PCAOB Announces Panelists and Schedule of Appearances for March 21-22 Public Meeting on Auditor Independence and Audit Firm Rotation

The PCAOB today announced the panelists and schedule of appearances for its March 21-22 public meeting on ways to enhance auditor independence, objectivity, and professional skepticism, including through consideration of audit firm term limits.

The Board issued a concept release on Aug. 16, 2011 inviting public comments on these issues.

In light of the public meeting, the Board is reopening until April 22, 2012 the comment period on the concept release.

Last month, on Feb. 2, the Board announced that it would host this public meeting to obtain further input from interested parties. Panelists include investors and investor advocates, senior executives and audit committee chairs of major corporations, chief executive officers of audit firms, academicians and other interested parties.

The meeting will be held at 1201 15th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. It will be open to the public, and also available via webcast on the PCAOB website.

Comments on the concept release may be submitted by postal mail or electronic mail. Written comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, PCAOB, 1666 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-2803. Email may be sent to [email protected], or sent in from the PCAOB website.

All comments should refer to PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter No. 037 in the subject or reference line and should be received by the PCAOB no later than 5 p.m. (EDT) on April 22, 2012. All comments will be made public.

The panelists and schedule of appearances can be found at right under "Related Information."