, require disclosure of “Income (loss).” The Commission also proposed amendments to the investment company registration forms (Form N-1A, Form N-3, Form N-4, and Form N-6) to replace the outdated reference to the U.S. GAAP definition of extraordinary items with a definition of extraordinary expenses The Proposing Release indicated that the proposed amendments were not intended to change the content required to be presented in these forms.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

While commenters generally supported the proposed amendments, some commenters recommended requiring disclosure of “income (loss) from continuing operations” and “net income (loss)” where the existing rule previously required “income (loss) before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.” This recommendation was based on a view that: (1) It was unclear what income statement line “income (loss)” referred to; and (2) the alternative formulation would highlight the effects of discontinued operations. Additionally, these commenters recommended that the Commission reconsider the per share financial metrics required to be disclosed in interim periods, such as the disclosure requirement in Item 302(a)(1) of Regulation S-K, and make the metrics consistent with measures that are presented on the face of the interim income statements. One commenter expressly supported the proposed amendments to retain the historical U.S. GAAP definition of “extraordinary expenses” in certain investment company registration forms.

c. Final Amendments

We are adopting the amendments as proposed, eliminating all references to extraordinary items and adding a definition of extraordinary expenses within certain N-Forms. We are also making several revisions recommended by commenters related to Item 302(a)(1). Specifically, we are replacing the proposed reference to “income (loss)” with “income (loss) from continuing operations” and the reference to “per share data based upon such income” with “per share data based upon income (loss) from continuing operations” and “per share data based upon net income (loss).” These additional changes should help to simplify the resulting disclosure and reduce any confusion for issuers.

6. Other

The table below describes each of the remaining disclosure requirements that are superseded by U.S. GAAP and the related proposed amendments.

Commenters supported the proposed amendments. We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

C. Disclosure Requirements Superseded by Other Commission Requirements

Commission disclosure requirements have also changed over time, which has resulted in inconsistencies within our disclosure requirements. The Proposing Release identified disclosure requirements that have been superseded by other Commission disclosure requirements.

1. Auditing Standards

a. Proposed Amendments

Section 103(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act authorized the PCAOB to establish auditing and related professional practice standards used by registered public accounting firms when conducting audits of issuers. Prior to the creation of the PCAOB, public accounting firms conducted audits of issuers pursuant to Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (“GAAS”) and many Commission rules continue to refer to those standards. In addition, Section 10A of the Exchange Act also refers to GAAS in its requirements for audits. The standards of the PCAOB are different from GAAS.

In 2004, the Commission published interpretive guidance explaining that references to GAAS in Commission rules and staff guidance, as they relate to issuers, should be understood to mean the standards of the PCAOB plus any applicable rules of the Commission. Further, the Commission stated its intent to codify this interpretation in the future. The table below describes each of the disclosure requirements that the Commission proposed to amend as part of the codification.

b. Comments on Proposed Amendments

Commenters generally supported these proposed amendments. Some commenters also recommended that the Commission clarify when a review of interim financial information in accordance with PCAOB standards is not required under Rules 10-01 or 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Further, one of these commenters requested that we adopt a rule that explains which professional standards apply to every circumstance where financial statements are filed with the Commission.

c. Final Amendments

We are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed. We are also eliminating the reference to U.S. standards for auditor independence from Instruction 2 to Item 8.A.2 of Form 20-F to be consistent with the amendments to Instruction E(c)(3) of Form 20-F. We believe the reference to “applicable professional standards” in Rules 10-01 and 8-03 does not create significant confusion and therefore we are not adopting any amendments to clarify the application of these rules as suggested by commenters. Further, we are not adopting a rule that explains which professional standards apply to every circumstance where financial statements are filed with the Commission because that is beyond the scope of this rulemaking.

2. Other

The table below describes each of the remaining superseded disclosure requirements that the Commission proposed to amend.

Commenters supported the proposed amendments, and no commenter specifically opposed the amendment. Accordingly, we are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

D. Non-Existent or Incorrect References and Typographical Errors

Various Commission disclosure requirements contain incorrect references or references to rules that no longer exist. The table below describes each of the disclosure requirements that contain these references and the related proposed amendments.

Commenters supported the amendments to correct these references and errors, and no commenter specifically opposed the amendments. Accordingly, we are adopting all of the amendments described in the table above as proposed.

Subsequent to the Proposing Release, we identified additional incorrect references or references to rules that no longer exist that also need to be updated, as well as typographical errors. We are amending our rules to address these incorrect references and errors in this release. We describe those amendments in the table below.

VI. Other Matters

If any of the provisions of these rules, or the application of these provisions to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

VII. Economic Analysis

We are adopting amendments to certain of our disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or changes in the information environment. These amendments are the result of the staff's ongoing evaluation of our disclosure requirements and also are part of our efforts to implement Title LXXII, Section 72002(2) of the FAST Act.

We are sensitive to the costs and benefits of the amendments. In this section, we examine the current baseline, which consists of both the regulatory framework of disclosure requirements in existence today and the current use of such disclosure by investors and other users, and discuss the potential benefits and costs of the amendments, relative to this baseline, and their potential effects on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.

The Proposing Release requested comment on all aspects of the economic effects of the proposed amendments, including the costs and benefits and possible alternatives to the proposed amendments. The Commission also solicited comment in the Proposing Release on whether the proposed amendments, if adopted, would promote efficiency, competition, or capital formation, or have an impact or burden on competition. We received a number of comments addressing the potential economic impacts of the proposed amendments, which we discuss below.

A. Baseline and Affected Parties

Our baseline includes the current disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K, Regulation S-X, and other Commission rules and forms promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Investment Company Act. The parties affected by the amendments include investors and other users, auditors, and issuers. Additionally, entities other than issuers may be affected (e.g., significant acquirees for which financial statements are required under Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X, significant equity method investees for which financial statements are required under Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X, broker-dealers, and NRSROs).

The amendments affect both domestic issuers and foreign private issuers. We estimate that approximately 7,570 issuers that file on domestic forms and 745 foreign private issuers that file on F-forms will be affected by the amendments. Among the issuers that file on domestic forms, 25.6% are large accelerated filers, 18.6% are accelerated filers, 19.3% are non-accelerated filers, and 36.2% are SRCs. About 23.7% of issuers that file on domestic forms are EGCs. Among the foreign private issuers that file on F-forms, 40.4% are large accelerated filers, 22.6% are accelerated filers, and 37.0% are non-accelerated filers. About 19.8% of foreign private issuers that file on Forms 20-F and 40-F are EGCs. With respect to foreign private issuer accounting standards, approximately 38.5% of foreign private issuers report under U.S. GAAP, 60.5% report under IFRS, and approximately 1% report under Another Comprehensive Body of Accounting Principles with a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.

Certain amendments also affect requirements applicable to:

• Fewer than 600 asset-backed issuing entities.

• Issuers that rely on Regulation A exemptions.

• Approximately 4,100 investment companies, including approximately 100 business development companies, and the portion of the approximately 12,600 investment advisers to which Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K apply.

• Up to approximately 3,883 registered broker-dealers.

• 10 NRSROs.

This release also considers certain Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP and refers some of these incremental requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. While a referral alone has no effect on issuers, any changes to U.S. GAAP that may result from such a referral would potentially affect all entities that report under U.S. GAAP, including SRCs and issuers relying on Regulation A or Regulation Crowdfunding, as well as entities that are outside the scope of our regulatory authority.

B. Anticipated Benefits and Costs

In this section, we discuss the anticipated economic benefits and costs of the amendments in each category of redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, and superseded disclosure requirements.

1. Redundant or Duplicative Requirements

We are eliminating certain Commission disclosure requirements that require substantially the same disclosures as U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements. In response to commenters' suggestions, we are retaining some of the disclosure requirements that we proposed to modify or eliminate on the basis that they required redundant or duplicative disclosure and referring one of these disclosure requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

Elimination of Commission disclosure requirements that are redundant or duplicative with U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements simplifies issuer compliance efforts by reducing the number of rules to consider. To the extent that the redundant or duplicative requirements result in substantially the same disclosures, elimination of these requirements also potentially benefits investors and other users. Academic research suggests that duplication is associated with less efficient price discovery and that individuals invest more in firms with more concise financial disclosures. Thus, to the extent that the amendments alleviate duplication and do not affect the completeness of financial disclosures, they could result in improved price discovery, enhance the allocative efficiency of the market, and facilitate capital formation.

The potential adverse effects of the amendments on investors and other users are likely to be limited as these parties would continue to receive substantially the same information from issuers. However, potential costs to investors may arise if U.S. GAAP were to change in such a way that information previously required by Commission disclosure requirements is no longer provided under U.S. GAAP. The potential for such changes may be mitigated by the FASB's transparent, public standard-setting process and the Commission's oversight of the FASB and the ability of the Commission to require such information through rulemaking. In addition, issuers remain liable for their disclosures, including the omission of any information required to make the disclosures not misleading.

2. Overlapping Requirements

The Proposing Release identified Commission disclosure requirements that are related to, but not the same as, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements. For certain of these overlapping requirements, we are: (a) Deleting the overlapping Commission disclosure requirements or (b) integrating them with other related Commission disclosure requirements. For certain other overlapping requirements, we are retaining the requirements and referring them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. We discuss below the economic effects of the amendments in this category and provide examples of requirements affected by the amendments.

First, some changes may give rise to Disclosure Location Considerations. Where we proposed to relocate existing disclosure from outside the financial statements to within the financial statements, a number of commenters expressed reservations about the relocation because it would create additional audit requirements for issuers. Issuers may incur additional costs to comply with these audit and/or interim review and ICFR requirements, to the extent the relocation results in additional information included in the financial statements. A few commenters stated that investors would benefit from the annual audit and interim review of the disclosure. Investors and other users may consider the information more reliable because of the audit and/or interim review requirements.

The relocation of existing disclosures may affect the extent of information that investors receive. Since the PSLRA does not provide a safe harbor for forward-looking information located within the financial statements, issuers may be less likely to voluntarily supplement those disclosures with forward-looking information in the financial statements as compared with disclosures made outside the audited financial statements. A number of commenters expressed concern regarding liability issues for preparers that would arise from the loss of safe harbor provisions. However, issuers retain the option of providing forward-looking information outside the financial statements and may be required to disclose the information in certain circumstances.

The relocation of existing disclosures from outside the financial statements to within the financial statements will also subject the disclosures to XBRL tagging requirements. Commenters expressed concern about XBRL tagging requirements because of additional administrative burdens and potential costs on issuers to comply with these requirements. A few commenters believed that XBRL tagging requirements would be of benefit to investors. Investors and other users may benefit from more readily-available information in structured formats because of the increased use of electronic data analysis and search tools. In general, we believe the costs of applying XBRL data tagging to additional information likely would be relatively low, as issuers already have implemented software enabled processes and controls to structure previously mandated disclosures.

Furthermore, the relocation of existing disclosures, for example, from outside the financial statements to within the financial statements or from the face of the financial statements to the notes to the financial statements, may also affect the prominence of the disclosures. Some academic research provides indirect evidence that users may treat information differently depending on the location of the disclosure. For instance, research shows a weaker relation between equity prices and disclosed items in the notes to the financial statements versus recognized items on the face of the financial statements. Additionally, experimental research on laboratory participants shows that positioning pro-forma (non-GAAP) earnings earlier than U.S. GAAP earnings in an earnings announcement influences a nonprofessional investor's judgment. Other research on the effect of disclosure location shows recognized and disclosed items are treated equivalently by investors. Commenters that provided feedback on relocation prominence considerations indicated that physical location of the disclosure is less relevant in today's environment, given the use of electronic data analysis and search tools.

Second, besides the Disclosure Location Considerations discussed above, some deletions may change the mix of information available to investors. An example of this is the revision to require dividend restriction and related disclosures when material, rather than using the bright line of when restricted net assets exceed a 25 percent threshold. Bright line thresholds set forth explicit quantitative criteria for disclosure and may result in more or less detail than a materiality standard. Several commenters were supportive of a more principles-based disclosure framework. These commenters stated that materiality is a better disclosure standard because certain of the existing thresholds result in disclosure that in their view is immaterial to investors and costly to provide. Other commenters opposed the amendment, indicating that removing bright line thresholds may result in the elimination of disclosure relevant to investors or diminish comparability.

