(12)The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America has competence in investigating auditors and audit firms; this Decision should only cover the competences of the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America to investigate auditors and audit firms. The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America implements adequate safeguards prohibiting and sanctioning disclosure by its current and former employees of confidential information to any third person or authority. Under the laws and regulations of the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission may transfer to the competent authorities of the Member States documents equivalent to those referred to in Article 47(1) of Directive 2006/43/EC which relate to investigations it may perform on such auditors and audit firms. On that basis, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America meets requirements which should be declared adequate for the purposes of Article 47(1)(c) of Directive 2006/43/EC.