Sarbanes-Oxley: European Sarbanes-Oxley

Course Overview

The seminar has been designed to provide delegates with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and support compliance with the above important directives of the European Union's Financial Services Action Plan. Due to:

• After the passage of the US Sarbanes Oxley Act in 2002, US and non-US companies listed in a US stock exchange have the difficult task to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• After the passage of the European Union's 8th Company Law Directive on Statutory Audit (Directive 2006/43/EC), European and non-European companies listed in any country of the EU have to comply with the 8th company law directive. EU Member States must comply with this Directive before 29 June 2008.

Audience

The course is highly recommended to managers and professionals from:

• Internal Audit
• Internal Controls
• Compliance
• Operations
• Risk
• IT
• Legal

Skills Gained

The seminar has been designed to provide delegates with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and support compliance with the above important directives of the European Union's Financial Services Action Plan.

Prerequisites

None.

Course Outline

Introduction

• From the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 to the European Union's equivalent regulatory vehicles
• Restoring investor confidence in the EU
• The European Unions Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP)
• From the Eighth Directive of 1984 (Directive 84/253/EEC)to the 8th Company Law Directive on Statutory Audit (Directive 2006/43/EC)
• From the Consolidated Admissions and Reporting Directive (CARD) to the Transparency Directive (Directive 2004/109/EC)
• From the Insider Dealing Directive (Directive 1989/592/EEC) to the Market Abuse Directive (Directive 2003/6/EC)

The 8th Company Law Directive on Statutory Audit

• Approval, continuing education and mutual recognition of statutory auditors and audit firms
• Registration of statutory auditors and audit firms
• Professional ethics, independence and objectivity
• Auditing standards
• Audit reporting
• Auditors' liability
• Similarities and differences with the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act

The 8th Company Law Directive and Corporate Governance

• The impact of MiFID on corporate governance
• The role of the board of directors and executive management
• Internal controls and external auditors

The 8th Company Law Directive: Committees and Interpretations

• From the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to the European Group of Auditors' Oversight Bodies (EGAOB)
• The three new bodies established in the EU
• The Audit Regulatory Committee (AuRC)
• The European Group of Auditors' Oversight Bodies (EGAOB)
• The European Forum on Auditors' Liability

The 8th Company Law Directive and the World

• The 8th Company Law Directive and the European Union (EU)
• Requirements applicable to the auditors of companies incorporated outside of the European Union (EU)

The Transparency Directive

• The harmonisation of transparency requirements
• Annual financial reports
• Half-Yearly financial reports
• Transparency and information for holders of securities

The Market Abuse Directive

• Insider dealing
• Market manipulation
• Competent authorities with "investigatory powers"
• How the directive is implemented under the Lamfalussy process

Interaction between these directives and other regulatory initiatives

• The three directive and the Financial Services Action Plan
• How to comply with both the 8th Company Law Directive and the Sarbanes Oxley Act
• The 8th Company Law Directive and the Financial Conglomerates Directive
• The 8th Company Law Directive and the Savings Tax Directive
• Compliance in the post-Parmalat EU and the post-Enron USA

Sarbanes-Oxley: European Sarbanes-Oxley / E_SOX/101