The economic effect of replacing a bright line threshold with a disclosure standard based on materiality depends on the preferences of investors and other users. The bright line threshold may be easier to apply and could enhance the comparability and verifiability of information; however, a materiality standard may permit more tailored information to be presented and potentially avoid certain distortions that can arise from the use of a bright line threshold.

a. Deletion of Commission Disclosure Requirements

We are eliminating certain Commission disclosure requirements that we have determined: (1) Require disclosures that convey reasonably similar information to or are encompassed by the disclosures that result from compliance with the overlapping U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or Commission disclosure requirements or (2) require disclosures incremental to the overlapping U.S. GAAP or Commission disclosure requirements and are no longer useful to investors.

The effects of the deletion of these overlapping disclosure requirements depend on the level of overlap between the requirements. For investors, eliminating overlapping requirements may reduce search costs and lead to more efficient information processing. This, in turn, may lead to better informed investment decisions and an increase in allocative efficiency. However, to the extent eliminating a requirement results in a loss of information incremental to the overlapping requirement, it could negatively impact investors that use the incremental information. For issuers, eliminating overlapping requirements may reduce the costs of preparation of the disclosure by reducing the need to reconcile similar requirements. Requirements that are clearer and less repetitive may additionally make the disclosure easier to prepare and result in disclosure that is more responsive and easier to understand.

The examples below illustrate the potential effects of the elimination of Commission disclosure requirements on issuers, investors, and other users.

An example of an overlapping disclosure requirement that we are deleting because it results in only incremental disclosure is Item 101(d)(3) of Regulation S-K, which requires risk disclosures outside the financial statements relating to geographic areas. These disclosures are largely encompassed by the disclosures that result from compliance with other parts of Regulation S-K. More specifically, Item 101(d)(3) requires disclosure of “any” risks associated with an issuer's foreign operations. Item 503(c) of Regulation S-K similarly requires disclosure of “significant” risk factors. Item 101(d)(3) also requires disclosures of a segment's dependence on foreign operations, which is similar to the requirement in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K, requiring disclosure of trends and uncertainties by segment, if appropriate to an understanding of the issuer as a whole. We are also amending Item 303(a) to add an explicit reference to “geographic areas” to reduce the likelihood of loss of information due to the deletion of Item 101(d)(3).

Since Item 101(d)(3) is more expansive than the similar requirements in other parts of Regulation S-K, the economic effects of the deletion would depend on the nature of the incremental information required by Item 101(d)(3). Research shows that international corporate diversification may affect issuers' stock market performance and valuation. Therefore, some investors may want incremental information on foreign operations that is not covered by the amended Item 303(a) or the requirements of Item 503(c) to disclose “significant” risk factors. Deletion of Item 101(d)(3) may adversely affect this group of investors. However, if the requirements in Item 101(d)(3), such as the requirement to disclose “any” risk associated with foreign operations, tend to yield immaterial disclosures, deletion of Item 101(d)(3) will benefit investors by eliminating immaterial information, reducing search costs, and facilitating more efficient information processing. More efficient information processing could in turn result in improved price discovery and enhance the allocative efficiency of the capital markets. In addition, to the extent an issuer spends less time preparing its disclosures, investors will benefit from lower preparation costs although savings could be modest, if any.

Another example of an overlapping disclosure requirement that involves incremental information is Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K. Instruction 5 to Item 303(b) requires seasonality disclosures outside of the financial statements in interim periods. U.S. GAAP similarly requires seasonality disclosures, but this disclosure is required in the notes to the interim financial statements. Eliminating the specific seasonality disclosure requirements in Item 303(b) may result in the removal of this information from MD&A. Investors and other users will only have this disclosure available in the notes to the financial statements, unless issuers provide it in both locations either because the issuer views the seasonality disclosure as appropriate or necessary to an understanding of its business or financial condition under Item 303(a) or the issuer provides it voluntarily. In addition, investors may receive less supplemental forward-looking information about seasonality because the PSLRA safe harbor is not available for such information when it is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. To the extent that the seasonality disclosures in MD&A and in the financial statements are redundant, eliminating the requirements in Item 303(b) would reduce search costs and facilitate more efficient information processing. In addition, to the extent an issuer spends less time preparing its disclosures, investors will benefit from lower preparation costs although savings could be modest, if any.

In addition to the economic effects of changing disclosure location and bright line disclosure thresholds, potential costs to investors may arise if U.S. GAAP were to change in such a way that information previously required by Commission disclosure requirements is no longer provided under U.S. GAAP. As noted above, the potential for such changes may be mitigated by the FASB's transparent, public standard-setting process and the Commission's oversight of the FASB.

b. Integration of Commission Disclosure Requirements

We are amending and integrating certain Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, other Commission disclosure requirements. In addition to the economic effects of changing disclosure location and bright line disclosure thresholds, integration of overlapping Commission disclosure requirements simplifies issuer compliance efforts by reducing the number of rules to consider and the extent of disclosures that need to be provided. Integration of these requirements should also facilitate more efficient information processing by investors.

One example to illustrate the potential effects of the integration of Commission disclosure requirements is Item 101(d)(4) of Regulation S-K. Item 101(d)(4) requires, when interim financial statements are presented, a discussion of the facts that indicate that the three-year financial data for geographic performance may not be indicative of current or future operations. This requirement is similar to requirements in Instruction 3 to Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K and Instruction 4 to Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K to identify elements of income which are not necessarily indicative of the issuer's ongoing business, except that there is no explicit reference to “geographic areas” in the Item 303 instructions. To integrate the requirements into one location in Regulation S-K, we are eliminating Item 101(d)(4) and amending Item 303(a) to explicitly refer to “geographic areas” and clarify that the geographic discussion is required when management believes such discussion would be appropriate to an understanding of the business. A number of commenters supported the proposed amendment. As noted above, integration of these requirements should facilitate more efficient information processing by investors. However, some investors may be adversely affected if they prefer geographic performance information to be presented with other business description disclosures.

c. FASB Referral of Commission Disclosure Requirements

We are referring certain Commission disclosure requirements that overlap with, but require information incremental to, U.S. GAAP requirements to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. While the referral alone has no direct impact on investors and issuers, any future FASB standard-setting activities, as well as any Commission rulemaking that may result from such a referral, could potentially affect investors, issuers, auditors, other users of financial statements, as well as other entities that report under U.S. GAAP. Any potential effects of standard-setting activities arising out of these referrals could be considered and taken into account by the Commission, and could be addressed through Commission rulemaking. Additionally, the potential effects may be mitigated by the FASB's transparent, public standard-setting process and the Commission's oversight of the FASB.

3. Outdated Requirements

We are eliminating certain outdated Commission disclosure requirements that have become obsolete as a result of the passage of time or changes in the regulatory, business, or technological environment. Elimination of outdated disclosure requirements should simplify issuer compliance efforts by reducing the number of rules to consider and the extent of disclosures that need to be provided. In some cases, the amendments require additional disclosure of information to avoid any loss of information or decrease the burden for investors to retrieve such information from other sources. Such information is expected to be readily available at minimal to no cost to issuers.

The effect of these amendments on investors depends on the use of the information. If investors do not use the deleted information to make investment and voting decisions, these amendments may have little to no effect on investors, or the amendments may have a positive effect on investors since elimination of such disclosures may reduce search costs and facilitate more efficient information processing. This, in turn, could enhance the allocative efficiency of the market and facilitate capital formation. If the information is used by investors but can be retrieved from alternative sources with little or no cost to investors (e.g., share prices), the effects of these amendments on investors should be minimal. In other cases where the information is less readily available from alternative sources (e.g., average exchange rates for each of the five most recent financial years and any subsequent interim period), these amendments may make it more burdensome for investors and other users to access the information, with a potentially adverse effect on the cost of capital of issuers. We do not expect these potential adverse effects to be significant as the amendments delete only requirements that call for information that is either no longer relevant or is readily available or can be derived from alternative sources, and which may, in fact, be more robust than the information currently required to be disclosed. As noted above, some amendments require disclosure of additional information (e.g., the issuer's internet address, if available) to mitigate any loss of information or decrease the burden for investors.

One example of an outdated disclosure requirement is Item 201(a)(1) of Regulation S-K. Item 201(a)(1) requires the disclosure of historical market price information. We are substituting this disclosure with disclosure of the issuer's ticker symbol, which can be used to obtain current and historical information on stock price, among other information. This additional disclosure may help reduce any loss of information as well as facilitate access to additional information while imposing minimal or no cost on issuers and saving them the expense of disclosing information that is readily available in more up-to-date form from alternative sources. Commenters were generally supportive of this initiative to delete outdated requirements, and specifically supported removing historical price information, noting that stock price information is readily available on commercial websites on a more current basis than what is required by existing disclosure requirements.

4. Superseded Requirements

We are amending certain Commission disclosure requirements to address inconsistencies that have arisen between existing Commission disclosure requirements and newer requirements, recent legislation, or more recently updated U.S. GAAP requirements.

Eliminating or amending superseded Commission disclosure requirements may simplify issuer compliance efforts by resolving some confusion for issuers. Where there are superseded requirements, issuers may need to expend time and resources seeking advice from outside professionals or guidance from Commission staff as to compliance with such requirements. To the extent that, in practice, many issuers already comply with the more recently adopted requirements, we expect these benefits to be modest. In addition, investors may benefit from the reduction in the variation of disclosure practices that could result from confusion about the superseded requirements among issuers.

One example of superseded disclosure is the requirement to report the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the income statement, which the FASB eliminated from U.S. GAAP in 2005. Instead, U.S. GAAP now requires the cumulative effect of retrospectively-applied changes in accounting principle to be reflected in the opening balance of retained earnings for the earliest period presented. The Commission disclosure requirements, by contrast, continue to refer to a line on the income statement for a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. Eliminating references to the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the income statement in the Commission disclosure requirements resolves this contradiction and removes any resulting issuer confusion.

As another example, Rule 10-01(b)(2) of Regulation S-X requires, for interim periods, the presentation of dividends per share applicable to common stock on the face of the income statement. These rules are inconsistent with U.S. GAAP, which prohibits presentation of dividends per share on the face of the income statement. We are deleting Rule 10-01(b)(2) to conform to U.S. GAAP and simplify issuer compliance efforts.

In connection with this amendment and to avoid any loss of disclosure, we are extending the annual disclosure requirement of changes in stockholders' equity in Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X to interim periods, which also requires disclosure of the amount of dividends per share for each class of shares, rather than only for common stock. As suggested by a few commenters, the final amendments clarify that Rule 3-04 requires both the year-to-date information and subtotals for each interim period. Investors and other users may benefit from the additional information on dividends per share for each class of shares for interim periods. For example shareholders may use dividends to value an issuer. Information about dividends also can be material for debtholders. In addition, there may also be different dividend preferences based on an investor's characteristics.

These amendments may give rise to Disclosure Location Considerations, in that issuers will now disclose dividends either in the changes in stockholders' equity statement or the notes to the financial statements to comply with Regulation S-X instead of on the face of the income statement. Disclosing information on dividends issued and the relationship it has to stockholders' equity in one location may help investors understand some of the strategic decisions made by management, such as dividend payout versus share buyback. The extension of the disclosure requirement in Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X may create some additional burden for issuers, including Regulation A issuers, because it requires disclosure of dividends per share for each class of shares, rather than only for common stock, and disclosure of changes in stockholders' equity in interim periods. However, such costs should be limited to the extent that the required information is already available from the preparation of other aspects of the interim financial statements. Disclosure of this additional information may also lead to additional costs for issuers to comply with ICFR, audit, and XBRL tagging requirements, as applicable.

In the Proposing Release, we requested comments about other disclosure requirements that meet the criteria in any of the four sections of the release. Based on commenter responses and further internal review, we identified additional disclosure requirements that contained typographical errors, incorrect references, or references to rules that no longer exist. As a result, we are adopting additional conforming amendments, the majority of which are in the superseded category. These technical and conforming amendments should lower disclosure costs for issuers.

C. Anticipated Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and Capital Formation

The rules may improve capital allocation efficiency by enabling investors to make more efficient investment decisions. For example, the rules may reduce search costs for investors by eliminating information that is redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded. Given that investors may have limited attention and limited information processing capabilities, elimination of such information may facilitate more efficient investment decision-making. In addition, elimination of these disclosure requirements may reduce issuer compliance costs and encourage capital formation. The reduction in compliance costs might be particularly beneficial for smaller and younger issuers that are resource constrained. A more efficient and less costly disclosure environment may make the public capital markets more competitive relative to private capital market alternatives and may additionally make the U.S. capital markets more competitive relative to markets in other countries. Although it is difficult to quantify these effects, to the extent that they are present, they may result in more public capital market investment opportunities for investors.

