Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 15010-15011 [2011-6318]

Download as PDF Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 15010 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Notices Rule 17a–4 requires approximately 5,057 active, registered exchange members, brokers and dealers (‘‘brokerdealers’’) to preserve for prescribed periods of time certain records required to be made by Rule 17a–3 and other Commission rules, and other kinds of records which firms make or receive in the ordinary course of business. Rule 17a–4 also permits broker-dealers to employ, under certain conditions, electronic storage media to maintain these required records. The records required to be maintained under Rule 17a–4 are used by examiners and other representatives of the Commission to determine whether broker-dealers are in compliance with, and to enforce their compliance with, the Commission’s rules. The staff estimates that the average number of hours necessary for each broker-dealer to comply with Rule 17a– 4 is 254 hours annually. Thus, the total burden for broker-dealers is 1,284,478 hours annually. The staff believes that compliance personnel would be charged with ensuring compliance with Commission regulation, including Rule 17a–4. The staff estimates that the hourly salary of a Compliance Clerk is $67 per hour.1 Based upon these numbers, the total cost of compliance for 5,057 respondents is the dollar cost of approximately $86.1 million (1,284,478 yearly hours × $67). The total burden hour decrease of 468,122 results from the decrease in the number of respondents from 6,900 to 5,057. Based on conversations with members of the securities industry and based on the Commission’s experience in the area, the staff estimates that the average broker-dealer spends approximately $5,000 each year to store documents required to be retained under Rule 17a– 4. Costs include the cost of physical space, computer hardware and software, etc., which vary widely depending on the size of the broker-dealer and the type of storage media employed. The Commission estimates that the annual reporting and record-keeping cost burden is $25,285,000. This cost is calculated by the number of active, registered broker-dealers multiplied by the reporting and record-keeping cost for each respondent (5,057 active, registered broker-dealers × $5,000). The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. Comments 1 This figure is based on SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2010, modified by Commission staff to account for an 1,800-hour work-year multiplied by 2.93 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and overhead. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:30 Mar 17, 2011 Jkt 223001 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) Thomas Bayer, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 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: March 14, 2011. Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–6317 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–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. Extension: Rule 206(4)–6; SEC File No. 270–513; OMB Control No. 3235–0571. 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 (‘‘OMB’’) a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. The title for the collection of information is ‘‘Rule 206(4)–6’’ under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–1 et seq.) (‘‘Advisers Act’’) and the collection has been approved under OMB Control No. 3235–0571. The Commission adopted rule 206(4)–6 (17 CFR 275.206(4)–6), the proxy voting rule, to address an investment adviser’s fiduciary obligation to clients who have given the adviser authority to vote their securities. Under the rule, an investment adviser that exercises voting authority over client securities is required to: (i) Adopt and implement policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes securities in the best interest of clients, including procedures to address any material conflict that may arise between the interest of the PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 adviser and the client; (ii) disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser has voted with respect to their securities; and (iii) describe to clients the adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures and, on request, furnish a copy of the policies and procedures to the requesting client. The rule is designed to assure that advisers that vote proxies for their clients vote those proxies in their clients’ best interest and provide clients with information about how their proxies were voted. Rule 206(4)–6 contains ‘‘collection of information’’ requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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. The collection is mandatory and responses to the disclosure requirement are not kept confidential. The respondents are investment advisers registered with the Commission that vote proxies with respect to clients’ securities. Advisory clients of these investment advisers use the information required by the rule to assess investment advisers’ proxy voting policies and procedures and to monitor the advisers’ performance of their proxy voting activities. The information required by Rule 206(4)–6 also is used by the Commission staff in its examination and oversight program. Without the information collected under the rule, advisory clients would not have information they need to assess the adviser’s services and monitor the adviser’s handling of their accounts, and the Commission would be less efficient and effective in its programs. The estimated number of investment advisers subject to the collection of information requirements under the rule is 10,207. It is estimated that each of these advisers is required to spend on average 10 hours annually documenting its proxy voting procedures under the requirements of the rule, for a total burden of 102,070 hours. We further estimate that on average, approximately 121 clients of each adviser would request copies of the underlying policies and procedures. We estimate that it would take these advisers 0.1 hours per client to deliver copies of the policies and procedures, for a total burden of 123,505 hours. Accordingly, we estimate that rule 206(4)–6 results in an annual aggregate burden of collection for SEC-registered investment advisers of a total of 225,575 hours. Records related to an adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures and proxy voting history are separately E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Notices required under the Advisers Act recordkeeping rule 204–2 (17 CFR 275.204–2). The standard retention period required for books and records under rule 204–2 is five years, in an easily accessible place, the first two years in an appropriate office of the investment adviser. OMB has previously approved the collection with this retention period. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. 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, D.C. 20503, or by sending an e-mail to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 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: March 14, 2011. Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–6318 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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 18f–1 and Form N–18f–1; SEC File No. 270–187; OMB Control No. 3235–0211. Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 350l–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 discussed below. Rule 18f–1 (17 CFR 270.18f–1) enables a registered open-end management investment company (‘‘fund’’) that may redeem its securities in-kind, by making a one-time election, to commit to make cash redemptions VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:30 Mar 17, 2011 Jkt 223001 pursuant to certain requirements without violating section 18(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–18(f)). A fund relying on the rule must file Form N–18F–1 (17 CFR 274.51) to notify the Commission of this election. The Commission staff estimates that approximately 52 funds file Form N–18F–1 annually, and that each response takes approximately one hour. Based on these estimates, the total annual burden hours associated with the rule is estimated to be 52 hours. The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules. The collection of information required by rule 18f–1 is necessary to obtain the benefits of the rule. Responses to the collection of information 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. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. 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) Thomas Bayer, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 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: March 14, 2011. Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–6319 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–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. Extension: PO 00000 Frm 00118 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15011 Rule 482, SEC File No. 270–508, OMB Control No. 3235–0565. 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 (‘‘OMB’’) a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. Like most issuers of securities, when an investment company 1 (‘‘fund’’) offers its shares to the public, its promotional efforts become subject to the advertising restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, (15 U.S.C. 77) (the ‘‘Securities Act’’). In recognition of the particular problems faced by funds that continually offer securities and wish to advertise their securities, the Commission has previously adopted advertising safe harbor rules. The most important of these is rule 482 (17 CFR 230.482) under the Securities Act, which, under certain circumstances, permits funds to advertise investment performance data, as well as other information. Rule 482 advertisements are deemed to be ‘‘prospectuses’’ under Section 10(b) of the Securities Act.2 Rule 482 contains certain requirements regarding the disclosure that funds are required to provide in qualifying advertisements. These requirements are intended to encourage the provision to investors of information that is balanced and informative, particularly in the area of investment performance. For example, a fund is required to include disclosure advising investors to consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses, and other information described in the fund’s prospectus, and highlighting the availability of the fund’s prospectus. In addition, rule 482 advertisements that include performance data of open-end funds or insurance company separate accounts offering variable annuity contracts are required to include certain standardized performance information, information about any sales loads or other nonrecurring fees, and a legend warning that past performance does not guarantee future results. Such funds including performance information in rule 482 advertisements are also required to make available to investors month-end performance figures via Web site disclosure or by a toll-free telephone number, and to disclose the 1 ‘‘Investment company’’ refers to both investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and business development companies. 2 15 U.S.C. 77j(b). E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15010-15011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6318]


