Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 5386-5387 [E6-1317]

Download as PDF 5386 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2006 / Notices cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES 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. There are approximately 33,000 R&D companies in the Unites States.2 Rule 3a–8 impacts non-manufacturing R&D companies that would fall within the definition of investment company pursuant to section 3(a)(1)(C) of the Act [15 U.S.C. 80a–3(a)(1)(C)].3 Of the 1 Rule 3a–8(a)(6). This requirement is modeled on the requirement in rule 3a–2 under the Act that provides a temporary exemption from the Act for transient investment companies. 17 CFR 270.3a–2. 2 See National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2004 (‘‘NSB Indicators’’) (available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind04/). 3 The Act provides certain exclusions from the definition of investment company for a company VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:49 Jan 31, 2006 Jkt 208001 16,170 non-manufacturing R&D Companies, the Commission believes that companies in scientific R&D services are more likely to use the exemption provided by rule 3a–8.4 This field comprises companies that specialize in conducting R&D for other organizations, such as many biotechnology companies.5 It accounts for 18%, or approximately 2910 companies.6 Given that the board resolutions and investment guidelines will generally need to be adopted only once (unless relevant circumstances change),7 the Commission believes that all the companies that seek to rely on rule 3a–8 would have 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.8 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. General comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer that is primarily engaged in a non-investment business. 15 U.S.C. 80a–3(b)(1). For purposes of this PRA analysis, we assume that all manufacturing R&D companies are primarily engaged in the manufacturing industry and, therefore, may rely on the exclusion for companies primarily engaged in a non-investment business. For example, the top two manufacturing R&D companies in terms of dollars spent are Ford Motor Company and General Motors, which are primarily engaged in motor vehicle manufacturing. See NSB Indicators, supra note 2. 4 We believe that R&D Companies in this field are most likely to rely on the rule because they often raise and invest large amounts of capital to fund their research and product development and may make strategic investments in other R&D companies to develop products jointly. These activities may cause the R&D companies to fall within the definition of investment company and fail to qualify for statutory exclusions under the Act when using the Commission’s traditional analysis. See Certain Research and Development Companies, Release No. 26077 (Jun. 16, 2003) [68 FR 37045 (Jun. 20, 2003)], at n. 12 and accompanying text (‘‘Rule 3a–8 Release’’). 5 See NSB Indicators, supra note 2. 6 Id. 7 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. 8 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. PO 00000 Frm 00155 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 e-mail to: David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: January 25, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–1314 Filed 1–31–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. 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 (‘‘OMB’’) a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information described below. Rule 17a–7 [17 CFR 270.17a–7] under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (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. E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 1, 2006 / Notices 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. The Commission estimates that approximately 968 funds enter into transactions effected in reliance on rule 17a–7 each year and, therefore, are subject to the rule’s information collection requirements.2 The average annual burden for rule 17a–7 is estimated to be approximately two burden hours per respondent, for an annual total of 1935 burden hours for all respondents.3 The estimates of burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and are not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. Rule 17a–7 requires investment companies to maintain and preserve permanently a written copy of the procedures governing rule 17a–7 transactions. In addition, investment companies are required to maintain written records of each rule 17a–7 transaction for a period of not less than six years from the end of the fiscal year in which the transaction occurred. The collection of information required by rule 17a–7 is necessary to obtain the benefits of the rule. Responses 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. cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES 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. 2 These estimates are based on conversations with the examination and inspections staff of the Commission and fund representatives. Based on these conversations, the Commission staff estimates that most investment companies (3870 of the estimated 4300 registered investment companies) have adopted procedures for compliance with rule 17a–7. Of these 3870 investment companies, the Commission staff estimates that each year approximately 25% (968) enter into transactions affected by rule 17a–7. 3 This estimate is based in turn on the staff’s estimate that the approximately 968 funds that rely on rule 17a–7 annually engage in an average of 8 rule 17a–7 transactions and spend approximately 15 minutes per transaction on recordkeeping required by the rule. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:49 Jan 31, 2006 Jkt 208001 General comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (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 e-mail to: David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: January 24, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–1317 Filed 1–31–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Proposed Collection; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extension: Rule 17Ac2–1; SEC File No. 270– 95; OMB Control No. 3235–0084. 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’’) is publishing the following summary of collection for public comment. The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval. Rule 17Ac2–1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) is used by transfer agents to register with the Commission, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and to amend their registration. It is estimated that on an annual basis, the Commission will receive approximately 100 applications for registration on Form TA–1 from transfer agents required to register as such with the Commission. Included in this figure are amendments made to Form TA–1 as required by Rule 17Ac2–1(c). Based upon past submissions, the staff estimates that the average number of hours necessary to comply with the requirements of Rule 17Ac2–1 is one PO 00000 Frm 00156 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5387 and one-half hours, with a total burden of 150 hours. Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication. Direct your written comments to R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Dated: January 25, 2006. Nancy M. Morris, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–1320 Filed 1–31–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549. Extension: Rule 498; File No. 270-435; OMB Control No. 3235-0488. Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘Act’’) [44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.], the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget requests for extension of the previously approved collections of information discussed below. Rule 498 Under the Securities Act of 1933, Profiles for Certain Open-end Management Investment Companies Rule 498 of the Securities Act of 1933 [17 CFR 230.498] permits open-end management investment companies (or a series of an investment company organized as a series company, which offers one or more series of shares representing interests in separate investment portfolios) (‘‘funds’’) to E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5386-5387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1317]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 
20549.

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 (``OMB'') a request for extension of the previously approved 
collection of information described below.
    Rule 17a-7 [17 CFR 270.17a-7] under the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (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.

[[Page 5387]]

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission estimates that approximately 968 funds enter into 
transactions effected in reliance on rule 17a-7 each year and, 
therefore, are subject to the rule's information collection 
requirements.\2\ The average annual burden for rule 17a-7 is estimated 
to be approximately two burden hours per respondent, for an annual 
total of 1935 burden hours for all respondents.\3\ The estimates of 
burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, and are not derived from a comprehensive or even a 
representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ These estimates are based on conversations with the 
examination and inspections staff of the Commission and fund 
representatives. Based on these conversations, the Commission staff 
estimates that most investment companies (3870 of the estimated 4300 
registered investment companies) have adopted procedures for 
compliance with rule 17a-7. Of these 3870 investment companies, the 
Commission staff estimates that each year approximately 25% (968) 
enter into transactions affected by rule 17a-7.
    \3\ This estimate is based in turn on the staff's estimate that 
the approximately 968 funds that rely on rule 17a-7 annually engage 
in an average of 8 rule 17a-7 transactions and spend approximately 
15 minutes per transaction on recordkeeping required by the rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rule 17a-7 requires investment companies to maintain and preserve 
permanently a written copy of the procedures governing rule 17a-7 
transactions. In addition, investment companies are required to 
maintain written records of each rule 17a-7 transaction for a period of 
not less than six years from the end of the fiscal year in which the 
transaction occurred. The collection of information required by rule 
17a-7 is necessary to obtain the benefits of the rule. Responses 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.
    General comments regarding the above information should be directed 
to the following persons: (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 e-mail to: David--
Rostker@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief 
Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Comments 
must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

    Dated: January 24, 2006.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-1317 Filed 1-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.