Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/773

 PUBLIC LAW 107-204-^ULY 30, 2002 116 STAT. 747 having jurisdiction over a registered public accounting firm or associated person thereof, with respect to the matter in question. (2) AUDIT. —The term "audit" means an examination of the financial statements of any issuer by an independent public accounting firm in accordance with the rules of the Board or the Commission (or, for the period preceding the adoption of applicable rules of the Board under section 103, in accordance with then-applicable generally accepted auditing and related standards for such purposes), for the purpose of expressing an opinion on such statements. (3) AUDIT COMMITTEE.—The term "audit committee" means— (A) a committee (or equivalent body) established by and amongst the board of directors of an issuer for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the issuer and audits of the financial statements of the issuer; and (B) if no such committee exists with respect to an issuer, the entire board of directors of the issuer. (4) AUDIT REPORT. —The term "audit report" means a document or other record— (A) prepared following an audit performed for purposes of compliance by an issuer with the requirements of the securities laws; and (B) in which a public accounting firm either— (i) sets forth the opinion of that firm regarding a financial statement, report, or other document; or (ii) asserts that no such opinion can be expressed. (5) BOARD.— The term "Board" means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board established under section 101. (6) COMMISSION.—The term "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. (7) ISSUER. —The term "issuer" means an issuer (as defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c)), the securities of which are registered under section 12 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 781), or that is required to file reports under section 15(d) (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)), or that files or has filed a registration statement that has not yet become effective under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.), and that it has not withdrawn. (8) NON-AUDIT SERVICES. — The term "non-audit services" means any professional services provided to an issuer by a registered public accounting firm, other than those provided to an issuer in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of an issuer. (9) PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.— (A) IN GENERAL.— The terms "person associated with a public accounting firm" (or with a "registered public accounting firm") and "associated person of a public accounting firm" (or of a "registered public accounting firm") mean any individual proprietor, partner, shareholder, principal, accountant, or other professional employee of a public accounting firm, or any other independent contractor or entity that, in connection with the preparation or issuance of any audit report—

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