The U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was enacted in 2002 in response to a number of well-publicized corporate scandals. The purpose of the Act is to protect the interests of investors by addressing several concerns including: the certification of financials, disclosure requirements, and auditing and corporate governance standards.

Currently, SOX applies to all issuers whose securities are listed in the U.S. or who are required to file annual or periodic reports with the SEC - including Canadian companies reporting under the Canada-U.S. Multi-jurisdictional Disclosure System.

This publication is geared specifically to those who advise Canadian companies that engage or plan to engage in capital market activity in the U.S. The text of the legislation, the SEC rules and form requirements are organized by subject matter, and each subsection of this book opens with commentary and analysis of selected sections of the Act, along with new or amended SEC rules, amended or new sections of the Exchange Act of 1934, certain SEC forms and relevant criminal code sections. It also addresses the regulation of the accounting profession as it intersects with the new rules for reporting companies