Eliminating information could result in increased information asymmetries between issuers and investors. Such asymmetries may increase the cost of capital, reduce capital formation, and hamper efficient allocation of capital across companies. To the extent that certain disclosure is no longer required, issuers for which this disclosure would be unfavorable may be less likely to disclose such information voluntarily. Even if other issuers do disclose such information voluntarily, it will be difficult to estimate the relative quality of issuers without every issuer's disclosure. This will make it more difficult for higher quality issuers to distinguish their quality with respect to this metric even with voluntary disclosures. Such negative effects might be more pronounced among smaller and younger issuers that suffer more from information asymmetries. Overall, though, to the extent that we eliminate disclosure that we consider redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, we do not think these effects are likely to be significant.

D. Alternatives

We considered reasonable alternatives to the amendments. For redundant, duplicative, outdated, or superseded disclosure requirements being eliminated, we considered the alternative of retaining these requirements. However, as a general matter, given the nature of these requirements, we believe retaining the requirements could result in inefficiencies for investors, issuers, and others. For certain of the disclosure requirements that we proposed to modify or delete, where commenters indicated that the requirements may provide beneficial incremental disclosures for investors and other users, we are retaining the requirements and also are referring some of them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP.

For overlapping disclosure requirements, we solicited comments in the Proposing Release on certain requirements to determine whether to retain, modify, eliminate, or refer them to the FASB for potential incorporation into U.S. GAAP. After further consideration based on our review of the issues and consideration of the comments received, we are retaining all of the requirements discussed in Section III.D and referring all except one to the FASB for potential incorporation.

As an alternative to retaining these requirements, we could eliminate the Commission requirements and refer them to the FASB. This would deprive investors of any incremental disclosures elicited by the Commission requirements pending the FASB's deliberations. If the disclosure requirements are ultimately added to U.S. GAAP, some information would be relocated from outside the financial statements to within the financial statements, giving rise to Disclosure Location Considerations, potentially impacting issuers, investors, and other users. Another alternative to retaining these requirements is to simply eliminate the Commission requirements and forgo disclosure of the incremental information without FASB referral. Although such an alternative would simplify issuer compliance efforts, it also may result in less informed investment decisions and diminished investor protections.

VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act

A. Background

Certain provisions of our rules and forms that would be affected by the final amendments contain “collection of information” requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”). The Commission published a notice requesting comment on the collection of information requirements in the Proposing Release and has submitted these requirements to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for review in accordance with the PRA. The titles for the affected collections of information are:

The majority of these regulations, schedules, and forms were adopted under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/or the Investment Company Act and set forth the disclosure requirements for registration statements, periodic reports, and proxy and information statements filed by issuers to help investors make informed investment and voting decisions. Certain other forms and reports are filed by broker-dealers, entities regulated by the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, and NRSROs in connection with the Commission's oversight of such entities.

These amendments are the result of the staff's ongoing evaluation of our disclosure requirements and also are part of our efforts to implement Title LXXII, Section 72002(2) of the FAST Act.

The hours and costs associated with preparing, filing, and sending the schedules and forms constitute reporting and cost burdens imposed by each collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to comply with, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Compliance with the information collections is mandatory. Responses to the information collections are not kept confidential, and there is no mandatory retention period for the information disclosed.

B. Summary of the Final Amendments

As described in more detail above, we are adopting amendments to certain of our disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or changes in the information environment.

By eliminating the redundancy, duplication, and overlap in current Commission disclosure requirements, we are enabling respondents to consider fewer rules and requirements in their compliance efforts even as they are preparing a substantially similar level of disclosures. As such, except for the amendment to eliminate the requirement to disclose the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, which may result in a modest decrease in the paperwork burden, we believe that the amendments to eliminate these redundant, duplicative, and overlapping Commission requirements would marginally reduce, if at all, respondents' overall paperwork burden.

Similarly, we expect that the amendments to eliminate outdated requirements would marginally reduce the paperwork burden on respondents by eliminating any efforts that were undertaken to prepare these disclosures. With the exception of the amendments to require the disclosure of an issuer's website address and the ticker symbol of their common equity that is publicly traded, which will slightly increase the paperwork burden, the remaining amendments related to outdated requirements would have no change or only a modest reduction in the paperwork burden when respondents are providing information in response to Forms 10, 10-K, 20-F, S-1, and F-1.

Finally, we believe that the amendments to update superseded Commission disclosure requirements would marginally reduce, if at all, respondents' paperwork burden, except for the extension of the application of Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X to interim period disclosures, which we estimate will modestly increase the paperwork burden. While the amendments eliminate any existing confusion related to contradictory and inconsistent requirements, in many instances, we believe respondents are currently not providing information in response to the requirements that we are deleting. Instead, we believe respondents provide information in response to U.S. GAAP or other Commission disclosure requirements that have been updated more recently, rather than the superseded requirement covered by the amendments. As a result, we do not believe the majority of these amendments would result in a change to respondents' overall paperwork burden.

In light of the foregoing, our estimates for the paperwork burden for a number of the collections of information have not changed. The tables below therefore do not reflect any change in the paperwork burden for the following collections of information: Rules 405 and 436 of Regulation C and Forms F-6, F-7, F-8, F-10, F-80, 1-K under the Securities Act; Exchange Rules 10A-1, 12b-2, 15c3-1g, 17a-5, 17h-1T and Forms 40-F, 11-K, 10-D, X-17A-5 under the Exchange Act; Forms N-5, N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, N-6, N-8B-2 under the Investment Company Act; and Schedules 14A and 14C under the Exchange Act.

C. Summary of Comment Letters and Revisions to Proposals

In the Proposing Release, we requested comment on our PRA burden hour and cost estimates and the analysis used to derive such estimates. We did not receive any comments that addressed our PRA analysis of the proposed amendments.

We did make some changes to the proposed amendments as a result of comments received, but we do not expect any of those changes to affect the compliance burdens of the existing collections of information, and therefore we are not revising our PRA burden hour and cost estimates as a result of these changes.

D. Burden and Cost Estimates

As noted above, we do not believe that the overwhelming majority of the amendments will result in a change to respondents' overall paperwork burden. In this subsection we discuss the few amendments that will result in a change to respondents' overall paperwork burden.

1. Forms 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, and 1-SA

We anticipate that the amendments to eliminate the requirement to disclose the market prices for an issuer's common equity for the two most recent fiscal years will modestly reduce affected issuers' current paperwork burdens. We estimate that issuers currently expend an average of two hours internally preparing the market price disclosure for inclusion in their Forms 10-K and 20-F. As such, we estimate that affected issuers would experience a two hour reduction in their annual paperwork burden. We also estimate that there are 8,862 annual responses made in connection with Forms 10-K and 20-F. The table below illustrates the overall impact on respondents filing Forms 10-K and 20-F as a result of these amendments.

The amendments will extend to interim periods the requirements under Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X to disclose changes in stockholders' equity and dividends per share for each class of shares, rather than only for common stock. Prior to these amendments, these disclosures were not required for interim periods. While this creates a new disclosure requirement for respondents, the information being required is generally readily available from respondents' preparation of other aspects of the interim financial statements. As a result, we estimate that this amendment will increase the average paperwork burdens by 0.5 hours each time such disclosure is required. We also estimate that there are 23,159 annual responses in connection with Forms 10, 10-Q, and 1-SA. The table below illustrates the overall impact on respondents filing Forms 10, 10-Q, and 1-SA as a result of the proposed application of Rule 3-04 to interim period disclosures.

2. Forms S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, SF-1, SF-3, F-1, F-3, F-4, and 1-A

We anticipate that the amendments to eliminate the market prices disclosure will have the same paperwork burden reduction for Forms S-1, S-4, S-11, F-1, and F-4 as for Forms 10-K and 20-F. As such, we estimate that there will be a corresponding reduction in the burden estimate for these forms. We estimate that there are approximately 1,618 annual responses made in connection with the referenced forms. The table below illustrates the overall impact on respondents filing the referenced forms as a result of these amendments.

The amendments to extend Rule 3-04 of Regulation S-X to interim periods will also impact the paperwork burdens of registration statements filed on Forms 1-A, S-1, S-4, S-11, F-1, and F-4 because such forms require interim period financial disclosures, when applicable. We believe that the estimated burden increase of 0.5 hours discussed above similarly applies to the referenced registration statements. We estimate that there are approximately 1,730 annual responses made in connection with the referenced forms. The table below illustrates the overall impact on respondents filing the referenced forms as a result of these amendments.

The amendment to eliminate the requirements to disclose the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, when an issuer registers debt securities, and the ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings, when an issuer registers preference securities, will reduce the current paperwork burden for issuers registering such securities on Forms S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, F-1, F-3 and F-4. Depending on the size and complexity of the issuer, the paperwork burden associated with preparing this information for inclusion in the aforementioned registration statements can vary greatly. We estimate that issuers expend an average of four hours preparing this disclosure for inclusion in their registration statements. For the purposes of this analysis, we assume that the ratio is prepared internally, and we have estimated that there are approximately 1,722 annual responses made in connection with the referenced forms. Based on this average, the table below illustrates the overall impact on respondents filing the referenced forms as a result of the amendments.

IX. Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

This Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (“FRFA”) has been prepared in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (“RFA”). This FRFA relates to final amendments that will eliminate certain Commission disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or changes in the information environment. These amendments are the result of the staff's ongoing evaluation of our disclosure requirements and also are part of our efforts to implement Title LXXII, Section 72002(2) of the FAST Act.

A. Need for, and Objectives of, the Amendments

The main purpose of the amendments is to update and simplify the Commission's current disclosure requirements. Specifically, the amendments will:

• Eliminate certain Commission disclosure requirements that are redundant or duplicative of requirements in U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or other Commission disclosure requirements.
• Streamline certain overlapping Commission disclosure requirements by deleting or integrating provisions that address disclosure topics covered elsewhere in our rules or regulations.
• Revise certain Commission disclosure requirements that are outdated.
• Revise certain superseded Commission disclosure requirements to update and conform these provisions with recent legislation, more recently updated Commission disclosure requirements, or more recently updated U.S. GAAP requirements.

The need for, and objectives of, the final amendments are discussed in more detail throughout this release, particularly in Section I, above.

B. Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments

In the Proposing Release we requested comment on any aspect of the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (“IRFA”), including the number of small entities that would be affected by the proposed amendments, the nature of the impact, how to quantify the number of small entities that would be affected, and how to quantify the impact of the proposed amendments. We did not receive comments specifically addressing the IRFA or the proposed amendments' impact on small entities.

C. Small Entities Subject to the Amendments

The amendments will affect some small entities that file registration statements under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Investment Company Act and periodic reports, proxy and information statements, or other reports under the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act. In addition, the amendments will affect some small entities that are not reporting companies and that issue securities under Regulation A exemption. The RFA defines “small entity” to mean “small business,” “small organization,” or “small governmental jurisdiction.”

For purposes of the RFA, under 17 CFR 230.157 (“Securities Act Rule 157”), an issuer, other than an investment company, is a “small business” or “small organization” if it had total assets of $5 million or less on the last day of its most recent fiscal year and is engaged or proposing to engage in an offering of securities not exceeding $5 million. Under 17 CFR 240.0-10(a) (“Exchange Act Rule 0-10(a)”), an issuer, other than an investment company, is a “small business” or “small organization” if it had total assets of $5 million or less on the last day of its most recent fiscal year. In total, we estimate that there are approximately 1,233 issuers, other than investment companies, that may be considered small entities and will be subject to the amendments.

An investment company, including a business development company, is considered to be a “small business,” for the purposes of the RFA, if it, together with other investment companies in the same group of related investment companies, has net assets of $50 million or less as of the end of its most recent fiscal year. We estimate that there are approximately 112 investment companies, including 18 business development companies, that will be subject to the amendments that may be considered small entities.

For the purposes of the RFA, an investment adviser generally is a small entity if it: (1) Has assets under management having a total value of less than $25 million; (2) did not have total assets of $5 million or more on the last day of the most recent fiscal year; and (3) does not control, is not controlled by, and is not under common control with another investment adviser that has assets under management of $25 million or more, or any person (other than a natural person) that had total assets of $5 million or more on the last day of its most recent fiscal year. We estimate that there are approximately 447 investment advisers that will be subject to the amendments that may be considered small entities.

