Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 80447-80448 [E8-31092]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 251 / Wednesday, December 31, 2008 / Notices 85P include revisions to questions 9, 10, 15, 17b, 18, 20c, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and the addition of questions 19, 20a, 20b, 21, 27, 28, and 29. Changes to the SF 86 include revisions to questions 19, 20a, 20b, 20c, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 29. Due to the extensive nature of the comments, they have been consolidated in a matrix and are available upon request. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary-Kay Brewer on 703–305–1002, Fax 703–603–0576, or e-mail at marykay.brewer@opm.gov. Please be sure to include a mailing address with your request. DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received within 30 calendar days from the date of this publication. ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to: Kathy Dillaman, Associate Director, Federal Investigative Services Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 5416, Washington, DC 20415, SFRevisionComments@opm.gov; and John W. Barkhamer, Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION CONTACT: Mary-Kay Brewer, Program Analyst, Operational Policy Group, Federal Investigative Services Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 703– 305–1002. Michael W. Hager, Acting Director. [FR Doc. E8–31144 Filed 12–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6325–53–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Extension: Rule 3a–8; SEC File No. 270–516; OMB Control No. 3235–0574. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:41 Dec 30, 2008 Jkt 217001 Rule 3a–8 (17 CFR 270.3a–8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) (the ‘‘Act’’), serves as a nonexclusive safe harbor from investment company status for certain research and development companies (‘‘R&D companies’’). The rule requires that the board of directors of an R&D company seeking to rely on the safe harbor adopt an appropriate resolution evidencing that the company is primarily engaged in a non-investment business and record that resolution contemporaneously in its minute books or comparable documents.1 An R&D company seeking to rely on the safe harbor must retain these records only as long as such records must be maintained in accordance with state law. Rule 3a–8 contains an additional requirement that is also a collection of information within the meaning of the PRA. The board of directors of a company that relies on the safe harbor under rule 3a–8 must adopt a written policy with respect to the company’s capital preservation investments. We expect that the board of directors will base its decision to adopt the resolution discussed above, in part, on investment guidelines that the company will follow to ensure its investment portfolio is in compliance with the rule’s requirements. The collection of information imposed by rule 3a–8 is voluntary because the rule is an exemptive safe harbor, and therefore, R&D companies may choose whether or not to rely on it. The purposes of the information collection requirements in rule 3a–8 are to ensure that: (i) the board of directors of an R&D company is involved in determining whether the company should be considered an investment company and subject to regulation under the Act, and (ii) adequate records are available for Commission review, if necessary. Rule 3a–8 would not require the reporting of any information or the filing of any documents with the Commission. Commission staff estimates that there is no annual recordkeeping burden associated with the rule’s requirements. Nevertheless, the Commission requests authorization to maintain an inventory of one burden hour for administrative purposes. Commission staff estimates that approximately 500 R&D companies may rely on rule 3a–8. Given that the board resolutions and investment guidelines will generally need to be adopted only once (unless relevant circumstances 1 Rule PO 00000 3a–8(a)(6) (17 CFR 270.3a–8(6)). Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 80447 change),2 the Commission believes that all the companies that rely on rule 3a– 8 adopted their board resolutions and established written investment guidelines in 2003 when the rule was adopted. We expect that newly formed R&D companies would adopt the board resolution and investment guidelines simultaneously with their formation documents in the ordinary course of business.3 Therefore, we estimate that rule 3a–8 will not create additional time burdens. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Please direct general comments regarding the above information to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or send an email to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov ; and (ii) Charles Boucher Director/CIO, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312; or send an e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: December 22, 2008. Florence E. Harmon, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–31085 Filed 12–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. Extension: Rule 12d2–1; OMB Control No. 3235–0081; SEC File No. 270–98. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 2 In the event of changed circumstances, the Commission believes that the board resolution and investment guidelines will be amended and recorded in the ordinary course of business and would not create additional time burdens. 