TheCorporateCounsel.net

July 24, 2003

As my blogging software gave

As my blogging software gave me fits this week, I pondered “what if you blog and no one can hear you” – or as Don McLean put it “the day the blogging died.” Anyways, I am back in the saddle…

On July 28, 2003, EDGAR Release 8.6 will take effect. A list of the changes set forth in the Release is listed below. The two worth noting are:

1. Form 8-K will now permit the filing of Items 10, 11, 12 and 13. As you may recall, the SEC issued interpretive guidance indicating that issuers should file all earnings releases required to be filed under Item 12 under Item 9 until the EDGAR system was updated. Accordingly, all Item 12 filings (earnings releases and other releases of results of operations for completed fiscal periods) made on or after July 28, 2003 can be filed as Exhibit 12.

2. The EDGAR system will now recognize Exhibit 31 (302 certifications) and Exhibit 32 (906 certifications). Accordingly, for all 10-Ks and 10-Qs filed on or after July 28, 2003, the CEO/CFO certifications can be filed as Exhibits 31 and 32 (as opposed to filing to the 302 certifications after the “Signatures” section and filing the 906 certifications as Exhibit 99).

Note: Although the effective date will technically be the date of publication in the Federal Register, which should occur on or about July 28th (the final rules adopting Release 8.6 were just released yesterday), I think companies are safe implementing these changes on July 28th. Thanks to Amy Seidel of Faegre & Bensen!

For TheCorporateCounsel.net subscribers, we have posted an interview with Bob Schifellite of ADP on Proxy Season Results at http://www.thecorporatecounsel.net/member/InsideTrack/07_24_03_Shiffeletti.htm.