For the purposes of the RFA, a broker-dealer is considered to be a “small business” if its total capital (net worth plus subordinated liabilities) is less than $500,000 on the date in the prior fiscal year as of which its audited financial statements were prepared pursuant to Rule 17a-5(d) under the Exchange Act, or, if not required to file such statements, a broker-dealer with total capital (net worth plus subordinated liabilities) of less than $500,000 on the last day of the preceding fiscal year (or in the time that it has been in business, if shorter); and that is not affiliated with any person (other than a natural person) that is not a small business or small organization. We estimate there are approximately 1,042 broker-dealers that may be considered small entities. Of these, nine were Part II filers and 1,033 were Part IIA filers.

The Commission has previously stated, and we continue to believe, that an NRSRO with total assets of $5 million or less would qualify as a “small” entity for purposes of the RFA. Currently, there are 10 NRSROs and, based on their most recently filed annual reports pursuant to Rule 17g-3, two NRSROs are small entities under the above definition and will be subject to the amendments.

D. Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

As noted above, the final amendments update and simplify the Commission's disclosure requirements and do not impose any significant new disclosure obligations. While there are no particular professional skills that are required to comply with the amendments, the professional skills necessary for complying with an issuer's disclosure obligations as a whole may include legal, accounting, or information technology skills. As adopted, the amendments address requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or changes in the information environment. We expect these amendments to reduce slightly the existing reporting, recordkeeping, and other compliance burdens for all issuers, including small entities.

The amendments are discussed in detail in Sections II, III, IV, and V, above. We discuss the economic impact, including the estimated compliance costs and burdens, of the amendments in Section VII (Economic Analysis) and Section VIII (Paperwork Reduction Act) above.

E. Agency Action To Minimize Effect on Small Entities

The Regulatory Flexibility Act directs us to consider alternatives that would accomplish our stated objectives, while minimizing any significant adverse impact on small entities. In connection with the final amendments, we considered the following alternatives: (1) Establishing different compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small entities; (2) clarifying, consolidating, or simplifying compliance and reporting requirements for small entities; (3) using performance rather than design standards; and (4) exempting small entities from coverage of all or part of the proposed amendments.

With respect to clarification, consolidation, and simplification of compliance and reporting requirements for small entities, the amendments do not impose any significant new disclosure obligations, and they reduce other disclosure obligations. As noted above, the amendments address certain of our disclosure requirements that have become redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other Commission disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, or changes in the information environment. The amendments will clarify, consolidate, and simplify compliance for all issuers, including small entities.

For similar reasons, we do not believe it is necessary, and indeed would be contrary to the stated objectives of the amendments, to establish different compliance or reporting requirements or timetables or to exempt small entities from all or part of the amendments. The Commission's existing disclosure requirements provide for scaled disclosure requirements and other accommodations for SRCs and EGCs, and the amendments would not alter these existing accommodations.

Finally, with respect to use of performance rather than design standards, the amendments to eliminate certain prescriptive Commission rules that call for information that overlaps with information required by U.S. GAAP or revise certain prescriptive rules to streamline our disclosure requirements may result in issuers, including small entities, being provided with additional flexibility when preparing their disclosures. For instance, existing Rule 4-08(e)(3) requires disclosure of dividend restrictions and related disclosures when restricted net assets exceed 25 percent. As amended, the rule will require such disclosure when it is material and not based on a bright line threshold. While not all amendments use performance standards, many would have a similar effect—namely, to provide issuers, including small entities, with additional flexibility to present more tailored disclosures without meaningfully reducing the total mix of information provided to investors.

X. Statutory Authority

The amendments contained in this document are being adopted under the authority set forth in Sections 7, 10, 19(a), and 28 of the Securities Act, Sections 3(b), 12, 13, 15, 23(a), and 36 of the Exchange Act, Sections 8, 24(a), 24(g), 30, and 38 of the Investment Company Act, and Title LXXII, Section 72002(2) of the FAST Act.

Text of the Final Amendments

List of Subjects

17 CFR Part 210

• Accountants
• Accounting
• Banks
• Banking
• Employee benefit plans
• Holding companies
• Insurance companies
• Investment companies
• Oil and gas exploration
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities
• Utilities

17 CFR Part 229

• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

17 CFR Part 230

• Investment companies
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

17 CFR Part 239

• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

17 CFR Part 240

• Brokers
• Fraud
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

17 CFR Part 249

• Brokers
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

17 CFR Part 274

• Investment companies
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Securities

For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Commission is amending Title 17, Chapter II, of the Code of the Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 210—FORM AND CONTENT OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940, AND ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1975

1. The authority citation for part 210 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77s, 77z-2, 77z-3, 77aa(25), 77aa(26), 77nn(25), 77nn(26), 78c, 78j-1, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78 o (d), 78q, 78u-5, 78w, 78 ll, 78mm, 80a-8, 80a-20, 80a-29, 80a-30, 80a-31, 80a-37(a), 80b-3, 80b-11, 7202 and 7262, and sec. 102(c), Pub L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 310 (2012), unless otherwise noted.

2. Amend § 210.1-02 by:

a. Revising paragraphs (d) and (w)(3);

b. Redesignating the Computational note as Computational note 1 to paragraph (w)(3);

c. Revising paragraph 2 of the newly redesignated Computational note 1 to paragraph (w)(3);

d. Revising paragraph (bb)(1)(ii); and

e. Adding paragraphs (cc) and (dd).

The revisions and additions read as follows:

3. Amend § 210.2-01 by revising paragraph (f)(7)(ii)(B) to read as follows:

4. Amend § 210.2-02 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:

5. Amend § 210.3-01 by revising paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) to read as follows:

6. Amend § 210.3-02 by revising the section heading and paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:

7. Amend § 210.3-03 by

a. Revising the section heading and paragraphs (b) and (d); and

b. Removing paragraph (e).

The revisions read as follows:

8. Revise § 210.3-04 to read as follows:

9. Amend § 210.3-05 by revising paragraph (b)(4)(iii) to read as follows:

10. Amend § 210.3-12 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

11. Amend § 210.3-14 by:

a. Revising paragraph (a) introductory text; and

b. Redesignating the Note following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) as Note 1 to paragraph (a)(1).

The revision reads as follows:

12. Amend § 210.3-15 by removing and reserving paragraphs (a) and (b).

13. Amend § 210.3-17 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

14. Amend § 210.3-20 by:

a. Revising the section heading;

b. Redesignating paragraph (a) as paragraph (a)(1);

c. Adding paragraph (a)(2);

d. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (b)(1) and adding paragraph (b)(2); and

e. Revising paragraph (d).

The additions and revisions read as follows:

15. Remove and reserve § 210.3A-01.

16. Revise § 210.3A-02 to read as follows:

17. Amend § 210.3A-03 by removing and reserving paragraph (a) and revising paragraph (b).

The revision reads as follows:

18. Remove and reserve § 210.3A-04.

19. Amend § 210.4-01 by removing paragraph (a)(3).

20. Amend § 210.4-08 by:

a. Revising the introductory text;

b. Removing and reserving paragraph (a);

c. Redesignating paragraph (d)(1) as paragraph (d) and removing paragraph (d)(2);

d. Revising paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(3) introductory text;

e. Revising paragraphs (f) and (h)(1) introductory text;

f. Redesignating the Note following paragraph (h)(1) as Note 1 to paragraph (h)(1);

g. Revising paragraph (h)(2);

h. Removing paragraph (h)(3);

i. Removing and reserving paragraph (i);

j. Revising paragraph (k); and

k. Revising paragraphs (m)(2)(ii) and (n).

The revisions read as follows:

21. Amend § 210.4-10 by revising paragraph (c)(7)(i) to read as follows:

22. Amend § 210.5-02 by:

a. Removing “[See § 210.4-05]” immediately below the undesignated heading “Current Assets, when appropriate” and immediately above paragraph 1;

b. Revising paragraphs 6.(a)(2) and (3);

c. Revising the undesignated heading immediately above paragraph 19;

d. Revising paragraphs 22.(a) introductory text, 27.(c)(3), 28, and 29; and

e. Revising paragraph 30.(a).

The revisions read as follows:

23. Amend § 210.5-03 by:

a. Revising the section heading and paragraphs (a), (b)1, 7, and 9;

b. Removing and reserving paragraphs (b)15, 16, and 17;

c. Redesignating paragraph (b)21 as (b)25; and

d. Adding new paragraph (b)21 and paragraphs (b)22, 23, and 24.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

24. Amend § 210.5-04 by revising paragraph (a)(2); and Schedule I to read as follows:

25. Amend § 210.6-03 by revising paragraph (c)(1) introductory text and removing and reserving paragraph (c)(1)(i).

The revision reads as follows:

26. Amend § 210.6-04 by revising the paragraph 17 heading, its introductory text, and paragraph 17.(a) to read as follows:

27. Amend § 210.6-07 by revising the introductory text to read as follows:

28. Amend § 210.6-09 by revising paragraphs 3, 4.(b), and 7 to read as follows:

29. Amend § 210.6A-04 by revising the section heading and introductory text to read as follows:

30. Amend § 210.6A-05 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text and Schedule III to read as follows:

31. Amend § 210.7-03 by:

a. Revising paragraphs (a)6, (a)11, and (a)13.(a)(2); and

b. Removing and reserving paragraph (a)13.(b);

c. Removing paragraph (a)13.(c); and

d. Revising paragraphs (a)23.(a)(3) and (a)23.(c)(2).

The revisions read as follows:

32. Amend § 210.7-04 by:

a. Revising the section heading;

b. Revising the introductory text;

c. Revising paragraph 3.(b);

d. Removing and reserving paragraph 3.(c);

e. Revising paragraphs 3.(d), 7, and 9;

f. Removing and reserving paragraphs 13, 14, and 15;

g. Redesignating paragraph 19 as paragraph 23; and

h. Adding new paragraph 19 and paragraphs 20, 21, and 22.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

33. Amend § 210.7-05 by revising paragraph (a)(2) and Schedules II and III to read as follows:

34. Amend § 210.8-01 by revising paragraph a. of Note 2 to § 210.8 and removing Note 6 to § 210.8.

The revision reads as follows:

35. Revise § 210.8-02 to read as follows:

36. Amend § 210.8-03 by:

a. Revising the introductory text;

b. Revising paragraph (a)(2);

c. Adding paragraph (a)(5);

d. Removing and reserving paragraph (b)(2);

e. Revising paragraphs (b)(4) and (5);

f. Removing paragraph (b)(6); and

g. Revising Instruction 1 to § 210.8-03.

The revisions and addition read as follows:

37. Amend § 210.8-04 by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:

38. Amend § 210.8-05 by revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) to read as follows:

39. Amend § 210.8-06 by revising the introductory text to read as follows:

40. Amend § 210.9-03 by:

a. Revising paragraph 3;

b. Removing paragraph 6.(a) and removing and reserving paragraph 7.(d); and

c. Revising paragraphs 7.(e)(3), 10, and 12.(a).

The revisions read as follows:

41. Amend § 210.9-04 by:

a. Revising the section heading and introductory text;

b. Revising paragraph 13.(h);

c. Removing and reserving paragraphs 14.(c), 17, 18, and 19;

d. Redesignating paragraph 23 as paragraph 27; and

e. Adding new paragraph 23 and paragraphs 24, 25, and 26.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

42. Amend § 210.9-05 by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:

43. Revise § 210.9-06 to read as follows:

44. Amend § 210.10-01 by:

a. Revising paragraphs (a)(3), (5), and (7);

b. Revising paragraphs (b)(1) through (3);

c. Removing and reserving paragraphs (b)(4) and (5); and

d. Revising paragraphs (b)(6) through (8), (c)(2) and (4), and (d).

The revisions read as follows:

45. Amend § 210.11-02 by:

a. Revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (3) and (b)(5) through (7);

b. Redesignating the Instructions following paragraph (b)(8) consecutively as Instruction 1 to paragraph (b), Instruction 2 to paragraph (b), Instruction 3 to paragraph (b), Instruction 4 to paragraph (b), Instruction 5 to paragraph (b), Instruction 6 to paragraph (b), and Instruction 7 to paragraph (b);

c. Revising newly redesignated Instruction 1 to paragraph (b), Instruction 2 to paragraph (b), Instruction 5 to paragraph (b), and Instruction 7 to paragraph (b); and

d. Revising paragraphs (c)(2) through (4).

