Filing Background FAQ

WHAT IS EDGAR?

EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies listed on U.S.stock exchanges and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its primary purpose is to increase the efficiency and fairness of the securities market for the benefit of investors, corporations, and the economy by accelerating the receipt, acceptance, dissemination, and analysis of time-sensitive corporate information filed with the agency.

As of May 1996, all publicly traded companies have been required to file electronically with the SEC.

WHO MANAGES EDGAR?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Office of Information Technology operates the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system, which electronically receives, processes, and disseminates more than 500,000 financial statements every year. The Office also maintains a website that contains information about the Commission and the securities industry, and also hosts the EDGAR database for free public access.

WHAT RULES & REGULATIONS RELATED TO EDGAR?

Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD)

On August 15, 2000, the SEC adopted Regulation FD to address the selective disclosure of information by publicly traded companies and other issuers. Regulation FD provides that when an issuer discloses material nonpublic information to certain individuals or entities generally, securities market professionals, such as stock analysts, or holders of the issuer's securities who may well trade on the basis of the information the issuer must make public disclosure of that information. In this way, the new rule aims to promote full and fair disclosure.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

On July 30, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which he characterized as "the most far reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. " The Act mandated a number of reforms to enhance corporate responsibility, promote full financial disclosure and combat corporate and accounting fraud. It also created the "Public Company Accounting Oversight Board," also known as the PCAOB, to oversee the activities of the auditing profession. The full text of the Act is available by clicking here.

In compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, companies with corporate web sites are required to complete Forms 3, 4 and 5 via EDGAR, and post these forms on their sites or provide hyperlinks to this documentation via a third-party service.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE FILED ON EDGAR?

The SEC's Form Types Used for Electronic Filing on EDGARis an Appendix that provides tables listing and describing all submission types accepted by EDGAR. Examples include 10-K (extensive annual report), 10-Q (quarterly report), 8-K, proxy statements and other reports.

WHAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE EDGAR WEB SITE?

Web users can search EDGAR for real-time filings and other company information.

Company Specific information: Users can choose to retrieve real-time filings for a specific company and to find key company information including its name, address, telephone number, state of incorporation, Central Index Key (CIK) number, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, and fiscal year end.

Latest Filings information: The most recent filings our EDGAR system has received - from all SEC filers, including individuals and companies, paper filers and electronic filers. The list on this page features the most recent real-time filings from a broad range of companies and individuals for the current official filing date (including filings made after the 5:30 pm deadline on the previous filing day).

Historical EDGAR Archives, and Special-Purpose Searches are also possible.

Ready to file? Contact us. CCNMatthews is an authorized SEDAR and EDGAR Filing Agent.
T 1.888.299.0338 (English) / 1.888.883.1913 (French) email EDGAR / email SEDAR

When you're focused on EDGAR filing, you need news distribution experts who focus on delivery.