SEC OK's rules, amendments.

• Position: Sarbanes-Oxley - Brief Article

The SEC recently adopted a number of rules and amendments concerning provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including rules requiring disclosures about corporate codes of conduct and audit committee expertise, as well as rules for "pro-forma" financial information.

The new rules will be effective 30 days from the date of their publication in the Federal Register. Companies will be required to provide the new disclosures in annual reports for fiscal years ending on or after July 15, 2003. Small-business issuers will be required to provide the new audit committee financial expert disclosure in annual reports for fiscal years ending on or after Dec. 15, 2003.

For more information, visit www.sec.gov/news/press/2003-6.htm.

Also, new rules adopted by the SEC related to Sarbanes-Oxley strengthen auditor independence.

Among other requirements, the measures will:

* Require partners on the audit team to rotate...