The revisions read as follows:

46. Amend § 210.11-03 by revising paragraphs (a) introductory text and (a)(2) to read as follows:

47. Amend § 210.12-16 by revising footnotes 4 and 5 to read as follows:

48. Amend § 210.12-17 by revising footnote 2 to read as follows:

49. Amend § 210.12-18 by revising footnote 1 to read as follows:

50. Amend § 210.12-21 by revising footnote 4 to read as follows:

51. Amend § 210.12-22 by revising footnotes 1(a), 4(b), and 6 to read as follows:

52. Amend § 210.12-23 by revising footnotes 9 and 12 to read as follows:

53. Amend § 210.12-24 by revising the column headings to the first table and by revising footnotes 5 and 8 to read as follows:

54. Amend § 210.12-27 by revising footnote 3 to read as follows:

55. Amend § 210.12-28 by revising the heading in Column I of the table to read “Life on which depreciation in latest statements of comprehensive income is computed” and by revising the first sentence of footnote 4.

The revision reads as follows:

56. Amend § 210.12-29 by revising footnote 6 introductory text to read as follows:

PART 229—STANDARD INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FORMS UNDER SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1975—REGULATION S-K

57. The authority citation for part 229 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77e, 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77k, 77s, 77z-2, 77z-3, 77aa(25), 77aa(26), 77ddd, 77eee, 77ggg, 77hhh, 77iii, 77jjj, 77nnn, 77sss, 78c, 78i, 78j, 78j-3, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78n-1, 78 o, 78u-5, 78w, 78 ll, 78 mm, 80a-8, 80a-9, 80a-20, 80a-29, 80a-30, 80a-31(c), 80a-37, 80a-38(a), 80a-39, 80b-11 and 7201 et seq.; 18 U.S.C. 1350; sec. 953(b), Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1904 (2010); and sec. 102(c), Pub. L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 310 (2012).

58. Amend § 229.10 by revising paragraphs (b)(2) and (e)(2)(i) to read as follows:

59. Amend § 229.101 by:

a. Removing and reserving paragraphs (b), (c)(1)(xi), and (d);

b. Revising paragraphs (e) introductory text and (e)(2) and (3);

c. Removing and reserving paragraph (h)(4)(x); and

d. Revising paragraph (h)(5)(iii).

The revisions read as follows:

60. Amend § 229.201 by:

a. Revising paragraph (a)(1);

b. Removing and reserving paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (c)(1);

c. Removing the text and reserving Instruction 1 to the Instructions to Item 201;

d. Redesignating Instructions 1 through 5 to Item 201 consecutively as Instruction 1 to Item 201, Instruction 2 to Item 201, Instruction 3 to Item 201, Instruction 4 to Item 201 and Instruction 5 to Item 201; and

e. Revising newly redesignated Instruction 2 to Item 201.

The revisions read as follows:

61. Amend § 229.302 by:

a. Revising paragraphs (a)(1) and (3);

b. Redesignating the Instructions to paragraph (b) consecutively as Instruction 1 to paragraph (b), Instruction 2 to paragraph (b), and Instruction 3 to paragraph (b); and

c. Revising paragraphs (a) and (c) of newly redesignated Instruction 1 to paragraph (b).

The revisions read as follows:

62. Amend § 229.303 by:

a. Revising the paragraphs (a) introductory text and (b)(2);

b. Redesignating paragraphs 1 through 7 of the Instructions to paragraph (b) of Item 303 as Instruction 1 to paragraph (b), Instruction 2 to paragraph (b), Instruction 3 to paragraph (b), Instruction 4 to paragraph (b), Instruction 5 to paragraph (b), Instruction 6 to paragraph (b), and Instruction 7 to paragraph (b), consecutively.

c. Removing and reserving newly redesignated Instruction 5 to paragraph (b); and

d. Adding an Instruction 8 to paragraph (b).

The revisions and addition read as follows:

63. Amend § 229.406 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:

64. Amend § 229.503 by:

a. Revising the section heading;

b. Removing paragraph (d) and the instructions to paragraph (d); and

c. Removing paragraph (e).

The revision reads as follows:

65. Amend § 229.504 by revising Instruction 3 to the Instructions to Item 504 to read as follows:

3. If any material amounts of other funds are necessary to accomplish the specified purposes for which the proceeds are to be obtained, state the amounts of such other funds needed for each such specified purpose and the sources thereof.

66. Amend § 229.508 by revising paragraph (e) introductory text to read as follows:

67. Amend § 229.512 by revising paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows:

68. Amend § 229.601 by:

a. Removing and reserving entries (11) and (12) from the exhibit table in paragraph (a);

b. In entry (13) in the exhibit table in paragraph (a), adding an X in the column labelled “10-Q”;

c. Removing and reserving entries (19), (22), and (26) from the exhibit table in paragraph (a);

d. Removing and reserving paragraphs (b)(11) and (12);

e. Revising paragraph (b)(14);

f. Removing and reserving paragraphs (b)(19), (22), and (26); and

g. Removing paragraph (c).

The revision reads as follows:

69. Amend § 229.1010 by:

a. Revising paragraph (a)(2);

b. Removing and reserving paragraph (a)(3);

c. Revising paragraph (b)(2); and

d. Removing and reserving paragraph (c)(4).

The revisions read as follows:

70. Amend § 229.1118 by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:

PART 230—GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

71. The authority citation for part 230 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77b, 77b note, 77c, 77d, 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77r, 77s, 77z-3, 77sss, 78c, 78d, 78j, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78o, 78o-7 note, 78t, 78w, 78 ll (d), 78mm, 80a-8, 80a-24, 80a-28, 80a-29, 80a-30, and 80a-37, and Pub. L. 112-106, sec. 201(a), sec. 401, 126 Stat. 313 (2012), unless otherwise noted.

72. Amend § 230.158 by:

a. Revising paragraph (a)(1) introductory text; and

b. Designating as Note 1 to paragraph (a) the undesignated text between paragraphs (a)(2)(ii) and (b) and revising it.

The revisions read as follows:

73. Amend § 230.405, in the definition of “Significant subsidiary” by:

a. Revising paragraphs (1) and (3) ;

b. Adding a Note 1 following paragraph (3) before the Computational note;

c. Redesignating the Computational note as Computational note 1 to paragraph (3) and revising it.

The revisions and addition read as follows:

74. Amend § 230.436 by revising paragraph (d)(4) to read as follows:

PART 239—FORMS PRESCRIBED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

75. The authority citation for part 239 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77c, 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77s, 77z-2, 77z-3, 77sss, 78c, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78 o (d), 78o-7 note, 78u-5, 78w(a), 78 ll, 78mm, 80a-2(a), 80a-3, 80a-8, 80a-9, 80a-10, 80a-13, 80a-24, 80a-26, 80a-29, 80a-30, and 80a-37; and sec. 107, Pub. L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 312, unless otherwise noted.

76. Amend Form S-1 (referenced in § 239.11) by revising the heading of Item 3 and revising Item 12.(c)(2)(ii) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form S-1 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PART I—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Summary Information and Risk Factors.

Item 12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ).

77. Amend Form S-3 (referenced in § 239.13) by:

a. Revising General Instruction I.B.2;

b. Revising General Instruction I.C.2 and I.D.1.(c)(iv) to remove the text, “(Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Investment Grade Securities)” and add, in its place, the words “(Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Securities Other than Common Equity)”;

c. Revising the heading of Item 3;

d. Revising Item 12.(c)(2)(ii); and

e. Removing Instruction 3 to the Instructions to Signatures.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form S-3 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

I. Eligibility Requirements for Use of Form S-3

B. Transaction Requirements. * * *

2. Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Securities Other than Common Equity. Non-convertible securities, other than common equity, to be offered for cash by or on behalf of a registrant, provided the registrant:

(i) Has issued (as of a date within 60 days prior to the filing of the registration statement) at least $1 billion in non-convertible securities, other than common equity, in primary offerings for cash, not exchange, registered under the Securities Act, over the prior three years; or

(ii) has outstanding (as of a date within 60 days prior to the filing of the registration statement) at least $750 million of non-convertible securities, other than common equity, issued in primary offerings for cash, not exchange, registered under the Securities Act; or

(iii) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in 17 CFR 230.405); or

(iv) is a majority-owned operating partnership of a real estate investment trust that qualifies as a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in 17 CFR 230.405).

C. Majority-Owned Subsidiaries. * * *

2. the parent of the registrant-subsidiary meets the Registrant Requirements and the conditions of Transaction Requirements B.2. (Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Securities Other than Common Equity) are met;

D. Automatic Shelf Offerings by Well-Known Seasoned Issuers. * * *

1. * * *

(c) * * *

(iv) Securities of a majority-owned subsidiary that meet the conditions of Transaction Requirement I.B.2. of this Form (Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Securities Other than Common Equity).

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Summary Information and Risk Factors.

Item 12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

78. Amend Form S-11 (referenced in § 239.18) by revising the heading of Item 3 and revising Item 29.(b)(2)(ii) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form S-11 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM S-11

FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

PART I. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Summary Information and Risk Factors.

Item 29. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(b) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ).

79. Amend Form S-4 (referenced in § 239.25) by revising the heading of Item 3 and revising Items 11.(c)(2) and 13.(d)(2) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form S-4 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Risk Factors and Other Information.

Item 11. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(c) * * *

(2) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

Item 13. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(d) * * *

(2) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

80. Amend Form F-1 (referenced in § 239.31) by:

a. Revising General Instruction II.C;

b. Revising the heading of Item 3;

c. Revising Item 4.b;

d. Removing and reserving Item 4.c;

e. Revising Item 4.d;

f. Adding Item 4.e;

g. Removing Instruction 2 to Item 4;

h. Revising Item 4A.(b)1.iii.;

i. Revising the Instruction to Item 4A; and

j. Revising Item 5.(b)2.ii.

The revisions and addition read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-1 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

II. Application of General Rules and Regulations

C. A registrant must file the Form F-1 registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232), except that a registrant that has obtained a hardship exception under Regulation S-T Rule 201 or 202 (17 CFR 232.201 or 232.202) may file the registration statement in paper. For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

PART I—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Summary Information and Risk Factors.

Item 4. Information with Respect to the Registrant and the Offering.

b. Information required by Item 18 of Form 20-F (Schedules required under Regulation S-X shall be filed as “Financial Statement Schedules Pursuant to Item 8, Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules, of this Form), as well as any information required by Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X (part 210 of this chapter).

d. Information required by Item 16F of Form 20-F.

e. State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

Item 4A. Material Changes.

(b)

1. * * *

iii. Restated financial statements where a combination of entities under common control has been consummated subsequent to the most recent fiscal year and the transferred businesses, considered in the aggregate, are significant under Rule 11-01(b) (§ 210.11-01(b) of this chapter); or

Instruction. Financial statements or information required to be furnished by this Item shall be reconciled pursuant to Item 18 of Form 20-F.

Item 5. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(b) * * *

2. * * *

ii. State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ).

81. Amend Form F-3 (referenced in § 239.33) by:

a. Revising General Instructions I.B.2, I.B.3, I.B.4 and II.D;

b. Revising the heading of Item 3;

c. Revising Item 5 Instructions 1 and 2; and

d. Revising Item 6.(e)(2).

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-3 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

I. Eligibility Requirements for Use of Form F-3

B. Transaction Requirements

2. Primary Offerings of Non-Convertible Securities Other than Common Equity. Non-convertible securities, other than common equity, to be offered for cash by or on behalf of a registrant, provided the registrant:

(i) Has issued (as of a date within 60 days prior to the filing of the registration statement) at least $1 billion in non-convertible securities, other than common equity, in primary offerings for cash, not exchange, registered under the Securities Act, over the prior three years; or

(ii) has outstanding (as of a date within 60 days prior to the filing of the registration statement) at least $750 million of non-convertible securities, other than common equity, issued in primary offerings for cash, not exchange, registered under the Securities Act; or

(iii) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in 17 CFR 230.405); or

(iv) is a majority-owned operating partnership of a real estate investment trust that qualifies as a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in 17 CFR 230.405).

3. Transactions Involving Secondary Offerings. Outstanding securities to be offered for the account of any person other than the issuer, including securities acquired by standby underwriters in connection with the call or redemption by the issuer of warrants or a class of convertible securities. The financial statements included in this registration statement must comply with Item 18 of Form 20-F. In addition, Form F-3 may be used by affiliates to register securities for resale pursuant to the conditions specified in General Instruction C to Form S-8 (§ 239.16b of this chapter). In the case of such securities, the financial statements included in this registration statement must comply with Item 18 of Form 20-F (§ 249.220f of this chapter).

