17 CFR 230.175 : Liability for certain statements by issuers.

1 Apr 2011
§ 230.175 Liability for certain statements by issuers.

(a) A statement within the coverage of paragraph (b) of this section which is made by or on behalf of an or by an outside reviewer retained by the shall be deemed not to be a fraudulent statement (as defined in paragraph (d) of this section), unless it is shown that such statement was made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or was disclosed other than in good faith.

(b) This rule applies to the following statements:

(1) A forward-looking statement (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) made in a document filed with the , in Part I of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q, (§ 249.308a of this chapter), or in an annual report to holders meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3(b) and (c) or 14c-3(a) and (b) under the Securities of 1934 (§§ 240.14a-3(b) and (c) or 240.14c-3(a) and (b) of this chapter), a statement reaffirming such forward-looking statement after the date the document was filed or the annual report was made publicly available, or a forward-looking statement made before the date the document was filed or the date the annual report was publicly available if such statement is reaffirmed in a filed document, in Part I of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or in an annual report made publicly available within a reasonable time after the making of such forward-looking statement; Provided, that

(i) At the time such statements are made or reaffirmed, either the is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities of 1934 and has complied with the requirements of Rule 13a-1 or 15d-1 ( §§ 239.13a-1 or 239.15d-1 of this chapter) thereunder, if applicable, to file its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, or Form 40-F; or if the is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities of 1934, the statements are made in a registration statement filed under the , or of interest, written document or broadcast script under Regulation A or pursuant to sections 12(b) or (g) of the Securities of 1934; and

(ii) The statements are not made by or on behalf of an that is an investment company registered under the of 1940; and

(2) Information that is disclosed in a document filed with the , in Part I of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q ( § 249.308a of this chapter) or in an annual report to shareholders meeting the requirements of Rules 14a-3 (b) and (c) or 14c-3 (a) and (b) under the Securities of 1934 ( §§ 240.14a-3(b) and (c) or 240.14c-3(a) and (b) of this chapter) and that relates to:

(i) The effects of changing prices on the business enterprise, presented voluntarily or pursuant to Item 303 of Regulation S-K ( § 229.303 of this chapter), “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” Item 5 of Form 20-F ( § 249.220(f) of this chapter), “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” Item 302 of Regulation S-K ( § 229.302 of this chapter), “Supplementary Financial Information,” or Rule 3-20(c) of Regulation S-X (§ 210.3-20(c) of this chapter); or

(ii) The value of proved oil and gas reserves (such as a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves as set forth in FASB ASC paragraphs 932-235-50-29 through 932-235-50-36 (Extractive Activities - Oil and Gas Topic) presented voluntarily or pursuant to Item 302 of Regulation S-K ( § 229.302 of this chapter).

(c) For the purpose of this rule, the term forward-looking statement shall mean and shall be limited to:

(1) A statement containing a projection of revenues, income (loss), earnings (loss) per , capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items;

(2) A statement of management's and objectives for future operations;

(3) A statement of future economic performance contained in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included pursuant to Item 303 of Regulation S-K ( § 229.303 of this chapter) or Item 9 of Form 20-F; or Item 5 of Form 20-F.

(4) Disclosed statements of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the statements described in paragraphs (c) (1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(d) For the purpose of this rule the term fraudulent statement shall mean a statement which is an untrue statement of a fact, a statement false or misleading with respect to any fact, an omission to a fact necessary to make a statement not misleading, or which constitutes the employment of a manipulative, deceptive, or fraudulent device, contrivance, scheme, transaction, , practice, course of business, or an artifice to defraud, as those terms are used in the of 1933 or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

[ 46 FR 13990, Feb. 25, 1981, as amended at 46 FR 19457, Mar. 31, 1981; 47 FR 54770, Dec. 6, 1982; 48 FR 19875, May 3, 1983; 56 FR 30054, July 1, 1991; 57 FR 36468, Aug. 13, 1992; 64 FR 53909, Oct. 5, 1999; 73 FR 967, Jan. 4, 2008; 76 FR 50121, Aug. 12, 2011]