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

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 206(4)-6; SEC File No. 270-513; OMB Control No. 3235-0571.

    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 
(``OMB'') a request for extension of the previously approved collection 
of information discussed below.
    The title for the collection of information is ``Rule 206(4)-6'' 
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) 
(``Advisers Act'') and the collection has been approved under OMB 
Control No. 3235-0571. The Commission adopted rule 206(4)-6 (17 CFR 
275.206(4)-6), the proxy voting rule, to address an investment 
adviser's fiduciary obligation to clients who have given the adviser 
authority to vote their securities. Under the rule, an investment 
adviser that exercises voting authority over client securities is 
required to: (i) Adopt and implement policies and procedures that are 
reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes securities in the 
best interest of clients, including procedures to address any material 
conflict that may arise between the interest of the adviser and the 
client; (ii) disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how 
the adviser has voted with respect to their securities; and (iii) 
describe to clients the adviser's proxy voting policies and procedures 
and, on request, furnish a copy of the policies and procedures to the 
requesting client. The rule is designed to assure that advisers that 
vote proxies for their clients vote those proxies in their clients' 
best interest and provide clients with information about how their 
proxies were voted.
    Rule 206(4)-6 contains ``collection of information'' requirements 
within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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. The collection is mandatory and responses to the disclosure 
requirement are not kept confidential.
    The respondents are investment advisers registered with the 
Commission that vote proxies with respect to clients' securities. 
Advisory clients of these investment advisers use the information 
required by the rule to assess investment advisers' proxy voting 
policies and procedures and to monitor the advisers' performance of 
their proxy voting activities. The information required by Rule 206(4)-
6 also is used by the Commission staff in its examination and oversight 
program. Without the information collected under the rule, advisory 
clients would not have information they need to assess the adviser's 
services and monitor the adviser's handling of their accounts, and the 
Commission would be less efficient and effective in its programs.
    The estimated number of investment advisers subject to the 
collection of information requirements under the rule is 10,207. It is 
estimated that each of these advisers is required to spend on average 
10 hours annually documenting its proxy voting procedures under the 
requirements of the rule, for a total burden of 102,070 hours. We 
further estimate that on average, approximately 121 clients of each 
adviser would request copies of the underlying policies and procedures. 
We estimate that it would take these advisers 0.1 hours per client to 
deliver copies of the policies and procedures, for a total burden of 
123,505 hours. Accordingly, we estimate that rule 206(4)-6 results in 
an annual aggregate burden of collection for SEC-registered investment 
advisers of a total of 225,575 hours.
    Records related to an adviser's proxy voting policies and 
procedures and proxy voting history are separately

[[Page 15011]]

required under the Advisers Act recordkeeping rule 204-2 (17 CFR 
275.204-2). The standard retention period required for books and 
records under rule 204-2 is five years, in an easily accessible place, 
the first two years in an appropriate office of the investment adviser. 
OMB has previously approved the collection with this retention period.
    The public may view the background documentation for this 
information collection at the following Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov. 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, D.C. 20503, or by sending an e-
mail to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Thomas Bayer, Chief 
Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi 
Pavlik-Simon, 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: March 14, 2011.
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-6318 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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