4. Rights Offerings, Dividend or Interest Reinvestment Plans, and Conversions or Warrants. Securities to be offered: (a) Upon the exercise of outstanding rights granted by the issuer of the securities to be offered, if such rights are granted pro rata to all existing security holders of the class of securities to which the rights attach; or (b) pursuant to a dividend or interest reinvestment plan; or (c) upon the conversion of outstanding convertible securities or upon the exercise of outstanding transferable warrants issued by the issuer of the securities to be offered, or by an affiliate of such issuer. The financial statements included in this registration statement must comply with Item 18 of Form 20-F. The registration of securities to be offered or sold in a standby underwriting in the United States or similar arrangement is not permitted pursuant to this paragraph. See paragraphs B.1., B.2., and B.3. of this Instruction.

II. Application of General Rules and Regulations

D. A registrant must file the Form F-3 registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232), except that a registrant that has obtained a hardship exception under Regulation S-T Rule 201 or 202 (17 CFR 232.201 or 232.202) may file the registration statement in paper. For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

PART I—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Summary Information and Risk Factors.

Item 5. Material Changes.

Instructions

1. Financial statements or information required to be furnished by this Item shall be reconciled pursuant to Item 18 of Form 20-F.

2. Material changes to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5(a) include changes in and disagreements with registrant's certifying accountant. Disclosure pursuant to Item 16F of Form 20-F should be provided as of the date of the registration statement or prospectus.

Item 6. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(e) * * *

(2) state that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

82. Amend Form F-4 (referenced in § 239.34) by:

a. Revising General Instruction D.4;

b. Revising the heading of Item 3;

c. Revising Instruction 1 of the instructions to paragraphs (e) and (f) of Item 3;

d. Revising Item 10.(c)(3);

e. Revising paragraph 1 of the Instructions between Items 11(a) and (b);

f. Revising Item 11.(c)(2);

g. Revising the introductory text of Items 12 and 12.(b)(2)

h. Revising Items 12.(b)(2)(iv) and 12.(b)(3)(vii) and (ix);

i. Revising paragraph 1 of the Instructions between Items 13.(b) and (c);

j. Revising Item 13.(c)(2); and

k. Revising Items 14.(h) and 14.(j).

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-4 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

D. Application of General Rules and Regulations.

4. A registrant must file the Form F-4 registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232), except that a registrant that has obtained a hardship exception under Regulation S-T Rule 201 or 202 (17 CFR 232.201 or 232.202) may file the registration statement in paper. For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Risk Factors and Other Information.

Instructions to paragraphs (e) and (f).

1. For a business combination accounted for as a purchase, the financial information required by paragraphs (e) and (f) shall be presented only for the most recent fiscal year and interim period. For a combination of entities under common control, the financial information required by paragraphs (e) and (f) (except for information with regard to book value) shall be presented for the most recent three fiscal years and interim period. For a combination of entities under common control, information with regard to book value shall be presented as of the end of the most recent fiscal year and interim period. Equivalent pro forma per share amounts shall be calculated by multiplying the pro forma income (loss) per share before non-recurring charges or credits directly attributable to the transaction, pro forma book value per share, and the pro forma dividends per share of the registrant by the exchange ratio so that the per share amounts are equated to the respective values for one share of the company being acquired.

Item 10. Information With Respect to F-3 Companies.

(c) * * *

(3) Restated financial statements prepared in accordance with or, if prepared using a basis of accounting other than IFRS as issued by the IASB, reconciled to U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X where one or more business combinations accounted for as combinations of entities under common control have been consummated subsequent to the most recent fiscal year and the transferred businesses, considered in the aggregate, are significant pursuant to Rule 11-01(b) of Regulation S-X (§ 210.11-01(b) of this chapter); or

Item 11. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(a) * * *

Instructions

1. All annual reports or registration statements incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 11 of this Form shall contain financial statements that comply with Item 18 of Form 20-F.

(c) * * *

(2) state that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

Item 12. Information with Respect to F-3 Registrants.

If the registrant meets the requirements for use of Form F-3 or Form S-3 and elects to comply with this Item, furnish the information required by either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Item. However, the registrant shall not provide prospectus information in the manner allowed by paragraph (a) of this Item if the financial statements incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 13 reflect: (1) Restated financial statements prepared in accordance with or reconciled to U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X if there has been a change in accounting principles or a correction of an error where such a change or correction requires a material retroactive statement of financial statements; (2) restated financial statements prepared in accordance with or reconciled to U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X where a combination of entities under common control has been consummated subsequent to the most recent fiscal year and the transferred businesses, considered in the aggregate, are significant pursuant to Rule 11-01(b) of Regulation S-X; or (3) any financial information required because of a material disposition of assets outside of the normal course of business.

(b) * * *

(2) Include financial statements and information as required by Item 18 of Form 20-F. In addition, provide: * * *

(iv) Restated financial statements prepared in accordance with or, if prepared using a basis of accounting other than IFRS as issued by the IASB, reconciled to U.S. GAAP and Regulation S-X where a combination of entities under common control has been consummated subsequent to the most recent fiscal year and the transferred businesses, considered in the aggregate, are significant pursuant to Rule 11-01(b) of Regulation S-X; and

(3) * * *

(vii) Financial statements required by Item 18 of Form 20-F, and financial information required by Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X with respect to transactions other than that pursuant to which the securities being registered are to be issued;

(ix) Item 16F of Form 20-F, change in registrant's certifying accountant.

Item 13. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(b) * * *

Instructions

1. All annual reports incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 13 of this Form shall contain financial statements that comply with Item 18 of Form 20-F.

(c) * * *

(2) state that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

Item 14. Information With Respect to Registrants Other Than F-3 Registrants.

(h) Financial statements required by Item 18 of Form 20-F. In addition, financial information required by Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X with respect to transactions other than that pursuant to which the securities being registered are to be issued. (Schedules required by Regulation S-X shall be filed as “Financial Statement Schedules” pursuant to Item 21 of this Form.);

(j) Item 16F of Form 20-F, change in registrant's certifying accountant.

83. Amend Form F-6 (referenced in § 239.36) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction III.C to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-6 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-6

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED BY AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

III. Application of General Rules and Regulations

C. You must file the Form F-6 registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

84. Amend Form F-7 (referenced in § 239.37) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction II.C to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-7 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-7

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

II. Application of General Rules and Regulations

C. A registrant must file the registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

85. Amend Form F-8 (referenced in § 239.38) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction IV.C to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-8 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

IV. Application of General Rules and Regulations

C. A registrant must file the registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

86. Amend Form F-10 (referenced in § 239.40) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction II.D to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-10 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-10

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

II. Application of General Rules and Regulations

D. A registrant must file the registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

87. Amend Form F-80 (referenced in § 239.41) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction IV.C to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form F-80 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM F-80

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

IV. Application of General Rules and Regulations

C. A registrant must file the registration statement in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

88. Amend Form SF-1 (referenced in § 239.44) by revising Item 10.(b)(2)(ii) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form SF-1 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM SF-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 10. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(b)(2) * * *

(ii) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address (or address of the specified transaction party where such information is posted), if available.

89. Amend Form SF-3 (referenced in § 239.45) by revising Item 10.(e)(2)(ii) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form SF-3 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM SF-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 10. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.

(e)(1) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address (or address of the specified transaction party where such information is posted), if available.

90. Amend Form 1-A (referenced in § 239.90) by:

a. Revising the section entitled “Financial Statements” in Item 1 of Part I;

b. Removing and reserving Items 7.(a)(1)(iii) and 7.(b) of Part II;

c. Revising paragraph (3) of the Instruction to Item 9.(a) of Part II; and

d. Revising paragraphs (b)(4) and (5) and paragraph (c)(1)(i) of Part F/S of Part II.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 1-A does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 1-A

REGULATION A OFFERING STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PART I—NOTIFICATION

ITEM 1. Issuer Information

Financial Statements

PART II—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN OFFERING CIRCULAR

Item 9. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(a) * * *

Instruction to Item 9(a)

(3) When interim period financial statements are included, discuss any material changes in financial condition from the end of the preceding fiscal year to the date of the most recent interim balance sheet provided. Discuss any material changes in the issuer's results of operations with respect to the most recent fiscal year-to-date period for which a statement of comprehensive income (or statement of net income if comprehensive income is presented in two separate but consecutive financial statements or if no other comprehensive income) is provided and the corresponding year-to-date period of the preceding fiscal year.

Part F/S

(b) Financial Statements for Tier 1 Offerings

(4) Statements of comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in stockholders' equity. File consolidated statements of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income), cash flows, and changes in stockholders' equity for each of the two fiscal years preceding the date of the most recent balance sheet being filed or such shorter period as the issuer has been in existence.

(5) Interim financial statements.

(i) If a consolidated interim balance sheet is required by (b)(3) of Part F/S, consolidated interim statements of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income) and cash flows shall be provided and must cover at least the first six months of the issuer's fiscal year and the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. An analysis of the changes in each caption of stockholders' equity presented in the balance sheets must be provided in a note or separate statement. This analysis shall be presented in the form of a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance for each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed with all significant reconciling items described by appropriate captions with contributions from and distributions to owners shown separately. Dividends per share for each class of shares shall also be provided.

(ii) Interim financial statements of issuers that report under U.S. GAAP may be condensed as described in Rule 8-03(a) of Regulation S-X.

(iii) The interim statements of comprehensive income for all issuers must be accompanied by a statement that in the opinion of management all adjustments necessary in order to make the interim financial statements not misleading have been included.

(c) Financial Statement Requirements for Tier 2 Offerings

(1) * * *

(i) Issuers that report under U.S. GAAP and, when applicable, other entities for which financial statements are required, must comply with Article 8 of Regulation S-X, as if they were conducting a registered offering on Form S-1, except the age of financial statements may follow paragraphs (b)(3)-(4) of this Part F/S.

91. Amend Form 1-K (referenced in § 239.91) by revising Item 7.(e) of Part II to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 1-K does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 1-K

PART II

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

Item 7. Financial Statements

(e) Statements of comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in stockholders' equity. File audited consolidated statements of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income), cash flows, and changes in stockholders' equity for each of the two fiscal years preceding the date of the most recent balance sheet being filed or such shorter period as the issuer has been in existence.

92. Amend Form 1-SA (referenced in § 239.92) by:

a. Revising the third paragraph of the undesignated introductory text of Item 3;

b. Revising Item 3.(b);

c. Redesignating current Items 3.(d) and (e) as 3.(e) and (f), respectively;

d. Adding new Item 3.(d); and

e. Revising newly redesignated Item 3.(e).

The revisions and addition read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 1-SA does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 1-SA

[ ] SEMIANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO REGULATION A

or

[ ] SPECIAL FINANCIAL REPORT PURSUANT TO REGULATION A

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

Item 3. Financial Statements

The financial statements included pursuant to this item may be condensed, unaudited, and are not required to be reviewed. For additional guidance on presentation of the financial statements, issuers that report under U.S. GAAP should refer to Rule 8-03(a) of Regulation S-X. The financial statements for all issuers must include the following:

(b) Interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income) must be provided for the six month interim period covered by this report and for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. Statements of comprehensive income must be accompanied by a statement that in the opinion of management all adjustments necessary in order to make the interim financial statements not misleading have been included.

(d) An analysis of the changes in each caption of stockholders' equity presented in the balance sheets must be provided in a note or separate statement. This analysis shall be presented in the form of a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance for each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed with all significant reconciling items described by appropriate captions with contributions from and distributions to owners shown separately. Dividends per share for each class of shares shall also be presented.

(e) Footnote and other disclosures should be provided as needed for fair presentation and to ensure that the financial statements are not misleading. Issuers that report under U.S. GAAP should refer to Rule 8-03(b) of Regulation S-X for examples of disclosures that may be needed.

