
When the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2002, its goal was to protect investors through increased disclosure and stiffened internal controls. The law was passed following accounting frauds at Enron, WorldCom and other U.S. companies.
But on April 4, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced it will revisit some of SOX's rules. The primary focus will be the heavy financial costs of Section 404, which requires auditors of most publicly listed companies to verify the effectiveness of the company's internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
"These needed improvements in the Sarbanes-Oxley process are especially urgent for smaller companies that will begin complying with Section 404 this year," said SEC chairman Christopher Cox in a statement earlier this month.
See full Article.