3 In order for these companies to raise sufficient capital to fund their product development stage, we believe they will need to present potential investors with investment guidelines. Investors would want to be assured that the company’s funds are invested consistent with the goals of capital preservation and liquidity. E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM 31DEN1 80448 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 251 / Wednesday, December 31, 2008 / Notices pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collections of information for the following rule: Rule 12d2–1 (17 CFR 240.12d2–1). On February 12, 1935, the Commission adopted Rule 12d2–1,1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (‘‘Act’’), which sets forth the conditions and procedures under which a security may be suspended from trading under Section 12(d) of the Act.2 Rule 12d2–1 provides the procedures by which a national securities exchange may suspend from trading a security that is listed and registered on the exchange. Under Rule 12d2–1, an exchange is permitted to suspend from trading a listed security in accordance with its rules, and must promptly notify the Commission of any such suspension, along with the effective date and the reasons for the suspension. Any such suspension may be continued until such time as the Commission may determine that the suspension is designed to evade the provisions of Section 12(d) of the Act and Rule 12d2–2 thereunder.3 During the continuance of such suspension under Rule 12d2–1, the exchange is required to notify the Commission promptly of any change in the reasons for the suspension. Upon the restoration to trading of any security suspended under Rule 12d2–1, the exchange must notify the Commission promptly of the effective date of such restoration. The trading suspension notices serve a number of purposes. First, they inform the Commission that an exchange has suspended from trading a listed security or reintroduced trading in a previously suspended security. They also provide the Commission with information necessary for it to determine that the suspension has been accomplished in accordance with the rules of the exchange, and to verify that the exchange has not evaded the requirements of Section 12(d) of the Act and Rule 12d2–2 thereunder by improperly employing a trading suspension. Without Rule 12d2–1, the Commission would be unable to fully 1 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 98 (February 12, 1935). 2 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 7011 (February 5, 1963), 28 FR 1506 (February 16, 1963). 3 Rule 12d2–2 prescribes the circumstances under which a security may be delisted from an exchange and withdrawn from registration under Section 12(b) of the Act, and provides the procedures for taking such action. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:41 Dec 30, 2008 Jkt 217001 implement these statutory responsibilities. There are ten national securities exchanges that are subject to Rule 12d2– 1. The burden of complying with Rule 12d2–1 is not evenly distributed among the exchanges, however, since there are many more securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, and the American Stock Exchange LLC than on the other exchanges.4 However, for purposes of this filing, the Commission staff has assumed that the number of responses is evenly divided among the exchanges. There are approximately 1,500 responses under Rule 12d2–1 for the purpose of suspension of trading from the national securities exchanges each year, the resultant aggregate annual reporting hour burden would be, assuming on average one-half reporting hour per response, 750 annual burden hours for all exchanges. The related costs associated with these burden hours are $41,625.00. The collection of information obligations imposed by Rule 12d2–1 are mandatory. The response will be available to the public and will not be kept confidential. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Comments should be directed to (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or by sending an e-mail to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov); and (ii) Charles Boucher Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-mail to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted within 30 days of this notice. Dated: December 22, 2008. Florence E. Harmon, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–31092 Filed 12–30–08; 8:45 am] SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. Extension: Rule 17a–7; SEC File No. 270– 238; OMB Control No. 3235–0214. Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information described below. Rule 17a–7 (17 CFR 270.17a–7) (the ‘‘rule’’) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 et seq. ) (the ‘‘Act’’) is entitled ‘‘Exemption of certain purchase or sale transactions between an investment company and certain affiliated persons thereof.’’ It provides an exemption from section 17(a) of the Act for purchases and sales of securities between registered investment companies (‘‘funds’’), that are affiliated persons (‘‘first-tier affiliates’’) or affiliated persons of affiliated persons (‘‘second-tier affiliates’’), or between a fund and a first-or second-tier affiliate other than another fund, when the affiliation arises solely because of a common investment adviser, director, or officer. Rule 17a–7 requires funds to keep various records in connection with purchase or sale transactions effected in reliance on the rule. The rule requires the fund’s board of directors to establish procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the rule’s conditions have been satisfied. The board is also required to determine, at least on a quarterly basis, that all affiliated transactions effected during the preceding quarter in reliance on the rule were made in compliance with these established procedures. If a fund enters into a purchase or sale transaction with an affiliated person, the rule requires the fund to compile and maintain written records of the transaction.1 The Commission’s examination staff uses these records to evaluate for compliance with the rule. BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 4 In fact, some exchanges do not file any trading suspension reports in a given year. PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1 The written records are required to set forth a description of the security purchased or sold, the identity of the person on the other side of the transaction, and the information or materials upon which the board of directors’ determination that the transaction was in compliance with the procedures was made. E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM 31DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 251 (Wednesday, December 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80447-80448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31092]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon written request, copies available from: U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, 
Washington, DC 20549-0213.