(f) Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities. * * *

PART 240—GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

93. The authority citation for part 240 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77c, 77d, 77g, 77j, 77s, 77z-2, 77z-3, 77eee, 77ggg, 77nnn, 77sss, 77ttt, 78c, 78c-3, 78c-5, 78d, 78e, 78f, 78g, 78i, 78j, 78j-1, 78k, 78k-1, 78 l, 78m, 78n, 78n-1, 78 o, 78 o-4, 78 o-10, 78p, 78q, 78q-1, 78s, 78u-5, 78w, 78x, 78 ll, 78mm, 80a-20, 80a-23, 80a-29, 80a-37, 80b-3, 80b-4, 80b-11, 7201 et seq.; and 8302; 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E); 12 U.S.C. 5221(e)(3); 18 U.S.C. 1350; and Pub. L. 111-203, 939A, 124 Stat. 1887 (2010); and secs. 503 and 602, Pub. L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 326 (2012), unless otherwise noted.

94. Amend § 240.3a51-1 by revising paragraph (a)(2)(i)(A)( 3) to read as follows:

95. Amend § 240.10A-1 by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:

96. Amend § 240.12b-2 in the definition of “Significant subsidiary” by:

a. Revising paragraph (3);

b. Adding a Note 1 following paragraph (3) before the Computational note; and

c. Redesignating the Computational note as Computational note 1 to paragraph (3).

The revision and addition read as follows:

97. Amend § 240.12g-3 by revising paragraphs (a)(2), (b)(2), and (c)(2) to read as follows:

98. Amend § 240.13a-10 by revising paragraphs (b) and (g)(3) to read as follows:

99. Amend § 240.13b2-2 by revising paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) to read as follows:

100. Amend § 240.15c3-1g by revising paragraphs (b)(1)(i)(A), (b)(1)(ii)(A) and (E), and (b)(2)(i)(A) and (D) to read as follows:

101. Amend § 240.15d-2 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

102. Amend § 240.15d-10 by revising paragraphs (b) and (g)(3) to read as follows:

103. Amend § 240.17a-5 by adding Note 1 to paragraph (d)(2)(i) to read as follows:

104. Amend § 240.17a-12 by adding Note 1 to paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:

105. Amend § 240.17g-3 by revising paragraph (a)(1)(i) to read as follows:

106. Amend § 240.17h-1T by adding Note 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)(v) to read as follows:

PART 249—FORMS, SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

107. The authority citation for part 249 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq. and 7201 et seq.; 12 U.S.C. 5461 et seq.; 18 U.S.C. 1350; Sec. 953(b), Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1904; Sec. 102(a)(3), Pub. L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 309 (2012); Sec. 107, Pub. L. 112-106, 126 Stat. 313 (2012), and Sec. 72001, Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312 (2015), unless otherwise noted.

108. Amend § 249.210 by revising the section heading to read as follows:

109. Amend Form 20-F (referenced in § 249.220f) by:

a. Revising General Instructions A.(b), D.(a), E.(c), G.(c) and G.(f)(1);

b. Removing Item 3.A.3;

c. Revising Instruction 2. of the Instructions to Item 3.A;

d. Adding Item 4.A.8;

e. Revising Item 5.C;

f. Revising Item 8.A.1.(b) and Item 8.A.5;

g. Revising Instruction 2 of the Instructions to Items 8.A.2 and 8.A.4;

h. Revising Item 9.A.4;

i. Revising Item 10.F;

j. Removing and reserving Instruction 1 to General Instructions to Items 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(d), and 11(e);

k. Revising Instruction 1 of the Instructions to Item 12;

l. Removing Instruction to Item 14.B;

m. Removing Item 15T;

n. Removing and reserving Instruction 1 to Instructions to Item 16F;

o. Revising Instruction to Item 16G;

p. Revising Items 17(c)(2)(v) and (vi);

q. Removing and reserving Instruction 3 to Item 17;

r. Removing Special Instruction for Certain European Issuers to Item 17;

s. Revising Instruction 1 to Instruction to Item 18;

t. Removing Special Instruction for Certain European Issuers to Item 18; and

u. Removing and reserving Instructions 6 and 7 of the Instructions as to Exhibits.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 20-F does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 20-F

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

□ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

A. Who May Use Form 20-F and When It Must be Filed.

(b) A foreign private issuer must file its annual report on this Form within four months after the end of the fiscal year covered by the report.

D. How to File Registration Statements and Reports on this Form.

(a) You must file the Form 20-F registration statement or annual report in electronic format via our Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). The Form 20-F registration statement or annual report must be in the English language as required by Regulation S-T Rule 306 (17 CFR 232.306). You must provide the signatures required for the Form 20-F registration statement or annual report in accordance with Regulation S-T Rule 302 (17 CFR 232.302). If you have EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

E. Which Items to Respond to in Registration Statements and Annual Reports.

(c) Financial Statements. (1) An Exchange Act registration statement or annual report filed on this Form must contain the financial statements and related information specified in Item 18 of this Form. Note that Items 17 and 18 may require you to file the financial statements of other entities in certain circumstances. These circumstances are described in Regulation S-X.

(2) The issuer's financial statements must be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), and the auditor must be qualified and independent in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation S-X. The financial statements of entities other than the issuer must be audited in accordance with applicable professional standards. If you have any questions about these requirements, contact the Office of Chief Accountant in the Division of Corporation Finance at (202) 551-3400.

G. First-Time Application of International Financial Reporting Standards.

(c) Selected Financial Data. The selected historical financial data required pursuant to Item 3.A shall be based on financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and shall be presented for the two most recent financial years.

(f) Financial Information.

(1) General. With respect to the financial information of the issuer required by Item 8.A, all instructions contained in Item 8, including the instruction requiring audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, shall apply.

PART I

Item 3. Key Information

Instructions to Item 3.A:

2. You may present the selected financial data on the basis of the accounting principles used in your primary financial statements. If you use a basis of accounting other than IFRS as issued by the IASB, however, you also must include in this summary any reconciliations of the data to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Regulation S-X, pursuant to Item 17 or 18 of this Form. For financial statements prepared using a basis of accounting other than IFRS as issued by the IASB, you only have to provide selected financial data on a basis reconciled to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for (i) those periods for which you were required to reconcile the primary annual financial statements in a filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and (ii) any interim periods. An issuer that adopted IFRS as issued by the IASB during the past three years is only required to provide selected financial data for the periods that it prepared financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

Item 4. Information on the Company

A. * * *

8. State that the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site ( http://www.sec.gov ). Disclose your internet address, if available.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

C. Research and development, patents and licenses, etc. Provide a description of the company's research and development policies for the last three years.

Item 8. Financial Information

A. * * *

1. * * *

(b) statement of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income);

5. If the document is dated more than nine months after the end of the last audited financial year, it should contain consolidated interim financial statements, which may be unaudited (in which case that fact should be stated), covering at least the first six months of the financial year. The interim financial statements should include a balance sheet, statement of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income), cash flow statement, and a statement showing either (i) changes in equity other than those arising from capital transactions with owners and distributions to owners, or (ii) all changes in equity (including a subtotal of all non-owner items recognized directly in equity). Each of these statements may be in condensed form as long as it contains the major line items from the latest audited financial statements and includes the major components of assets, liabilities and equity (in the case of the balance sheet); income and expenses (in the case of the statement of comprehensive income) and the major subtotals of cash flows (in the case of the cash flow statement). The interim financial statements should include comparative statements for the same period in the prior financial year, except that the requirement for comparative balance sheet information may be satisfied by presenting the year end balance sheet. If not included in the primary financial statements, a note should be provided analyzing the changes in each caption of shareholders' equity presented in the balance sheet. The interim financial statements should include selected note disclosures that will provide an explanation of events and changes that are significant to an understanding of the changes in financial position and performance of the enterprise since the last annual reporting date. If, at the date of the document, the company has published interim financial information that covers a more current period than those otherwise required by this standard, the more current interim financial information must be included in the document. Companies are encouraged, but not required, to have any interim financial statements in the document reviewed by an independent auditor. If such a review has been performed and is referred to in the document, a copy of the auditor's interim review report must be provided in the document.

Instructions to Item 8.A.2:

2. The financial statements of the issuer must be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and the auditor must comply with the Commission standards for auditor independence. Refer to Article 2 of Regulation S-X, which contains requirements for qualifications and reports of accountants.

Instructions to Item 8.A.4:

2. The additional requirement that financial statements be no older than 12 months at the date of filing applies only in those limited cases where a nonpublic company is registering its initial public offering of securities. A company may comply with only the 15-month requirement in this item if the company is able to represent that it is not required to comply with the 12-month requirement in any other jurisdiction outside the United States and that complying with the 12-month requirement is impracticable or involves undue hardship. File this representation as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing.

A. * * *

4. Identify the principal host market(s) and principal market(s) outside the principal host market and corresponding trading symbol(s) for those markets for each class of the registrant's common equity. If significant trading suspensions occurred in the prior three years, they shall be disclosed. If the securities are not regularly traded in an organized market, information shall be given about any lack of liquidity.

Item 10. Additional Information.

F. Dividends and paying agents. Disclose the date on which the entitlement to dividends arises, if known, and any procedures for nonresident holders to claim dividends. Identify the financial organizations which, at the time of admission of shares to official listing, are the paying agents of the company in the countries where admission has taken place or is expected to take place.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities.

Instructions to Item 12:

1. Except for Item 12.D.3. and Item 12.D.4, you do not need to provide the information called for by this Item if you are using this form as an annual report.

Item 16F. Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

Item 16G. Corporate Governance.

Instructions to Item 16G:

Item 16G only applies to annual reports, and not to registration statements on Form 20-F. Registrants should provide a brief and general discussion, rather than a detailed, item-by-item analysis.

Item 17. Financial Statements.

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

(v) Issuers that prepare financial statements on a basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles that are furnished for a business acquired or to be acquired pursuant to § 210.3-05 of this chapter may omit the disclosures specified by paragraphs (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii), and (c)(2)(iii) of this Item if the conditions specified in the definition of a significant subsidiary in § 210.1-02(w) of this chapter do not exceed 30 percent. Issuers that prepare financial statements using IFRS as issued by the IASB that are furnished pursuant to § 210.3-05 may omit the disclosures specified by paragraphs (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii), and (c)(2)(iii) of this Item regardless of the size of the business acquired or to be acquired.

(vi) Issuers that prepare financial statements on a basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles that are furnished for a less-than-majority-owned investee pursuant to § 210.3-09 of this chapter may omit the disclosures specified by paragraphs (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii), and (c)(2)(iii) of this Item if the first and third conditions specified in the definition of a significant subsidiary in § 210.1-02(w) of this chapter do not exceed 30 percent. Issuers that prepare financial statements using IFRS as issued by the IASB that are furnished pursuant to § 210.3-09 may omit the disclosures specified by paragraphs (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii), and (c)(2)(iii) of this Item regardless of the size of the investee.

Item 18. Financial Statements.

Instructions to Item 18:

1. All of the instructions to Item 17 also apply to this Item.

110. Amend Form 40-F (referenced in § 249.240f) by revising the first paragraph of General Instruction D.(7) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 40-F does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 40-F

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

□ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(a) OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

D. Application of General Rules and Regulations

(7) A filer must file the Form 40-F registration statement or annual report in electronic format via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system in accordance with the EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 CFR part 232). For assistance with EDGAR questions, call the Filer Support Office at (202) 551-8900.

111. Amend Form 10-K (referenced in § 249.310) by:

a. Removing and reserving paragraph J.(1)(e) of the General Instructions; and

b. Revising paragraph J.(1)(f) of the General Instructions.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 10-K does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

J. * * *

(1) * * *

(f) Item 5, Market for Registrant's Common Equity , Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities;

112. Amend Form 11-K (referenced in § 249.311) by revising paragraph 2 of Required Information to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form 11-K does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM 11-K

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

REQUIRED INFORMATION

2. An audited statement of comprehensive income (either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements; or a statement of net income if there was no other comprehensive income) and changes in plan equity for each of the latest three fiscal years of the plan (or such lesser period as the plan has been in existence).