Extension: Rule 12d2-1; OMB Control No. 3235-0081; SEC File No. 270-
98.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995

[[Page 80448]]

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a 
request for extension of the previously approved collections of 
information for the following rule: Rule 12d2-1 (17 CFR 240.12d2-1).
    On February 12, 1935, the Commission adopted Rule 12d2-1,\1\ under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (``Act''), 
which sets forth the conditions and procedures under which a security 
may be suspended from trading under Section 12(d) of the Act.\2\ Rule 
12d2-1 provides the procedures by which a national securities exchange 
may suspend from trading a security that is listed and registered on 
the exchange. Under Rule 12d2-1, an exchange is permitted to suspend 
from trading a listed security in accordance with its rules, and must 
promptly notify the Commission of any such suspension, along with the 
effective date and the reasons for the suspension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 98 (February 12, 
1935).
    \2\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 7011 (February 5, 
1963), 28 FR 1506 (February 16, 1963).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any such suspension may be continued until such time as the 
Commission may determine that the suspension is designed to evade the 
provisions of Section 12(d) of the Act and Rule 12d2-2 thereunder.\3\ 
During the continuance of such suspension under Rule 12d2-1, the 
exchange is required to notify the Commission promptly of any change in 
the reasons for the suspension. Upon the restoration to trading of any 
security suspended under Rule 12d2-1, the exchange must notify the 
Commission promptly of the effective date of such restoration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Rule 12d2-2 prescribes the circumstances under which a 
security may be delisted from an exchange and withdrawn from 
registration under Section 12(b) of the Act, and provides the 
procedures for taking such action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The trading suspension notices serve a number of purposes. First, 
they inform the Commission that an exchange has suspended from trading 
a listed security or reintroduced trading in a previously suspended 
security. They also provide the Commission with information necessary 
for it to determine that the suspension has been accomplished in 
accordance with the rules of the exchange, and to verify that the 
exchange has not evaded the requirements of Section 12(d) of the Act 
and Rule 12d2-2 thereunder by improperly employing a trading 
suspension. Without Rule 12d2-1, the Commission would be unable to 
fully implement these statutory responsibilities.
    There are ten national securities exchanges that are subject to 
Rule 12d2-1. The burden of complying with Rule 12d2-1 is not evenly 
distributed among the exchanges, however, since there are many more 
securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NASDAQ 
Stock Exchange, and the American Stock Exchange LLC than on the other 
exchanges.\4\ However, for purposes of this filing, the Commission 
staff has assumed that the number of responses is evenly divided among 
the exchanges. There are approximately 1,500 responses under Rule 12d2-
1 for the purpose of suspension of trading from the national securities 
exchanges each year, the resultant aggregate annual reporting hour 
burden would be, assuming on average one-half reporting hour per 
response, 750 annual burden hours for all exchanges. The related costs 
associated with these burden hours are $41,625.00.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ In fact, some exchanges do not file any trading suspension 
reports in a given year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The collection of information obligations imposed by Rule 12d2-1 
are mandatory. The response will be available to the public and will 
not be kept confidential.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid control number.
    Comments should be directed to (i) Desk Officer for the Securities 
and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503 or by sending an e-mail to: Shagufta_
Ahmed@omb.eop.gov); and (ii) Charles Boucher Director/Chief Information 
Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley Martinson, 
6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-mail to: 
PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov. Comments must be submitted within 30 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: December 22, 2008.
Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-31092 Filed 12-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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