Form 10-D (referenced in § 249.312) [Amended]

113. Amend Form 10-D (referenced in § 249.312) by removing and reserving Item 5.

Note:

The text of Form 10-D does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

114. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part II (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) by:

a. Revising under the heading “Statement of Financial Condition” paragraph 29 by redesignating current paragraphs 29.E and F as paragraphs 29.F and G, respectively and adding a new paragraph 29.E; and

b. Revising the heading “Statement of Income (Loss)” and under that heading, revising the subheading “Net Income”, removing and reserving paragraphs 32, 32.a and 33, revising paragraph 34, redesignating current paragraph 35 as paragraph 37, adding new paragraph 35 and paragraphs 35.a and 36, and revising newly redesignated paragraph 37.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part II does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

115. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part II (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) General Instructions by:

a. Revising the heading “Statement of Income (Loss)” and removing from under that heading the subheadings “Extraordinary Items” and “Effect of Changes in Accounting Principles” and their related text; and

b. Revising under the heading “Statement of Changes in Ownership Equity (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership or Corporation)” the text related to the subheading “Net Income (Loss) For Period”.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part II does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM X-17A-5 PART II

(FOCUS Report)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

STATEMENT OF INCOME (LOSS) or STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(as defined in § 210.1-02 of Regulation S-X), as applicable

If there are no items of other comprehensive income in the period presented, the broker or dealer is not required to report comprehensive income.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP EQUITY

(SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP OR CORPORATION)

Net Income (Loss) for Period

Report the amount of net income (loss) for the period reported on the Statement of Income (Loss) or Statement of Comprehensive Income, as applicable.

116. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part IIA (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) by:

a. Revising under the heading “Statement of Financial Condition for Noncarrying, Nonclearing and Certain other Brokers or Dealers” paragraph 23 by redesignating current paragraphs 23.E and F as paragraphs 23.F and G, respectively and adding a new paragraph 23.E; and

b. Revising the heading “Statement of Income (Loss)” and under that heading, revising the subheading “Net Income”, removing and reserving paragraphs 20, 20.a and 21, revising paragraph 22, redesignating current paragraph 23 as paragraph 25, adding new paragraph 23 and paragraphs 23.a and 24, and revising newly redesignated paragraph 25.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part IIA does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

117. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part IIA (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) General Instructions by:

a. Revising the heading “Statement of Income (Loss)” and removing from under that heading paragraphs 20 and 21; and

b. Revising under the heading “Statement of Changes in Ownership Equity (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership or Corporation)” the text related to the subheading “Net Income (Loss) For Period”.

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part IIA does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM X-17A-5 PART IIA

(FOCUS Report)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

STATEMENT OF INCOME (LOSS) or STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(as defined in § 210.1-02 of Regulation S-X), as applicable

If there are no items of other comprehensive income in the period presented, the broker or dealer is not required to report comprehensive income.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP EQUITY

(SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP OR CORPORATION)

Net Income (Loss) for Period

Report the amount of net income (loss) for the period reported on the Statement of Income (Loss) or Statement of Comprehensive Income, as applicable.

118. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part IIB (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) by:

a. Revising under the heading “Statement of Financial Condition for OTC Derivatives Dealers” paragraph 28 by redesignating current paragraphs 28.E and F as paragraphs 28.F and G, respectively and adding a new paragraph 28.E; and

b. Revising the heading “Statement of Income (Loss)” and under that heading, revising the subheading “Net Income”, removing and reserving paragraphs 29, 29.a and 30, revising paragraph 31, redesignating current paragraph 32 as paragraph 34. adding new paragraph 32 and paragraphs 32.a and 33, and revising newly redesignated paragraph 34.

The revisions and additions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part IIB does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

119. Amend the Form X-17A-5 Part III (FOCUS Report) (referenced in § 249.617) by revising under the heading “Oath or Affirmation” checkbox (c) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form X-17A-5 Part III does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

ANNUAL AUDITED REPORT

FORM X-17A-5

PART III

OATH OR AFFIRMATION

□ (c) Statement of Income (Loss) or, if there is other comprehensive income in the period(s) presented, a Statement of Comprehensive Income (as defined in § 210.1-02 of Regulation S-X).

PART 274—FORMS PRESCRIBED UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

120. The authority citation for part 274 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77s, 78c(b),78 l, 78m, 78n, 78 o (d), 80a-8, 80a-24, 80a-26, 80a-29, and Pub. L. 111-203, sec. 939A, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010), unless otherwise noted.

121. Amend Form N-5 (referenced in §§ 239.24 and 274.5) by revising Item 3(i) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-5 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-5

REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 *

PART I. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Item 3. Policies with Respect to Security Investments.

(i) Whether the registrant and its investment adviser and principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics under Rule l 7j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 [17 CFR 270.17j-1] and whether these codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the registrant. Also explain that these codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov,, and that copies of these codes of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following Email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

122. Amend Form N-1A (referenced in §§ 239.15A and 274.11A) by:

a. Revising Item 1.(b)(3);

b. Revising Instruction 3.(c)(ii) to Item 3 and Instruction 2.(a)(ii) to Item 27.(d)(1); and

c. Removing Item 27.(d)(3)(iii) and redesignating current Item 27.(d)(3)(iv) as Item 27.(d)(3)(iii).

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-1A does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-1A

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

PART A—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Front and Back Cover Pages

(b) * * *

(3) State that reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov,, and that copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following Email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Item 3. Risk/Return Summary: Fee Table

Instructions

3. * * *

(c) * * *

(ii) “Other Expenses” do not include extraordinary expenses.—“Extraordinary expenses” refers to expenses that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of occurrence. Unusual nature means the expense has a high degree of abnormality and is clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the fund, taking into account the environment in which the fund operates. Infrequency of occurrence means the expense is not reasonably expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the environment in which the fund operates. The environment of a fund includes such factors as the characteristics of the industry or industries in which it operates, the geographical location of its operations, and the nature and extent of governmental regulation. If extraordinary expenses were incurred that materially affected the Fund's “Other Expenses,” disclose in a footnote to the table what “Other Expenses” would have been had the extraordinary expenses been included.

Item 27. Financial Statements

(d) * * *

(1) * * *

Instructions

2. * * *

(a) * * *

(ii) For purposes of this Item 27(d)(1), “Other Expenses” include extraordinary expenses. “Extraordinary expenses” refers to expenses that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of occurrence. Unusual nature means the expense has a high degree of abnormality and is clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the fund, taking into account the environment in which the fund operates. Infrequency of occurrence means the expense is not reasonably expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the environment in which the fund operates. The environment of a fund includes such factors as the characteristics of the industry or industries in which it operates, the geographical location of its operations, and the nature and extent of governmental regulation. If extraordinary expenses were incurred that materially affected the Fund's “Other Expenses,” the Fund may disclose in a footnote to the Example what “actual expenses” would have been had the extraordinary expenses not been included.

(3). Statement Regarding Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule. A statement that: (i) The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q; (ii) the Fund's Forms N-Q are available on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov;; and (iii) if the Fund makes the information on Form N-Q available to shareholders on its website or upon request, a description of how the information may be obtained from the Fund.

123. Amend Form N-2 (referenced in §§ 239.14 and 274.11a-1) by revising Item 18.15 and revising Instruction 6.b to Item 24 to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-2 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-2

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

PART B—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Item 18. Management.

15. Codes of Ethics: Provide a brief statement disclosing whether the Registrant and its investment adviser and principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act [17 CFR 270.17j-1] and whether these codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Registrant. Also explain in the statement that these codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov,, and that copies of these codes of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Item 24. Financial Statements

Instructions

6. * * *

b. a statement that: (i) The Registrant files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q; (ii) the Registrant's Forms N-Q are available on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov;; and (iii) if the Registrant makes the information on Form N-Q available to shareholders on its website or upon request, a description of how the information may be obtained from the Registrant.

124. Amend Form N-3 (referenced in §§ 239.17a and 274.11b) by:

a. Revising Instruction 4.(c)(i) to Item 3.(a);

b. Revising Item 20.(m); and

c. Removing Instruction 6.(ii)(C) to Item 28.(a) and redesignating current Instruction 6.(ii)(D) to Item 28.(a) as Instruction 6.(ii)(C) to Item 28.(a).

The revisions read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-3 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-3

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

□ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

PART A—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS

Item 3. Synopsis or Highlights

Instructions

4. * * *

(c) * * *

(i) “Other Expenses” do not include extraordinary expenses. “Extraordinary expenses” refers to expenses that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of occurrence. Unusual nature means the expense has a high degree of abnormality and is clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the fund, taking into account the environment in which the fund operates. Infrequency of occurrence means the expense is not reasonably expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the environment in which the fund operates. The environment of a fund includes such factors as the characteristics of the industry or industries in which it operates, the geographical location of its operations, and the nature and extent of governmental regulation. If extraordinary expenses were incurred that materially affected the Registrant's “Other Expenses,” the Registrant should disclose in the narrative following the table what the “Other Expenses” would have been had extraordinary expenses been included.

Item 20. Management

(m) Provide a brief statement disclosing whether the Registrant and its investment adviser and principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act [17 CFR 270.17j-1] and whether these codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Registrant. Also explain in the statement that these codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov,, and that copies of these codes of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following Email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Item 28. Financial Statements

(a) * * *

Instructions

(6) * * *

(ii) a statement that: (A) the Registrant files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q; (B) the Registrant's Forms N-Q are available on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov;; and (C) if the Registrant makes the information on Form N-Q available to contractowners on its website or upon request, a description of how the information may be obtained from the Registrant;

125. Amend Form N-4 (referenced in §§ 239.17b and 274.11c) by revising Item 1.(a)(v) and revising Instruction 17.(b) to Item 3(a) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-4 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Cover Page

(a) * * *

(v) a statement or statements that: (A) The prospectus sets forth the information about the Registrant that a prospective investor ought to know before investing; (B) the prospectus should be kept for future reference; (C) additional information about the Registrant has been filed with the Commission and is available upon written or oral request without charge (This statement should explain how to obtain the Statement of Additional Information, whether any of it has been incorporated by reference into the prospectus, and where the table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information appears in the prospectus. If the Registrant intends to disseminate its prospectus electronically, also include the information that the Commission maintains a website ( http://www.sec.gov ) that contains the Statement of Additional Information, material incorporated by reference, and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission.);

Item 3. Synopsis

Instructions

17. * * *

(b) “Total Annual [Portfolio Company] Operating Expenses” do not include extraordinary expenses. “Extraordinary expenses” refers to expenses that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of occurrence. Unusual nature means the expense has a high degree of abnormality and is clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the fund, taking into account the environment in which the fund operates. Infrequency of occurrence means the expense is not reasonably expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the environment in which the fund operates. The environment of a fund includes such factors as the characteristics of the industry or industries in which it operates, the geographical location of its operations, and the nature and extent of governmental regulation. If extraordinary expenses were incurred by any portfolio company that would, if included, materially affect the minimum or maximum amounts shown in the table, disclose in a footnote to the table what the minimum and maximum “Total Annual [Portfolio Company] Operating Expenses” would have been had the extraordinary expenses been included.

126. Amend Form N-6 (referenced in §§ 239.17c and 274.11d) by revising Item 1.(b)(3) and Instruction 4.(c) to Item 3 to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-6 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-6

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 □

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 □

PART A: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Front and Back Cover Pages

(b) * * *

(3) State that reports and other information about the Registrant are available on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

Item 3. Risk/Benefit Summary: Fee Table

Instructions.

4. * * *

(c) “Total Annual [Portfolio Company] Operating Expenses” do not include extraordinary expenses. “Extraordinary expenses” refers to expenses that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of occurrence. Unusual nature means the expense has a high degree of abnormality and is clearly unrelated to, or only incidentally related to, the ordinary and typical activities of the fund, taking into account the environment in which the fund operates. Infrequency of occurrence means the expense is not reasonably expected to recur in the foreseeable future, taking into consideration the environment in which the fund operates. The environment of a fund includes such factors as the characteristics of the industry or industries in which it operates, the geographical location of its operations, and the nature and extent of governmental regulation. If extraordinary expenses were incurred by any Portfolio Company that would, if included, materially affect the minimum or maximum amounts shown in the table, disclose in a footnote to the table what the minimum and maximum “Total Annual [Portfolio Company] Operating Expenses” would have been had the extraordinary expenses been included.

127. Amend Form N-8B-2 (referenced in § 274.12) by revising Item 52.(e) to read as follows:

Note:

The text of Form N-8B-2 does not, and this amendment will not, appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

FORM N-8B-2

REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY ISSUING SECURITIES

VII

POLICY OF REGISTRANT

52. * * *

(e) Provide a brief statement disclosing whether the trust and its principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics under rule 17j-l of the Act [17 CFR 270.l7j-l] and whether these codes of ethics permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the trust. Also explain that these codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission's internet site at http://www.sec.gov,, and that copies of these codes of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following Email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.